US Conducts 12th Consecutive Night of Strikes on Iran as Oil Passes $100 per Barrel
The US military carried out its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran while Houthi forces claimed attacks on Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, pushing Brent crude oil above $100 a barrel for the first time in two months. President Trump said he is weighing a larger military strike against Iran.The United States military conducted its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran as the conflict expanded into a new front, with Yemen's Houthi forces claiming responsibility for attacks on at least two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea. The combination of ongoing US strikes and the threat of a Houthi-imposed blockade of the Bab al-Mandab strait — a critical chokepoint for global oil shipping — pushed Brent crude oil above $100 a barrel for the first time in roughly two months, up more than 13% over a matter of days. Some analysts have raised the possibility of prices reaching $120 per barrel if the strait blockade materializes.
President Trump told reporters he is weighing a larger military operation against Iran, describing it as a possible attack on a scale greater than strikes conducted so far. He also suggested that damages caused to shipping by Iranian-linked attacks could be recovered using Iranian assets currently frozen overseas. Trump separately indicated that Iran is not yet prepared to reach a diplomatic agreement with the United States, but suggested that could change soon.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of flying personnel from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into Yemen, which he said helped fuel the renewed confrontation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The UN Secretary-General warned that the situation in the Middle East is becoming increasingly difficult to contain.
The US House of Representatives passed a resolution for the second time calling for an end to US military action against Iran. Four Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure. The Senate blocked a related measure from advancing. The House vote is non-binding but reflects growing unease within Congress about the scope and duration of the conflict. A Fox News poll found that 56% of American voters oppose US military action against Iran, with Trump's handling of the conflict drawing 34% approval — a record low in that survey.
Financial markets fell broadly in response to rising energy prices. Oil futures markets, however, reflect investor expectations that prices may ease within months, with some traders betting that domestic political pressures — including midterm elections — will push the administration toward de-escalation.
US Announces Nuclear Materials Export Deal with Saudi Arabia, Contingent on Israel Recognition
The Trump administration announced an agreement to export nuclear materials to Saudi Arabia to support the kingdom's civilian nuclear energy program. President Trump separately stated that the deal depends on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords and formally recognizing Israel.The Trump administration announced a deal to export nuclear materials to Saudi Arabia, supporting the kingdom's plans to develop civilian nuclear energy capacity. The agreement has been under discussion since the Obama administration, with previous efforts stalled over questions about how nuclear security and non-proliferation commitments would be monitored and enforced.
President Trump said publicly that any such deal is contingent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords — the framework under which several Arab nations have normalized relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia has not yet agreed to that condition.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has stated that developing nuclear energy would allow it to use more of its oil for export rather than domestic energy consumption, and to diversify its overall energy mix. Critics of the agreement, including some arms control advocates, argue that it could provide Saudi Arabia with materials or knowledge that could eventually support a nuclear weapons program, though the deal as described is focused on civilian applications.
The announcement comes as the United States is simultaneously engaged in military operations against Iran, which has its own contested nuclear program — adding a complex geopolitical dimension to the US-Saudi nuclear cooperation discussion.
Justice Department Withdraws Subpoenas of Three Journalists After Federal Judge Raises Concerns
The Justice Department withdrew subpoenas that would have required three journalists to identify their sources for articles about a presidential aircraft. A federal judge had questioned the legal handling of the subpoenas before the government reversed course.The Trump administration withdrew subpoenas issued to three journalists, abandoning an effort that would have compelled them to testify about their confidential sources. The subpoenas related to reporting on a Qatari-gifted aircraft intended for presidential use.
A federal judge raised concerns about the government's legal handling of the subpoenas before the administration acknowledged errors in its approach and withdrew them. The administration's reversal came after the judge's questions made the legal posture of the subpoenas difficult to sustain.
The use of subpoenas to compel journalists to reveal confidential sources is a legally and constitutionally fraught practice. Federal shield law protections for journalists vary, and courts have applied different standards depending on jurisdiction and circumstances. Press freedom advocates had argued the subpoenas were an attempt to deter reporting critical of the administration. The withdrawal ends this particular legal proceeding, though it does not resolve broader questions about the administration's approach to press freedom.
