Top Items:
Washington Post:
Trump announces naval blockade of Iran after Islamabad talks yield no deal — Before departing Pakistan without a deal, Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. remains open to diplomacy only if Iran takes “our final and best offer.” — Summary — ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — After marathon …
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Tyler Pager / New York Times:
21 Hours in Pakistan: How Vance Tried and Failed to End a War He Opposed — Vice President JD Vance led the highest-level talks between the United States and Iran in nearly 50 years. — After more than 16 straight hours of closed-door meetings that stretched into early Sunday morning …
Discussion:
New York Post, Meidas+, The Guardian, Bloomberg, Israpundit, Al Jazeera, Lawyers, Guns & Money and France 24
emptywheel:
Having Failed to Win a “Marathon” [sic] without Training, Trump Announces Blockade of Iran's Blockade — Virtually every major outlet has referred to JD Vance's one day bid to make peace a “marathon,” reaching new heights of infantilizing measures for these clowns.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
Lawrence Freedman / Comment is Freed:
The causes and consequences of Trump's defeat — The Islamabad negotiations were supposed to conclude the Iran War in such a way that the US and Israel would have something to show for the thousands of lives lost and ruined, the vast quantities of ordnance expended, and the huge costs incurred.
Discussion:
Jewish Insider, France 24, Washington Examiner, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, HuffPost and The Spectator, more at Mediagazer »
Wesley Clark / USA Today:
Gen. Wesley Clark: Iran has the advantage over US in negotiations — Iran has studied U.S. tactics and capabilities for years, and has prepared itself to deal with a war it found inevitable and even desirable. — At the end of its sixth week, the war against Iran is entering a new phase …
Discussion:
Raw Story
Reuters:
Trump says US to start blockading the Strait of Hormuz immediately
Trump says US to start blockading the Strait of Hormuz immediately
Discussion:
Fox News, HotAir, The Hill, The Gateway Pundit, France 24, Salon, Washington Examiner, Israpundit and NBC News
Associated Press:
Live updates: Trump directs US Navy to blockade the Strait of Hormuz
Live updates: Trump directs US Navy to blockade the Strait of Hormuz
Discussion:
The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Guardian, Bloomberg, The Times of Israel, Bangor Daily News, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, Mercury News, Washington Times, WNYW-TV, Business Insider, HuffPost, Townhall, MS NOW, NewsMax.com, The Daily Signal, The US Sun, TheJournal.ie and France 24
Farnaz Fassihi / New York Times:
Control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's Uranium Stockpiles Were Sticking Points
Control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's Uranium Stockpiles Were Sticking Points
Discussion:
Fox News, New York Sun, Lawyers, Guns & Money, RedState and Diplomatic,
Katie Rogers / New York Times:
Trump Was Watching a U.F.C. Fight in Miami While Iran Talks Collapsed — On his way to Florida, President Trump said it did not matter to him if a deal with Iran was reached or not: “We win, regardless,” he said. — On Saturday evening, as Vice President JD Vance took a podium in Pakistan …
Discussion:
The Guardian, USA Today, The Daily Beast, Salon, Associated Press, Raw Story, Bangor Daily News, Althouse, Palm Beach Post, Mediaite, Fox News and New York Post
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New York Times:
What Now? Vance Leaves Iran Talks Without a Deal. — The lack of a breakthrough after 21 hours of negotiations leaves the Trump administration facing several unpalatable options. — Vice President JD Vance's failure to win the concessions the United States sought from Iran in a single …
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion
Dan Goldberg / Politico:
No deal: Vance and Iranians fail to reach agreement after marathon session
Discussion:
New York Times, Associated Press, Politico, Eschaton, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, Washington Examiner, CBS News, The Independent and Al Jazeera
Max Griera / Politico:
Fraud accusations fly as Hungarians vote in contentious election — Orbán supporters are already gearing up for a confrontation once the results come in, with experts warning the outcome could be challenged in court no matter who wins. — BUDAPEST — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Associated Press, Breitbart, Digby's Hullabaloo and CBS News
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Andrew Solender / Axios:
Swalwell scandal threatens cascade of House expulsion votes — The scandal surrounding Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is rapidly ballooning and could jolt a surge of expulsion votes for at least three of his House colleagues as soon as the chamber returns from recess next week.
Discussion:
Politico, NBC News, The Hill, CBS News, Mediaite, Washington Times, Raw Story and NewsMax.com
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Bo Erickson / Reuters:
Trump says it will take a little while for US to blockade the Strait of Hormuz — Implementing a newly announced U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will take a little while, President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News' “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo”.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Salon, The Daily Caller, France 24, Daily Mail, The Gateway Pundit, NewsMax.com, Mediaite, Fox News and Al Jazeera
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CNBC:
Trump says U.S. will blockade Strait of Hormuz after Iran peace talks fail
Discussion:
Axios, The Hill, Straight Arrow News, NOTUS, New York Post, Politico, Townhall, NewsMax.com, CBS News, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, Breitbart, CoinDesk, Mediaite, Raw Story, Newsweek, The Daily Caller and Fox News
Lisa Kashinsky / Politico:
‘It would be catastrophic’: A Supreme Court decision could upend Alaska's crucial Senate race … “This matters a lot in a place like Kodiak, because absentee voting, it's not a convenience here,” said Jared Griffin, the mayor of Kodiak Island Borough, who is an independent.
Discussion:
Raw Story
G. Elliott Morris / Strength In Numbers:
The mystery variable that explains stubbornly low consumer sentiment — Plus, more on moderation and AI “polls.” Your weekly political data roundup for April 12, 2026. … Leading off: Consumer sentiment just hit the lowest level ever recorded by the University of Michigan …
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog and PollsAndVotes
Ian Ward / Politico:
The War With Iran Offers a Snapshot of Trump World. It's Not a Pretty Picture. … As the U.S. and Iran meet over the negotiating table in Pakistan this weekend, the outcome of Operation Epic Fury remains deeply uncertain. But one thing is clear: The war with Iran has offered …
Victor Ray / MS NOW:
This university's ‘intellectual freedom’ center creates the problem it claims to solve — Contrary to what conservative policy makers claim, conservative students indicate that they don't feel isolated or targeted on campus. — My employer, the University of Iowa, recently joined …
Discussion:
The Atlantic and The Hill
Jennifer Scholtes / Politico:
The Trump ally cracking down on immigration in Washington — and bringing in foreign workers back home … CAMBRIDGE, Maryland — On Capitol Hill, Rep. Andy Harris is one of the most uncompromising advocates of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Discussion:
NewsMax.com, Raw Story and VisaHQ


