Hegseth Faces a Second Day of Democrats' Questioning on Iran War
Welcome to our ongoing US politics coverage as Defense Secretary Hegseth confronts a second day of questioning from Democrats on Capitol Hill. Senators are engaging with the Pentagon chief for the first time regarding his management of the Iran war.
Yesterday, Hegseth endured nearly six hours of intense questioning from the House Armed Services Committee, facing scrutiny over the financial costs, human toll, and depletion of critical weapons stockpiles related to the conflict.
The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to receive a similar briefing on the Trump administration’s proposed 2027 military budget, which aims to increase defense spending to a record $1.5 trillion.
During the hearing, Hegseth rejected the characterization of the war, which the Pentagon estimates has cost the US at least $25 billion, as a “quagmire.”
“The president has gotten himself and America stuck in a quagmire of another war in the Middle East,” said California Democrat John Garamendi, criticizing what he described as “astounding incompetence” leading to political and economic disaster at all levels. “He is desperately trying to extricate himself from his own mistakes; it is in America’s, and indeed the world’s, interest he succeed in that.”
Hegseth responded sharply,Your hatred for president Trump blinds you to the truth of the success of this mission … you call it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our enemies? Shame on you for that statement.
Today’s session begins at 10am ET, with Pentagon Chief of Staff Dan Caine and Chief Financial Officer Jules Hurst III also scheduled to testify.
US economic growth is expected to have accelerated in the first quarter, driven by a rebound in government spending following a government shutdown. This growth is also attributed to robust business investment in equipment, spurred by an artificial intelligence spending boom and the construction of data centers supporting the technology. Official figures are due at 8:30am ET.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are anticipated to visit Virginia before concluding their US trip with a formal farewell at the White House on Thursday with President Trump. Subsequently, Charles will travel alone to Bermuda, marking his first visit as king to a British overseas territory.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats will once again push for a vote on a war powers resolution concerning Iran, marking the sixth such effort in recent weeks.
“This week, Democrats will force a vote on our war powers resolution for the sixth time. We’ll continue to force votes every week as this war rages on,” Schumer stated from the Senate floor.
The House approved a three-year reauthorization of a controversial US surveillance program ahead of its expiration on Friday. The bill includes new oversight measures but does not impose the warrant requirement demanded by critics. The measure passed by a 235-191 vote, with a significant number of Democrats joining most Republicans.
Former President Trump reiterated his criticism of James Comey in a social media post, responding to allegations that Comey called for Trump’s death after posting an image of seashells arranged to show “86 47.” Trump wrote:
“‘86’ is a mob term for ‘kill him.’ They say 86 him! 86 47 means ‘kill President Trump.’ James Comey, who is a Dirty Cop, one of the worst, knows this full well! EIGHT MILES OUT, SIX FEET DOWN! Didn’t he also lie to the FBI about this??? I think so!”Trump is the 47th president of the United States.
The US Supreme Court’s conservative majority struck down a major provision of the Voting Rights Act that protects against racial discrimination in redistricting. This ruling opens the door for aggressive gerrymandering in states nationwide, potentially affecting elections for years.
Florida’s legislature approved a new congressional map designed to maximize Republican advantage amid the national redistricting battle initiated by Republicans ahead of this year’s midterms.
Outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced he will remain a central bank governor after his leadership term ends in just over two weeks.
The Department of Justice charged three anti-ICE protesters with allegedly assaulting Savannah Hernandez, a right-wing video journalist who was pushed to the ground during an altercation outside an immigration detention facility in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month.
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social this morning questioning when ABC will fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, stating:
“When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel, who incompetently presides over one of the Lowest Rated shows on Television? People are angry. It better be soon!!!”This follows Trump and Melania Trump’s calls for the network to dismiss Kimmel over a monologue he delivered before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, accusing the comedian of inciting violence.
Kimmel defended his remarks, explaining that his joke about Melania glowing “like an expectant widow” was made two days before the shooting and referred to the age difference between Donald and Melania.