House Votes Again to End US Military Action Against Iran; Senate Blocks Measure
The House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution calling for an end to US military operations against Iran, with four Republicans joining Democrats. The Senate blocked a related measure from advancing.The House of Representatives passed a resolution for the second time calling for an end to US military action against Iran. Four Republicans crossed party lines to support the measure alongside Democrats. The vote is not legally binding and does not compel the executive branch to halt operations, but it represents a formal expression of congressional unease with the ongoing conflict.
The Senate subsequently blocked a related measure from advancing, preventing it from reaching a floor vote. Under the War Powers Resolution, Congress has the authority to direct the president to withdraw forces from hostilities not authorized by a formal declaration of war or specific congressional authorization, though the scope and enforceability of that authority has long been contested between the legislative and executive branches.
The US military has now conducted more than two weeks of consecutive nightly strikes against Iran. The House vote reflects growing concern among some lawmakers about the duration and scale of the conflict, as well as its economic consequences, including oil prices rising above $100 a barrel.
Federal Government Cancels Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grants, Shifts Program Toward Abstinence and Marriage
The Trump administration canceled federal grants to organizations that had operated teen pregnancy prevention programs, saying they encouraged premarital sex. New program criteria emphasize abstinence and preparing young people for marriage and family formation.The Trump administration canceled federal grants that had funded teen pregnancy prevention programs operated by organizations across the country, with officials contending that those programs encouraged premarital sexual activity. The administration announced new criteria for the program that direct funded organizations to emphasize abstinence and to focus on marriage and family formation as goals for young people.
The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program has been a federal initiative for over a decade, distributing grants to local organizations, schools, and health providers to develop and evaluate evidence-based approaches to reducing teen pregnancy rates. The shift in program criteria represents a significant change in the program's philosophy and in which types of organizations will qualify for funding.
Organizations that had previously received grants and focused on comprehensive sex education, contraception access, or similar approaches are unlikely to qualify under the new standards. Critics of the change argue it moves away from approaches supported by public health research. Supporters of the new approach argue it aligns program goals with values around marriage and family.
Markets have been relatively flat with a modest upward drift over recent sessions.
Trump Administration Imposes New Tariffs on More Than 80 Countries, Citing Forced Labor
The Trump administration announced tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from more than 80 countries, replacing a global 10% tariff set to expire at midnight. The new duties are tied to claims that those countries failed to adequately enforce bans on goods produced with forced labor.The Trump administration replaced a broad 10% global tariff — set to expire at midnight — with a new round of duties targeting imports from more than 80 countries. The new tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, are formally justified by the administration's assertion that the affected countries failed to adequately enforce prohibitions on goods made with forced labor. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the measures.
Sources differ on the precise number of countries affected, with figures ranging from roughly 60 to more than 80 depending on whether certain economic blocs are counted individually or as single units. The affected countries collectively account for the vast majority of US imports by value.
The move represents the latest stage of the administration's aggressive trade posture. The previous 10% global tariff had been in place as a baseline during ongoing trade negotiations. By replacing it with duties framed around forced labor compliance, the administration establishes new legal and policy grounds for the tariff regime that differ from earlier national security or reciprocal trade rationales.
The announcement comes at a moment of broader economic pressure, with oil prices surging past $100 a barrel due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Economists and trading partners are assessing the combined impact of higher energy costs and new import duties on consumer prices and supply chains. No major trading partners had formally responded to the new tariffs at the time of publication.
Weekly Unemployment Filings Fall to Lowest Level Since 1969
US applications for unemployment benefits dropped to 187,000 last week, the lowest weekly figure in more than five decades, as layoffs remain at historically low levels.Weekly filings for unemployment insurance fell to 187,000, according to government data — the lowest single-week total since 1969. The figure indicates that layoffs remain at historically low levels despite uncertainty introduced by ongoing trade policy changes and rising energy prices linked to the conflict with Iran.
Unemployment insurance filings are a closely watched leading indicator of labor market health, as they reflect the number of workers newly laid off and seeking government benefits in a given week. The figure can be volatile week to week, but the downward trend in recent readings suggests employers are retaining workers at an unusually high rate. Economists typically watch a four-week moving average to smooth out weekly variation.
Trump Announces Nearly 200 Companies Have Signed Non-Binding Energy Cost Protection Pledge for Data Centers
President Trump announced that approximately 200 companies have signed his 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge,' a voluntary, non-binding commitment intended to protect consumers from energy cost increases driven by the rapid expansion of data centers.President Trump announced that roughly 200 entities have signed onto the 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge,' a voluntary commitment first announced in March with leading technology and artificial intelligence companies. The pledge is designed to signal that companies building and operating large data centers will not shift their substantial energy costs onto ordinary utility customers.
