"More Cases May Appear Soon, But Public Health Risk Low": WHO Chief On Hantavirus Outbreak

05/07/26 8:29 PM

The outbreak occurred on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which had travelled from Argentina towards Cabo Verde across the Atlantic.

'Capitulating' Trump just handed Iran another 'huge win': expert

05/07/26 1:42 PM

According to MS NOW national security analyst David Rohde, what is known about the rumored one-page memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran to halt the war is less than being advertised and the advantages still lie with the war-torn country.Appearing on “Morning Joe,” Rohde praised the work of the negotiators but also claimed that the increasingly desperate American president is backing off many of his earlier demands which plays into the hands of Iran’s leadership.Addressing questions from co-host Jonathan Lemire, Rohde explained, “I just think flat out this: I just want to call it a 30-day, one page agreement is a win for Iran. It's a huge win. They have stood up to the United States. And we can talk about that in more detail.”“I keep getting told that the Iranian and Israeli officials are saying there's deep divides inside the Iranian government, but American officials are telling me that that's not true, that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is in firm control, firmer control than they were before the war. And one congressional official just called it a military dictatorship. And I fear that this pursuit of somehow moderates or other people is not really there, that they're being told these things [and] the administration, they believe it.”“And lastly, this one-page agreement is not a peace deal,” he asserted and then repeated, “This is not a peace deal. This is an extension of a ceasefire that several weeks ago, the president said there was no end of the ceasefire. The president keeps capitulating. He said before, you know, this is like several weeks ago, he's like, ‘You know, we're going to have a ceasefire for two weeks.’ And when that ends, he's like, ‘Actually, the ceasefire will continue with no end date.’ And then the pinnacle, pivotal thing was this: this Project Freedom to open the Strait of Hormuz by force. That was the most aggressive, I think, and the most effective move by the U.S. military; it worked. And then he calls it off after 24 hours. And so that's again, a huge win for Iran.” - YouTube youtu.be

'Get the children away': Outrage breaks out over Trump's startling remarks around kids

05/05/26 8:13 PM

People were stunned on Tuesday after President Donald Trump started touting his unpopular Iran war and discussing it in front of a group of children in the Oval Office. The kids were at the White House to celebrate Trump's signing of a proclamation to restore the Presidential Fitness Test award, and in the press briefing, the president ranted about trans athletes in youth sports, then attempted to make his case for the Middle East conflict.Media experts were astounded by Trump's comments, with some calling out the president for his misinformation and decision to talk with children about adult topics. "He’s the LeBron James of being weird around kids," political commentator Evan loves Worf wrote on X."These are lies. And children are being exposed," Scott MacFarlane, MeidasTouch chief Washington correspondent, wrote on X."T***p's third term can be Santa Claus at the mall where unsuspecting children could sit on his lap all day long," author Joyce Carol Oates wrote on X. "He needs an R rating," Heather Thomas, actor and activist, wrote on X."I thought the whole ~*thing*~ the right was mad about for years was kids being made aware that some people transition," media strategist Ari Drennen wrote on X."Get the children away from him," Juliet Jeske, journalist and writer of the Substack Decoding Fox News, wrote on X.

'Grotesque': Trump sons' dubious mining deal triggers accusations of 'vast corruption'

04/30/26 10:50 PM

Political analysts and observers were aghast on Thursday after a new report suggested President Donald Trump's family had engaged in a dubious deal. The Financial Times reported that Trump's sons, Don Jr. and Eric, had taken a stake in a Kazakh mining company that had recently been awarded a $1.6 billion loan from the U.S. government. The brothers reportedly bought into the company last August for an undisclosed amount. The report added that there is "no indication" that the Trumps knew the company was in talks with their father's administration, or that they influenced the decision to grant the loan. Even so, analysts and observers expressed their outrage on social media. "Not surprising. This family is beyond anything in the history of the U.S. Outright shameful," Martin Pelletier, portfolio manager at TriVest Wealth, posted on X. "Trump Cartel’s corruption is so vast and grotesque and shamelessly out in the open that it has an almost paralyzing effect on the senses, made worse by the fact that there’s no systemic pushback, no 'opposition party' or elite resistance or even the hint of accountability," Marm Ames, a radio host, posted on X. "A serious country would put these scoundrels in prison for life," podcaster Kyle Kulinski posted on X. "Just a coincidence," Martina Navratilova, a former professional tennis champion, posted on X.

'Hegseth’s testimony cast doubt on his fitness' for job: ex-dean of U.S. Army War College

05/04/26 12:52 PM

A retired Army colonel and former dean of the U.S. Army War College is calling for the removal of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, arguing that his combative and factually questionable performance before congressional committees has raised serious doubts about his fitness to lead the Pentagon during a period of unprecedented global instability.In a column for MS NOW, Jeff McCausland, now a visiting professor at Dickinson College, laid out a damning case against Hegseth, noting that the nation faces an escalating conflict with Iran, an ongoing war in Ukraine, rising Chinese threats, and a potential energy crisis — none of which can be effectively managed by an unprepared secretary of defense."The American people are threatened by an ongoing conflict that could easily escalate and is already having a dramatic effect on the global economy. The nation is potentially facing its greatest energy crisis in history, and Hegseth's testimony cast doubt on his fitness for the position of secretary of defense," McCausland wrote.According to McCausland, Hegseth's testimony was "disturbing from the onset" for his "combative and argumentative style," as he immediately lashed out at lawmakers from both parties rather than engaging seriously with their concerns about a proposed 45% increase in the Pentagon budget — a massive jump that would worsen the nation's already dire fiscal crisis with national debt exceeding $39 trillion.Hegseth's strategic analysis of the Iran war revealed even deeper problems. Last June, he claimed that Operation Midnight Hammer strikes against Iran had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities. When questioned about conflicting media reports during his testimony, Hegseth attempted to have it both ways, stating that facilities had been destroyed but that Iran still possessed "nuclear ambitions."During his testimony, Hegseth claimed the United States is "winning" the war with Iran, apparently failing to grasp that successful military strategy requires far more than "a target list," noted McCausland.McCausland also cited Hegseth's troubling record since taking office, including his role in the "Signalgate" scandal, where his use of unclassified communications risked placing American military personnel in harm's way. He has also fired more than two dozen senior officers without justification — actions questioned by both Democratic and Republican members of Congress."Even the most loyal supporter of President Donald Trump must look at Hegseth's record and agree that he is in over his head," McCausland wrote. "He was selected for this critical post not for his expertise but, rather, for his fealty to Trump."McCausland concluded that at a moment of unprecedented global danger, the nation cannot afford incompetence in Pentagon leadership.

