The Washington Stand News Brief

On today's news brief: The United States is pushing the United Nations to condemn Iran for laying mines and firing on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, next week President Trump will visit China, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo at the Vatican, and National Day of Prayer.

On today's news brief: The U.S. and Iran may be close to a deal, the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein continues, the results are in from primary elections in three states, and antisemitism in the U.K. is on the rise.

On today's news brief: The ceasefire in the Iran war is still intact, but there is still trouble in the Strait of Hormuz, the White House went on lockdown yesterday after a man fired on Secret Service officers near the White House, the Department of Justice is demanding answers from hospitals over transgender drugs and surgeries for minors, and another drug boat was struck in the Caribbean.

On today's news brief: The fate of mail-order abortion is now in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, negotiations to end the Iran war ramped up over the weekend, and the U.S. began an effort to free up ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning and claimed the U.S. military sank 6 small Iranian boats on Monday.

On today's news brief: The conflict with Iran has hit the 60-day deadline under the war powers resolution that requires the President to end the war without Congressional approval, the U.S. and Iran remain deadlocked over the Strait of Hormuz, Security camera footage of the gunman charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump at the Washington Hilton Hotel has been released by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, and President Trump signed an executive order yesterday that aims to expand workers' access to retirement accounts.

On today's news: Updates on Department of Homeland Security funding, the federal investigation into ABC and Disney is heating up as they face a Federal Communications Commission investigation over their alleged discriminatory practices via DEI policies, the United Arab Emirates' move to pull out of OPEC, and Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla ended their visit to the U.S. today.

On today's news brief: The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to block an electoral map in Louisiana for being too based on race, the Senate Banking Committee today approved Kevin Warsh - President Trump's pick to replace outgoing Federal Reserve Chair, the U.S. Senate yesterday rejected a Democrat-led motion to limit President Trump's war powers, and Trump officials gave insight into the financial cost of the war in Iran so far.

On today's news brief: A bombshell reports alleges that Planned Parenthood coordinated with the White House using code language to divert COVID relief funds to the mega abortion business, negotiations remain stalled between Iran and the U.S., a big development in the oil world, the United Arab Emirates it is leaving OPEC and OPEC+, and King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at the White House for a formal welcome today.

On today's news brief: An assassination attempt was thwarted at the White House Correspondent's dinner when a man intent on shooting President Trump and his top Trump officials was tackled outside the ballroom by Secret Service, talks of peace between Iran and the U.S. seem to change daily, and the U.S. has struck another drug boat in the Pacific Ocean.

On today's news brief: The U.S. blockade on Iraon is "growing and going global", the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire has been extended by three weeks, Mike Johnson is making another push to extend the nation's spy powers, and the Justice Department is closing its investigation into Jerome Powell.

On today's news brief: The partial government shutdown may finally come to an end, the Senate rejects a resolution aimed at restricting Trump's war powers, Trump to reclassify marijuana as a "less dangerous drug", and Navy Secretary John Phelan has been fired.

On today's news brief: Virginia voters narrowly approved a Democratic measure to gerrymander the state's Congressional seats - leaning districts to 10-1 in favor of Democrats, the liberal Southern Poverty Law Center is now facing federal charges of their own after a grand jury indicted them for six counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced he is launching a criminal probe into OpenAI and its artificial intelligence app ChatGPT over a deadly shooting last year that killed two people at Florida State University.

On today's news brief: Peace talks to end the Iran war remain uncertain, voters in Virginia head to the polls today to make their voice heard on a controversial redistricting measure in the state, a nominee to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell faces a roadblock, U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is stepping down, and the Pentagon is nixing the mandatory flu vaccine.

On today's news brief: With the 10-day Iran war ceasefire expiring on Wednesday-Vice President J.D. Vance is heading back to negotiate in Pakistan where peace talks failed earlier this month, a major earthquake has rocked Japan with a tsunami warning being issued, the federal government will begin refunding companies their tariff payments, and U.S. forces killed three men whom the military described as illicit drug smugglers in a strike on a boat in the Caribbean.

