Senate prepares to vote on Trump's SAVE Act. And, takeaways from last night's Oscars

"The conflict in the Middle East shows no signs of slowing down as Israel announced new strikes on western Iran yesterday. Iran's foreign minister has denied President Trump's claim that Iran asked for a ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, cutting off a quarter of oil and natural gas supplies from the rest of the world."

"One major question about the war is whether it will end with Iran still in possession of its highly enriched uranium, which it could use to build a nuclear weapon. Iran says it is buried under the rubble of last year's war. While Iran's military is weakened, the regime remains intact and capable of causing global disruption."

"As gas prices soar, global markets struggle and polls show that Americans are skeptical of the war, Trump's administration is pushing a message of victory. The administration at first struggled to provide clear justification for U.S. involvement in this war, leaving it politically vulnerable."

Israel announced new strikes on western Iran and is expanding ground operations in Lebanon, opening a second military front. Iran's foreign minister denied Trump's ceasefire claims, while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, restricting a quarter of global oil and natural gas supplies. A critical unresolved question concerns Iran's highly enriched uranium and nuclear weapons capability. Israel's military operations in Iran are planned for the next three weeks, with simultaneous diplomatic efforts in Lebanon. Rising gas prices, struggling global markets, and American skepticism about the war complicate the situation. The Trump administration emphasizes victory messaging to shift political narrative toward collective strength despite initial struggles justifying U.S. involvement.

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