May 13th, 2026

• Finish the Job: Nearly 8-in-10 American Evangelicals want Trump to completely destroy Iranian threat, not cut premature deal - Vast majority of Evangelicals fear Iran will actually use The Bomb if they can build one
• Trump says US will 'finish the job' against Iran, 'peacefully or otherwise' - 'I don't think we need any help with Iran,' US president insists as he heads to China; Islamic Republic remains defiant, claims US must accept its 'rightful and definitive demands'
• Iran gambles that Trump will blink first in Hormuz standoff, but risks overplaying its hand - Analysts say Tehran, viewing talks with US as existential, is willing to suffer to outlast president who is looking at midterm elections; but regime also faces 'discontented population'
• Hegseth says US has plans to 'escalate' action against Iran 'if necessary'
• Pentagon says US cost of Iran war approaching $29 billion - US Defense Department tells Congress $4 billion jump from previous estimate is due to equipment upkeep, as Democrats accuse White House of futile and opaque spending on conflict
• Hegseth faces new round of questioning from Congress on the Iran war and more - US secretary of defense and military chief Caine expected to outline $1.5 trillion proposed defense budget and stress need for more drones, warships, and missile defense systems
• Hegseth dismisses 'foolish' US stockpile concerns as Iran conflict tests munitions
• U.S. Intelligence Shows Iran Retains Substantial Missile Capabilities - Secret new assessments say Iran has operational access to 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that its military remains far stronger than President Trump has asserted
• Iran said to retain access to 30 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz
• Saudi Arabia covertly launched strikes on Iran during war, sources say - Strikes were 'tit-for-tat' for Iranian attacks on kingdom; UAE, which similarly struck Islamic Republic before and after truce, said to have coordinated at least one attack with Israel
• In first official confirmation, US envoys say Israel sent Iron Dome to UAE - Attending Israeli Independence Day event at mission in NY, Ambassador to UN Mike Waltz confirms air defense system was used to defend against Iranian missiles
• UAE conducted covert strikes on Iranian oil facilities hours before start of US-announced ceasefire - Military participation by UAE appears to signal growing alignment with Israeli interests in region
• US Hormuz blockade succeeds in choking off Iran's oil lifeline - JINSA, the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, reviewed the data and found that the U.S. had redirected 62 vessels. The number continues to grow.
• Kuwait says it stopped armed Iranian team from attacking one of its islands
• Islamabad denies sheltering Iran jets, Trump praises Pakistan's mediation as 'absolutely great' - Islamabad called the CBS report 'misleading and sensationalized' and aimed at undermining regional stability
• Iran's two-tier internet access fuels anger and exposes cracks in the regime
• 'Everything has basically stopped': Iranians struggling as internet blackout drags on for months - Iran's economy is losing $250 million US a day as internet blackout drags on, analyst says
• Iran sends mass text message to Israelis, inviting them to share intelligence - Hebrew-language notifications urge recipients to 'build your future' by contacting Iranian embassies; Israel's Cyber Directorate urges against clicking on any included links
• IDF says it carried out weeklong raid on Hezbollah sites beyond Lebanon's Litani River
• Hezbollah chief: Iran-US deal is best chance to end Israeli 'aggression' in Lebanon - In letter to operatives of Iran-backed terror group, Naim Qassem also blasts Lebanese government's direct negotiations with Israel and insists Hezbollah's arms not be discussed
• Qassem warns Israel: We will turn the battlefield into hell - Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vowed continued attacks on Israel, rejected surrender, and called for indirect negotiations through Lebanon
• Hezbollah drone threat: As fighting continues despite ceasefire, IDF plans to produce thousands of suicide drones in new factory - report
