Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) Iran reiterated its determination to control maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes ahead of fresh talks in Qatar on formally ending its war with the US. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran wants to work out an agreement with Oman to oversee ships passing through Hormuz, but will move forward with its own plans if Oman is not interested. The US, Europe, and Gulf Arab nations are concerned about charges being imposed for the use of Hormuz, which would likely add to energy costs and risk creating a precedent for other countries.
2) President Trump refused to commit to signing a major bipartisan housing bill, saying it was “so unimportant” compared to a voting bill. Trump would make a decision on whether to sign the housing bill once he receives it, which has been formally transmitted to the White House. The bill would curb large institutional investors’ ownership of single-family homes, streamline rules around factory-built housing and encourage localities to remove barriers to construction.
3) The US Supreme Court has four big outstanding cases that will be decided today. They include one which challenges the President's executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born in the US to undocumented parents. Yesterday, the High Court expanded the president’s power to fire top government officials in a 6-3 decision that overturns a 1935 precedent. The ruling lets the president fire Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Kelly Slaughter despite a law that says commissioners can be removed only for specified reasons.