On today's news brief: The Strait of Hormuz is officially open, the U.S naval blockade of Iran will remain in place, at least for now until the deal is 100% done, NATO countries have finally come around and were ready to aid the U.S. in reopening the strait, but its a little too late, RFK Jr.'s comments that the Biden administration had been discriminating against Christian families by requiring families to affirm the LGBT agenda to receive foster kids and lastly, the U.S. House and Senate passed measures this morning to extend a law on government spy powers for two weeks to give more time for negotiations.

On today's news brief: President Donald Trump today announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, dozens of Democratic Senators voted to end weapons sales to Israel late last night, President Trump's feud with the Pope continues, and Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife before killing himself in their northern Virginia home shortly after midnight.

On today's news brief: No tax on tips and no tax on overtime have taken effect, the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports is underway and has already been put to the test with 9 vessels being turned away, and Virginia's Governor Democrat Abigail Spanberger signed several gun control bills one bill essentially bans any gun with the ability to hold a magazine with more than 15 rounds.

On today's news brief: A bombshell report today from the federal government shows the Biden administration aggressively targeted pro-life groups, two members of the House of Representatives, Rep. Eric Swalwell and Rep. Tony Gonzalez, have resigned after facing ethics investigations, fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah continues, and a new report shows that fatal antisemitic attacks have hit the highest point in decades

On today's news brief: President Donald Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz which began this morning, negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend failed to strike a deal, the president is once again trading barbs with the pope, and new polling gives insight into the divide between President Trump and Tucker Carlson

On today's news brief: A fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is still in place, Israel has conducted more strikes on Lebanon which has nearly derailed the new ceasefire, President Trump is calling on NATO allies to assist the U.S. in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the national debt is getting even more out of control, and NASA’s Artemis 2 crew is headed back toward earth and set to splash down tonight in the Pacific Ocean. 

On today's news brief: A shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appears to be holding, at least for now, peace talks are on-going and will continue in Pakistan this Saturday, NATO has announced that they could be willing to help on a mission to open the Strait of Hormuz, and disturbing new details are surfacing of an alleged mass shooting attempt at a Houston church, thankfully no one was injured.

On today's news brief: The U.S. has reached a two-week ceasefire with Iran, a group of Catholic nuns who work every day to serve dying patients are now in a battle with the state of New York over new transgender policies, Greece will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 beginning next year, and lastly, new polling in the U.S. shows most Americans support limits on birthright citizenship.

On today's news brief: Tonight all eyes are on Iran as President Donald Trump has given an ultimatum to the Iranians: open the strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. or face extreme consequences, U.S. gas prices have now hit a national average of $4.14 per gallon, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's approval rating is tanking after she won as a moderate, but has been pushing a far left agenda since taking office, and the state of Texas is investigating an Islamic tribunal for allegedly operating a sharia law court.

On today's news brief: Updates on the war in Iran and the hopeful reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, attacks on Israel have intensified with Yemen's Houthi group carrying out a joint military operation with Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah targeting sites in southern Israel, a new study in Finland about the impact gender transition procedures have on teenagers, and another study looking at the possibility of a spiritual revival happening in the next 12 months.

On today's news brief: Why do we call today Good Friday? Because Christ’s suffering was not pointless. It was the price of our redemption. The cross turned the greatest evil into the greatest victory.

On today's news brief: President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her position, he also announced that he would sign an executive order to pay all employees at the Department of Homeland Security, President Trump's national address concerning the Iran war, a possible U.S. withdrawal from NATO, and several Christian churches in Syria are cancelling their services this week – even during easter – because of attacks and persecution from Syrian Muslims.

On today's news brief: There are mixed reports about whether or not Iran has requested a ceasefire -- President Trump is expected to address the nation tonight, so we may get more details from that speech, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in Trump v. Barbara, a landmark case about birthright citizenship, and the Trump administration has announced they will begin sending more grant money to Planned Parenthood.

