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Stock markets tank to Iran war lows after Trump threatens to 'blow them away'
U.S. stocks plummeted on Thursday to their lowest since the war in Iran broke out following Trump administration comments.The largest daily decline hit as oil prices skyrocketed after President Donald Trump signaled he was turning up the pressure on Iran to accept his terms to end the ongoing war, The New York Times reported. “We’ll just keep blowing them away, unimpeded,” Trump said during his cabinet meeting, which was the first gathering of his top administration officials since military strikes began. The drop sank even lower after the meeting, just after the S&P 500 opened lower.The index slipped 1.7 percent, which was the largest daily drop since January. That set the index now for the fifth straight week of losses — the first time in four years that has happened. Economic uncertainty, climbing gas prices, and higher interest rates, combined with ongoing negotiations with Iran, had set the market on a downward spiral. The factors were all part of the continued concerns among investors over when the Iran war would end, according to The Times.
Trump reveals major Iran development as pressure mounts at home
President Donald Trump signaled that negotiations were underway with Iran — and that he would pause military strikes — while simultaneously attacking the media in a new social media announcement.Trump has come under fire over the American public's response to the joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes in Iran, as calls have increased for the conflict to end as oil prices rise and the stock market takes serious hits. He said that the Iranian government requested to stop the strikes amid the talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the second time Trump has said he would pause strikes. Trump posted the following on his Truth Social platform: "As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time. Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well."The military action in Iran started on Feb. 28 and has led to the death of 13 U.S. troops and hundreds of injured service members.
Trump losing top Fox News ally as MAGA host warns of 'cascading problems'
President Donald Trump has apparently started to lose support from one of his loyal Fox News allies as doubts rise over his decision to continue the war against Iran, according to reports on Thursday. Fox News host and conservative ally Laura Ingraham had a skeptical response to the Trump administration's war on Wednesday night during a live broadcast, Media Matters for America reported. Ingraham warned that as the United States escalates its military action in the Middle East, it could prompt dire and "unintended consequences." She argued that Trump and his administration should focus on America's economy and political situation. "Iran knows it cannot win militarily, so it's using the leverage it has by prolonging the conflict," Ingraham said during her monologue leading the show. "Now, what do they want to do? They want to inflict maximum economic pain on the region, on the U.S., [on] the global economy as much as possible until they think Trump relents. But the White House doesn't seem to be blinking."The host pointed to a clip featuring White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said during a press briefing on Wednesday that "President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell." Ingraham described why Leavitt's comments were problematic and what that could mean for not just Iran, but the region as a whole, especially as Republicans anticipate tough midterms ahead. "Well, the problem is obviously unleashing hell means destroying infrastructure, which itself causes a series of cascading problems for the region, including maybe outside the region — political problems for the president in a midterm election year," Ingraham said.Trump has often looked to Fox News and its voices to gain further insights and potentially influence his next moves. "The power struggle is significant — it is not an exaggeration to suggest the course of the war might hinge on which Fox shows the president is watching," according to the outlet. And although Ingraham could be one of the few Fox News broadcasters expressing concerns about the Iran war, her voice could carry some weight. "Ingraham is inching toward the type of dissent that has been virtually absent from Fox’s coverage of the war, even as the broader right-wing media has split," according to Media Matters for America. "Her colleagues have played key roles in convincing Trump to attack in the first place and are pushing for risky escalations. Ingraham herself briefly quibbled with Trump’s handling of an apparent U.S. strike that leveled an Iranian school, killing scores of children, but had supported the war itself, which she declared three weeks ago that Trump had already won."
'Put America first!' CPAC attendee 'not happy at all' with Trump
CNN's Donie O'Sullivan talked to one attendee at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, who slammed President Donald Trump over his war in Iran."I'm at CPAC in Dallas," O'Sullivan explained on Thursday. "It's the biggest conservative conference in the country. And lots of people here are talking about the war in Iran. Trump is not speaking at this event this year.""But in the past, when he has spoken here, he's talked a lot about not starting new wars," he noted.Attendee Alex Stone told O'Sullivan that he was "not happy" with Trump because of the war."I'm not happy. I'm not happy at all. I mean, President Trump ran on no new wars," he explained. "I feel like we've been co-opted into a war that shouldn't be ours. It should be Israel's."Do you still support him? the CNN correspondent wondered."I want him to succeed," Stone hedged. "I think it's to be determined on, you know, if I can remain to support him. We'll see how the next six months go, and I'll see what happens.""We hear the phrase America first," he added. "Let's put America first."However, many CPAC attendees still supported the president."This is not a war," Shawn Michael insisted. "Oh my God, I absolutely support the president of the United States of America!"
