⣿⡟⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠉⣿⣿⣿ ⡟⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⢀⣠⣰⣶⣽⣽⣷⣶⣀⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⣿⣿⣿ ⠁⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⡀⢀⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⣆⡀⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⣀⠄⠄⣿⣿⣿ ⠄⠄⠄⠄⣤⣾⠟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣿⣷⣶⣾⣿⠄⢀⣿⣿⣿ ⠄⠄⠄⠈⠉⠰⣷⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⢿⢿⡿⣿⣿⠄⢸⣷⣿⣿ ⠄⠄⠄⠄⢀⣼⣿⣻⣿⡿⠿⠿⠆⠄⠄⠄⠈⢙⣿⡇⠉⠄⠄⠄⠄⣰⣞⡏⠄⢸⡿⣿⣿ ⢀⠄⠄⢀⢸⢿⣿⣟⣷⣦⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⣷⣐⣼⣿⣷⠄⣠⣴⣤⣤⣄⢉⡄⠄⠸⠇⣿⣿ ⣶⣇⣤⡎⠘⠁⠐⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⡇⡶⣥⣴⣿⣿ ⢣⣛⡍⠸⠄⠄⠄⠈⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⢈⣿⣿⣿⡇⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠃⠄⢜⣿⣿⣿ ⠃⠋⠼⠥⠄⢠⠄⠐⣠⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢁⠈⠉⠛⠛⠛⠋⠈⠟⣿⣿⡏⠄⢸⢸⣽⣿⣿⣿ ⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠈⠄⠠⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣦⣤⣀⣤⣤⡀⢨⠿⣇⠄⣿⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠄⣾⣾⡇⡀⠄⠄⢀⢢⣽⣿⣿⡿⠿⠻⠿⠛⠛⠿⠛⠻⠜⡽⣸⣿⣿⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣷⠎⢡⡭⠂⠄⠄⠄⠄⠺⣿⣿⣷⣾⢿⠙⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠳⢶⣿⣿⡿⢋⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠁⠄⢸⣿⡄⡀⠄⠄⠄⠈⠙⠽⣿⣷⣷⣶⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⣠⣬⣏⠉⠁⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠄⠄⢸⣿⣿⣦⡀⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠈⠛⠛⡟⠿⡿⢻⠛⠟⠿⠋⠁

Trump did what today?

4/19/2026

Iran says it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, as ceasefire nears its end

  • Iran has regained control of the Strait of Hormuz, reversing its decision to reopen the waterway.
  • President Trump stated that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports will remain until an agreement is reached.
  • Concerns have risen about oil shipments through the strait, which is crucial for global oil supply.
  • Recent incidents included an attack on a tanker by Iranian forces and a French UN peacekeeper killed in Lebanon.
  • The situation in the region is unstable, affecting many countries and rising tensions.

What's it like to negotiate with Iran? We asked people who have done it

  • Experts say trust issues and negotiation styles make talks with Iran difficult.
  • Previous negotiations took 18 months; quick agreements are unlikely.
  • Iran's past nuclear deal success was due to patience and persistence.
  • The U.S. needs to ensure that any commitments made to Iran are concrete.
  • Fungi-related negotiations and their effects on health also require attention.

Born in south Lebanon, displaced to Beirut, two grandmothers reflect on Israeli invasions

  • Two grandmothers share their experiences of displacement from southern Lebanon due to Israeli invasions.
  • They reflect on their memories of home and the destruction caused by conflict.
  • Both women support Hezbollah, seeing it as a resistance against foreign occupation.
  • The continuing violence has left many Lebanese displaced and uncertain about their future.
  • Despite the ceasefire, fears remain about safety and returning home.

The Iran war created a global natural gas shortage — a windfall for U.S. companies

  • The U.S. has become the largest LNG exporter as a result of shortages caused by the Iran war.
  • Qatar, a major supplier, has been affected, leading to higher gas prices in Asia and Europe.
  • American LNG companies are benefiting from the increased demand and high prices.
  • However, concerns remain about long-term sustainability and potential reliance on alternative energies.
  • Future price increases could push developing countries to shift away from natural gas.

A local judge. A brash 82-year-old senator. State leaders have decided redistricting

  • State lawmakers are redrawing congressional districts, impacting future elections.
  • Some states aim to gain more seats for their political parties through redistricting.
  • The process involves significant local political figures, often without public awareness.
  • Several politicians face public pressure and threats for decisions taken.
  • This mid-decade change adds to the complex political landscape ahead of elections.