A bombshell new report reveals that top military officials have kept Trump out of the room during Iran war operations because they fear his erratic behavior will put troops in harm’s way.

www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Opening text of a thread by Palantir from X Because we get asked a lot. The Technological Republic, in brief. 1. Silicon Valley owes a moral debt to the country that made its rise possible. The engineering elite of Silicon Valley has an affirmative obligation to participate in the defense of the nation. 2. We must rebel against the tyranny of the apps. Is the iPhone our greatest creative if not crowning achievement as a civilization? The object has changed our lives, but it may also now be limiting and constraining our sense of the possible. 3. Free email is not enough. The decadence of a culture or civilization, and indeed its ruling class, will be forgiven only if that culture is capable of delivering economic growth and security for the public. 4. The limits of soft power, of soaring rhetoric alone, have been exposed. The ability of free and democratic societies to prevail requires something more than moral appeal. It requires hard power, and hard power in this century will be built on software.

Palantir put out a 22-point summary of their CEO's book The Technological Republic. It's pitched as a defence of the West, but if you read it through the VDA framework, verification, deliberation, accountability, what it's actually doing looks rather different.
twitter-thread.com/t/2045574398...

Traders placed over $1bn in perfectly timed bets on the Iran war. What is going on? Suspicious wagers on the US-Israel war in Iran are creating huge windfalls and raising concerns among lawmakers

Traders placed over $1 billion in perfectly timed bets on the Iran war. What is going on?

Suspicious wagers on the US-Israel war in Iran are creating huge windfalls and raising concerns among lawmakers.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Iran War Live News Updates: Ships Attacked as Iranian Forces Declare Strait of Hormuz Closed The announcement added to confusion surrounding the waterway after the U.S. and Iran declared it open less than a day earlier. Follow along for the latest news updates and analysis.

President Trump said his team will be in Pakistan on Monday for Iran talks and threatened to attack infrastructure unless Tehran takes a deal.

If you paid even a penny in federal income taxes on your income last year, you paid more than Tesla. YouTube video by Senator Elizabeth Warren

If you paid even one penny in federal income taxes on your income last year, then you paid more than Tesla.

Here's why.

'Un Poeta', una comedia triste… como la vida La película colombiana, dirigida por Simón Mesa Soto y protagonizada por el profesor Ubeimar Ríos, llega ahora a España

A los amigos en España, los invito a ver la película 'Un poeta'. Es la comedia más triste que se ha filmado en mucho tiempo. Va mi reseña:

elcorreo.ae/opinion/dixo...

@marujatorres.bsky.social @atalantefilms.bsky.social @ramirolc.bsky.social @cinematropical.com @raquelmartos.bsky.social

Bianca Jagger warns of impact on young people as she joins MP in objecting to Bianca Jagger joined local campaigners in a protest against a 24/7 gambling arcade

👉🏿Bianca Jagger warns of impact of gambling on youths and joins MP opposing 24/7 arcade
Bianca Jagger joined local campaigners in a protest against a 24/7 gambling arcade www.standard.co.uk/news/bianca-...

The best looking duck with rust coloured body, white cheek, black cap and an oversized bright blue bill. It is the best duck. It is the ruddy duck.

The Best Duck. I will not be taking questions at this time #birds

Trump to read Bible verse from Oval Office after feud with Pope and deleted AI image | CNN Politics President Donald Trump will participate in a public Bible reading this week as the administration continues to integrate religion, particularly Christianity, into official business.

Trump to give a Bible reading from the Oval Office as the attempt to develop a theocracy continues.

Private Passions - Dietmar Mueller-Elmau, entrepreneur - BBC Sounds Michael Berkeley's Guest is the entrepreneur Dietmar Mueller-Elmau.

👉🏿I am listening to a fascinating interview RT Private Passions Michael Berkeley’s guest is the entrepreneur and Hotel Owner DietmarMueller-Elmau www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Inside Story of Five Days That Remade the Supreme Court

See the full story by Jodi Kantor and Adam Liptak here.

Read the Supreme Court’s Shadow Papers Read 16 pages of internal deliberations from the Supreme Court that the New York Times has obtained, bringing the origins of the court’s “shadow docket” into the light.

You can also read the full 16 pages of memos here.

A Breakdown of Five Days of Secret Supreme Court Memos

Here are excerpts from the documents, along with our analysis.