“[Kimmel] is allowed to say whatever he wants to say, as are you and as am I. Because under the First Amendment, we have, as Americans, a right to free speech,” Kimmel said last Tuesday.
The Federal Communications Commission, the US’s top media regulator, announced on Tuesday it would not renew eight local broadcasting licenses used by ABC, a move critics interpret as political and regulatory retaliation against the broadcaster.
Governor Janet Mills Withdraws from Maine Senate Race Weeks Before Primary
Maine Governor Janet Mills has suspended her campaign for the US Senate just weeks before the Democratic primary, in a contest that highlighted internal party debates over strategies to win one of this year’s most competitive Senate seats.
“While I have the drive and passion, commitment and experience, and above all else – the fight – to continue on, I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources,” Mills said in a statement. “That is why today I have made the incredibly difficult decision to suspend my campaign for the United States Senate.”
Mills, a two-term governor and veteran politician, was considered one of the Democrats’ top recruits for 2026 when she entered the race last year. She had the support of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and prominent progressive advocacy groups aiming to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins and help Democrats regain Senate control.
However, Mills struggled to surpass Graham Platner, a first-time candidate and her opponent in the June 9 Democratic primary. Platner has maintained strong popularity despite controversy over past online comments and a tattoo widely recognized as a Nazi symbol.
The primary contest between Platner and Mills reflects broader debates within the Democratic Party about the best approach to defeat Republicans and regain influence in Washington, where the GOP controls the White House and both chambers of Congress.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Declares Strait of Hormuz Will Be Free of US Presence
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, asserted that Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz will ensure a future without American presence in the region.
“Today, by managing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will provide itself and its neighbours with the precious blessing of a future free from American presence and interference,”Ghalibaf wrote on X to mark the national “Persian Gulf” day.
This statement follows a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei declaring that the United States has been defeated in its war on Iran and that foreigners acting with greed and malice have no place in the Gulf except “at the bottom of its waters.”
Louisiana Governor Plans to Suspend House Primaries After Supreme Court Ruling
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry informed GOP candidates of his intention to suspend next month’s primary elections to allow state lawmakers time to pass a new congressional map, according to reports.
This announcement came shortly after the US Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana’s creation of a second majority-Black congressional district, intended to comply with previous rulings, constituted an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander” rather than a necessary effort under the Voting Rights Act.
The ruling significantly undermines a key provision of the Voting Rights Act designed to prevent racial discrimination in voting and opens the door for aggressive gerrymandering nationwide, potentially influencing elections for years.
There is debate about the ruling’s immediate impact on this year’s elections, as southern states rush to redraw maps before the November midterms. Experts suggest that the ruling may only yield a few additional seats for Republicans this cycle.
According to the Washington Post, Louisiana could be an exception, with Landry’s suspension of the May 16 primary possibly announced as soon as Friday, one day before early voting begins.
Other states such as Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama have indicated similar plans.
The Supreme Court’s decision, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, marks the latest in a series of rulings that have weakened civil rights protections established by the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
The ruling invalidates Section 2 of the Act, a critical tool used for four decades to prevent dilution of minority voting power, particularly in Republican-controlled southern states.
The court found that Louisiana’s attempt to create a second electoral district to allow African American voters proportional representation was unconstitutional racial gerrymandering.
The 6-3 ideological split overturned Congressional intent, ironically citing the Equal Protection Clause, which was originally designed to safeguard minority voters’ rights.
Oil Prices Surge Above $126 Amid Trump’s Warning on Iran Blockade
Global oil prices have risen above $126 per barrel, reaching their highest level since 2022, following former President Trump’s warning that the US blockade of Iranian ports could persist for months amid stalled peace talks.
Brent crude futures surged more than 13% within 24 hours, marking their highest price since the war began on February 28. The last time Brent exceeded $120 was during Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when prices peaked at $139.
Oil markets have been unsettled this week as Trump signaled willingness to maintain the blockade, with Iran responding by continuing to restrict access to other oil tankers.
Market analysts suggest traders are shifting focus from early optimism about a diplomatic resolution restoring Gulf oil flows to the harsh realities of supply constraints.
