Trump News for Thursday, April 16, 2026

WATCH: Artemis II crew shares advice for aspiring young astronauts

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Each of the Artemis II astronauts shared advice for younger people who may someday want to go to space.

People in Beirut wary of trusting Israel will uphold Lebanon ceasefire

Al Jazeera English

Lebanon’s residents say they are wary of trusting that Israel will abide by the ceasefire agreement announced by Trump.

US panel approves Trump’s design for massive arch in Washington, DC

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The proposed 76-metre arch would tower over other iconic landmarks in Washington, DC, and has attracted scrutiny.

Israel and Lebanon’s 10-day ceasefire goes into effect

Al Jazeera English

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has gone into effect. It began at midnight local time (21:00 GMT).

Top five takeaways from Homeland Security budget hearings

Ximena Bustillo, NPR

Lawmakers have been in a stalemate for over 60 days about funding the entire department, which includes agencies that oversee immigration enforcement, disaster relief, cybersecurity and the U.S. Coast Guard.

US State Department restricts visas for those who ‘support adversaries’

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Trump administration says it has taken action against 26 people 'across our hemisphere' who allegedly undermined US.

Trump’s ceasefire announcement, briefly explained

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire, Preside…

RFK Jr. spars with House Democrats over vaccine policies amid rise in measles cases

Arthur Jones II, Abcnews.com

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee seized on public health policies enacted under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

US House votes to extend temporary protections for Haitians in Trump rebuke

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Ten Republicans join Democrats to extend Temporary Protected Status for nearly 350,000 Haitians in the United States.

Former deputy surgeon general Erica Schwartz nominated as new CDC chief

Dan Vergano, Scientific American

The White House has nominated Erica Schwartz to replace NIH director Jay Bhattacharya as CDC chief. Bhattacharya has been leading the CDC on an acting basis since February, after the public health agency’s director was fired in 2025

White House Is Reportedly Ready to Drop Its Anthropic Beef and Embrace the Spooky New Model

Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo.com

Anthropic's Mythos might soon be deployed across the federal government.

Trump Smears Epstein Victims After Melania’s Demand

Yahoo Entertainment

A ceasefire in Lebanon — will it hold?

Al Jazeera English

After rare talks, a ceasefire in Lebanon raises one question: what happens on the ground next?

Israel and Lebanon agree 10-day ceasefire, Trump says

BBC News

The US president invites the two countries' leaders to Washington as Israel's prime minister insists troops will not leave southern Lebanon.

Ballmer gives $80 million to NPR, with strings attached.

Sean Hollister, The Verge

Connie Ballmer, wife of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder of the Ballmer Group, has given $80 million to NPR. That's roughly seven years' worth of government funding ($11.2m) after Trump and Congress cut funds for public media, but only a frac…

Minnesota has charged an ICE officer with assault for alleged actions during immigration surge

Meg Anderson, NPR

Hennepin County officials say these are the first charges filed against a federal immigration agent related to the crackdown that brought thousands of federal officers to the state. The widespread operation led to the shooting deaths of two American citizens.

Maine Could Be the First State to Pass a Temporary Ban on New Large Data Centers

Corin Cesaric-Epple, CNET

Although the bill has been passed by lawmakers, it still needs final approval from Maine Governor Janet Mills.

With Vance in the spotlight, Trump queries allies and advisers on how he’s doing

Kristen Holmes, Kevin Liptak, CNN, CNN

With Vice President JD Vance, a one-time Iran war skeptic, now tasked with brokering a deal to end it, President Donald Trump has been monitoring his...

Trump nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz as new CDC director

Mary Kekatos, Abcnews.com

President Donald Trump named Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general, on Thursday as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

U.S. set to launch tariff refund system on April 20

Reuters, NBC News

President Donald Trump‘s administration plans to launch next Monday the system it will use for issuing refunds to American importers for $166 billion the companies paid in tariffs that the U.S.

