Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) President Trump said he would intensify the US's bombardment against Iran until it stops attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and agrees to open the waterway. A US-Iran interim peace deal signed around a month ago has all but collapsed over the past week as the two sides feud over control of the vital strait. Trump pledged to bomb Iran again and continue until Iran relents, saying energy targets in Iran will be left "for last".
2) The Department of Homeland Security has ordered immigration agents to temporarily halt most vehicle stops during deportation operations after a fatal shooting in Maine. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will suspend vehicle stops except for those targeting serious criminal cases until ICE officers receive new training on vehicle stops. The policy change comes after the second fatal shooting by immigration agents in a week, with the first being the fatal shooting of a Mexican construction worker during a traffic stop in Houston.
3) Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is set to appear before the US Senate in support of his nomination to lead the Justice Department. A federal judge in Miami issued harsh criticism of Blanche's actions in settling President Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, suggesting his involvement raised conflict of interest concerns. The Justice Department's settlement with the president has faced rare GOP pushback, and Blanche is expected to be grilled about the settlement and other politically explosive matters during his nomination hearing.