Headlines

Axios

Seven Allies Join Hormuz Coalition

Seven U.S. allies – the UK, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands – voiced support for a potential coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but stopped short of committing military resources as divisions remain over direct involvement.

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Michael A. Smerconish

Daily Thoughts: Friday Focus

Two facial recognition stories made the cut for today’s newsletter. One is about attitudes toward requiring a photo ID to vote. The other concerns whether law enforcement should be allowed to shield their faces on the job. On voter ID, the idea sounds appealing…

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NCAA

Perfect Bracket Odds Unlikely

The odds of picking a perfect National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament bracket are astronomically low—about 1 in 9.2 quintillion by chance, or roughly 1 in 120 billion even with strong basketball knowledge—making the feat virtually impossible.

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Associated Press

Masked Agents Stir Debate

States are advancing new laws to ban face coverings for all law enforcement officers — including federal immigration agents — as they push back on masked enforcement tactics and navigate constitutional challenges raised by a recent court ruling.

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CBS News

Photo ID Gets Wide Support

A new CBS News poll finds broad bipartisan support for voter ID and citizenship requirements, but sharp partisan divides over fraud concerns and voting access persist, with Republicans more likely to see widespread fraud and Democrats more worried about eligible voters being excluded.

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Variety

ABC Pulls Bachelorette Season

“The Bachelorette” has been pulled from ABC’s schedule just days before its premiere as the network pauses the season following newly surfaced video and ongoing domestic violence allegations involving this season’s bachelorette Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.

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Alabama Local News

Student Found Dead in Spain

The body of University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey, who went missing during a spring break trip in Barcelona, was found in the sea after an extensive search, with authorities indicating no foul play is suspected.

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Al Jazeera

Pentagon Seeks $200B for War

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said there is no set end date for the war with Iran as the Pentagon seeks up to $200 billion in additional funding from Congress amid growing political scrutiny of the conflict.

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Reuters

Trump Draws Parallel to Pearl Harbor

During a White House meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, President Donald Trump controversially compared the recent U.S. strikes on Iran to Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, drawing mixed reactions and unease.

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Gallup

Finland Tops Happiness Chart

The 2026 World Happiness Report finds that while global happiness has generally risen and Nordic countries continue to rank highest, increasing evidence shows that heavy social media use is linked to declining wellbeing and mental health risks across regions.

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Los Angeles Times

Cesar Chavez Name Coming Down

California leaders are rapidly moving to rename Cesar Chavez Day after sexual abuse allegations against labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, shifting focus toward honoring the broader farmworker movement instead of the individual figure.

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CNN

Fetterman Backs Mullin for DHS

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman cast the deciding vote to advance Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to serve as US Department of Homeland Security secretary, crossing party lines to send President Trump’s nominee to the full Senate for consideration.

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NPR

SAVE Act Faces Long Odds in Senate

The SAVE Act, a Republican-backed bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote, faces slim chances in the Senate but is gaining traction in GOP-led states pushing similar laws despite concerns about voter access and rare instances of noncitizen voting.

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Washington Monthly

Cuba Libre: Rubio Having a Moment

Markos Kounalakis argues that Marco Rubio is betting that mounting economic pressure, fading revolutionary legitimacy, and reduced foreign support have left Cuba’s communist regime more vulnerable than ever to collapse, despite the country’s past resilience.

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CNBC

Netanyahu Moves Market

Stock futures fell as surging oil prices tied to the Iran conflict pressured the S&P 500 toward a fourth straight weekly loss, though Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s comments about assisting in reopening the Strait of Hormuz briefly eased oil prices and provided a short-lived boost to stocks.

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Times of Israel

Bibi: Iran Can No Longer Enrich

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on the 20th day of the war that Iran has lost its ability to enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles, as Israel continues strikes on its military-industrial infrastructure while signaling the campaign will persist until its objectives are achieved.

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NBC News

Contractors Asked To Pay Lewandowski

Multiple Department of Homeland Security contractors told White House officials they were asked, directly or indirectly, to pay Corey Lewandowski in connection with securing government contracts—allegations he denies.

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New York Post

Near-Miss at Newark Airport

An Alaska Airlines passenger jet and a FedEx cargo plane came within about 300 feet of colliding at Newark Liberty International Airport after a delayed go-around order, prompting federal investigations amid ongoing air traffic staffing concerns.

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Arkansas Online

Gov. Sanders Asked To Leave

A West Little Rock bakery, The Croissanterie, said it asked Republican Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave after staff and guests felt “uncomfortable,” a characterization she disputed as lacking hospitality.

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Fox News

Ruth's Chris Imposes Dress Code

Ruth's Chris Steak House is facing renewed backlash after enforcing its long-standing “business casual” dress code — including banning hats and gym wear in dining rooms — sparking debate over customer inclusivity.

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