• Ukrainian ambassador presses Israel on drone gap as Hezbollah attacks rise, says Kyiv's battlefield expertise overlooked
• IDF changes Gaza control map with Board of Peace approval
• 'Silenced No More': Report Details Sexual Violence Was 'Deliberate, Systematic' in Hamas' Oct. 7 Massacre
• 'Blood libel': Israel rejects NYT column alleging widespread rape of Palestinian inmates
• Nolte: NYT Admits 'No Evidence' Israel Trained Dogs to Rape Prisoners, Prints Outlandish Hamas Lies Anyway
• Netanyahu said blocking bill that would undo Oslo Accords, allow settlements in entire West Bank
• Extremist settlers dealt a blow with EU sanctions
• Belgium refuses to renew passport of Israeli citizen living in Jerusalem area beyond Green Line
• NYPD arrests 4 agitators as 'Allahu Akbar'-chanting anti-Israel mob swarms Brooklyn synagogue, conducts mass Islamic prayer in the street
• Irish writer calls public broadcaster's decision not to air Eurovision 'antisemitic'
• Despite anti-Israel chants in arena, Israel's Noam Bettan advances to Eurovision final - Singer says boos were quickly drowned out by support and that he felt he was 'just singing to Israel'; 2 activists reportedly removed from event hall by security after interruptions
• Barcelona soccer star Lamine Yamal raises Palestinian flag during title parade - Coach says he doesn't 'normally like' such gestures, but 'it is his decision'; 18-year-old winger is expected to be one of the stars at the upcoming World Cup
• Israel's government is expected to collapse over ultra-Orthodox military draft
• Haredi factions push to dissolve Knesset, increasing likelihood of slightly earlier elections - Degel HaTorah spiritual chief says it has 'lost trust' in PM over failure to pass army exemption bill; move would need support of Shas to succeed; opposition hopes to begin process Wednesday
• Haredi spiritual leader gives green light for Degel Hatorah to dissolve Knesset over draft law
• At new party's first rally, Bennett vows to 'unite the nation' and enact constitution - Former premier says Likud founders 'rolling in their graves' at what party has become under Netanyahu; Lapid: Merger with Bennett is about 'restoring hope to the country'
• Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sinks after mysterious explosions off of Spain
• A Russian ship sank in mysterious circumstances. It may have been carrying submarine nuclear reactors to North Korea
• NATO member sabotaged Russian ship carrying nuclear technology to North Korea
• Greece says attack sea drone found on island is Ukrainian, calls incident 'extremely serious'
• Kremlin Confirms That, After Trilateral Negotiations by US-Russia-Ukraine, 'The End of the War Is Truly Near' - While Zelensky Insists That 'Moscow ‌Has No Intention of Ending It'
• Zelensky's Right-Hand Man Yermak Charged for Money Laundering - Ukrainian Judge To Decide About Pretrial Detention - Prosecutors Ask for Bail of Over $4 Million
• 'Fused Together': Zelenskyy Faces Risks As Graft Probe Closes In On His Ex-Chief Of Staff
• Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile shield to cost $1.2 trillion, far more than planned - Cost of system will dwarf initial $175 billion price tag, Congress estimates; US president previously said it would be in operation by end of his term in 2029
• Trump "seriously considering" Venezuela as a possible 51st state
• Greenland Leader Admits US Military Presence on Island Is Part of Negotiations ‌With Washington
• DOJ Finally Slaps Criminal Charges on Singapore Shipping Giant Behind the Deadly Baltimore Key Bridge Collapse
• Million-dollar SNAP food stamp fraud scheme in Walz's backyard sparks outrage: 'Cruel joke'
• ICE identifies more than 10,000 potential fraud cases nationwide related to foreign student job program
• CIA officers questioned amid FBI's John Brennan Russiagate probe: sources
• Van Hollen: FBI Director Patel Wasting Taxpayer Money on 'Political Witch Hunts'
• Biden FBI secretly set up Trump to be indicted after he leaves office, Arctic Frost memos suggest - Jack Smith's team primed their criminal case against Donald Trump to resume once his presidency ends
• White House employee placed on leave after OMG busts him saying 'We have got to get rid of Trump' - "...He's a madman, literally. He's invincible. Nothing can stop him."