Congress grills RFK, Jr., about vaccines and cuts to health budget

Dan Vergano, Scientific American

The HHS secretary defended proposed budget cuts to science, his vaccine moves and health care costs on Capitol Hill on Thursday

US House votes down latest effort to curtail Trump’s power to wage Iran war

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Nearly all Democrats voted in favour, a day after a similar resolution failed in the US Senate along party lines.

Spirit Airlines Could Liquidate by the End of the Week Due to Fuel Crisis

Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo.com

Carriers are cancelling entire routes as the U.S.-Iran war deepens.

WATCH: Pope Leo warns about people who 'manipulate religion'

ABC News, Abcnews.com

ABC News' Melissa Adan and Father Sam Sawyer, editor in chief at America Media, discuss the pontiff's latest remarks in favor of peace.

What to know about the Israel-Lebanon conflict

Avishay Artsy, Sean Rameswaram, Vox

After six weeks of fighting, Israel and Lebanon appear to be on the verge of a ceasefire.  President Donald Trump announced the 10-day pause, which he said would help “achieve PEACE” between the countries, in a social media post on Thursday. The ceasefire is …

All But 3 Of The 4,499 Refugees Admitted To The US Under Trump Are White South Africans

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

We’ve got a throwback administration that wants to bring us back to halcyon days of early 1950s America, that preceded Supreme Court-ordered school desegregation. If it could, I’m sure it would go back even further, taking at least another 100 years off the c…

Europe Could Run Out of Jet Fuel in Just 6 Weeks

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

The head of the International Energy Agency says it will take "up to two years to come back where we were before the war.”

10-day Lebanon-Israel ceasefire announced by Trump

Al Jazeera English

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting at 21:00 GMT on Thursday, said US President Donald Trump.

The Quiet Way Authoritarianism Begins to Crumble

Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic

Among the many reasons for Viktor Orbán’s defeat was the rural clubs where citizens relearned democratic habits.

US general clarifies Iranian ports under blockade, not Strait of Hormuz

Al Jazeera English

A US general had to clarify that the US military is only blockading Iranian ports, not the entire Strait of Hormuz.

WATCH: Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, President Trump says

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire beginning April 16, President Trump announced in a post on social media.

Oh Look, The MAGA FTC Built The Censorship Industrial Complex It Was Screaming About

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

We’ve been covering the Trump administration’s escalating campaign against NewsGuard for a while now. It started with the House Oversight Committee’s absurd investigation of the company for the crime of expressing opinions about news reliability. But then the…

A complex set of negotiations to end Israel's overlapping wars

Daniel Estrin, NPR

Lebanon ceasefire part of complex web of Mideast negotiations, from Iran to Gaza

Pope Leo takes aim at 'handful of tyrants' spending billions on war.

Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR

Pope Leo XIV condemns "tyrants" fueling war with billions. His calls for global peace during his Africa trip come amid rising tensions with President Trump.

SpaceX and Other Elon Musk Companies Are Propping Up Cybertruck Sales

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

SpaceX alone reportedly accounted for nearly 20% of Cybertrucks registered in the U.S. in late 2025.

Ayotte says state will ‘keep doing what we’re doing’ regarding Northeast Public Health Collaborative

William Skipworth, Newhampshirebulletin.com

Gov. Kelly Ayotte said New Hampshire will continue to be involved with the Northeast Public Health Collaborative but will not formally join the group. Her...

Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to temporary ceasefire

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

This is a breaking news story.

TV Hosts Erupt in Laughter at Trump’s Wild Excuse for Hoarse Voice

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

Two cable news anchors dissolved into laughter after President Donald Trump offered a ludicrous explanation for his hoarse voice. Asked by Fox Business...

WATCH: Sec. Hegseth warns Iranian leadership to ‘choose wisely’ as U.S. seeks deal

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a new warning to the Iranian regime at a Pentagon press briefing, telling them to "choose wisely" and to reach an agreement with the U.S. to permanently end the war.

