“The head of the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday defended his decision to repeal the legal determination that serves as the basis for federal rules to slow climate change, telling a gathering of climate change skeptics that they should ‘celebrate vindication.’ EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin made the remarks in the keynote address at a conference hosted by the Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank that rejects mainstream climate science and what it calls ‘climate alarmism.’ Zeldin told the gathering that repeal of the 2009 ‘endangerment finding’ reversed decades of unthinking adherence to liberal politicians and environmental groups about the dangers of climate change. ‘Today is a day to celebrate. It is a day to celebrate vindication,’ said Zeldin, a former Republican congressman from New York who is widely believed to be under consideration for a possible promotion to attorney general, following Pam Bondi’s forced departure last week.” (04/08/26)
“A federal judge Tuesday refused to block filling prescriptions for the abortion pill mifepristone by mail across the U.S. — at least for now — in a setback to Louisiana’s effort to stifle groups that send it into states where abortion is banned. U.S. District Judge David Joseph, who sits in Lafayette, Louisiana, ruled against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who asked that U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules that allow mifepristone to be dispensed through the mail be paused while a challenge to those 2023 regulations moves through the courts. He granted the government’s request to put the case on hold for now, though he warned that the pause would not be indefinite — and that he could side with Louisiana later.” (04/07/26)
“The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday evening after a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan, canceling an ultimatum from Donald Trump for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction. Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire agreement came less than two hours before the US president’s self-imposed 8pm Eastern time deadline to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges in a move that legal scholars, as well as officials from numerous countries and the Pope, had warned could constitute war crimes. … Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, issued a statement shortly after Trump’s announcement saying Iran had agreed to the ceasefire.” (04/07/26)
“Days of bearish positioning unraveled in about two hours on Tuesday night as bitcoin surged past $72,700 after Trump confirmed a two-week ceasefire with Iran via Truth Social just before his 8 p.m. ET deadline. The move triggered $595 million in total crypto liquidations across 118,489 traders, according to CoinGlass data. Short positions accounted for $427 million versus $168 million in longs, a ratio of more than 2.5-to-1 that reflects just how heavily the market was positioned for further downside heading into the deadline.” (04/08/26)
“U.S. Vice President JD Vance lashed out on Tuesday at what he called ‘disgraceful’ European Union interference in Hungary’s election, even as he openly endorsed Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of both President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, days before the vote. Vance’s visit to Budapest came ahead of Sunday’s election, which independent public opinion polls show Orban is likely to lose. The trip — and the rare endorsement by a sitting U.S. official — underscored how crucial Trump deems the veteran Hungarian nationalist’s reelection. The visit broke with the norms of prior U.S. presidential administrations of not openly campaigning in foreign elections, especially for a government that has maintained close ties with Putin. It was not immediately clear whether Vance’s public support would strengthen Orban’s candidacy.” (04/07/26)
“The World Health Organization has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah crossing after a contractor was killed by Israeli troops on Monday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the contractor (named locally as Majdi Aslan, 54) was killed in a ‘security incident’ and that two staff were present but not injured. He gave no further details. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said the contractor was driving a WHO-rented vehicle in southern Gaza when it was targeted by Israeli forces. Israel’s military said its troops ‘identified an unmarked vehicle approaching them and the Yellow Line, posing an immediate threat,’ referring to the line marking Israeli-held territory. ‘In response, the troops fired warning shots. The vehicle continued to accelerate toward the troops, who then responded with additional fire that hit the vehicle,’ it added. ‘The incident is under review.'” (04/07/26)
“Republicans held onto former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s House seat on Tuesday. Republican Clay Fuller defeated Democrat Shawn Harris in a special runoff election in the state’s 14th Congressional District, giving the GOP another vote for their narrow House majority. But his margin of victory is on track to be less than half of President Donald Trump’s 37-point win in 2024. … The northwest Georgia district is the reddest in the Peach State, and the slimmer margin had Democrats bullish on their ambitious plans to flip seats in November’s midterms.” (04/07/26)
“The biggest prediction market in the U.S. is teaming up with the biggest TV news [sic] channel in the U.S. Kalshi, the betting platform that lets users put their money on the line to predict the outcome of world events (from elections and sporting events to unemployment rates, Oscar winners and updates in the Iran war), has inked a wide-ranging deal with Fox Corp. that will see its forecasts integrated into Fox News [sic], Fox Business Network, Fox One and Fox Weather. Kalsi has been aggressive about inking deals with media partners: It has similar arrangements with both CNN and CNBC, with the goal to get Kalshi-branded forecasts and predictions onscreen.” (04/07/26)
“The rapper formerly known as Kanye West was barred Tuesday from entering the U.K., where he was scheduled to headline the Wireless Festival in July, after a backlash over Ye’s history of antisemitic remarks. Festival organizers canceled the three-day outdoor event as a result of the travel ban and said those who had bought tickets would get refunds. Ye had been granted an electronic travel authorization which has now been withdrawn on the grounds that his presence in the U.K. would not be ‘conducive to the public good,’ CBS News partner network BBC News said, citing the Home Office.” (04/07/26)
“A 2023 Iowa law banning LGBTQ books and topics from being discussed in public school classrooms is taking effect after an appeals court lifted an injunction against it on Tuesday. The Court of Appeals for the Eighth U.S. Circuit ruled against the injunction after a lower court judge blocked the law last year. The law also requires school administrators to inform parents if a student requests accommodations to affirm their gender identity, such as preferred pronouns.” (04/07/26)
