Trump News for Saturday, April 18, 2026

Mamdani and Obama make first joint appearance at Bronx child care center

Brigid Bergin, Gothamist

Former President Barack Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani visit an early childhood education center in the Bronx on April 18, 2026. The two Democratic leaders discussed Mamdani’s affordability-focused vision for the city, including universal child care. [ mor…

Prof. Schlevogt’s Compass No. 54: Vance’s VP Dilemma – The poisoned chalice and taint of power

RT

Trapped between loyalty and survival, Vance must escape Trump’s design or risks becoming the face of its failure. Read Full Article at RT.com

Appeals court allows White House ballroom construction to continue for now

Steven Portnoy, Abcnews.com

A three-judge appeals court panel late Friday granted an administrative stay of an injunction blocking above-ground construction of the White House ballroom.

Jim Cramer Believes “Reddit (RDDT) Should Not Have Been Down That Much”

Syeda Seirut Javed, Yahoo Entertainment

Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) was among Jim Cramer’s stock calls, as he discussed the rising market speculation. Answering a caller’s query about the stock during...

Mexico, Spain and Brazil call for Cuba’s sovereignty to be protected

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The three countries pledge more aid to Cuba and say Cubans must decide their own future amid a US pressure campaign.

Israel says established a ‘yellow line’ in Lebanon, as it has in Gaza

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

It is the first time Israel has referred to such a 'yellow line' in Lebanon, after using a similar measure in Gaza.

Trump signs executive order accelerating research into psychedelic drug therapies

Nicholas Kerr, Liz Neporent, Dr. Jennifer Miao, Dr. Jade Cobern, Dr. Megan Still, Abcnews.com

President Donald Trump signed an executive Saturday that aims to accelerate research and approval of psychedelic-based therapies for conditions such as PTSD.

Trump says Zohran Mamdani is 'destroying' NYC with proposed tax on the wealthy

Lauren Edmonds, Business Insider

The proposed pied-à-terre tax would affect wealthy residents who own secondary properties in New York City valued over $5 million but live elsewhere.

Mexico arrests suspected Hungarian drug trafficker amid crime crackdown

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Fugitive Janos Balla, 48, was arrested in Quintana Roo as President Claudia Sheinbaum seeks to increase cartel arrests.

String Of Missing Or Deceased Scientists Raises Alarm As 11th Case Emerges

Rocio Corsi, Boredpanda.com

“This is too coincidental, and so we have to be investigating this," said Eric Burlinson.

Meta Platforms (META) Expands AI Chip Deal with Broadcom

Ali Ahmed, Yahoo Entertainment

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is one of the 10 Unrivaled Stocks of the Next 5 Years. On April 14, Reuters reported that Meta Platforms, Inc...

Mexico’s climate supercomputer could change forecasting

Fox News

Mexico is building the Coatlicue supercomputer to deliver sharper weather forecasts, earlier storm warnings and support artificial intelligence research.

Here’s What RBC Capital Has to Say About Tesla (TSLA)

Talha Qureshi, Yahoo Entertainment

Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is one of the Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest In According to Reddit. On April 13, RBC Capital lowered the price target on...

American Airlines rejects merger talks with United Airlines

Reuters, New York Post

A combination of two of the largest US network carriers would mark the biggest consolidation move in more than a decade.

Trump is savaging allies who criticize the Iran war. But he’s treating Joe Rogan very differently

Analysis by Aaron Blake, CNN, CNN

The way Joe Rogan tells it, about all President Donald Trump needed before he fast-tracked research into therapeutic uses for certain psychedelic treatments ...

US military prepares to board Iran-linked ships in coming days, officials say...

JERUSALEM POST STAFF, The Jerusalem Post

US military prepares to board Iran-linked ships in coming days, officials say... (Second column, 1st story, link) Related stories:Traders placed over $1 BILLION in perfectly timed bets on war. What is going on? Drudge Report F…

Trump joined by Joe Rogan as he signs order to speed up psychedelic review

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Order calls on federal government to relax restrictions on psychedelics, including ibogaine, for potential treatments.

Trump, When Asked About White House Meeting with Anthropic’s Dario Amodei: ‘Who?’

Mike Pearl, Gizmodo.com

The White House is in a tricky position with Anthropic right now.

