War in the Middle East
Israeli Leading?
Top counterterrorism official Kent resigns over Trump’s Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat (AP)
Oman claims Israel pushed US into Iran war when deal was possible (Guardian)
UK security adviser attended US-Iran talks and judged deal was within reach (Guardian)
IDF kills Iran’s Ali Larijani, Basij commander in largest targeted strikes since Khamenei (Jerusalem Post)
All Iranian officials and commanders killed in the past nine months (EuroNews)
US acknowledges gaps with Israel on Iran war objectives (Politico)
Trump says US ‘very close’ to meeting objectives in Iran, considering ‘winding down’ military efforts
Same page, next story: Israeli-US strikes against Iran will ‘increase significantly,’ Israeli defense minister says (ABC)
Oil/Infrastructure
Iran hits key UAE oil port and Dubai airport (BBC)
Drones attack US embassy in Baghdad, Oil Industry Zone in UAE (Jerusalem Post)
The attacked South Pars natural gas field is an energy lifeline for Iran (AP)
Strike on key Iranian gas field is a new phase of the war. Trump blames Israel. (Politico)
Iran tells Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE to evacuate energy facilities after Israel hits gas field (Middle East Eye)
Thurs morning: Qatar, Saudi energy sites attacked; Riyadh says trust gone (Al Jazeera)
Iran attack wipes out 17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up to five years, QatarEnergy CEO says (CNBC)
Trump is poised to take Iran’s Kharg Island. Here’s what could unfold next. (Politico)
Iran says US and Israel attacked Natanz nuclear facility (Al Jazeera)
Trump fumes at NATO for refusing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, and embraces going it alone (AP)
Seven U.S. allies back potential Strait of Hormuz coalition (Axios)
Trump ready to put boots on the ground in Iran (Telegraph)
Trump waives Jones Act shipping rules for 60 days to steady oil market (CNBC)
Crossroads: The Indiana Angle
Pentagon seeks more than $200 billion in budget request for Iran war (WaPo)
Fed meeting recap: Powell says inflation isn’t coming down as much as ‘hoped’ (CNBC)
Middle East conflict sends fertilizer prices soaring for Indiana farmers (WRTV)
As gas prices surge, Hoosiers are feeling the impact of rising food prices (WRTV)
Fort Wayne nonprofit struggling with higher gas prices (WPTA)
City councilor backs Big Tech as his neighbors lose data center fight (Mirror Indy)
Utility profits rise as household bills soar, new analysis finds (Stateline)
Indiana’s foreclosure rate ranks worst in country, according to new data (WFYI)
Many speak out at Henderson (KY) public meeting on wind energy ordinance (WFIE)
Education
High Fuel Prices Pinch School Districts (FOX19 Cincinnati)
This is a 2025 article, but watch how prescient it is.
Indianapolis Public Schools plans to cut millions from school budgets as financial pressures mount (Chalkbeat)
Gov. Braun considers childcare cost strategies heading into the 2027 budget session (FOX59)
Braun unveils $1 billion agriculture and life sciences initiative (ICC)
New Indiana law updates Ivy Tech governance, doubles down on workforce mission (ICC)
Report: Hoosier boys and young men falling behind (Axios)
DHS/ICE
Latest federal payment to state for ICE detainees more than triples (ICC)
Outrage as Afghan asylum seeker who fought alongside US dies in ICE custody (Al Jazeera)
19-year-old Mexican immigrant dies in ICE custody this week, agency says (ABC)
Amid Nashville reporter arrest, do immigrants have free speech rights? (Tennessean)
Border Patrol official Bovino who led Minnesota operation to retire (Axios)
Gregory Bovino left DHS to avoid internal investigations into his deportation tactics, insider reveals (Independent)
Some DHS contractors told White House officials they were asked to pay Corey Lewandowski (NBC)
Democrats call for DOJ to investigate if Kristi Noem lied to Congress (USA Today)
Mullin presents himself as a different kind of DHS secretary during tense confirmation hearing (Politico)
More airport disruptions expected as TSA agents quit amid first weekend without full pay (CNN)
Other International News
Cuba
Cuba reports island-wide blackout as country struggles with energy crisis (PBS)
Trump says he’ll have the ‘honor of taking Cuba’ and can do ‘anything I want with it’ (Independent)
Cuba will allow nationals living abroad to invest in and own businesses on the island (NBC)
First international aid convoy arrives in crisis-hit Cuba (France24)
Venezuela
Delcy Rodriguez replaces Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino (Al Jazeera)
Colombia
DEA names Colombian president ‘priority target’ as US prosecutors probe ties to drug traffickers (AP)
Asia
The Iran war throws Trump’s China trip into doubt, but Beijing doesn’t seem to mind waiting (NBC)
Trump compares Iran strikes with Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (Japan Times)
Behind the word ‘exercise’ in Greenland hid blood, explosives and the most serious situation since April 9, 1940 (DR)
Erosion of Democracy
‘Trump is aiming for dictatorship’. That’s the verdict of the world’s most credible democracy watchdog (Guardian)
The Trump Administration Just Won a Terrifying Victory Over Protesters (TNR)
Kennedy Center votes to shut down operations for 2 years and names a new president (Politico)
Judge orders 1,000 Voice of America staffers back to work in rebuke to Kari Lake (NPR)
Trump Threatens Treason Charges for Reporters Covering Iran War (TNR)
FCC chair invites bipartisan backlash as MAGA battle with press intensifies (The Hill)
DOJ
Kash Patel admits under oath FBI is buying location data on Americans (Guardian)
Comer subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein files (Politico)
Furious Dems threaten Bondi impeachment, contempt after briefing (Axios)
Democrat Reveals Epstein File That Blows Huge Hole in Trump’s Story (TNR)
Bank of America settles lawsuit from Jeffrey Epstein accusers, scuttling Leon Black deposition (Business Insider)
DOJ moves to permanently dismiss case against 2 ex-LMPD officers in Breonna Taylor case (WLKY)
Robert Mueller, former FBI director and special counsel in Trump-Russia probe, dies (CNN)
Courts, Crime & Punishment
Chief Justice Roberts says personal criticism of judges is dangerous and has ‘got to stop’ (ABC)
Arizona AG files criminal charges against Kalshi over ‘illegal gambling’ (NPR)
Woman charged with attempted murder under Georgia abortion law (WABE)
South Bend Police drone program provides first responders with eyes in the sky (WSBT)
AI-Powered Robot Dogs Guarding Reviled Data Centers Is Where We Have Arrived (Common Dreams)
Another inmate seriously injured in fire at Indiana State Prison (WTHR)
Elections
Illinois Primary
Indiana
A Marion County judge failed judicial review, will be withheld from November ballot (WFYI)
Braun campaign committee sues ex-treasurer (ICC)
Court OKs new judge in Indiana GOP state senate primary case (Tribune-Star)
Republican primary ads launch in support of Trump’s call for redistricting revenge (WLFI)
Labor
BP locks out more than 800 union workers at Whiting refinery after contract negotiations fail (Sun-Times)
Workers in Colorado Have Shut Down One of the Nation’s Biggest Meatpacking Plants (Mother Jones)
Cesar Chavez abused and raped women and girls, NYT investigation says (NPR)
Finally This Week
101st Anniversary of the 1925 Tri-State Tornado, Deadliest Twister in US History (WTHI)
