April 20, 2026 - US Seizes Iranian Ship, Doubt Over Peace Talks

Contemplation – an act of considering with attention; a concentration on spiritual things as a form of private devotion (Merriam-Webster).

Don't miss the Washington Post story I've linked today, published under the headline Why We Can't Sit Alone with Our Thoughts Anymore.

Read it alongside a recent New York Times essay I linked to recently by Georgetown professor Cal Newport: There's a Good Reason You Can't Concentrate.

One diagnoses our audio overload. The other explains how we've lost the ability to think. I'm guilty of both. Weighed down by too many rote daily responsibilities, there's little time left for genuine deliberation. Tethered to a phone and laptop, you may feel the same. We need not only to mingle with others, but also the solitude to think.

Today on radio, I'll play a clip from my 2005 in-studio interview with historian David McCullough, who at the time had the No. 1 bestseller “1776”. When I asked about his writing process, he said: "Nobody ever asks: how much time do you spend thinking?" I intend to regularly schedule some time for contemplation.

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U.S. forces seized and fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to bypass a naval blockade, escalating tensions as Iran threatens retaliation and oil prices surge.

Axios

A domestic violence mass shooting in Shreveport, LA left eight children dead and a suspect killed by police after a series of connected attacks across multiple locations, devastating the local community.

The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate

President Donald Trump’s outward bravado during the Iran war masks private fears of a spiraling conflict, as he oscillates between aggressive threats and hesitation—haunted in part by comparisons to Jimmy Carter’s hostage crisis-era failures.

The Wall Street Journal

U.K. counterterrorism police are investigating whether Iranian-linked proxies are behind a series of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in North London, as officials warn of a growing campaign of violence against the community.

CBS News

WrestleMania 42 culminated in a brutal, back-and-forth main event where Roman Reigns defeated CM Punk to reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship after a dramatic, hard-fought showdown.

Cageside Seats

An NBC News poll finds President Donald Trump’s approval rating at a second-term low of 37% as widespread dissatisfaction grows over inflation and the Iran war, with even some erosion in Republican support.

NBC News

A 2014 Oscars selfie led by Ellen DeGeneres captured the last true moment of a shared pop culture monoculture, as audiences and media have since splintered across streaming platforms, social media, and personalized content ecosystems.

The Hollywood Reporter

Constant access to podcasts and music is reshaping how people use their attention, leaving many unable to tolerate silence and potentially disrupting mental rest, emotional processing, and real-world social engagement.

The Washington Post

Advocates warn that rapidly advancing smart glasses—like those developed by Meta—could enable widespread, often undetectable recording and facial recognition, raising fears of a “dystopian” erosion of privacy and civil liberties in everyday public life.

USA Today

Former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu is quietly testing a potential 2028 presidential run, leveraging his post-Katrina leadership and national Democratic ties while acknowledging it may be his last opportunity to enter the race.

CNN