Nepal’s PM-to-be uses rap to call for unity in first post-election message
Balendra Shah, 35, is a symbol of change in country whose government was toppled last year in youth-led uprisingNepal’s rapper turned politician Balendra Shah, who is about to be sworn in as prime minister, has issued his first post-election message in the form of a rap urging unity.Hours before the release he swore an oath as a newly elected lawmaker, and he is due to become the Himalayan republic’s new prime minister on Friday. Continue reading...
'He's talking about the ballroom': CNN anchor sums up Trump's wartime cabinet meeting
CNN's Wolf Blitzer returned from a commercial break to summarize the multiple topics President Donald Trump addressed during his latest cabinet meeting on Thursday. The 79-year-old president addressed a variety of topics after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided a rosy update on the war in Iran, and Blitzer caught viewers up to speed before returning to the meeting at the White House."Welcome back, we're continuing to follow the news over at the White House, the cabinet meeting," Blitzer said. "The president over the last several minutes has been getting into all sorts of other issues beyond the war with Iran, beyond the TSA lines at the airports. He's talking about the ballroom that he's building at the White House, talking about the new Trump Kennedy Center building that he wants to close for two years and then rebuild. Talking about all sorts of other issues, going after Democrats at the same time. Let's go back to the cabinet."CNN cut back to Trump, who embarked on a four-minute tale about ink pens, with a brief discursion into his ongoing grievances against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and renovations at the central bank's headquarters, and the entire room burst into laughter as he wrapped up his story and handed off to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent."Well, sir, as always, you're a tough act to follow," Bessent said."All right," Blitzer said, as producers cut away. "We're going to continue to monitor this cabinet meeting. Scott Bessent, the treasury secretary, just beginning his remarks, heard from the president. It's been going on now for almost an hour. We'll take another quick break." - YouTube youtu.be
'Disgrace!' White House lashes out at defecting Trump official's 'laughable' claim
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was irritated on Wednesday after a reporter mentioned Joe Kent — the top Trump intelligence official who resigned after claiming President Donald Trump changed his story on the Iran war.Leavitt was responding to a reporter's question during a White House press briefing and had a sharp reaction to the comments from Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center and close MAGA ally who stepped down last week from his role. Kent has said that Iran "posed no imminent threat to our nation" and that the president acted under "pressure from Israel.""Joe Kent said that the president's red line shifted from 'Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon' to 'Iran cannot pursue nuclear enrichment.' What is the administration's response to that criticism?" the reporter asked. Leavitt had a strong response to Kent's comments. "I think the president and I have both strongly responded to the criticism by Mr. Kent, who unfortunately resigned in disgrace and accused the president of basically being controlled by foreign countries and foreign manipulation, which is a ridiculous and laughable assertion," Leavitt said. "So his accusations have zero credibility as far as this White House is concerned." The reporter pressed further, "the question of the red line shifting from no nuclear weapon to no nuclear enrichment, is there any substance to that argument?"Leavitt pushed back on the question. "I think the president has been quite clear on what he wants to see from the Iranian regime, which is why he chose to launch Operation Epic Fury in the first place," Leavitt said.Q: Joe Kent said the president's red line shifted from 'Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon' to 'Iran cannot pursue nuclear enrichment.' What is the president's response?LEAVITT: Mr Kent resigned in disgrace. He has 0 credibilityQ: But the question of the red line shifting?… pic.twitter.com/3mdhr5pKJB— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 25, 2026
TSA staffing collapse threatens to destroy crown jewel in Trump's year
The Transportation Security Administration staffing crisis has hit a point that could impact one of the biggest events in President Donald Trump's year: the FIFA World Cup. Ha Nguyen McNeill, the acting TSA administrator, said during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Wednesday that more than 480 TSA workers have quit since the DHS shutdown started 39 days ago, Politico reported. She cited workers who sleep in their cars, sell their own blood or plasma, or take on second jobs to try and make ends meet while the government shutdown has left them unpaid. And with millions of people set to arrive in the U.S. for the major sporting event, he flagged looming chaos.“This is a dire situation. We are facing a potential, perfect storm of severe staffing shortages and an influx of millions of passengers at our airports in less than 80 days,” McNeill said. Hiring and training new TSA officers generally takes about four to six months, which is approaching the time of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. “If we see any spikes [in attrition], we’re going to have to pivot and assess how we are going to staff the FIFA locations adequately,” McNeill said.The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking a significant international sporting event that Trump has boasted will bring millions of visitors to North American venues during the summer months."McNeill warned that any officers the agency hires in the coming months won’t be ready to work checkpoint lanes during the FIFA World Cup this summer," according to Politico. More officers have called out during the stalemate, especially at major airports, which has prompted security screening lanes to consolidate, resulting in longer lines and wait times. Smaller airports have considered closing if they can't have enough staff, she explained. If the shutdown continues through Friday, the TSA workforce was expected to lose an estimated $1 billion in missed paychecks.