FAFO: Caitlyn Jenner Angry That Her Passport Lists Her As 'Male'

Red Painter, Crooksandliars.com

Trump supporter and proud trans woman, Caitlyn Jenner, is personally feeling the effects of the horrifically nasty policies her political party supports - and the internet is loving the schadenfreude of it all. Jenner, who supports Donald Trump and his hatef…

Kash Patel’s Drinking ‘A Recurring Source Of Concern’ Across Govt

NewsHound Ellen, Crooksandliars.com

The Atlantic came out with a big, juicy exposé of Kash Patel’s unfitness Friday evening. The good news is that according to the article, senior members of the Trump administration “are already discussing who might replace him.” The bad news is that this drunk…

Iran Declares Strait Back Under Its 'Strict Control'

Heather, Crooksandliars.com

As MS Now's Ali Velshi explained: VELSHI: If you're having trouble keeping up with what's up and what's down in the war with Iran, that's understandable. Iran has declared this morning that the Strait of Hormuz is back under its, quote, strict control. That…

‘No regrets’: Venezuela’s Machado defends giving Nobel medal to Trump

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Maria Corina Machado gave Trump her Nobel Peace Prize after the US leader captured Nicolas Maduro.

Gold surges on Hormuz news: Here’s what comes next

Hillary Remy, TheStreet

The Strait of Hormuz just got a little less scary. Gold liked what it heard. Spot gold rose approximately 1.0% to $4,838.50 an ounce on April 17 after Iran's...

US planning to seize Iran-linked oil tankers, commercial ships worldwide in coming days: report

Caitlin Doornbos, New York Post

The aggressive planning comes as Iran tightens its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

WATCH: Infant rescued in alleged abduction attempt

ABC News, Abcnews.com

A baby was rescued during an alleged abduction attempt where a man led police on a high-speed chase before crashing into a church.

Federal judge blocks Nexstar-Tegna TV station merger until antitrust lawsuit is settled

The Associated Press, NBC News

A federal judge has blocked a $6.2 billion merger of local television giants Nexstar Media Group and rival Tegna until an antitrust lawsuit is resolved.U.S.

As fentanyl crisis evolves, experts say US is still ‘behind the eight ball’

Tyler Hicks, Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration's militarised approach and cuts to health programmes threaten progress against fentanyl.

After war of words on Iran, Pope Leo says he's not interested in a debate with Trump

Freddie Clayton, Claudio Lavanga, NBC News

Pope Leo VIX has said he has no interest in debating President Donald Trump, pushing back at reporting about the escalating war of words between the two men

‘We’re not afraid of war’ – Cuban president to RT (VIDEO)

RT

Cuba is a peaceful nation, but it will use all means to defend itself in case of a US aggression, President Miguel Diaz-Canel has told RT Read Full Article at RT.com

Amazon Delivery Drones Involve a Perilous 10-Foot Drop. Users Are Posting the Apparent Results

Tom Hawking, Gizmodo.com

Broken blue raspberry syrup: bad. Broken GPS security: worse.

Iran defends limits on Strait of Hormuz passage

RT

Tehran has every right to keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed amid US hostility, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman told RT Read Full Article at RT.com

We keep talking about Jesus. We refuse to define Him.

Peter Rosenberger, TheBlaze

This week, I watched a segment on “The View” that felt less like a conversation and more like a fever dream. The topic, of course, was Donald Trump, prompted this time by an image circulating online that depicted him in a Christ-like form. The reaction was pr…

Trump claims on Iranian concessions trigger questions, rejections in Tehran

Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera English

The political drama culminates with the IRGC announcing that the Strait of Hormuz is once again restricted.

Fake image of girls kneeling before Trump spreads online

Jordan Liles, Snopes.com

An image authentically shows U.S. President Donald Trump smiling and wearing a white tank top with young girls kneeling before him.

Trump lied seven times in one hour – Iran’s top negotiator

RT

All seven claims made by US President Donald Trump after Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz are false, Tehran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has said

Iran reimposes Strait of Hormuz restrictions as tensions with U.S. continue

CBC News

The duelling blockades in the Strait of Hormuz lurched into uncharted waters on Saturday as the United States pressed ahead with its campaign to choke off Iranian ports and Iran reversed an initial move to reopen the waterway.

Tiger Woods undergoing ‘intense’ physical, psychological treatment at 90-day rehab: report

Katherine Donlevy, New York Post

The golf great is believed to be receiving "physical and psychological attention" at a facility in Zurich, Switzerland.

Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again over US blockade of its ports

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Reports of Iranian gunboats opening fire on tanker after Tehran says it is closing waterway until US lifts its blockade.

Displaced Lebanese return as Israeli shelling violates ceasefire in south

Caolán Magee, Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera correspondents on the ground report that Israeli bulldozers are also continuing home demolitions.

‘Big sigh of relief’: Republicans finally get some good news. Can it last?