On today's news brief: The war in Iran continues, but the White House says they could on the verge of a deal, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is being blasted by the mainstream media and the Pope himself, for his recent prayer of protection for the troops using the name of Jesus, the FBI has confirmed that the deadly attack on a Jewish temple in Michigan earlier this month was in fact terrorism, and Kansas’ Republican lawmakers passed a law to protect pro-life pregnancy centers from a harsh crackdown and regulation of what they can and can’t say to expecting mothers

On today's news brief: Reportedly, the Pentagon is preparing limited but intense ground operations inside Iran, Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen have also entered the fight, fears are growing over potential Iranian sleeper cells in the U.S., the partial government shutdown has now stretched into its sixth week, and a group called The Youth Abortion Support Collective, run by Advocates for Youth, hosted a two-day “abortion doula” training at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte last November sparking a fierce debate.

On today's news brief: The U.S. Senate voted very early this morning to end a partial government shutdown that has jammed airports across the country, however their vote did not resolve a dispute over ICE funding, Vice President J.D. Vance held a task force meeting for his new, anti-fraud initiative, Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined the second day of the G7 Summit -- leaders of Western democracies face a tough economy and energy crisis amid ongoing wars in Iran and Ukraine and lastly, Australian leaders announced they are banning social media for kids under the age of 14.

On today's news brief: Peace negotiations are ongoing between Iran and the U.S., Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that their military had killed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy Commander, another week of strikes by the U.S. in the Caribbean on an alleged drug trafficking vessel, polling shows that the majority of Americans support tighter regulations on the abortion pill, mifepristone, the International Olympic Committee announced that men identifying as transgender will not be able to compete against women in the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles, and the city of Dallas is reportedly removing more than 30 rainbow crosswalks.

On today's news brief: Negotiations to end the U.S. war in Iran have apparently stalled, the Pentagon is expected to deploy thousands more soldiers to the Middle East, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River to create a quote, "defensive buffer," against Hezbollah rocket attacks, hope of a deal to end the partial government shutdown is fading, a Los Angeles jury found Google and Meta liable for $3 million in damages after a 20-year-old woman claimed she became addicted to the apps at a young age, and the First Lady made a grand entrance into a technology-focused meeting escorted by the humanoid robot.

On today's news brief: The U.S. Senate confirmed Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, funding for DHS might be on the horizon, and the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could reshape how mail-in ballots are counted in future elections.

On today's news brief: President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran: fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. strikes on power plants, more than 20 nations have announced that they're ready to step in and help reopen the strait, Israeli officials issued a stark warning that Iran's ballistic missiles now have the range to strike European capitals like Berlin, London, and Paris, the partial DHS shutdown rages on impacting air travel more every day, and the SAVE America Act debate continues after the fourth attempt to pass failed this weekend

On today's news brief: The conflict in the Middle East continues - today marking the 21st day of the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, President Trump blasted NATO allies who don't want to help the U.S. secure the Strait of Hormuz, the Trump administration is suing Harvard University, saying it failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students following the October 7th terror attack by Hamas, and the Senate has a full weekend agenda including -SAVE America Act, transgender athletes, and the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin for the role of Department of Homeland Security Secretary.

On today's news brief: President Donald Trump and several cabinet secretaries met with Japanese Prime Minister to discuss China, the global economy and Iran, strikes continue in Iran, President Trump has waived the Jones Act for 60 days, Senator Markwayne Mullin will likely become the new Secretary of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services has they've launched investigation into 13 states for violating federal health rules by coercing health care providers to perform abortions, and lastly, Poland plans to ban the use of cell phones in schools for kids under 16 years of age.

On today's news brief: Senator Markwayne Mullin - Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security - faced tough questions about border security and counterterrorism priorities, most allies have declined to join the U.S. military operation against Iran's leadership, tragedy has struck Nigeria with three suspected suicide bombings took place in Maydoogaree, and a federal judge blocked an Arkansas state law that would have required Ten Commandments posters in public school classrooms.

