US temporarily lifts sanctions on Russian oil amid Iran prices spike
The U.S. is temporarily removing sanctions on Russian oil currently stranded at sea, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced late Thursday — the latest move by the Trump administration attempting to stymie soaring energy prices amid the war with Iran. Bessent wrote in a post on the social platform X that the “narrowly tailored” measure “will…
Talarico: Attack on Iran girls’ school ‘makes me sick to my stomach’
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D) on Thursday slammed the U.S. military operation in Iran, saying the airstrike that hit a girls’ school the first day of the offensive makes him “sick to my stomach.” Talarico won the Texas Democratic Senate primary last week against Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). He will face off against either…
Trump admin sues California over vehicle emission, greenhouse gas rules
California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations look to eliminate new gas-powered cars in the state by 2035.
Focus shifts to outdated intel in strike on Iran school: Reports
Outdated intelligence data may have led to a U.S. airstrike hitting a girls’ school in southern Iran following the start of the military operation against the Middle Eastern country, killing around 175 people, according to multiple outlets. It remains unclear why the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school was hit. The New York Times reported that it…
Trump nominates State official to replace Kari Lake at VOA parent agency
President Trump on Thursday nominated a State Department official to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America (VOA), after a judge ruled Kari Lake was unlawfully running the agency as its acting CEO. The president tapped Sarah B. Rogers, undersecretary of State for public diplomacy, as USAGM’s Senate-approved CEO….
Zelensky prods White House over ‘big drone production deal’ to counter Iran
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday poked at the White House over a “big drone production deal” that would allow Ukraine to help the U.S. and Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones deployed across the region. Zelensky talked about the potential deal, which Axios reported was previously dismissed by the U.S. last year, in an…
Powell called these 13 lawmakers as DOJ opened criminal probe
In the week after the Department of Justice (DOJ) opened a criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, the central bank head called 13 lawmakers. The calls, listed on Powell’s public calendar for January, were all 10 to 15 minutes in length. The Fed chair spoke with lawmakers from both chambers of Congress and…
Bessent says ‘international coalition’ could escort tankers through Strait of Hormuz
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that an “international coalition” could escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. “Are you starting to think, if this does keep persisting as it is, that the Navy has to go into the Strait of Hormuz to — to help ships get through, which would have a big effect…
What to know about the SAVE America Act, Trump’s No. 1 legislative priority
A Republican-backed voter requirements bill that recently passed in the House –– and has become President Trump’s top legislative priority –– faces an uncertain future in the Senate. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act would require Americans to show proof of citizenship to register to vote and a valid ID in order to…
Energy secretary says he’ll personally review X posts after military escort gaffe
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday that he is going to personally review his posts on the social platform X after deleting a post about a military escort that the White House disputed. “My last question for you is, there was the X post the other day that came from the Department of Energy, that…
Gillibrand says Hegseth should resign over Iran school strike
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s resignation amid mounting questions about how a deadly strike on an all-girls elementary school on the first day of the military operation in Iran unfolded. Gillibrand told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on “The Situation Room” on Thursday that she had “deep concerns” about how the…
New details emerge on Trump tariff refunds
The Trump administration’s tariff refund system is more than 40 percent developed, a customs official told a federal judge Thursday, and additional performance testing will take place “in the next few weeks.” Businesses are pushing for speedy refunds of the $166 billion in levies the Supreme Court struck down last month, but the administration has…
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Paul defends Massie after latest Trump attacks
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) backed his fellow Kentuckian, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a day after President Trump slammed the libertarian representative during an address in Massie’s home district. “I’m a big supporter of Thomas Massie. I have campaigned with him, will continue to campaign with him,” Paul said Thursday on Bloomberg radio. During a visit…
‘Failure of planning’: Panetta hits Trump administration over Iran fallout
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday went after the Trump administration over the fallout from the conflict against Iran, specifically tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. “Mr. Secretary, you heard the new supreme leader’s warning that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed. The U.S. Energy secretary said this morning here on CNN that…
Rogan says Trump turning 80 this year is ‘spooky’
Joe Rogan said in a podcast aired Wednesday that it’s “spooky” President Trump is turning 80 this year. His guest, British political commentator Konstantin Kisin, asked if someone like former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would look at the president and say “let’s f— with that guy.” “Right, he’s 80, he doesn’t have much…
Costco sued by shopper in potential tariff class action case
A Costco shopper in Illinois has sued the retail giant in an attempt to secure refunds for U.S. customers after the Supreme Court struck down the bulk of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs last month. The proposed class action lawsuit seeks to prevent what is described as “double recovery” by Costco, arguing that the corporation should…
Leavitt pushes back against report of FBI warning of Iran threat to California
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on an ABC News report that the FBI warned police departments in California that Iran wants to retaliate over the U.S. military operation in the country, saying “no such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did.” “This post and story should be immediately…
UN panel: Racist hate speech from Trump, other US leaders fueled human rights violations
A United Nations panel issued a Wednesday decision condemning hate speech from President Trump and raising concerns with his administration’s immigration policies. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination warned that hate speech from political leaders including Trump combined with intensified immigration crackdowns near schools, hospitals and faith-based institutions has sparked “grave human…
Newsom fires back at Trump over post calling dyslexia ‘mental disorder’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Wednesday went after President Trump over a post calling dyslexia a “mental disorder.” In a post on his Truth Social platform Wednesday evening, Trump said that Newsom “said, in a speech, he was dumb, had low Boards, can’t read, has dyslexia, and has a mental disorder — A Cognitive…
Bolton: US should seek out defectors in Iran in regime change push
Former national security adviser John Bolton urged the U.S. on Wednesday to seek out defectors in Iran as President Trump continues to push for regime change nearly two weeks into the conflict. “They need to look for defectors. People who, at this very fractured time at the top of the regime, are willing to consider…
Retired general: Trump would be ‘smart’ to ‘declare victory’ in Iran and ‘go home’
Retired Army Brig. Gen. Steve Anderson said Tuesday that President Trump would be “smart” to “declare victory” in the conflict against Iran and “go home.” “Well, this war will end whenever Donald Trump says it’s going to end, whenever he decides to declare victory. And if he was smart, he’d declare victory today and go…
UFC fighters to train FBI agents in Quantico
Current and former UFC fighters will train FBI agents in Quantico, Va., this weekend, the mixed martial arts company announced on Wednesday. The fighters will visit the FBI Special Agent Academy to host an “exclusive training seminar for academy students as well as senior FBI staff from around the world,” according to a UFC release.…
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Iran’s new leader issues first statement: Strait of Hormuz must remain closed until war ends
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, released his first statement on Thursday, asserting the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed and Tehran will continue attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbors. In a message read on Iranian state television by a news anchor, Khamenei said the “lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely continue to…
Wright expects US naval escorts through Strait of Hormuz this month
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday that the U.S. Navy was not yet ready to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz but predicted it could begin to do so by the end of the month. “It will happen relatively soon, but it can’t happen now. We’re simply not ready,” Wright said during…
Energy secretary: ‘You will see a surge of investment’ in Middle East after Iran regime ‘defanged’
Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday said there will be a “surge of investment” in the Middle East after the Iranian regime is “defanged.” Wright has been a frequent face on television this week as he makes the case that the short-term increases in energy costs will be worthwhile by reducing Iran’s long-term ability to…