“The breakdown of talks between the US and Iran, along with President Trump reportedly rejecting Iran’s proposal for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, has the market losing hope for any quick resumption in oil flows,”said Warren Patterson, head of commodities at investment bank ING.
Trump informed oil executives this week that the US would continue the current blockade for months if needed,
according to a White House official.
US officials hope the blockade will compel Iran to cap oil wells and halt production once facilities like Kharg Island reach capacity.
“The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing,”Trump told Axios.
“They are choking like a stuffed pig.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei stated in a written message on Thursday that the United States has been defeated in its war on Iran.
“Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world’s bullies in the region, and the United States’ disgraceful defeat in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,”Khamenei said in a message broadcast on state television.
House Approves Reauthorization of Domestic Surveillance Program
The US House of Representatives passed legislation renewing warrantless domestic surveillance powers on Wednesday after Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump administration officials convinced reluctant Republicans to support the bill.
The renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) now moves to the Senate, where it faces potential opposition due to its attachment to unrelated legislation restricting the Federal Reserve’s ability to issue digital currency—a provision Senate Majority Leader John Thune has called a non-starter.
The White House and Congressional leaders have exerted pressure on hesitant lawmakers to back FISA, which has faced bipartisan skepticism because Section 702 allows authorities to bypass warrants when accessing large volumes of Americans’ communications data.
US intelligence officials defend the program as an indispensable surveillance tool.
Concerns over warrantless spying have delayed FISA renewals in prior years, but the intelligence community and its supporters have ultimately prevailed.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Affirms Protection of National Capabilities Amid US Negotiations
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s commitment to safeguarding its nuclear and missile capabilities as national assets, even as US President Trump seeks a deal on these issues.
Khamenei’s statement was read on Iranian state television and marks his continued public presence since assuming leadership following the February 28 airstrike that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Ninety million proud and honorable Iranians inside and outside the country regard all of Iran’s identity-based, spiritual, human, scientific, industrial and technological capacities—from nanotechnology and biotechnology to nuclear and missile capabilities—as national assets, and will protect them just as they protect the country’s waters, land and airspace,”Khamenei said.
“By God’s help and power, the bright future of the Persian Gulf region will be a future without America, one serving the progress, comfort and prosperity of its people,”he added.
“We and our neighbors across the waters of the Persian Gulf and the (Gulf) of Oman share a common destiny. Foreigners who come from thousands of kilometers away to act with greed and malice there have no place in it—except at the bottom of its waters.”
British Monarchs to Conclude US State Visit with Trump Farewell
King Charles and Queen Camilla will conclude their four-day state visit to the US on Thursday with a formal farewell at the White House alongside President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in Washington.
The king is also expected to lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, a revered site where tens of thousands of American war dead, two presidents, and former Supreme Court justices are buried.
The royal visit, commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence from British rule, occurs amid tensions between Britain and the US, with Trump criticizing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for perceived lack of support in the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran.
Charles and Camilla will attend events in Virginia before flying to Bermuda on Thursday evening.
A message from Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will be released shortly in observance of “national Persian Gulf day,” according to Iranian state media.
Defense Secretary Hegseth has previously described Iran’s new leader, who has not been publicly seen since the war began, as “disfigured.”
The visit coincides with a US blockade of Iran’s Gulf ports.
US Economic Growth Likely Accelerated in First Quarter
US economic growth is expected to have picked up in the first quarter, driven by a rebound in government spending following a debilitating government shutdown. However, this growth is anticipated to be short-lived as the war with Iran increases gasoline prices and strains household budgets.
The anticipated rise in gross domestic product also reflects strong business investment in equipment, fueled by an artificial intelligence spending surge and the construction of data centers supporting this technology, according to .
The Commerce Department’s advance estimate for first-quarter GDP, due Thursday, is expected to show a further slowdown in consumer spending even before the US-Israeli conflict with Iran pushed average gasoline prices above $4 per gallon.
“We remain in relatively slow growth mode, nothing exciting,”said Brian Bethune, economics professor at Boston College.
“There’s nothi...