On today's news brief: Cuba is in collapse as the island experiences power cuts and food shortages -- President Donald Trump raised eyebrows when he said the U.S. would likely free or even take Cuba, The U.S. and Israel continue to hit Iranian targets but are still grappling with how to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, and President Trump’s effort to enact the SAVE America Act is getting a push in the Senate.

On today's news brief: Entering its third week, the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran continues to escalate, a month-long standoff over Department of Homeland Security funding is hitting airports nationwide hard, the tide is shifting on Capitol Hill as at least one Democratic senator called for DHS funding.

On today's news brief: Operation Epic Fury is now in its 14th day as U.S. attacks on Iran continue, in the U.S., there's growing concern about security threats amid the conflict with Iran as fighting continues in the Middle East, the FBI has opened a terrorism investigation into a shooting yesterday at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and the Department of Homeland Security remains closed due to the partial government shutdown.

On today's news brief: The conflict with Iran is now in its 13th day under Operation Epic Fury, an FBI bulletin warned California officials about a possible Iranian drone attack on West Coast targets, based on older, unverified intelligence from early February, Iran's new Supreme Leader issued his first public statement -- he has vowed to keeping the Strait of Hormuz blocked and avenging Iranian casualties, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed the Human Heartbeat Act into law, and Kansas officials have revoked about 1,700 driver's licenses for people who identify as transgender and thus changed their gender markers.

On today's news brief: The U.S.-Israel war on Iran shows no signs of slowing down, anti-Christian violence and legal pressures are on the rise across Europe, AI may not be taking over after all, and Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri took a bold stand in the ongoing fight against chemical abortion.

On today's news brief: The war in Iran continues, two men were charged with terrorism after throwing a homemade bomb in New York City, and the NBA has cancelled a controversial promotional event for a strip club.

On today's news brief: The war in Iran has entered its 10th day of fighting - Iranian leadership has chosen a new Ayotollah, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the now dead Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, gas prices have risen to a national average of nearly $3.50 a gallon, President Trump over the weekend announced the "Americas Counter Cartel Coalition," a military coalition of more than a dozen nations south of the border to take on drug cartels, and one courageous NBA player is pushing back after the Atlanta Hawks announced they were partnering with the local Magic City Strip Club for marketing.

On today's news brief: The war in Iran continues to rage on for the 7th day, as the U.S. and Israel continue to launch heavy strikes on Iran, President Trump wants a say on who Iran's next leader will be, Senate Democrats blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security for a third time, and Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz faced intense questioning from Republicans over rampant fraud in his state.

On today's news brief: The U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran entered its sixth day of fighting today, the price of oil shot up from $70 a barrel to about $80 a barrel before leveling and then dipping, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been ousted by President Trump, and around 50 house lawmakers are leaving Congress.

On today's news brief: The crisis in Iran enters its fifth day. U.S. and Israeli forces are intensifying airstrikes following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, a new YouGov poll shows growing domestic division on immigration enforcement, and the 2026 primary elections in Texas were held yesterday, with results continuing to finalize today.

On today's news brief: The U.S. and Israel continue to hit targets in Iran, which is firing back with some success, President Trump announced that the U.S. will cut off all trade with Spain, voters head to the polls in Texas and North Carolina in primary elections for Democrats and Republicans, Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem testified before a Senate Committee where she faced questions about Immigration and Enforcement tactics in Minneapolis, and parental rights are protected in California, for now.

On today's news brief: The U.S. and Israel conducted strikes on Iran on Saturday, Congress is accelerating the pace for a bipartisan War Powers vote this week, and a gunman opened fire in Austin, Texas.

On today's news brief: The third round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks wrapped up in Geneva yesterday, California faces a lawsuit over unchecked antisemitism, and the House passed a permanent ban on biological males in female sports at both public and private schools and colleges in Missouri.