A leaked exchange suggests Sergey Lavrov coordinated with Hungary’s foreign minister Szijjarto to block Ukraine’s EU accession talks, discussing minority rights wording as a key lever in negotiations. The interaction points to alignment between Moscow and Budapest on slowing Kyiv’s EU path. #Hungary

Corrected Trump Cycle ⤵️

Why Trump Mishandled Iran The U.S. president has a history of following other world leaders—or his gut—instead of his own intelligence officers and experts.

Iran War Cease-Fire: Why Trump Mishandled Tehran @foreignpolicy.com
The U.S. president has a history of following other world leaders—or his gut—instead of his own intelligence officers and experts. ☑️
foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/08/i...

The “art” of Trump’s “deals” is his ability to convince millions of people that there is a deal when there isn’t.

❗️Iran accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire and responded by launching a drone strike on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline. Tehran also halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has told mediators that further negotiations are conditional upon a full ceasefire in Lebanon. #Iran

The Posse Comitatus workaround: ICE expands into domestic policing Congress gave ICE a $75 billion budget with few strings attached, allowing it to operate beyond its intended scope and bypass traditional checks on power, raising constitutional concerns.

ICE's Role Expansion: Bypassing Constitutional Limits @thehill.com 🤬
Sixty years of constitutional law on administrative warrants and the Fourth Amendment didn’t anticipate an agency that now operates across the full spectrum, from civil immigration enforcement to general domestic security …

Loomer: US ‘didn’t really get anything’ out of Iran ceasefire negotiation Conservative influencer Laura Loomer sharply criticized the temporary ceasefire agreement reached by the U.S. and Iran on Tuesday evening, railing against diplomatic negotiations as a “negative for…

Laura Loomer Hits Donald Trump's Temporary Truce With Iran as a 'Negative for Our Country' @thehill.com
“We didn’t really get anything out of it and the terrorists in Iran are celebrating,” she wrote in one post on social platform X. 🤭
thehill.com/homenews/adm...

Cook Political Report shifts 5 House races toward Democrats The Cook Political Report on Tuesday shifted five House races toward Democrats and one toward Republicans, as the minority party seeks to take back control of the House in the November midterms. Th…

Cook Political Report Shifts 5 House Races Toward Democrats @thehill.com
“But of those Republicans, 14 are in Toss Up, giving Democrats plenty of opportunities to flip the three seats they need for a majority next year.” 👍
thehill.com/homenews/cam...

Iran demands $1 per barrel of oil passing through Strait of Hormuz, paid in crypto Iran will require ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to pay the cryptocurrency equivalent of $1 per barrel of oil on board during the two-week ceasefire with the U.S,  a key figure told the…

Iran Demands $1 per Barrel of Oil Passing Through Strait of Hormuz, Paid in Crypto @thehill.com
thehill.com/policy/energ...

Angry Italy protests to Israel after shots fired at UN in Lebanon Israeli forces have acted illegally by shooting at positions used by U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Thursday, denouncing it as a possible war crime.

Angry Italy Protests to Israel After Shots Fired at UN in #Lebanon @reuters.com
Israeli forces have acted illegally by shooting at positions used by U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Thursday, denouncing it as a possible war crime. ☑️

Middle East War Live: Ceasefire Under Pressure as Strikes Continue @financialtimes.com
Iran threatens to withdraw from agreement over Israeli attacks on Lebanon
www.ft.com/content/2868...

Early Edition: April 8, 2026 A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours.

Today's news roundup:
-Macron says more than 15 countries planning to facilitate Strait of Hormuz access after U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal
-Trump and Vance cheer on Orban at election rally
-Anthropic says its new AI model is too powerful for public release
👇
www.justsecurity.org/135907/early...

White House pushed Pakistan to broker temporary Iran ceasefire Idea for pause in fighting originated from Donald Trump’s team even as he escalated threats against Iran

White House pushed Pakistan to broker temporary Iran ceasefire ft.trib.al/zetmEco

‘A wow moment’: Democrats make big gains in key battlegrounds They notched a landslide victory in Wisconsin and cut into the GOP’s margins in Georgia’s reddest House district.

Dems just had one of their best election nights since Trump returned to the White House. Again.

The results in the battleground states are the latest repudiation from voters of Trump and his agenda and a warning for the GOP heading into the midterms.

Last night’s showdown was a clear victory for Iran and a clear defeat for Trump — although he’ll of course frame it as a victory.

Some thoughts on the bigger picture... robertreich.substack.com/p/how-to-defeat-trump-ev...

John Maynard Keynes saved capitalism from itself But America’s past economic success is no guarantee of its future, writes Joseph Stiglitz

But America’s past economic success is no guarantee of its future, writes Joseph Stiglitz

China Trumpets ‘Own Efforts’ in Pushing For US-Iran Ceasefire A Chinese diplomat said Beijing had made its “own efforts” in pushing for a ceasefire between the US and Iran, shortly after Donald Trump credited China with playing a pivotal role in that deal.