NPR receives $113 million in charitable gifts

David Folkenflik, NPR

"My hope is that this commitment provides the stability and the spark NPR needs to innovate boldly and strengthen its national network," says Connie Ballmer, who gave $80 million of the $113 million.

From Venezuela to Iran, major operations have kept US Navy supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford away from home for almost 10 months

Chris Panella, Business Insider

The Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has faced combat, a serious shipboard fire, and other challenges over a record-breaking deployment.

I Doubt God Wants You to Send Bomb Threats to Pope Leo's Brother

Lauren Tousignant, Jezebel

In other "Trump and Vance v. Pope Leo" news, the administration on Thursday canceled an $11 million contract with a Catholic charity that helps care for homeless migrant children.

The Wall Street Journal Wonders Why There Are Suddenly So Many Sleazy Fees

Karl Bode, Techdirt

I cut my teeth as a telecom reporter, so I spent a lot of time writing about how broadband monopolies and cable TV giants rip off consumers with sleazy, misleading fees. I also spent a lot of that time writing about how lobbying and regulatory capture have en…

What does the US blockade of Iran shipping mean for gas prices?

Max Zahn, Abcnews.com

The move comes as Americans grapple with a surge in gasoline prices.

Can historic Israel-Lebanon talks lead to ceasefire?

Usaid Siddiqui, Al Jazeera English

Israel and Lebanon leaders set for historic talks after 34 years of silence, aiming to ease tensions amid ongoing conflict.

A Polymarket trader made $300,000 betting on Biden's pardons, a new analysis shows

Bobby Allyn, NPR

In the final hours of President Biden's term, an anonymous prediction market trader placed lucrative bets on who would be pardoned even as the odds were nearly zero.

Iran War timeline continues to shift. And, jury rules Live Nation acted as monopoly

Brittney Melton, NPR

Trump continues to try to declare victory in Iran as the timeline for the war's end shifts. And, a jury determined that Live Nation acted as a monopoly and overcharged ticket buyers.

Who is Roelf Meyer, South Africa’s new ambassador to the US?

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

So who is Meyer and will his appointment help improve ties between the two countries?

I Guess We Can Add Quentin Tarantino to Pete Hegseth’s List of Pastors

Danielle Han, Jezebel

During one of his Pentagon sermons on Wednesday, Hegseth started reciting a prayer that he claimed came from the Bible—but sounded a lot like that infamous violent speech from Pulp Fiction.

Just 25% of Americans Say the Iran War Has Been a “Strategic Success”

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Who would have thought that hating Donald Trump's Iran War would be the thing that brought all of America together as one?

Internal Supreme Court tensions spill into public view

Natasha Frost, Yahoo Entertainment

The Yodel newsletter: Get caught up on this morning's news

Brazil's former spy chief released from ICE detention

BBC News

Bolsonaro ally Alexandre Ramagem was stopped by immigration agents in Orlando, Florida on Monday.

The Trump Store isn’t shy about hawking merch. It’s paying off like never before

Hunter Schwarz, Fast Company

To buy one of each item in President Donald Trump’s company’s online storefront today would cost you nearly six figures. The good news is you’ll qualify for free shipping for an order over $125. The Trump Store sells a whole skincare line plus branded golf…

If Hungary Can Do It

Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic

Viktor Orbán offered a model for antidemocratic rule, one admired by Donald Trump and other world leaders. What does his stunning loss after 16 years in power mean?

A Pillar of the Economics Establishment Admits That It Was Wrong

Rogé Karma, The Atlantic

In a new report, the World Bank thinks better of its old free-market absolutism.

History Is Running Backwards

David Brooks, The Atlantic

Why reactionaries are taking over the world

Where the DOGE Operatives Are Now

Vittoria Elliott, Wired

WIRED tracked down some of the most prominent figures of last year’s DOGE invasion. Here's where they are now—in government and beyond.

