Good morning. I woke up with a major back ache, but I am powering through. If you believe in independent journalism that speaks truth to power, now’s the time to support it. A subscription helps keep this work going—unfiltered, relentless, and accountable.

Subscribe

With that, here’s the news:

Iran v. Israel (and the United States?)

  • Donald Trump reviewed military options against Iran but is holding off for now, waiting to see if Tehran de-escalates its nuclear activities.
  • Senior U.S. officials are preparing for the possibility of a U.S. strike on Iran in the coming days, with some discussions focusing on a potential weekend operation, Bloomberg reports.
  • As Trump weighs joining Israel’s strikes on Iran, his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has been in direct talks with Iran’s foreign minister, seeking to arrange further U.S.-Iran negotiations.
  • Bloomberg reports Trump’s rhetoric on Iran has hardened as allies, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham, warn Tehran is nearing nuclear capability, with Graham urging military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
  • Donald Trump says the Wall Street Journal has no idea what his thoughts are concerning Iran.
  • A US official told Axios that Trump’s patience with Iran is "running thin every minute that passes."
  • Iran launched a new missile attack on Israel, heavily damaging a hospital in the south; Iran claims its target was a nearby military-linked technology park.
  • In response, Israel struck Iran’s Arak nuclear facility, though no significant damage was reported.
  • Israel’s defense minister vowed to intensify strikes on Iran, saying its supreme leader "cannot be allowed to continue to exist."
  • The U.S. Embassy in Qatar restricted personnel from Al Udeid Air Base and urged Americans in Qatar to remain extra vigilant.
  • Iranian police arrested 24 people accused of spying for Israel and attempting to damage the country’s image, according to state media.
  • Lithuania will evacuate diplomats’ families and non-essential staff from Israel after an Iranian missile strike hit Tel Aviv’s Ramat Gan neighborhood, its foreign ministry announced.

    • Non-Iran News

  • NBC reports Trump’s new $499 smartphone will likely be manufactured in China.
  • A CBS News investigation found that two-thirds of counties losing FEMA storm prep funds backed Trump in the 2024 election.
  • Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink entered the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 7th District, aiming to unseat GOP Rep. Tom Barrett after resigning in protest of Trump’s policies.
  • The Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady at 4.50%.
  • The Trump administration is cutting funding for the Trevor Project’s national LGBTQ+ suicide hotline, which will shut down in 30 days, forcing callers to seek help elsewhere.
  • Home goods retailer At Home filed for bankruptcy, citing high debt, tariff pressures, and slowing consumer spending; a deal with lenders will erase most of its $2B debt and provide $200M in new funding to keep operations running during Chapter 11.
  • Moises Sotelo, a respected Oregon vineyard worker and small business owner, was detained by ICE during a pre-dawn raid, leaving his family, church, and local wine industry reeling.
  • Friends and colleagues condemned the arrest as “inhumane,” highlighting the heavy reliance of U.S. agriculture on undocumented immigrant labor.
  • ICE raids on farmworkers are intensifying nationwide, with reports of masked, unidentified agents conducting workplace arrests under Trump’s aggressive deportation policies.
  • The State Department will require foreign students applying for educational and exchange visas (F, M, J categories) to unlock their social media profiles for vetting, allowing diplomats to review online activity for hostility toward the U.S., terrorism support, or antisemitic conduct.
  • Critics say the expanded screening, part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, may target opposition to Israel’s Gaza war and singles out Chinese students amid broader geopolitical tensions.
  • Bloomberg added more funds to a super PAC backing Cuomo, bringing his total contribution to $8.3 million, according to POLITICO.
  • A SpaceX Starship exploded during a routine test in Texas, with officials citing a “catastrophic failure” as the rocket prepared for its 10th flight at Starbase.
  • A new report warns that climate misinformation—driven by fossil fuel interests, politicians, and online bots—is increasingly obstructing climate action and turning the crisis into a catastrophe.

    • See you soon.

    — Aaron