April 8, 2026 - Ceasefire Tied to Strait Reopening

Regime Change. That’s the title of a book to be released June 23 by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan of the New York Times. Yesterday, the Times posted an exclusive “drawn from the reporting done for that book.” Having read that article, I have two observations: First, the reporting is granular. They don’t just summarize what happened on February 11 when Benjamin Netanyahu came to the White House to sell an attack on Iran, they detail what was said by each participant in the Situation Room, but also, exactly where in the room each was seated. The Trump administration abhors leaks. But I’m not so sure the reporting is based on a leak(s). This window into pre-war decision making shows an airing of competing views and a deliberative process, not the impulsivity with which Trump is so often associated. (Two days before the attack: “Then Mr. Trump said he wanted to go around the table and hear everyone’s views.”) I’m thinking the Administration wanted this story in the public domain. Second, while it’s clear from this account that Netanyahu and the Israelis put on a full court press to convince Trump and the Americans to take out the Supreme Leader and his senior clerics, nowhere in the story is there confirmation of what Secretary Rubio said publicly in the days immediately after the attack, namely that Israel was going to strike Iran regardless and - believing it would be attacked in the Iranian response -  the U.S. had no choice but to act in a preemptive, yet defensive way.

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President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of U.S. bombing in Iran to allow negotiations toward a long-term peace deal, though conflicting claims from regional leaders and continued attacks cast uncertainty over the ceasefire’s scope and timing.

The Times of Israel

Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman, White House reporters for The Times, reveal how President Donald Trump, influenced by Benjamin Netanyahu and despite skepticism from key advisers, ultimately relied on his own instincts to approve a U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

The New York Times

As President Donald Trump threatened massive escalation, Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei quietly authorized negotiators to pursue a last-minute ceasefire, enabling a fragile truce after intense, behind-the-scenes diplomacy.

Axios

President Donald Trump’s announcement of a potential two-week Iran ceasefire sent oil prices plunging more than 15% and triggered a sharp rally in global stock futures, reflecting investor relief over easing tensions in the critical Strait of Hormuz.

NBC News

NASA released stunning first images from the Artemis II lunar flyby, showcasing dramatic views of the Moon’s far side, a prolonged solar eclipse, and Earth from deep space as astronauts return from the historic mission.

NPR

The CIA deployed a secret new tool called “Ghost Murmur” to locate a downed U.S. airman in Iran by detecting his heartbeat from miles away, enabling a dramatic rescue mission highlighted by President Donald Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

New York Post

ICE arrested more than 800 people using travel data shared by the Transportation Security Administration, sparking criticism that a counterterrorism program is being used to expand immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.

Reuters

Wireless Festival has been cancelled after Kanye West was barred from entering the UK over backlash to his past antisemitic remarks, prompting refunds and renewed debate over free speech and public safety.

BBC

A Pennsylvania family is speaking out after their daughter was bullied with AI-generated nude images at school, highlighting the growing threat of deepfake abuse and the lack of policies and awareness to protect students.

USA Today

A24’s "The Invite", directed by Olivia Wilde and starring Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton, follows a strained couple whose dinner with mysterious neighbors spirals into a provocative and unpredictable night that blurs the line between rekindling romance and destroying it.

Variety