'Dear America': HUD workers say they're being blocked from doing their jobs

Jennifer Ludden, NPR

A website with anonymous employee letters accuses the Trump administration of undermining work on housing discrimination. HUD says it's restoring "sanity" to fair housing enforcement.

Data center executives fret over the industry's increasingly toxic public image

Daniel Geiger, Business Insider

Data center development has boomed but communities and politicians are pushing back. Sinking sentiment imperils trillions of dollars of development.

Anthony Scaramucci says the US economy isn't facing a recession. It's already in one.

Samuel O'Brient, Business Insider

Anthony Scaramucci asserts the US is already in a recession, citing Trump's policies and economic tensions as contributing factors.

We watched 2 focus groups of Georgia swing voters. They're not happy with the Iran war

Ashley Lopez, NPR

None of the 13 focus group participants — who all voted for President Trump in 2024 — said they would describe the military action in Iran as going well so far.

3 things to know about naval blockades as U.S. begins patrols in the Strait of Hormuz

Scott Neuman, NPR

The White House says it wants to choke off Iran's oil export revenue. But experts say that blockades are often unpredictable and difficult to enforce.

Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert Take Aim at JD Vance’s ‘Rough Week’

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone

"Weirdly, Americans don't seem to be responding to JD infectious charisma," Kimmel said. "Maybe it's time for a new eyeliner"

Donald Trump Receives a Message From British PM After His Warning

Evolve Editors, Reality Tea

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has given a firm and unequivocal response to Donald Trump‘s recent warning, telling the House of Commons that Britain will not be...

US military kills three in new Eastern Pacific boat strike

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The attack is the latest in a string of killings by the United States that rights groups say are 'unlawful'.

The pope has shown the world how to stand up to Trump

Andrew Mitrovica, Al Jazeera English

Far too many world leaders have chosen to mollify the bullying US president. Pope Leo has shown there's another way.

Bukele signs reforms allowing life prison sentences for people as young as 12

The Associated Press, NPR

The reforms signed by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele would apply to people convicted of committing or being an accomplice to crimes including homicide, femicide, rape and gang membership.

Trump plans 250-foot ‘Triumphal Arch’ to mark 250 years of US independence

Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration has unveiled plans for a huge structure to mark 250 years since the US declared independence.

Trump says Israel and Lebanon’s leaders will speak on Thursday

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US president says the leaders of the two countries will speak for the first time in 34 years on Thursday.

Trump Is Exposed Bending Key Policy to Benefit Himself

Cameron Adams, Daily Beast

Donald Trump changed course on a key policy of his administration after being influenced by business pals at one of his Florida golf clubs. Trump, 79, met...

Trump Stooge Who Fed Boss Crackpot Christ Meme Unmasked

Vic Verbalaitis, Daily Beast

President Donald Trump’s bright idea to post a bizarre AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ may not have been entirely his own. The 79-year-old...

Brazil’s fugitive ex-spy chief freed in the US after ICE detention

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Alexandre Ramagem, who fled Brazil following his conviction for plotting a coup, was held by ICE in Florida on Monday.

WATCH: JD Vance heckled during Turning Point event

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Vice President JD Vance was heckled during a Turning Point USA college event in Georgia on Tuesday by people criticizing either the war in Iran or American support for Israel's ongoing war in Gaza.

WATCH: Woman fatally shot by officers after slashing boy outside Walmart: Police

ABC News, Abcnews.com

A woman armed with a kitchen knife was fatally shot by police officers Tuesday after slashing a 3-year-old boy in a shopping cart outside a Walmart store in Nebraska, authorities said.

Pentagon approaches automakers, manufacturers to boost weapons production, WSJ reports

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

defense officials have held talks about producing weapons and other military supplies with top executives ‌of companies including General Motors and Ford...