Let’s dispense with the polite fiction: the Middle East does not reward wishful thinking. It punishes it. For too long, policymakers have dressed hard realities in soft language—calling fragile ceasefires “breakthroughs,” strained alliances “temporary disagreements,” and unstable political systems “transitions.” That approach has not delivered peace. It has prolonged instability. A more direct assessment is […] The post Peace Through Strength: The Only Way to Achieve Lasting Peace in the Middle East appeared first on StoneZone .
Let’s dispense with the polite fiction: the Middle East does not reward wishful thinking. It punishes it. For too long, policymakers have dressed hard realities in soft language—calling fragile ceasefires “breakthroughs,” strained alliances “temporary disagreements,” and unstable political systems “transitions.” That approach has not delivered peace. It has prolonged instability. A more direct assessment is overdue. Progress in this region depends on confronting facts head-on: ceasefires are often temporary, adversaries are deeply mistrustful, alliances require constant maintenance, and governance models that work in theory often fail in practice. Ignoring these truths doesn’t make them disappear—it makes them more…Open
Data: Brookings Institution; Chart: Ben Geman/Axios People in Republican congressional districts tend to drive further — and that could worsen the party's midterm woes as fuel costs soar. Why it matters: Pump prices are poised to play an outsized role in November, especially if the stalemate over the Strait of Hormuz persists. - Democrats and allied groups are seeking to make Iran war-driven price increases a major campaign theme . President Trump met with oil executives earlier this week to discuss the war's energy fallout. Threat level: "Many Republican House members in Congress could be especially threatened; their average constituent drives 26% more miles than a Democratic member's average constituent," a new Brookings…
Oil prices hit a four-year high following reports of an extended blockade against Iranian ports, roiling global energy markets.
PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: Oil prices have surged by over seven percent, reaching a four-year high above $126 per barrel on Thursday, after President Donald J. Trump indicated that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports could extend for months. This follows reports suggesting Trump is considering launching fresh military strikes against Iran. DETAIL: President Trump has reportedly instructed national security officials to prepare for a prolonged blockade to pressure Iran into abandoning its nuclear program. Tehran is believed to have made a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Trump believes their outreach is in bad faith. Iran’s disruption of the crucial waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas and much of…Open
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine will testify before the House Armed Services Committee on President Trump's defense budget request for fiscal 2027. Hegseth has argued the $1.5 trillion price tag, a roughly 40 percent increase from 2026 levels, would send a “message to the world” in reestablishing the U.S.’s military might. #petehegseth #dancaine #defense
Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspended her Senate campaign on Thursday, acknowledging she lacked the financial resources to win. Why it matters: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) worked hard to convince Mills to jump into the race. But she was outraised and outpolled by progressive insurgent Graham Platner. - Mills' exit clears the way for Platner to become the Democratic nominee against GOP incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Investment, exports, consumer spending and government spending were contributors to the first-quarter real GDP increase. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, also increased, the agency also said.
