05/11/26 - Gas Tax Fight, Data Center Wildfires & the White House Ballroom Brawl

The U.S.-Iran crisis is rapidly escalating as peace talks appear close to collapse, with President Trump reportedly weighing renewed military action in the Strait of Hormuz and additional strikes inside Iran after dismissing Tehran’s latest response. Israel is also pushing for expanded operations targeting Iran’s leadership and nuclear infrastructure, while Iran warns any foreign military deployment in the region would trigger a major response. The conflict is already disrupting global energy markets and fueling public skepticism at home, with most Americans believing the U.S. is losing the conflict. Domestically, the economic fallout is intensifying debates over gas-tax relief, tariffs, housing, surveillance, and crypto legislation, while Republicans and Democrats clash over election policy, voting rights, and government spending ahead of the 2026 midterms. At the same time, Americans are facing worsening affordability pressures, rising energy and food prices, a deepening housing crisis, and growing concerns over the rapid expansion of AI data centers straining water and power systems across the country.