The pledge is non-binding, meaning signatory companies face no legal obligation to prevent rate increases or subsidize consumer electricity bills. Consumer advocates and some utility regulators have expressed skepticism about its practical effect, noting that ratepayers in many states are already facing higher bills as electricity demand from data centers grows.
Data centers require significant amounts of electricity and water, and their rapid expansion has raised questions among utility commissioners, state regulators, and housing advocates about how communities will manage competing demands for power infrastructure. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission held a hearing this week in which its chair told lawmakers that essential decisions about the nation's power grid can no longer be deferred.
FDA Scientists Advise Against Wider Access to Peptide Injections, Putting Them at Odds with HHS Secretary
FDA career scientists have advised against expanding access to synthetic peptide injections, citing insufficient safety and efficacy data. Their position conflicts with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has argued individuals should be free to use them.Scientists within the Food and Drug Administration are recommending against broader availability of synthetic peptide injections, saying there is not enough evidence to support making them more widely accessible. The recommendation places agency career staff in tension with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly supported allowing individuals greater freedom to use peptides and has described them favorably.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. The human body naturally produces peptides — including insulin and oxytocin — but the synthetic versions currently circulating in wellness and fitness communities are distinct from those naturally occurring compounds and are largely not approved by the FDA for clinical use. They have been promoted by influencers and some health practitioners for a range of purposes including muscle recovery, anti-aging, and performance enhancement.
FDA career scientists argue that without adequate clinical trial data, the safety profile of many synthetic peptides is not established. The agency is currently reviewing the regulatory status of several compounds. The outcome of that review, and whether Kennedy's position within the administration influences the final regulatory approach, remains to be determined.
Four Fields Medals Awarded, Including First Ever Won by a Chinese Woman
The Fields Medal, mathematics' most prestigious award for researchers under 40, was awarded to four mathematicians. Among the recipients, one Chinese woman won the honor for the first time in the award's history.Four mathematicians received Fields Medals, the most prestigious prize in mathematics, awarded every four years to researchers under the age of 40. The recipients were recognized for work spanning geometry, topology, number theory, and fluid mechanics.
John Pardon, a mathematics professor, was honored for work at the intersection of geometry, topology, and physics. Jacob Tsimerman received the medal for his contributions to number theory, specifically work on the André-Oort conjecture; he has since shifted his research focus toward artificial intelligence. Yu Deng, a professor at the University of Chicago, was recognized for mathematical work on equations describing fluid behavior.
A fourth medal was awarded to a Chinese woman mathematician — the first time a Chinese woman has received the honor in the award's history. The awards were noted to come at a moment when several prominent Chinese academics have returned to work in China, with some citing a more difficult environment for foreign researchers at American institutions.
Tropical Storm Bertha Makes Second Landfall on Gulf Coast Near New Orleans
Tropical Storm Bertha made a second landfall in St. Bernard Parish, southeast of New Orleans, with winds of approximately 45 mph before weakening over land. The storm brought flooding to parts of Kentucky and West Virginia, where rescuers freed trapped residents.Tropical Storm Bertha came ashore in St. Bernard Parish on the Gulf Coast southeast of New Orleans, marking its second landfall. The National Hurricane Center reported sustained winds of approximately 45 miles per hour at landfall and said the storm was expected to weaken rapidly once it moved inland.
Ahead of and alongside Bertha's arrival, heavy rainfall caused significant flooding in Kentucky and West Virginia. Emergency responders conducted rescues of residents trapped by floodwaters in both states. West Virginia's governor declared a state of emergency covering all 55 counties of the state and deployed approximately 500 National Guard members to assist with response efforts. At least two people were reported unaccounted for in Upshur County, West Virginia, following flash flooding caused by torrential rain.
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Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Minnesota State Lawmaker
A man was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years after pleading guilty to the murder of Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman. Family members described lasting fear and grief at the sentencing.A man was sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of Minnesota Democratic state legislator Melissa Hortman. At the sentencing, family members and friends described the lasting impact of the killing — including fear, grief, and a sense of disrupted purpose — while also stating that the violence had not erased Hortman's contributions to public life.
The case drew national attention when it occurred, given that the victim was an elected official. The sentencing closes the criminal proceeding. No additional suspects were named in connection with the case.