QOTD: Moral Hazard on Trump Steroids
QOTD: Quote of the Day "Markets are not properly pricing risk, because they really don't have to. They have assumed that the U.S. government will not allow them to implode, and that assumption is putting the world economy at stake." ... Continue reading →
macromon / Global Macro Monitor | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:23:05
Indiana Primary Tests Trump's Control Over Republicans
Associated Press: "Indiana's primary on May 5 has become an unlikely test of Trump's grip on the Republican Party. After state senators defied White House pressure by opposing redistricting, Trump has endorsed seven primary challengers in races that rarely attract any attention from Washington." "The campaign, backed by national organizations ...
Taegan Goddard / Taegan Goddard | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:12:09
Venezuela's Machado says 'no regrets' about giving her Nobel Prize to Trump
Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on Saturday she had "no regrets" about symbolically handing over her Nobel Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump in January. "There is a leader in the world, a head of state in the world who risked the lives of his country's citizens ...
Agence France-Presse / South China Morning Post | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:10:19
Building of Trump's White House ballroom can resume in full, appeals court says
Construction at the White House is expected to continue until the next hearing, due in June.
BBC | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:18:40
Trump says Zohran Mamdani is 'destroying' NYC with proposed tax on the wealthy
The proposed pied- -terre tax would affect wealthy residents who own secondary properties in New York City valued over $5 million but live elsewhere.
Lauren Edmonds / Business Insider | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:13:34
At anti-Trump rally, Sánchez promises to 'twist the arm' of the global right
The Spanish leader pointed a finger in particular at U.S. tariffs and the war in the Middle East for leading to a broad erosion of multilateral institutions.
Jacob Parry / Politico | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:03:56
Trump joined by Joe Rogan as he signs order to speed up psychedelic review
Order calls on federal government to relax restrictions on psychedelics, including ibogaine, for potential treatments.
Al Jazeera | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 17:46:57
Voters Say Deportations Are Too Aggressive
A new Politico poll finds half of Americans - including one quarter of President Trump's 2024 voters - said Trump's mass deportations campaign, including his widespread deployment of ICE agents, is too aggressive.
Taegan Goddard / Taegan Goddard | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 17:24:00
Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump
The pontiff says his remarks have been misinterpreted after a spat with the US president.
BBC | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:44:39
'No regrets': Venezuela's Machado defends giving Nobel medal to Trump
Maria Corina Machado gave Trump her Nobel Peace Prize after the US leader captured Nicolas Maduro.
Al Jazeera | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:08:43
Pope Leo backtracks on Donald Trump feud and says 'tyrants' dig was not aimed at US President
Pope Leo has downplayed his feud with Donald Trump as he claimed his "tyrants" comment was not aimed at the US President. The Pontiff said reporting about comments he has made during his Africa tour has "not been accurate in all its aspects". Speaking to reporters in English aboard his ...
George Bunn / GB News | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:43:30
Irrational Exuberance in Prediction Markets?
With the recent drop in odds for Strait of Hormuz re-opening, time to examine how credible Mr. Trump's remarks are being taken. To me, with odds back to below pre-cease fire rates, it seems to me punters should be a little less credulous, In other words, given Mr. Trump's penchant ...
Menzie Chinn / Econbrowser | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:39:19
Iran Reimposes Control of Strait of Hormuz and Fires on Tankers
Trump warns Iran it "can't blackmail us" after Tehran threatens "bitter defeats" after attacks on ships.
Rebecca Schneid / Time | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:25:00
The President and the Pope
Editor's Note: Panelists on Washington Week With The Atlantic joined to discuss growing opposition to President Trump's attacks on Iran and what winning a war with unclear objectives could like. Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV earlier this week for his comments about the war in Iran. Panelists on Washington ...
The Editors / The Atlantic | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:19:33
As fentanyl crisis evolves, experts say US is still 'behind the eight ball'
The Trump administration's militarised approach and cuts to health programmes threaten progress against fentanyl.
Al Jazeera | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:13:44
How Trump is pushing psychedelics reform through the health agencies
Trump directed the federal government to rush access to psychedelic treatments and reevaluate their status as controlled substances.
Daniel Payne / Stats | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:00:14
Trump Eases Restrictions on Psychedelic Drugs
"President Donald Trump signed an executive order to expedite research and access to psychedelics used outside the US to treat post-traumatic stress disorder," Bloomberg reports.
Taegan Goddard / Taegan Goddard | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:58:04
Court Again Allows Ballroom Construction to Go On
"A federal appeals court on Friday allowed construction on President Trump's ballroom project to proceed through early June, pausing, for now, a lower court's order that construction stop after next week," the New York Times reports. "The overnight decision was procedural: An administrative stay gave the court around seven weeks ...
Taegan Goddard / Taegan Goddard | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:56:28
American Airlines Says It Won't Merge With United
American issued the statement after news reports that United Airlines' chief executive had discussed the idea with the Trump administration.
