Good evening everyone. Another long weekend is in the books, and tonight we have several major developments to cover. Iran has selected a new supreme leader, though President Trump says he may not last long. Oil prices are surging to their highest levels in years as the administration argues that short term pain is a small price to pay. The White House is also not ruling out a military draft, a possibility that has angered some Republicans. Meanwhile, an explosive device was discovered near the home of New York City Mayor Mamdani.
This weekend reminded me again why I do this work. We covered both the good news and the chaotic news. Through it all, we kept pushing forward because keeping you informed is and always will be my goal. Chasing the truth is not easy. It takes time, resources, persistence, and the willingness to keep digging long after others stop paying attention.
Here’s the news:
- Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an Israeli strike less than two weeks ago. The decision places the previously low-profile cleric at the center of Iran’s political and military command during a rapidly escalating regional war that has already killed more than a thousand people and triggered attacks across Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and several Gulf states.
- President Donald Trump told ABC News that any new Supreme Leader in Iran “is not going to last long” without U.S. approval and previously dismissed him as a “lightweight” in comments to media outlets. The remarks came as Israel signaled it would continue targeting anyone involved in choosing a successor to the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while analysts say Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation is intended to project strength inside Iran despite mounting external pressure and war with Israel and the United States.
- Crude oil prices surged past $100 per barrel this evening, reaching their highest level since 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This sharp increase will likely translate into higher gasoline prices and more expensive airfares as soon as tomorrow, driven by rising fuel and jet fuel costs.
- The pressure on energy markets is expected to intensify. Several Middle Eastern countries have begun cutting oil production, while the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes—remains closed, severely restricting global supply. With supply tightening and markets already reacting, oil prices are poised to climb even further in the near term. This is Trump’s reaction:
- Large Israeli airstrikes on fuel depots around Tehran triggered massive fires that blanketed the city in thick black smoke and toxic pollution, with Iranian authorities warning residents to remain indoors because of the risk of acid rain and hazardous air. The attacks on oil storage facilities mark a major escalation in the war, damaging critical infrastructure and contributing to mounting civilian casualties and environmental hazards across the Iranian capital.
- According to Axios, U.S. officials are privately expressing frustration with Israel after it carried out strikes on roughly 30 Iranian fuel depots in Tehran, actions that went further than Washington expected after Israel notified the U.S. ahead of time. American officials worry the attacks on fuel infrastructure used by civilians could rally support for Iran’s government and further drive up global oil prices, while Iranian leaders warned they could retaliate by targeting energy infrastructure across the region, a move that could send oil prices dramatically higher.
- The New York Times has confirmed that the U.S. State Department has ordered American diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia, marking the first mandatory evacuation of U.S. diplomatic personnel since the U.S.–Israel war with Iran began on Feb. 28. The decision follows multiple Iranian drone and missile attacks near the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and reflects growing concerns that the regional conflict could escalate further and endanger American personnel across the Middle East.
- Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East war, saying Tehran must continue fighting “for the sake of our people and our security.” He also acknowledged that Russia is assisting Iran “in many different directions,” though he did not confirm reports that Moscow is providing intelligence about U.S. military positions in the region.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt does not rule out a military draft:
- Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene responded with fury:
- Sen. Lindsey Graham said the United States and Israel plan to significantly escalate military operations against Iran in the coming weeks, telling Fox News that people should “wait to see what comes the next two weeks” and adding that “we’re going to blow the hell out of these people.”
- Central Command has confirmed a 7th fatality in the Iran war, a solider who passed away in Saudi Arabia.
- Central Command further confirmed the death of a National Guardsman who was stationed in the Middle East. Central Command would not confirm whether this death was due to the war in Iran:
- Critics are raising alarm about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership during the expanding Iran war, pointing to his combative public rhetoric and ideological views as evidence he may be ill-suited to guide the U.S. military during a major conflict. Some veterans, analysts and former officials argue that his bombastic tone, past controversies and alignment with Christian nationalist rhetoric risk politicizing the Pentagon and undermining confidence among allies during a volatile moment in the Middle East.
- Israel’s ambassador to the United States said the country has not ruled out deploying ground troops in Iran as the joint U.S.–Israel military campaign continues. Ambassador Michael Leiter said Israel would prefer Iranians themselves overthrow the regime but warned that removing a government capable of threatening Israel and its neighbors remains the central objective of the war.
- According to the Associated Press, Kansas City International Airport briefly evacuated its main terminal Sunday after authorities investigated a potential security threat that surfaced around 11:15 a.m. The shutdown lasted roughly two hours, with arriving flights held on the taxiway while about 2,000 passengers were evacuated and police and K9 units searched the terminal. Federal officials later determined the threat was not credible, and normal airport operations resumed later in the afternoon.
- A counterprotester threw an improvised explosive device into a crowd during an anti-Islam demonstration on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, New York police said. The device contained nuts, bolts, screws and a hobby fuse and could have caused serious injury or death, though it extinguished itself before detonating near officers. Two people were taken into custody as investigators also examined a second suspicious device found in the area and worked with federal prosecutors and the FBI.
- Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller should leave the Trump administration, arguing the longtime adviser is “out of his depth” and has too much influence over Cabinet operations. Tillis said Miller focuses more on messaging than policy substance and suggested his influence has led to repeated political and operational problems for the administration.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
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