Bloomberg: “The U.S. Supreme Court expressed little enthusiasm for curbing one of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s most important enforcement tools, as the justices weighed restricting the financial watchdog for the fourth time in a decade.”
U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Are Back On
“Despite sending mixed signals in recent days, both the United States and Iran gave clearer indications on Monday that they were planning to send negotiators to peace talks in Pakistan this week,” the New York Times reports.
House Ethics Issues Rare Comment After Resignations
“The House Ethics Committee on Monday issued a rare, lengthy statement outlining its work to root out sexual misconduct in Congress, as lawmakers feel increased pressure to crack down on lawmakers’ misdeeds in the wake of two high-profile resignations,” CNBC reports.
Politico: “It’s an unusual public-facing step from a panel that operates overwhelmingly behind closed doors, but comes amid renewed scrutiny over how Congress polices its own members for impropriety: Just under one week ago, then-Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) resigned following allegations of inappropriate sexual relationships with, or sexual assault of, former staffers.”
California Democrats Struggle to Find Their Candidate
Mark Liebovich: “The fact that Swalwell was, until recently, the Democrats’ leading candidate for governor is itself illustrative of the race writ large. Or, as far as the people still running, writ small. The glaring lack of candidate talent, political skill, and personal appeal—let alone star power—has been the defining quality of the race.”
“Bigger names, such as Kamala Harris and Senator Alex Padilla, opted not to run. Newsom is term-limited. Jerry Brown is 88. George Clooney lives in France.”
Why Did White House Reporters Invite Trump to Dinner?
Ron Fournier: “This man mocks you, sues you, and targets you for prosecution. He calls the truths you’ve dedicated your lives to reporting “fake news” and orders devastating budget cuts to your colleagues at NPR, PBS and Voice of America.”
“In the last year, he banned the AP from the Oval Office and took over the rotating press pool. His Defense secretary Pete Hegseth imposed draconian restrictions that drove dozens of news outlets out of the Pentagon. His FCC commissioner Brendan Carr threatens broadcasters with their licenses for covering the administration truthfully. His Justice Department pursued charges against two reporters covering an ICE protest, and searched the home of a Washington Post reporter in hopes of punishing public servants who spoke to her about public service. He called one of your colleagues ‘ugly,’ another ‘piggy’ and routinely ducks your questions by attacking your news outlets and industry.”
“And you’re having dinner with this man?”
Trump Insists Israel Did Not Push Him Into War
President Trump hit back at critics claim Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed him into going to war with Iran, Mediaite reports.
Said Trump: “Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did. I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief.”
He added: “90% of what they say are lies and made up stories, and the polls are rigged, much as the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged.”
Iran War Sets China Up for Clean Energy Dominance
“America’s allies, stung by soaring energy costs due to Washington’s attacks on Iran, are confronting an uncomfortable truth: The escape route from fossil fuel shocks leads straight into China’s arms,” Politico reports.
“From the European Union and the United Kingdom to South Korea and the Philippines, numerous countries have responded to the war-driven spike in oil and gas prices with calls to accelerate electrification and the rollout of clean energy infrastructure.”
Tehran Will Never Cede Control of Strait of Hormuz
“‘Never.’ That’s when a senior Iranian lawmaker says they’ll be ready to give up their control of the Strait of Hormuz,” the BBC reports.
Said Ebrahim Azizi, a former commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps: “It’s our inalienable right. Iran will decide the right of passage, including permissions for vessels to pass through the Strait.”
And he says that’s about to become enshrined in law: “We are introducing a bill in parliament, based on article 110 of the constitution, which includes the environment, maritime safety and national security – and the armed forces will implement the law.”
Headline of the Day
“Germany Is Reinventing Itself as a Weapons Factory”
— The Wall Street Journal, in a story published on April 19, 2026.
Bonus Exchange of the Day
FBI Director Kash Patel was interviewed on Fox News by Maria Bartiromo:
BARTIROMO: Do you have anything to tell us about the 2020 election being rigged against President Trump?
PATEL: Absolutely. I’m never going to let this go. They tried to rig the entire system. That’s something I’m not going to allow. We are going to be making arrests. I promise you it’s coming soon.
Trump Says It’s Unlikely He’ll Agree to Extend Ceasefire
President Trump said it’s “highly unlikely” he would extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran if a deal is not reached before it ends, and said the Strait of Hormuz would remain blocked until an agreement is finalized, Bloomberg reports.
Machado Says She’ll Return to Venezuela This Year
“María Corina Machado said she will return to Venezuela this year, a move that will test acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s tolerance for dissent and the US commitment to back the opposition leader it once pledged to protect,” Bloomberg reports.
Javier Milei Now Wants to Reshape Argentina
New York Times: “He wants to use his presidency not only to slash the country’s budget but to wage an ideological war and rewire the country’s mentality. He wants to dismantle what he calls the ‘aberrant’ concepts of social justice and economic equality and make the nation’s core principles capitalism, the free market, a limited state and individualism.”
Said Milei: “We are at war. We are fighting a cultural struggle, an ideological battle, a war for the survival of our freedom.”
“At political rallies and international summits, in public policies and a deluge of social media posts, Mr. Milei has relentlessly sought to infuse Argentina with his libertarian ideals. And turn it into a model for the world.”
Justices to Hear Case on Rejecting Children of Gay Parents
“The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide whether Catholic preschools in Colorado that decline to enroll 4-year-olds with gay or transgender parents can participate in a publicly funded state program,” the New York Times reports.
Kash Patel Sues The Atlantic for $250 Million
FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine on Monday, saying a recent story about his alleged frequent drinking and absences included “false and obviously fabricated” claims, CBS News reports.
Exchange of the Day
President Trump was interviewed by PBS News:
PBS News: Secretary Chris Wright said on CNN gas may not be lower than $3 until later this year or next year. Is that a concern for the midterms?
TRUMP: I disagree with him totally. I think it’ll come roaring down if it ends. If we end it, if Iran does what they should do, it will come roaring down.
Trump Threatens More Bombing in Iran
President Donald Trump told PBS News on Monday morning that if the ceasefire with Iran expires Tuesday, “then lots of bombs start going off.”
MAGA Influencers Say Assassination Attempt Was Staged
More Republican influencers, including former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), are doubting or outright denying aspects of the assassination attempt against President Trump, Wired reports.