The Supreme Court long relied on careful, time-tested procedures to issue decisions. But secret memos by the justices, obtained by The New York Times, show how the court decided to bypass those procedures and create its modern “shadow docket.” See key takeaways: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/u...

Gracias @diasdecine.bsky.social por este reportaje / radiografía de la película #UnPoeta

rtve.es/play/videos/...

Más de un espectador, estará como el pobre Óscar, corriendo a la sala de cine más cercana.

@atalantefilms.bsky.social @ramirolc.bsky.social

For Iran, Flexing Control Over Waterway Is New Deterrent

👉🏿For Iran, Flexing Control Over Waterway Is New Deterrent www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/u...

As US Blockades Strait of Hormuz, Iran Military Warns of Weapons 'Enemy Has No Idea About' | Common Dreams As the US military launches a naval blockade of Strait of Hormuz after failed talks with Iran, the IRGC warns of undisclosed warfare methods.

👉🏿As US Blockades Strait of Hormuz, Iran Military Warns of Weapons 'Enemy Has No Idea About' www.commondreams.org/news/strait-...

@annabosch.bsky.social @marujatorres.bsky.social @abcdarias.bsky.social @elpaisamericaco.bsky.social @laurabarrachina.bsky.social @giocondabelli.bsky.social @biancajagger.bsky.social @camimi78.bsky.social @almuariza.bsky.social @elpais.com @eldiario.es @iescolar.bsky.social @raquelmartos.bsky.social

Opinion | Why Iran Believes It Has the Upper Hand The Iran expert Suzanne Maloney explains how Iran views the war, and why the United States is losing.

What does Iran think it's gaining from the current conflict—and what are the implications for U.S. policy? Suzanne Maloney breaks it down on the Ezra Klein Show 🎙️

Off the court: How one basketball star’s death is saving lives | Brookings Research shows that investing in programs and places for youth to participate in sports can reduce gun violence. But what can the people most directly affected do in the wake of tragedy? In this episo...

120 people die from gun violence every day in America. For The Current, Rashawn Ray, Ron Cottrell, and Taren Weaver-Smith discuss how the death of basketball star Darius Lee sparked a movement—and a practical toolkit for coaches to address gun safety and conflict de-escalation with their players.

New CBS News poll

Trump approval rating: 39% 👍, 61% 👎

Trump approval on handling of
• Economy: 35%
• Inflation: 31%
• Immigration: 44%
• Iran: 36%

Poll finds most Americans take a dim view of the Iran war, believe it’s going badly and don’t think Trump has a clear plan.

For context: 129 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily (on average) before the war began, via UNCTAD.

Congress returns to battles over DHS, expelling lawmakers and the Iran war It's another busy week on Capitol Hill, with the House and Senate returning to Washington after a two-week recess and facing a growing to-do list.

NEW: Congress is back after a two-week recess

On the agenda

—DHS funding (shut down for 58 days)
—GOP reconciliation bill for ICE/CBP
—Renewing expiring FISA Sec. 702
—Potential House lawmaker expulsions
—Iran war powers votes

www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

A Stormy Week Is in Store for the Central U.S. Here’s What to Know. Tens of millions of people from Texas to the Great Lakes could face heavy rain and hail — and possibly tornadoes — as spring storms move through.

Multiple days of severe weather are expected across central parts of the U.S. this week, with forecasters warning that rounds of thunderstorms could bring large hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and some tornadoes from Texas to the Great Lakes region at least through Friday.

Opinion | Orban’s Fall Is an Astounding Achievement Voters seized the chance to leave behind his 16-year rule.

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

Over 16 years, Viktor Orban “built a formidable system of power attractive to like-minded strongmen around the world,” Stefano Bottoni writes.

La Misión Artemis II de la @nasaupdates.bsky.social ha terminado exitosamente y en Colombia nos sentimos muy orgullosos de las ingenieras Diana Trujillo y Liliana Villarreal, quien además fue la Directora de la operación de amerizaje de la cápsula Orión.

@artemis.extwitter.link

When Dictator Orban lost his seat of power, it wasn’t just a victory for the people of Hungary, it was also a victory for the people of Ukraine seeing as Orban worked hand in hand with Putin’s Russia.

Never stop talking about the Epstein Files.

Never stop talking about the Epstein Files.

Never stop talking about the Epstein Files.

Never stop talking about the Epstein Files.

It’s days like this that I’m most grateful for Bluesky as well as all of you on here, I don’t feel alone during these horrifically crazy times.