Israel’s Iran stance changes MidEast calculus

Washington’s Middle East partners are increasingly seeing Israel as a destabilizing force, analysts said, a perception that is shifting regional power dynamics.
Israeli flag flutters at a dirt barrier that was recently placed by the Israeli military at the main entrance to Luban e-Sharkiya, in the Israeli-occupied West BankAmmar Awad/Reuters

Oil price jump after Iran says it will not submit to US

While the oil market has shown remarkable resilience in the face of the largest energy shock in history, it may be approaching a breaking point.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran’s Presidential website/WANA.

Saudi Arabia freezes consultancy payments

The kingdom told government agencies to halt payments to advisers and consultancy firms until the end of June.
A view of Riyadh in the rain.Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

Republican senators back Bolivia’s Paz

President Rodrigo Paz, who has restored US-Bolivia relations, was elected last year on a promise to enact economic “shock therapy.”
Rodrigo Paz
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Politics

Trump postpones signing AI and cybersecurity order

Trump suggested he had concerns it could shrink the country’s AI lead over China.
US President Donald Trump

How Trump lost Senate Republicans

The president’s sway with them is lower than at any point in his second term — even as his influence in party primaries peaks.
President Donald TrumpKevin Lamarque/Reuters

State paid leave laws build national pressure

“Paid family and medical leave has to be at the heart of a new majority’s agenda come January,” said Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del.
Sarah McBride

Democrat objections help sink women’s Smithsonian bill

A years-long, bipartisan effort in Congress to build a women’s history Smithsonian museum fizzled with no support from Democrats.

Democrats move to restore military paper’s independence

The new legislation from Senate Democrats aims to insulate Stars and Stripes from the Trump administration’s efforts to assert control.

Republican senators back Bolivia’s Paz

President Rodrigo Paz, who has restored US-Bolivia relations, was elected last year on a promise to enact economic “shock therapy.”

Trump suggests Iran talks in ‘final stages’

The US believes it is making progress with Iran in peace talks, but disagreements between Washington and Israel threaten to derail the diplomacy.

Republicans set to scrap Trump’s ballroom money

The reason: GOP opposition to one of Trump’s top priorities.

Five Republican senators back Letlow in bid to sew up Louisiana runoff

The announcement is a sign that the dust is settling from her defeat of Sen. Bill Cassidy.

Banks taking a closer look at citizenship is ‘common sense,’ US regulator says

A new executive order presents a “reasonable trade-off,” US Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said at Semafor’s Banking on the Future Forum.

Massie finally fell because of US-Israel politics, not Epstein

Before he became the president’s sharpest Republican critic in Congress, Massie was a libertarian scientist who hated government spending and the taxes that paid for it.
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