Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) The US-Israeli war on Iran entered a sixth day with no sign of easing, as the Islamic Republic said its retaliation against American strikes would escalate. Arab states across the Persian Gulf reported interceptions of Iranian missiles and drones overnight and into Thursday. Israel is carrying out waves of airstrikes on Tehran, hitting military and intelligence assets, following attacks on Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. President Trump said on Wednesday that the US was “doing very well on the war front.” The White House said American forces had struck more than 2,000 targets and were moving toward “complete and total control of Iranian airspace,” while the Islamic Republic’s regime had been “absolutely crushed.” Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said retaliatory attacks will intensify in coming days, according to the Nour news agency. Tehran will target Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility if the US seeks regime change, Iran’s semi-official ISNA said.
2) The Senate voted 53 to 47 against a measure that would have required congressional approval for President Trump’s military operations against Iran, and similar war powers resolutions are expected to fail in the House. Most Republicans have backed Trump’s decision to bypass Congress, arguing he is constitutionally authorized, though several have warned that support is not unlimited -- particularly if the conflict becomes prolonged or involves ground troops. Some GOP lawmakers expressed concern privately about oversight and the lack of hearings, while Democrats have pledged to repeatedly force war powers votes despite slim chances of passage.
3) Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran said he thinks it’s still appropriate to continue cutting interest rates given that it’s too early to take a stance on the impact of war in the Middle East on the US economy. Oil prices surged after the US and Israel launched attacks across Iran over the weekend, and investors marked down the odds of Fed rate cuts in 2026. Some Fed officials speaking this week have suggested it raises uncertainty over the outlook — a development Fed watchers have interpreted as possibly keeping the central bank on hold for longer.