Behind The Ballot

The escalating U.S.-Iran-Israel conflict has fueled major global economic uncertainty, with attacks around the Strait of Hormuz disrupting energy supplies, briefly sending oil prices above $120 per barrel before renewed military strikes in early July pushed Brent crude back near $79 amid fears of further escalation. While U.S.-brokered negotiations have produced tentative agreements on Iran's nucl...

President Trump said progress on an Iran deal remains uncertain unless countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar join the Abraham Accords, while major disagreements persist over control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s demands for frozen funds and sanctions relief. At the same time, Volodymyr Zelensky urged the U.S. to provide more Patriot missile interceptors as Russian attacks intensify. A wors...

Iran is resisting U.S. demands to fully dismantle its nuclear program and surrender enriched uranium, while seeking $24 billion in frozen funds as negotiations continue under a possible 60-day ceasefire extension. President Donald Trump says talks are progressing, though Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly oppose perceived concessions. Meanwhile, a recent White House shooting r...

The Pentagon reportedly paused further strikes on Iran as Tehran improved its air defenses and aircraft tracking, making attacks riskier despite Iran retaining major missile capabilities. The war has raised oil prices, caused U.S. casualties, and stalled negotiations after Iran rejected a U.S. proposal tied to sanctions and nuclear restrictions. Domestically, Trump-backed Ed Gallrein defeated Thom...

President Trump said he is delaying a planned U.S. strike on Iran after pressure from Gulf allies and ongoing nuclear negotiations, though both sides remain far apart amid a fragile ceasefire. Iran is also moving ahead with a new Strait of Hormuz control system that could charge transit fees and tighten oversight of one of the world’s key oil routes. Following Trump’s summit with Chinese President...

President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for high-level talks on trade, Taiwan, AI, and especially the U.S.-Iran conflict, claiming China would not arm Iran and may help mediate tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, though reports suggest Beijing may still support some Iranian claims there. Trump also floated easing sanctions on Chinese buyers of Iranian oil and highlighted...

The U.S.-Iran crisis is rapidly escalating as peace talks appear close to collapse, with President Trump reportedly weighing renewed military action in the Strait of Hormuz and additional strikes inside Iran after dismissing Tehran’s latest response. Israel is also pushing for expanded operations targeting Iran’s leadership and nuclear infrastructure, while Iran warns any foreign military deployme...

  Middle East tensions are escalating as the U.S. resumes Project Freedom after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait restored access to regional bases. Iran warned ships to avoid U.S. warships, claimed attacks on American destroyers, and faced new U.S. strikes on missile and naval targets, while a leaked CIA assessment suggests Iran remains more resilient than publicly stated. President Trump also announced a...

A rapidly developing mix of global and domestic stories, led by reports of a possible US-Iran memorandum aimed at ending the war and reopening negotiations over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, though Iranian officials strongly dispute key details while questions swirl around suspicious oil-market trading activity tied to the announcement. We also examined a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboa...

The collapse of the U.S.–Iran ceasefire has triggered direct clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. forces retaliating against Iranian attacks on shipping and Iran responding with missile strikes while threatening to close the waterway. The conflict is expanding as the UAE vows retaliation after being targeted, and the U.S. weighs further military action. Oil prices are surging, global shippin...

White House envoy Steve Witkoff has revised Iran negotiations to prioritize strict nuclear limits as President Trump weighs possible new strikes, despite Iran showing greater flexibility on ceasefire terms and signaling readiness for further talks through Pakistani mediation. While the administration claims hostilities have ended to avoid War Powers restrictions, military options remain active, re...

President Trump is preparing for a potentially long-term naval blockade of Iran through the Strait of Hormuz as his primary leverage strategy, driving oil and gas prices sharply higher while increasing global economic strain. Iran has hardened its military posture, China and Russia are warning against further escalation, and the UAE’s exit from OPEC is reshaping global energy markets. Domestically...