Australia refuses to say how many Chinese nationals are arriving by boat, saying it may damage bilateral relations
Exclusive: Indonesia reports growing number of attempts by Chinese nationals to organise boat journeys, as Australian authorities refuse to reveal detailsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government has refused to reveal how many Chinese nationals have arrived in Australia by boat since 2024, saying that disclosing the figure may harm relations with other countries.However, reports by Indonesian police show that there has been a consistent trend of Chinese nationals attempting to reach Australia through Indonesia as an alternative to “zouxian”, or “walking the line” – the illegal migration route through Central America to the US via the Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama. Continue reading...
Experts fume at Trump after human rights advocate condemned to 'civil death'
Academics and human rights experts were aghast on Tuesday as President Donald Trump condemned an advocate to what amounts to a "civil death." Francesca Albanese, who worked as a special rapporteur for the United Nations in Palestine, has faced significant public pressure from the Trump administration since she recommended that the International Criminal Court issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's defense minister Yoav Gallant, and three leaders of Hamas for committing war crimes during the war in Gaza, five experts wrote in a new op-ed for The Guardian. The Trump administration has imposed sweeping sanctions against Albanese for her recommendation, the experts noted. For instance, she can't open a bank account or draw a salary from the university where she teaches. "As the U.S. Supreme Court recognized 60 years ago, the threat of sanctions can deter speech as effectively as the sanctions themselves – and this violates both the U.S. Constitution and international human rights law," they wrote in the op-ed. "Trump’s retribution against Albanese should concern far more than those focused on Israel’s human rights record," they added. "It should trouble anyone who believes in free speech. Today, the target is a UN expert. Tomorrow it could be journalists, scholars, peaceful protesters – or any citizen who challenges those in power. When a government claims the authority to police ideas, everyone’s liberty is on the line."
Analysts torch leaked Trump peace deal: 'No idea why anyone thinks Iran will agree'
Political analysts and observers were astounded by a new report on Tuesday that included leaked details about a potential peace deal for the war in Iran. Phil Stewart, chief national security correspondent at Reuters, posted a few details leaked to Israel's Channel 12 on X. The 15-point plan includes stipulations that Iran agree not to enrich uranium, close three nuclear facilities, stop funding regional proxies, and agree to a "free trade zone" in the Strait of Hormuz. The details were released at a time when the Trump administration is facing significant scrutiny for its shifting story about why the war was started and the fallout from rising energy prices due to the Iranian regime effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Political analysts and observers shared their reactions on social media. "With what leverage, sir?" military veteran John Jackson posted on X. "Iran promised Obama the same thing," Pradheep Shanker, National Review contributor, posted on X. "I have no idea why anyone thinks that #Iran will agree to this. Feels like the White House is negotiating with itself," Nadav Pollak, lecturer on the Middle East at Reichman University, posted on X. "Big question will be, how many of these 15 points are recycled from Trump 1.0’s 12-points on Iran. And if so, what are the 3 new ones, as well as how much have these points been adjusted to account for the new regional/domestic reality," Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran program senior director for FDD, a nonpartisan think tank, posted on X.
15-point document leaks containing terms of Iran peace deal: report
A 15-point document containing terms of a potential peace deal for the war in Iran was leaked to Israel's Channel 12 on Tuesday, according to a report. Phil Stewart, chief national security correspondent at Reuters, posted four of the deal terms on X. They include Iran agreeing not to enrich any uranium in the country, agreeing to decommission the Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow nuclear plants, stopping funding of proxies in the region like Hezbollah, and agreeing to a "free maritime zone" in the Strait of Hormuz. The terms were released at a time when President Donald Trump was facing significant scrutiny for the administration's decision to start the war by coordinating a bombing campaign with Israel in late February. Global oil markets have also been rocked by the war. Over the last month, the price of a barrel of crude oil has increased by nearly 30%, reaching $88.70 at the end of trading on Tuesday. While that price is the lowest since March 11, some economists are increasingly concerned that the war could tip the U.S. economy into a recession.