Alex Gangitano, Eli Stokols and Sophia Cai, Politico

The trick now, Republicans say, is keeping the distractions to a minimum.

The foreign students powering American summer jobs may be harder to find this year

Lauren Edmonds, Business Insider

The J-1 Visa program aids small US businesses by providing around 100,000 student workers each summer. Visa delays and geopolitics pose challenges.

LA must pay $11.8M to man blinded by police projectile during Dodgers celebration

Associated Press, New York Post

Castellanos was permanently blinded in one eye and filed a federal lawsuit in 2022, alleging excessive use of force.

Conservative publishing is trading politics for piety

Sophia Tesfaye, Salon

From Ann Coulter’s bestsellers to Tucker Carlson’s new imprint, right-wing books have descended into lifestyle slop

Iran's military says it has placed the Strait of Hormuz under strict control again

Tristan Anthony, Business Insider

Iran's military accused the US of acts of "piracy" over the blockade of its ports — and that in response it had resumed management of Hormuz.

Trump won’t touch the one thing that could fix fertility rates

Nicole Karlis, Salon

Conservatives says the "problem" is fewer teen pregnancies. But the solution is actually fixing childcare

As oil prices plunge below $91 after weeks, a new Hormuz crisis emerges

John Power, Al Jazeera English

Brent crude falls over 9 percent after Iran said it will reopen waterway, only to shut it again over US blockade.

Hegseth Quoted Pulp Fiction As Scripture. It Gets Worse...

Cliff Schecter, Crooksandliars.com

David Shuster is back with his weekly countdown of the internet’s sharpest comedic satire — and this week, the material pretty much wrote itself as Trump got mocked mercilessly by Lego Iran after barfing up his usual potpourri of insanity, and saw his bestie …

Born in south Lebanon, displaced to Beirut, two grandmothers reflect on Israeli invasions

Lauren Frayer, NPR

They grew up amid olive groves in southern Lebanon. The son of one married the other's daughter. Now they're living temporarily in a vacant building in central Beirut, displaced many times.

The Media’s Groundbreaking Discovery: Anti-Corruption Is Good Politics

Jason Linkins, The New Republic

Good news has been something of a precious commodity of late, what with the Trump administration still engaged in its slop-conflict with Iran and the president himself taking to depicting himself as a messianic figure online. But in last weekend’s elections i…

Pakistan PM, army chief wrap up key trips in push for more US-Iran talks

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Asim Munir leaves Tehran while PM Shehbaz Sharif heads home from Turkiye with hopes of another round of US-Iran talks.

Uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz remains, as ceasefire nears its end

NPR Staff, NPR

President Trump said on Friday night the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain and attacks could resume if a ceasefire expires, while also appearing hopeful that a deal will be reached soon.

Iran reimposes 'strict control' over Strait of Hormuz, citing continued U.S. naval blockade

Freddie Clayton, NBC News

Iranian military officials said Saturday that conditions in the Strait of Hormuz have reverted to "strict control," citing the continued U.S. blockade of its ports, just one day after declaring the waterway “completely open.”“Control over the Strait of Hormuz…

Not just Trump: Redistricting race will hinge on what these state leaders did

The NPR Network, NPR

An 82-year-old Virginia senator raising the stakes, an Indiana consensus builder and a Texas enforcer are among state officials who have shaped the course of the midterm redistricting race.

If Democrats Learn Anything from Hungary 2026, This Is What They Should Do Next

Dahlia Lithwick, Slate Magazine

Norm Eisen explains the tools to rebuild democracy, protect elections, restore the rule of law and shut down corruption.

EU has four years to militarize – Belgian defense chief

RT

Europe should build up its defenses by 2030 to be ready for a war with Russia, Frederik Vansina has said Read Full Article at RT.com

Work on Capitol Hill? Your boss may want to ban you from betting on prediction markets

Bryan Metzger, Business Insider

"The first thing we should do is police our own," said Rep. Seth Moulton, the first lawmaker to announce he's banning staff from prediction markets.

Pope Leo heads to Angola in landmark Africa visit amid Trump clash

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Leo is the third pontiff to visit the fossil fuel-rich country after John Paul II in 1992 and Benedict XVI in 2009.

Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz sparks 'tremendous interest' in alternate routes

CBC News

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S.-Israel war with Iran has served as wake-up call that a significant source of the world's oil supply remains dependent on the accessibility of this narrow passageway. But, analysts say, it may now force some …

Trump says US will ‘start dropping bombs again’ if no Iran deal is reached

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump says the US will “have to start dropping bombs again” if no US-Iran deal is reached.

Iran war: What is happening on day 50 of the US-Iran conflict?