Niraj Chokshi / NY Times | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:54:39
Video shows ships turning away from Strait of Hormuz as confusion persists over whether sea lane is really open
The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed despite Iran's declaration Friday that it is open, maritime freight and oil analysts told CNBC.
CNBC | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:41:25
Trump signs order to speed review of psychedelics, including controversial drug ibogaine
US President Donald Trump on Saturday directed his administration to speed up reviews of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, which recently has been embraced by combat veterans and conservative lawmakers despite having serious safety risks. Ibogaine is banned under the federal government's most restrictive category for illegal, high-risk drugs. But ...
Associated Press / South China Morning Post | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:41:05
'Iran can't blackmail us,' says Trump as ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz
Hours after Iran announced it would reimpose restrictions and close the critical waterway, two vessels attempting transit reported attacks.
Sydney Morning Herald | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:28:27
American Immigration Policy Could Learn From Modern Italy, Ancient Rome, and Plato
New winds are shaping conversations about citizenship in the U.S. and Europe. As the U.S. Supreme Court weighs the Trump administration's constitutional argument for tighter... Read More The post American Immigration Policy Could Learn From Modern Italy, Ancient Rome, and Plato appeared first on The Daily Signal .
Michael T. Hamilton / The Foundry | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:00:00
Trump issues executive order on psychedelic drugs
Seeking Alpha | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:57:28
Europeans tried to win over the US this week in DC. Their efforts were lost in translation.
The Trump administration, focused on the economic arms race with China and its foreign policy goals, doesn't seem to be listening to Europe.
Kathryn Carlson / Politico | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:28:17
Hundreds of Fake Pro-Trump Avatars Emerge on Social Media
The fake influencers have surged on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube in an apparent bid to hook conservative voters.
Tiffany Hsu / NY Times | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:16:22
Trump claims on Iranian concessions trigger questions, rejections in Tehran
The political drama culminates with the IRGC announcing that the Strait of Hormuz is once again restricted.
Al Jazeera | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:03:35
Trump rejects 'blackmail' by Tehran as Iranian military shuts Hormuz again
Iran's military said the U.S. must lift its blockade of Iranian ports before the vital waterway is reopened.
Jacob Parry / Politico | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:56:15
Trump's 7 Falsehoods on Iran "Deal" and $760M Insider Bets, Bombing Set to Resume
Today's Digest covers Trump's Iran deal claims on the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear material, Iranian denials, oil market bets, energy dislocations, U.S. drought impacts, water commoditization, and CDC director nomination.
Ivor / Peak Prosperity | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:38:26
Trump keeps claiming victory in Iran. New POLITICO poll shows voters aren't buying it.
A majority say the war is not in the national interest, and many lack confidence in the president's goals - including some 2024 supporters.
Erin Doherty / Politico | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:37:16
Trump Is Facing an Increasingly Defiant World
The Iran standoff shows the mistake the president and his team make in acting as if the world is full of passive characters.
Nahal Toosi / Politico | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:16:14
'A Little Embarrassing': Trump Calls DoorDash Grandma Stunt 'Tacky'
Pocharapon Neammanee / Huffington Post | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:40:04
White House meets with Anthropic CEO amid hopes for a truce
The "introductory meeting" came as the Trump administration is considering how to deploy a groundbreaking new Anthropic model amid its feud with the leading AI company.
Brendan Bordelon, Cheyenne Haslett, John Sakellariadis, Gabby Miller / Politico | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:30:08
American foreign policy in the age of Trump - LSE Phelan US Centre Event Review
In February 2026, the Phelan US Centre hosted the event "American foreign policy in the age of Trump" with Professor Walter Russell Mead as part of the Centre's America's Changing Role in the World lecture series. Marc Devictor gives an overview of the event. On Thursday, 19 February 2026, the ...
Blog Admin / USAPP | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:30:00
Will Trump Pardon Ghislaine Maxwell? Her Lawyer Thinks So.
Florida attorney David Oscar Markus has made a career of representing controversial clients. His next challenge is trying to get Ghislaine Maxwell out of prison.
Hailey Fuchs / Politico | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:20:30
Trump Will Participate in a Marathon Bible Reading
"President Trump has a complicated relationship with the Bible. He has often called it his favorite book, has posed with it for photographers outside a church and has sold his own edition for $60. But he has also struggled to name a favorite passage or even pick a favorite Testament ...
Taegan Goddard / Taegan Goddard | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:18:01
Iran fires shots at ships going through Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump threatens to re-start bombing blitz
At least two merchant vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz have come under fire. The incident follows Iran's decision to close the critical shipping lane , with Tehran claiming Washington has failed to honour its commitments under a ceasefire deal. Prior to the closure, multiple ships had begun ...
Ed Griffiths / GB News | Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:14:31