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.”

Trump administration underestimated Iran war's impact on Strait of Hormuz  —  The Middle East Donald Trump Oil & gas Economy  —  The Pentagon and National Security Council significantly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to US military strikes …

U.S. sending USS Tripoli, thousands of Marines to Middle East  —  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is sending an amphibious assault ship, the USS Tripoli, and its Marine expeditionary unit to the Middle East, a senior U.S. official confirmed to Axios on Friday.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Epstein files: Congress seeks to depose prison guard on duty at time of Jeffrey Epstein's death … The House committee investigating disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein announced on Friday it is seeking testimony from a prison guard on duty the night the New York financier died.

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 …

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 …