The US-Iran ceasefire and Israel-Hezbollah truce remain in place but are under growing strain as Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Israel intensified operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and regional tensions stayed high despite ongoing diplomacy. The war is driving up energy costs, depleting US military stockpiles, and raising concerns about America’s readiness for other global con...

The U.S.–Iran ceasefire remains in place but is increasingly strained. President Trump extended it to allow negotiations, but tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue, with Iran targeting vessels and the U.S. maintaining its blockade. Iran refuses talks unless the blockade is lifted, and internal divisions within its leadership add further uncertainty. In the U.S., political tensions are also ris...

A U.S.–Iran crisis is escalating across military and diplomatic fronts. In early April, a U.S. F-15E was shot down over Iran, triggering a high-risk rescue mission that recovered both crew members, one seriously injured. At the same time, initial high-level talks in Islamabad—the first since 1979—ended without agreement, and a second round is uncertain as Iran hesitates to participate. With the ce...

The 2026 Iran war, sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes, is in its sixth week under a fragile ceasefire, with tensions focused on limited access to the Strait of Hormuz and conflicting reports on shipping activity. Ongoing negotiations show some progress, but escalation risks remain amid U.S. troop deployments, Iran’s threats, and continued Israel-Hezbollah clashes. The conflict has disrupted global oi...

After U.S. strikes and an ultimatum, Washington and Tehran reached a short-lived, Pakistan-brokered ceasefire tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but it quickly unraveled as Israeli operations continued and talks collapsed over U.S.-backed demands for a long-term halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment. The U.S. has since imposed a naval blockade, Iran is threatening retaliation and asserting contro...

The US–Israel–Iran war, which began in late February 2026 with major strikes on Iran, escalated through missile attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but a fragile two-week ceasefire was reached on April 7–8 requiring Iran to reopen the strait in exchange for a pause in US bombing, with both sides claiming victory. However, the deal remains unstable due to limited shipping, Iran’s propo...

On day 38 of the US–Israel–Iran war, the US and Israel maintain air superiority and continue major strikes, but Iran still retains significant missile and drone capabilities while holding partial control of the Strait of Hormuz. This week included the downing of a US F-15E and a large, controversial rescue mission, intensified Israeli strikes on energy infrastructure, and the killing of top Irania...

As the founder of Bookminders, he developed a transformative approach to outsourced bookkeeping and pioneered a remote-first employment model that prioritizes flexibility and work-life balance. As an activist and media producer, he launched Wilson's Fountain and America's Main Street Party, introducing a new method for nominating members of Congress. With a track record of leveraging technology fo...

In week five of the war following the killing of Ali Khamenei, U.S. and Israeli forces have carried out sustained airstrikes on Iran’s military and industrial infrastructure while Iran retaliates with missile and drone attacks across the region, intensifying a partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that has triggered major global energy disruptions. Despite backchannel diplomacy involving China...

The U.S.–Israel war against Iran illustrates modern politics through a blend of military action, economic warfare, and domestic strain. Israel is targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure to weaken the regime, while the U.S., led by Marco Rubio, aims to cripple Iran’s military without a full ground invasion despite a large troop buildup. Donald Trump has alternated between de-escalation and threats t...

Mikal sits down with Ramon Perez, who is a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer and NSA veteran who served for over 13 years, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the military in 2017, he became an AI consultant before founding and serving as Executive Director of the Digital Democracy Project. Motivated by the events of January 6, he now uses secure civic technology...

The U.S. is escalating its military posture near Iran by deploying rapid-response airborne forces and maintaining the option of targeting Kharg Island, a key oil export hub. Iran has taken a defiant stance, strengthening defenses, tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz, and insisting any ceasefire must include Lebanon. Diplomatic efforts continue but remain fragile amid deep mistrust, while...

As the U.S.–Israel–Iran war entered its fourth week, markets rallied after President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause in planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure to allow indirect diplomacy, briefly lowering oil prices and easing fuel concerns tied to Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Trump outlined possible deal terms on Iran’s nuclear program and shipping access, but Iran denied any t...