Vance was ‘skeptical’ voice in White House on Iran strikes … A second senior Trump official said “his role is to provide the president and the administration, you know, all points of views of what could happen from many different angles and, you know, he does that.  But once the decision has been made, he's fully on board.”

Pete Hegseth on Strait of Hormuz: 'Don't need to worry about it' … Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday brushed aside concerns that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz because of the Iran war, which has spiked oil prices, would continue being a problem for the U.S. and the world for much longer.

Trump Removes Sanctions on Russia to Help Oil Flow Amid Iran Conflict  —  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it was “unfortunate” that the move could benefit Russia, but maintained that it was only for the short term.  —  The United States on Thursday temporarily lifted sanctions …

6 Killed in Crash of U.S. Refueling Plane in Iraq, Military Says  —  The crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, U.S. Central Command said.  All six crew members died, it said, bringing the number of U.S. service members killed in the Iran conflict to at least 13.

Consumer Prices Rose in January, Before Iran War Added Price Pressures  —  The economy also grew more slowly at the end of 2025 than first thought, revised data showed.  —  Economic growth was slower at the end of 2025 than data first showed and inflationary pressures persisted at the start of this year …

Cuba's leader Miguel Diaz-Canel confirms talks with Trump administration but warns agreement still far off  —  Add CBS News on Google  —  Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed Friday that Cuban officials recently held conversations with the U.S. government aimed at addressing long-standing …

What we know about the armed attack on Michigan synagogue  —  Police responded to reports of an active shooter opening fire on Thursday at Temple Israel, a reform synagogue located in the Detroit suburbs.  —  Investigators said a man armed with a rifle drove into the building before security guards shot and killed him.

Dark money group offers influencers $1,500 for posts attacking Chicago Democratic primary candidate  —  Progressive House candidate Kat Abughazaleh told MS NOW the secretive campaign is “filled with false and defamatory claims.”  —  A week out from a crowded and contentious Democratic primary …

How a Catch-a-Predator Sting Nabbed a Right-Wing Hatemonger  —  Was Jake Lang evaluating a teenage girl for a bikinis-and-burkas protest?  Or was something more lecherous at play?  —  ∙ Paid  —  Welcome back to False Flag! … ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS HATEMONGERS on the far right appears …

I graphed every president's approval rating during “rally around the flag” events  —  Donald Trump launched airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026.  In the two weeks since, I've already written about how the public opposed the strikes from the start and how nearly every poll on the war so far confirms this trend.

E.P.A. Moves to Weaken Limits on a Cancer-Causing Gas  —  The gas, ethylene oxide, plays a crucial role in sterilizing medical devices.  But long-term exposure is linked to several types of cancer and other ailments.  —  The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed to weaken limits …

The Secret Police Playbook  —  Since the Pendleton Act of 1883, the U.S. federal government has rested on a simple promise: professionalism, merit-based recruitment, independent oversight.  Over time, U.S. federal law enforcement became a global reference point—effective, technically sophisticated …

Wall Street Bankers Offered Lucrative Access to Join the Pentagon  —  A presentation from a headhunting firm aimed to recruit Wall Street investors to the Pentagon by offering “unmatched access” to government officials and fund-raising opportunities among foreign sovereigns.

Fox News correspondent backs Voice of America during awards reception  —  A Fox News Channel correspondent expressed her support for hundreds of journalists who were laid off from the Voice of America (VOA) last year, the outlet where she began her broadcast career more than three decades ago.