A ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has eased tensions but gas prices remain high amid uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz. Experts say any relief at the pump could take weeks and may reverse if the truce falters.
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A U.S. F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran, prompting a risky rescue mission amid ongoing conflict. Despite U.S. claims of air superiority, Iran retains significant military capabilities and continues attacks across the Middle East.
President Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, appointing Todd Blanche as acting attorney general amid frustrations over prosecutions and department priorities. Bondi will transition to a private sector role, with EPA head Lee Zeldin considered a likely permanent replacement.
U.S. gasoline prices have surged past $4 per gallon due to disruptions in global oil supplies caused by the Iran conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump plans a prime-time address to update on the situation, promising a resolution soon and a return to lower fuel prices, though experts warn prices may rise further in the short term. Meanwhile, Trump's threats to target Iranian civilian infrastructure have drawn condemnation from legal experts who warn such actions could constitute war crimes, amid ongoing regional casualties and accusations against all involved parties.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Trump v. Barbara, a case challenging President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants, focusing on the interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. Justices expressed skepticism about the administration’s narrow reading of “subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” with several questioning the practicality and historical basis of excluding children of undocumented parents from citizenship. The Court’s forthcoming decision could significantly impact immigration policy and constitutional rights, with indications that a majority may uphold the longstanding broad protections of birthright citizenship.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose stricter mail-in voting rules, including requiring states to use federally approved voter lists and threatening to withhold federal funds from non-compliant states, citing unproven claims of widespread mail-in voting fraud. The order faces significant legal challenges, with experts deeming it likely unconstitutional and lawsuits already underway, while the Justice Department is also using voter data for immigration and criminal investigations. Additionally, a federal judge blocked Trump’s unauthorized White House construction project, and political tensions escalate ahead of the midterms amid concerns over federal interference in state election processes.
A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction halting the Trump administration’s $400 million White House ballroom construction, ruling that the project likely exceeded legal authority and lacked proper congressional approval. The National Trust for Historic Preservation challenged the project, citing improper adherence to federal guidelines and questionable funding through private donations funneled via a nonprofit and the National Park Service. Judge Richard Leon criticized the administration’s legal and financial justifications, emphasizing that only Congress can authorize such alterations and funding, and ordered construction to stop unless statutory approval is granted.
The Department of Homeland Security shutdown has become the longest in U.S. history at 45 days, caused by House Republicans rejecting a Senate bipartisan funding package that excluded ICE and parts of CBP. The shutdown has severely impacted TSA operations, leading to staffing shortages and long airport security lines, with ICE agents temporarily assisting TSA amid ongoing disputes between the chambers. Both the House and Senate have recessed until mid-April, while leaders continue negotiations, and President Trump has issued an executive order to pay TSA workers but has yet to compel Congress to return early to resolve the impasse.