U.S. and Iran Sign MOU
We’ll start with what might possibly be good news.
After months of a war that snarled global shipping, killed thousands, and rattled world financial markets, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, and Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz, which could bring an end to the war between the two countries.
The deal calls for an end to fighting on all fronts, including Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, a possible $300 billion reconstruction plan for Iran (not financed by the U.S. but by other Gulf State nations), unfreezing of about $100 billion in Iranian assets abroad, lifted restrictions on Iranian oil exports, and 60 more days of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, which the agreement does not directly resolve but does state that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
And looming over it all is the threat from President Trump that he will unload more of the American arsenal against Iran if they don’t comply.
By Thursday, a new Quantus Insights poll showed strong public support for the deal— 56% of likely voters approved versus just 13% who disapproved. But among prominent voices in the Republican coalition, sentiment is split, with doves cheering the end in sight of the war, and hawks saying that the President went too soft on Iran and should have negotiated a deal with less “carrots” and more “sticks,” and calling for ground troops in Iran if necessary to bring that to pass.
Gas fell to below $4 a gallon for the first time since March, hitting $3.95 by Saturday.
But here’s the problem…
Israel was not party to the peace talks and kept striking Hezbollah even as the deal was being finalized, and continued striking Thursday and Friday even after the MOU was signed. The Israeli strikes came in response to Hezbollah attacks, including a drone strike that killed 4 Israeli soldiers. After coming to a ceasefire Friday, attacks between the two countries resumed on Saturday, and the whole peace deal appeared poised to unravel when Iran announced that they saw Israeli strikes as a breach of the MOU and had re-closed the Strait of Hormuz.
But JD Vance is now in Switzerland, where he’s holding Qatari- and Pakistani-mediated talks with Iran. And other administration officials are on the phone with leaders in Israel, pressing them hard to comply with the ceasefire terms tied to the Iran deal.
More News
🕵️ Trump Ties FISA Renewal to Voter-ID Bill, Leaves Pulte in DNI: In a Wednesday Truth Social post, Trump said he won't approve a renewal of FISA's surveillance powers unless Congress also passes the SAVE America Act, a voter-ID bill that currently lacks the votes to pass. And when Senate Republicans tried to jam through a confirmation of Jay Clayton, the President’s nominee for DNI (so that Bill Pulte would not be in an acting capacity there), the President switched gears and held off Clayton for DNI.
🥊 FBI Says It Foiled Plot against White House UFC Event: Five people are in custody after the FBI says it broke up a plan to hit a UFC event held in the front lawn of the White House last weekend. The attackers hoped to use explosive-laden drones to trigger an evacuation where people would end up being funneled towards a pre-positioned sniper team. Initial reports indicated that the attackers wanted to trigger a political revolution. JD Vance said the plot "didn't even get close to the point of execution," and officials credit a tip from one suspect's mother for cracking the case.
📉 Jobless Claims Stay Low Despite War Jitters: Unemployment filings fell to 226,000 last week, continuing a hiring rebound.
👨👩👧 California Considers Letting Kids "Divorce" Their Parents: California Democrats are advancing a bill that would let any minor living in a residential facility petition a court to strip their parents of custodial authority, with no requirement to show evidence of harm. The application wouldn't need to be corroborated by an adult or even served on the parents.
⚖️ SPLC Executive Accused of Funneling Donor Money to Neo-Nazi Boyfriend's Group: A new DOJ indictment accuses a senior Southern Poverty Law Center executive of diverting $1.2 million in donor funds to an informant embedded in a neo-Nazi organization with whom she was romantically involved, with at least $140,000 landing in their joint bank accounts. The indictment also alleges the SPLC reimbursed Ku Klux Klan members for uniform and cross-burning expenses.
🐛 Flesh-Eating Screwworm Reaches Texas Cattle Country: The New World screwworm has turned up in 12 confirmed U.S. cases—11 in Texas, one in New Mexico —marking its first appearance in 60 years and triggering a $1.3 billion USDA response, including a $750-million-dollar Texas facility that will breed and release 300 million sterile screwworm flies a week. The outbreak adds fresh pressure to a cattle industry already squeezed by record-high beef prices and the smallest herd in 75 years.
📵 UK to Ban Social Media for Under-16s: Following a similar move by Australia, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to block children under 16 from platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, Snapchat, and Facebook, and to bar anyone under 18 from AI "romantic companion" apps. A recent YouGov poll found 77% of UK parents back the ban.
🏛️ Obama Presidential Center Opens in Chicago: The Obama Presidential Center officially opened Thursday in Jackson Park, Chicago, after having exceeded its initial budget by nearly two and a half times, from $350 million to $850 million. The billion dollar structure hosted Hollywood stars in its grand opening.