China Trumpets ‘Own Efforts’ in Pushing for US-Iran Ceasefire @bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

After clashes with Hegseth, Army secretary says he isn’t going anywhere Dan Driscoll, praised by the White House, said in a statement to The Washington Post that “I have no plans to depart or resign as the Secretary of the Army.”

Petey in trouble? 🤞
—
After Clashes With #Hegseth, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Says He’s Going Nowhere @washingtonpost.com
Dan Driscoll, praised by the White House for his efforts during the Iran war, said … that “I have no plans to depart or resign as the Secretary of the Army.”

Exclusive | Ford Asks Trump Administration for Relief as Tariffs Pummel F-150 The Detroit company and other carmakers are reeling after a domestic supplier went offline, but the administration hasn’t budged.

Ford Asks Trump Administration for Relief as #Tariffs Pummel F-150 @wsj.com
The Detroit company and other carmakers reel after a domestic supplier goes offline, but the administration hasn’t budged
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...

A new recession red flag: the "Vicious Cycle Index" The "Vicious Cycle Index" is sending a warning sign about the job market and the economy.

A New Recession Red Flag: the "Vicious Cycle Index" @axios.com
• The unemployment rate in March was 4.3%, just 0.1 percentage point higher than a year ago …
• But the labor force participation rate has fallen more — about a half percentage point from last year.
www.axios.com/2026/04/08/j...

A new recession red flag: the "Vicious Cycle Index" The "Vicious Cycle Index" is sending a warning sign about the job market and the economy.

A New Recession Red Flag: the "Vicious Cycle Index" @axios.com
By the numbers: The unemployment rate in March was 4.3%, just 0.1 percentage point higher than a year ago, according to federal data released last week.
• But the labor force participation rate has fallen more …
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Inflation is set to spike — and Americans are already feeling it Higher prices in jet fuel, steel, aluminum, natural gas, fertilizer, and plastics are fueling inflation overall.

@businessinsider.com
• Friday's inflation report will offer a look at what the Iran war made more expensive in March.
• The increase is expected to be the biggest in two years. 😬
• From cars to air travel and food, inflationary pressures are already showing up across the economy.
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After pager attack on Hezbollah, Hungary offered help to Iran Revelations about a 2024 call offering assistance raise questions about Hungary’s ties to Iran as the Trump administration backs Prime Minister Viktor Orban for reelection.

After Pager Attack on Hezbollah, #Hungary Offered Help to #Iran @washingtonpost.com
Revelations about a 2024 call offering aid raise questions about Hungary’s ties to Iran as the Trump administration is supporting Prime Minister Viktor Orban for reelection.‼️
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...

Trump's MAGA media wall collapses The architects of MAGA's media empire are in open revolt against Trump.

Trump's MAGA Media Wall Collapses @axios.com ☑️
The architects of MAGA's media empire are in open revolt against President Trump, disgusted by his threat to destroy Iran's "whole civilization."‼️
www.axios.com/2026/04/08/t...

Anthropic's new model went rogue in testing Inside the alarming test results for Mythos.

Anthropic's New Mythos Model System Card Shows Devious Behaviors @axios.com
Why it matters: The detailed safety evaluation reads like a thriller about an AI that has learned some of humanity's most devious behaviors. 😬
www.axios.com/2026/04/08/m...

Trump's MAGA media wall collapses The architects of MAGA's media empire are in open revolt against Trump.

The architects of MAGA's media empire are in open revolt against President Trump, accusing him of betraying the "America First" promises that built the movement.

What the US, Iran, Israel and Pakistan have said about the ceasefire The United States, Israel and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, reached with Pakistani mediation, and U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to hold talks on Friday to discuss a long-term set...

@reuters.com
While Tehran and Washington have agreed to talks, Iran's 10-point proposals - which U.S. President Donald Trump said offered a "workable basis" ​for negotiations - show little overlap with a 15-point plan Washington previously put forward, suggesting there will be major gaps to bridge.

Relief at truce gives way to alarm as Israel pounds Lebanon and Iran hits neighbours Relief over a truce between the United States and Iran gave way on Wednesday to alarm ​that fighting was still raging across the region, as Israel launched its biggest attacks yet on Lebanon, and Iran...

US and Iran Agree to Truce; Huge Strikes on Lebanon as Israel Escalates @reuters.com
• US has not confirmed plan for Friday in-person talks
• Senior Iranian official says Strait could open this week if talks framework agreed
• Israel escalates its campaign in Lebanon 🤬

Israel carries out large wave of air strikes across Lebanon Attacks hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley hours after a US-Iran ceasefire was announced.

Israel Carries Out Large Wave of Air Strikes Across #Lebanon | BBC 🤬
This happened hours after the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, denied the assertion by Pakistan … that the deal also covered the devastating conflict here⁉️
www.bbc.com/news/article...
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