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz with conditions and threatens closure if the US blockade of Iranian ports continues.

Bitcoin falls back to $76,000 as Iran shuts Hormuz again

Shaurya Malwa, CoinDesk

One of the biggest short liquidations 2026 wiped $593 million in bearish bets overnight. Saturday afternoon as Iran reportedly reversed the Hormuz reopening.

Iran: Strait of Hormuz is Open; but with Conditions

Juan Cole, Juancole.com

"The passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire"

Is the Lebanon Ceasefire a Strategic Defeat for Israel?

Ramzy Baroud, Juancole.com

Some interpret this as a shift toward perpetual war under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The Capitol Hillbillies

Alan Pell Crawford, The American Conservative

Plus: space travel and liberalism. The post The Capitol Hillbillies appeared first on The American Conservative.

Trump says review of UFO files found 'interesting' documents

Kyla Guilfoil, NBC News

The president in February directed the Department of Defense to begin reviewing government files related to extraterrestrial life.

Reese Witherspoon Declares “It’s Time” For Women To Embrace AI: “Want To Learn With Me?”

Glenn Garner, Deadline

With the AI discourse spreading in Hollywood, Reese Witherspoon seems intent on making a seat for women at the table. The Oscar winner and Hello Sunshine co-founder recently explained why she’s taken it upon herself to “learn as much as I possibly can about A…

Judge halts local TV giant Nexstar's takeover of rival Tegna until trial

David Folkenflik, NPR

U.S. Judge Trevor Nunley ruled that consumers could suffer irreparable harm if Nexstar integrated Tegna's stations into its own operations ahead of an antitrust trial.

Nexstar Decries $6.2B Tegna Deal Being Blocked By Judge, Vows Appeal

Dominic Patten, Deadline

Thwarted today in what looked to be a Donald Trump approved $6.2 billion local station mega-deal to merge with Tegna, Nexstar are vowing to march forward in the courts. At the same time, New York’s Attorney General Letitia James, one of the leading advocates …

Trump set to read Scripture from the Oval Office during 'America Reads the Bible' event starting Sunday

Yahoo Entertainment

Pedro Pascal On Why He Looked Like “Deer In The Headlights” During Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime

Glenn Garner, Deadline

As Bad Bunny delivered his historic halftime performance at Super Bowl LX in February, Pedro Pascal was not prepared to be so involved with the celebration. After he appeared dancing with a star-studded group of partiers in ‘La Casita’ during the show at Levi…

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is easier said than done. Here's why

CBC News

Not for the first time in the past seven weeks of war and tenuous ceasefire, the details of developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz have been sparse, creating unease and anxiety among the shipping companies and crews whose tankers and containers slowly c…

Nexstar-Tegna Merger Frozen As Antitrust Battle Continues; CA AG Says “This Merger Is Illegal, Plain & Simple”

Ted Johnson, Deadline

A federal judge just put a halt to Nexstar’s proposed $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, putting in doubt the combination of the companies to create a broadcast station giant – at least for now With just a few hours to go on the current TRO, U.S. District Judge …

Trump thanks Gulf states for their ‘tremendous’ support

Al Jazeera English

‘This will be a great and brilliant day for the world’ Donald Trump said as Iran fully opens the Strait of Hormuz.

Deaths of migrants in ICE custody hit record high under Trump

Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR

Twenty-nine people have died in ICE custody since October, the start of the federal government's fiscal year, already surpassing 2004's toll of 28, the previous record, according to government data.

White House and Anthropic set aside court fight to meet amid fears over Mythos model

BBC News

President Donald Trump previously railed against the company for rejecting broad government demands.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick takes a swipe at Canada's trade strategy ahead of renegotiations

CBC News

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday criticized the current iteration of North America's free trade agreement as a bad deal, taking a swipe at Canada's trade strategy ahead of upcoming negotiations.

WATCH: Police save baby from alleged abuduction after high-speed chase

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Authorities say the baby's father forcibly took the 2-month-old from the mother and led police on a high-speed chase.

Corruption Toppled Viktor Orbán. Could Donald Trump Be Next?

The New Yorker

On The Political Scene Podcast: “Corruption is the Achilles’ heel of autocrats. It’s not a bug in the system. It’s the model,” the New Yorker staff writer Jane Mayer says.

Iran war live: Tehran says Trump made ‘false’ claims, amid peace talks

Lyndal Rowlands, Yashraj Sharma, Adam Hancock, Al Jazeera English

Tens of thousands of people forcibly displaced by Israeli attacks on Lebanon use first day of ceasefire to return home.