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Iran launched a barrage of missile attacks on Israel after confirming the deaths of two high-ranking officials, Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani. The Revolutionary Guard announced that it launched multiple warhead missiles today targeting the Tel Aviv area. Israel also carried out an assault on central Beirut overnight, resulting in the deaths of 10 people. The Israeli military stated that it aimed to target Hezbollah militants and their installations.
Federal Reserve policymakers are gearing up to keep the benchmark interest rate steady today amid undeniable signs of a softening job market. Meanwhile, the ongoing war in Iran continues to push prices higher. Policymakers find themselves in a tight spot, balancing the need to encourage hiring against the pressure to curb inflation.
Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma will answer questions from senators today at his confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Trump selected Mullin after removing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from the agency’s helm. The leadership change followed months of intense scrutiny of DHS. An immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota sparked protests and led to the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal agents. The agency is currently shut down as Democrats push for reforms to how immigration officers operate.
Arizona’s attorney general is accusing Kalshi of running an illegal gambling business, marking the first criminal charges against the popular prediction market site. Users of the site bet billions of dollars each week on everything from the number of rate cuts the U.S. will see this year to what politicians might say during public appearances. State prosecutors claim that Kalshi, which is based in New York City, operates without a gambling license, allowing residents to wager on sports and elections without approval from Arizona regulators. Sports gambling is regulated by the Arizona gaming commission, and gambling on elections is illegal in the state.
After Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned U.S. attacks on Iran as a violation of international law, Trump tasked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with addressing the criticism, telling him to “cut off all dealings with Spain.” Spain Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that targeting his country through the Treasury Department would make “no sense” and harm the entire European Union. Since Trump began his second term, his administration has imposed and lifted Treasury sanctions in ways that depart from historical norms, according to former State Department officials. Traditionally, the Treasury Department imposes sanctions on individuals who pose serious threats to the U.S. and their own countries.
Actor Eric Dane, who played Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, died last month at age 53. Dane was diagnosed last April with ALS, a disease that attacks nerves in the brain and spinal cord, stealing a person’s ability to walk, breathe and often speak. His widow, Rebecca Gayheart Dane, told NPR she felt devastated watching his voice fade. Now, she is partnering with ElevenLabs, an artificial intelligence company creating synthetic voice software. The company developed a program to help those with permanent voice loss, including Eric, re-create their voices. All Things Considered host Juana Summers interviewed Gayheart Dane about her caregiving role with her late husband, how she believes Eric will be remembered and her complex feelings about artificial intelligence.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
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