'Is this the market calling?' Trump faces new market manipulation claims over war idea

05/03/26 10:02 PM

President Donald Trump faced fresh market manipulation accusations on Sunday after he said the U.S. would guide "neutral and innocent" ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wrote on Truth Social that "countries from all over the world" have asked him to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that accounts for 20% of the world's energy trade. The waterway has been shut down since late February, when the war in Iran began, and the Iranian regime has reportedly attacked merchant ships from the U.K. and other countries for trying to pass through. "I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use [our] best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else. This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time."Political analysts and observers reacted to Trump's post on social media. "So, the blockade is bad again, or is this the market calling?" Tricia Hope, a self-described former January 6 participant, posted on X. "Big bet on oil was no doubt placed an hour before announcement," radio host Charlie Thompson posted on X. "It's Sunday evening again, so Trump is coming out with another 'breakthrough,'" political writer Maarten Verheyen posted on X.

'Kamikaze dolphin' question throws off Pentagon officials during briefing on war

05/05/26 1:10 PM

During a relatively subdued Pentagon briefing on the Iran War on Tuesday morning, both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine were caught by surprise by a question about “kamikaze dolphins” being deployed in the Strait of Hormuz.During the question and answer segment following the opening statements, a reporter identifying herself as Mary Margaret Olohan from the far-right Daily Wire addressed her question to both of the Pentagon officials.“My first question is for General Caine," she began. "You said that the attacks by Iran so far are below the threshold of restarting major combat operations. What is that threshold? And then for Secretary Hegseth, are there still concerns about mines in the strait? And can you kind of clarify these reports of kamikaze dolphins that we've heard about?”That led Caine to smile and glance over at his counterpart and then joke, “I haven't heard the kamikaze dolphin thing. It's like sharks with laser beams, right?” to laughter from the assembled reporters.After Caine added, “The threshold of restarting is a political decision above my pay grade,” Hegseth contributed, “And I can't confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins, but I can confirm they don't. Ultimately, the any follow-on effort, if there are mines identified, would be something that some of our units could undertake or the world could undertake. But right now we know we have a lane of safe passage.” - YouTube youtu.be

'That is failure': Trump's niece goes off as US pays for uncle's 'catastrophic mistake'

05/04/26 11:48 PM

President Donald Trump's niece sounded off against her uncle's war in Iran in a new Substack essay on Monday. Mary Trump, a psychologist and author, argued that Americans are just starting to pay the "cost of chaos" of her uncle's war. She noted that the economic fallout from the war is "staggering," as the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas predicts a 2.9% drop in global GDP because of the war. "Donald entered this conflict despite explicit warnings from experts that it would be a catastrophic mistake," Trump wrote. "The consequences were foreseeable to anyone paying attention. What is now being proposed as a way out of the war amounts to a reset to the status quo that existed before, except under far worse conditions. That is not strategy. That is failure.""And the economic consequences are already here," she added. "According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the United States economy was already shaky before the Iran war. Now it is in real trouble. Growth is slowing. Prices are rising across the board. The ripple effects are being felt across multiple continents, including here at home."She also noted that her uncle's hypocrisy over the war is now impossible to ignore. "During the 2024 campaign, Donald made the price of eggs a centerpiece of his messaging," she wrote. "He blamed rising grocery costs on his predecessor, despite the fact that those price increases were largely driven by a widespread outbreak of avian flu and the necessary culling of poultry. That did not stop him. He attacked daily. He simplified a complex issue into a political weapon. And he promised relief."

'Why is everyone giggling?' Laughter ensues as Rubio calls on right-wing reporter

05/05/26 8:32 PM

Reporters at the White House press briefing on Tuesday were audibly laughing after Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on a pro-MAGA correspondent to ask a question. Rubio called on Cara Castronuova, a White House correspondent for LindellTV, which is owned by Mike Lindell, a Trump ally who also founded My Pillow, when the laughter broke out. "What happened, why is everyone giggling? What happened? I'm sorry, are they being mean to you? Rubio asked."I don't think they are, I don't think they are, I hope not," Castronuova said, asking Rubio to comment on Trump's comment that Iranians needed guns and if the U.S. would supply those. reporters start giggling as Rubio calls upon a Lindell TV correspondent to ask a question pic.twitter.com/UCfu3OVwAa— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 5, 2026

1,500 Ships Trapped In Gulf Due To Iran's Hormuz Blockade: UN Maritime Body

05/07/26 10:30 PM

Before the conflict's outbreak, a fifth of the world's total petroleum and gas passed through the Strait of Hormuz.