• Va. GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans faces calls to resign after agreeing with racist comment targeting Hakeem Jeffries - The controversy lands as the vulnerable Republican faces a tough midterm re-election fight
• Brad Raffensperger targeted by threat as he runs for governor
• Nolte: Flailing Virginia Dems Mistakenly Address SCOTUS Request to Wrong Court - Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (D) appears to have gotten his law license from Minnesota's Quality Learing Center. After misspelling "Virginia" and "Senator" on a recent appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court, Jones' office fired off an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States that's addressed to - lol - the Supreme Court of Virginia.
• Women set to lose more jobs to AI than men - Those roles include secretaries, receptionists, and office clerks, among others
• Asteroid 2026 JM2 passed Earth at 0.1 lunar distance
• 5.7 magnitude earthquake hits near Houma, Tonga
• 5.6 magnitude earthquake hits near Lata, Solomon Islands
• 5.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Ohonua, Tonga
• 5.1 magnitude earthquake hits the Izu Islands, Japan region
• 5.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Hualien City, Taiwan
• 5.0 magnitude earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands region
• 5.0 magnitude earthquake hits near Pondaguitan, Philippines
• Earthquake of magnitude 4.6 strikes Iran's Tehran
• Popocateptl volcano in Mexico erupts to 23,000ft
• Sangay volcano in Ecuador erupts to 22,000ft
• Purace volcano in Colombia erupts to 18,000ft
• Dukono volcano in Indonesia erupts to 18,000ft
• Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala erupts to 16,000ft
• Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupts to 15,000ft
• Semeru volcano in Indonesia erupts to 15,000ft
• Mayon volcano in the Philippines erupts to 14,000ft
• Central Bismarck Sea volcano on Papua New Guinea erupts to 13,000ft
• AVO raises Mount Kupreanof to Yellow/Advisory after increased seismicity and gas emissions, Alaska
• Giant hail up to 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) and damaging winds hit Texas
• Deadly storms prompt national disaster declaration in South Africa
• Pennsylvania seeks federal aid after April freeze damages specialty crops
• Global fire outbreaks hit record high as 'unprecedented' heat extremes loom, scientists say
• Georgia data center drains 30 million gallons of water leaving residents high and dry - "We got this notification from Fayette County water system saying you need to stop watering your lawns to help conserve water."
• More Than 1,000 Baptized at California's Pirate's Cove: It's a 'Spiritual Awakening' - Echoing the historic Jesus Movement
• America's pastor pipeline is collapsing
• Reporting from Nigeria: Christians Displaced by Islamist Attacks Living in Extreme Poverty Antonio Graceffo
• DOJ charges over 25 people in nationwide Tren de Aragua crackdown, seizes 80 firearms, 18 kilos of narcotics
• DOJ Has Charged More than 260 Tren de Aragua Gang Members Since Trump Took Office
• Harvard urged expert in $100 million reparations scheme not to find 'too many slavery descendants' or university would be bankrupt: report
• Trump counterterrorism strategy names 'transgender ideologies' as major threat
• Trans Virginia high school student filmed over 40 students under bathroom stalls: report
• UVA installs tampon dispensers in men's restrooms, students call move 'absurd'
• Michigan Democrats Introduce Bills to Legalize Assisted Suicide
• WHO chief calls on countries to 'follow advice' on hantavirus
• Cruise Hantavirus Infections Total 11, W.H.O. Says Cases Will Rise, but Outbreak Under Control
• Hantavirus is not Covid-19, but 'calm-mongering' risks triggering post-Covid anxiety
• Active CIA Whistleblower Set to Blow Lid Off Deep State COVID-19 Cover-Up in Explosive Senate Testimony Tomorrow - Sen. Rand Paul Reveals Intel Community Knew Lab Leak Origins for Years While American Taxpayers Funded Wuhan Research
• Tulsi Gabbard Launches Investigation on 120 US-Funded Biolabs - Dozens Located in Ukraine