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 My son has narrated the last book I wrote. Please consider listening to it and encouraging others to do so too. (Click on Book Cover) World & Nation Iran’s refusal of second round of US peace talks was ‘posturing’: Pakistani sources  After Iran claimed it had refused to attend a second round of peace talks on Sunday, Tehran is now “willing for a second round” of negotiations — and its bluster so far is mere posturing for the best deal possible, Pakistani sources exclusively told The Post on Monday. “Current hard stance is posturing to extract maximum advantage when second round happens,” the person said, citing takeaways from discussions with the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman. Security personnel guarding a street with banners for "Islamabad Talks" featuring flags of the US, Pakistan, and Iran. However, Iran still had not yet decided whether it would attend as of Monday afternoon local time, the source said.
US Navy destroyer ‘blows a hole’ through Iranian cargo ship that tried to break Hormuz blockade, Trump says  The US seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship after “blowing a hole” in its engine room when it tried to break past the Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump revealed Sunday. The USS Spruance destroyer intercepted Iran’s Touska cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, taking custody of the ship after it refused warnings to stop, according to the president. “Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them,” Trump boasted on Truth Social. “Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel,” the president added. “The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” Islamic Guard takes full control of Iran, sidelines moderates: analysts
Iran says ‘no decision’ has been made whether to attend second round of peace talks with US UN Amb. Waltz: Trump Willing to Escalate Iran Conflict  Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday that President Donald Trump is prepared to escalate the conflict with Iran if peace negotiations fail, defending potential U.S. strikes on infrastructure and rejecting claims such actions would be war crimes. Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," ABC's "This Week," and CBS' "Face the Nation," Waltz repeatedly said "all options are on the table" ahead of a Wednesday ceasefire deadline and renewed talks expected Monday in Islamabad. "The president has made it very clear. He is prepared to escalate to de-escalate this conflict," Waltz said on "Meet the Press." Waltz pushed back on criticism from Democrat lawmakers and others who have warned that targeting bridges, power plants, and other infrastructure could violate international law.
DOJ demands 865K Detroit ballots, threatening possible legal action Assistant AG Dhillon vows to keep pressure on Democrat-run states objecting to probes  Michigan is among states doubling down on rejecting Trump administration investigations and oversight into elections, claiming protection of the right to vote, potentially setting up a battle that could escalate to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Justice Department is demanding roughly 865,000 ballots and hundreds of thousands of related election records from the Detroit area’s 2024 election, threatening to seek a court order if the materials are not turned over within 14 days. In an April 14 letter to Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon asked for "all ballots (including absentee and provisional), ballot receipts, and ballot envelopes" from the November 2024 federal election, saying the department was acting under federal records-retention law and investigating whether election laws were followed. Energy Chief: Gas Prices Could Stay Above $3 per Gallon Until Next Year  Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday he believes gas prices have peaked but predicted that they may stay above $3 per gallon until next year. Gas prices have risen during the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran and Iranian attacks on nearby countries, creating political headwinds for President Donald Trump ahead of the November midterm elections, where his Republican Party will defend slim majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives. Gas below $3 a gallon "could happen later this year, that might not happen until next year. But prices have likely peaked, and they'll start going down," Wright told CNN’s "State of the Union" program. "Certainly with the resolution of this conflict, you’ll see prices go down."
Netanyahu, Milei Announce Isaac Agreement, Trump Credited  The governments of Israel, Argentina, and the United States on Sunday jointly announced the launch of the "Isaac Accords," a new trilateral and hemispheric strategic framework aimed at deepening cooperation on security, economic development, and democratic alignment across the Western Hemisphere. The joint declaration, announced at a press conference in Jerusalem by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Argentine President Javier Milei, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, describes the Isaac Accords as a platform for "strengthening cooperation between Argentina, Israel, and like-minded partners in the Western Hemisphere." Huckabee credited President Donald Trump as instrumental to the agreement, saying he helped "change swords into plowshares." The ambassador described the Isaac Accords as "an extraordinary opportunity" for Israel and Argentina to do something that would change "the Western Hemisphere, the Middle East, and the rest of the world."
US military announces another deadly strike against 'narco-terrorists' Three men were killed in the strike, SOUTHCOM noted  The U.S. military announced that it killed three "narco-terrorists" in a Sunday strike. (US Southern Command via X) The U.S. military announced another deadly strike against a vessel that it alleges was involved in "narco-trafficking" efforts. "On April 19, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," U.S. Southern Command indicated in a post on X. "Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the post continued. Virginia redistricting referendum could have national implications  Virginia’s redistricting referendum could have a seismic political impact on congressional districts in the commonwealth, but if it passes, it could also affect the balance of power in the U.S. House. Several states have undergone redistricting since President Donald Trump announced he wanted Republican-led states to do everything possible to add GOP seats. But Virginia would potentially undergo the biggest change of any state, since Democrats currently hold only a 6-5 edge in the state’s congressional delegation. Democrats could gain a 10-1 advantage with redrawn districts. “In many ways, what happens in Virginia, may very well be the deciding factor in terms of which party controls Congress next year,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “If the amendment passes, that’s a significant advantage for Democrats going into those November 2026 midterms.” That’s because the GOP House majority remains razor thin. Senate Republicans hope Supreme Court ‘surprise’ could help save majority  Senate Republicans who fear their three-seat majority could be in danger in this year’s midterm election would welcome the retirement of conservative Justice Samuel Alito as an “October surprise” that could change their political fortunes by rallying GOP-leaning voters to the polls. GOP senators are being careful not to prod Alito, a leading conservative voice on the high court, out the door, but privately hope that a retirement announcement in the fall could shift several races in their direction. They think this would help their party in this year’s Senate elections just as the battle over Justice Brett Kavanaugh did in the 2018 midterms. Supposed new Iran peace talks are looking more like a joke than a hope By New York Post Editorial Board
As US negotiators head back to Pakistan for more peace talks, we have to ask: What’s the point? It wasn’t even clear as of late Sunday if the Iranians would send a team to talk: At least one Tehran-run news outlet was saying they wouldn’t. And if negotiators do show, it’s likely that any concessions they make will get vetoed by the real powers back home. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced to the world that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely opened” for commercial vessels, news that President Donald Trump joyfully shared with the world. Then Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the parliament speaker, said Trump had it wrong — and Tehran’s forces on Saturday opened fire on multiple tankers as they proceeded toward the Strait. Top Democrat governors are hoping to ride their records to the White House. Can they? IRS data shows taxpayers fleeing all top blue states as regulatory burdens and energy costs continue to climb By Brooke Medina
The midterms are quickly approaching, and while political pundits are focused on the battle for the U.S. House and Senate, a handful of governors’ races could have a significant impact on 2028. Governors serve as the chief executive of their state, with broad authority to enforce laws, oversee state agencies and manage the executive branch. Those agencies shape everything from education to healthcare, business regulation, public safety, infrastructure and public health. This November, Americans in 36 states will head to the ballot box to decide who holds that power — and they should choose carefully. Although state politics is often overshadowed by Washington, D.C., nothing quite shapes American daily life like what happens at the state level — and the governor sits at the center of it all. Voters should pay close attention to the gubernatorial races in Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Democratic Govs. JB Pritzker, Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro are all seeking re-election while quietly auditioning for 2028. The Democrat Party’s bench of possible contenders consists primarily of current or former governors — a notable shift from recent years of nominating candidates from Capitol Hill. |
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