Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday that the formerly mandatory annual influenza vaccine for US military members will now be optional. The memorandum […] Source

Iran Fires On Third Ship In Hormuz Chokepoint, Says US Navy Blockade ‘No Different Than Bombing’ Summary IRGC seized the MSC Francesca and a Greek-owned ship named Euphoria, which had been attempting to transit the Hormuz chokepoint earlier today. Within hours, a third ship comes under fire by the IRGC Senior Iranian adviser says the US naval blockade is “no different than bombing” and must be met “with a military response”. Iran agrees to surrender enriched uranium stockpile by June 30, 2026? Yes 34% · No 67%View full market & trade on Polymarket *  *  * Third Ship Attacked by IRGC The IRGC on Wednesday attacked a third vessel of the day in the Strait of Hormuz, rapidly escalating tensions further in the dangerous standoff. The container ship Francesca, owned by Mediterranean Shipping, was targeted while waiting to enter. “An Iranian gunboat fired on a containership northeast of Oman, before a second vessel reported being fired at off the coast of Iran,” according to WSJ. “Then the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on a third ship. The incidents within hours of each other demonstrate that while the aerial war between the U.S. and Iran is on pause, the fight for control of the strait continues.” The same publication offers the following outline summary of where things stand on the diplomatic front: A senior Iranian adviser said the U.S. naval blockade is “no different than bombing” and must be met “with a military response.” Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. said his country is ready to negotiate with the U.S. once it ends the blockade. Britain will host military planners from more than 30 countries for two days of talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz starting Wednesday. Iran Seizes Two Ships In Hormuz The semi-official news agency Fars reports on X that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the MSC Francesca and

Former President Barack Obama is facing backlash for celebrating Virginia’s redistricting plan that looks an awful lot like gerrymandering. Despite being told how terrible the gerrymandering of districts is when it benefits the Republican Party, it seems that the Democrats have no problem with it when it works out in their favor. Obama took to social media Tuesday night to celebrate the state’s passage of a plan that will give the Democratic Party all but one of its 11 districts. Look: Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they haven’t done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 22, 2026 “Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they haven’t done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back,” he wrote. For reference, the current breakdown gives the state a 6-5 split that narrowly favors the Dems. It seems that was too risky for the party, which opted for a map that makes it 10-1. Republicans argued against the narrative that the people of Virginia support this: Every time a democrat says they’re “fighting for democracy” it really means that as soon as they take power again they’ll do everything they can to attack, imprison and permanently silence their opposition. And they do. Meanwhile Republicans play to lose. https://t.co/snpoiHRkhF — Savanah Hernandez (@Savsays) April 22, 2026 You’re an unconscionable liar, Obama. You just disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of voters. Disgusting. https://t.co/lbrYEWkbTh — Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) April 22, 2026 “Congratulations, Virginia, you just disenfranchised virtually every Republican at the congressional level—democracy!” https://t.co/FC98aCo8GZ — Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) April 22, 2026