Today's Liberal News

Exclusive: Former American & Iranian Negotiators on Ceasefire Talks & How War Could End

After the first round of ceasefire negotiations in Pakistan collapsed over the weekend, we speak to two former nuclear negotiators about prospects for ending the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, including what another nuclear deal might look like. Robert Malley, a U.S. negotiator for the 2015 nuclear deal (which President Trump withdrew from in his first term), says Trump’s “mercurial” behavior makes it difficult to predict his objectives and the course of any future talks.

The U.S. Is Back to Squeezing Iran’s Economy

President Trump may have reached the limits of what he can achieve by bombing targets in Iran—now he’s trying to use economic pressure to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table. After a six-week pummeling by U.S. and Israeli forces failed to force Iran to capitulate, and a marathon weekend negotiating session ended without a deal, the United States announced that it would be imposing a naval blockade on Iran.

The Parable of the President

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Many people get the Sunday scaries, but most of them are not a sitting president facing self-inflicted global chaos and the growing possibility of a bruising midterm election in a few months.

There’s a Message for MAGA in Viktor Orbán’s Defeat

Viktor Orbán’s loss in yesterday’s election is just as much a defeat for Donald Trump and his vice president, J. D. Vance, as it is for the now-toppled Hungarian strongman. Seldom have American leaders intervened so overtly in a foreign election, and seldom has their preferred candidate fared so badly. Trump has a way of distancing himself from people who disappoint him. Last night, when reporters asked him about the outcome in Hungary, he turned and walked away.

Photos: Hungarians Cheer Orbán’s Loss

Reuters
A drone view shows people gathering to celebrate across the River Danube from the Parliament building, following the partial results of the parliamentary election, in Budapest, Hungary, on April 12, 2026.Denes Erdos / AP
A man waves a Hungarian flag as he celebrates in the streets after the announcement of partial results of the Hungarian parliamentary election in Budapest on April 12, 2026.

Three Changes Wrought by the Iran War

The fragile cease-fire between the United States and Iran marks the beginning of the end of this conflict—and it leaves behind three key changes to the Middle East.
First, the regional and global economic effects of this war will be profound, lasting, and largely negative. Although the United States, blessed with natural resources, is better positioned to weather the effects of this war than most countries in Europe or Asia, everyone will feel the pain for years to come.

Automatic Draft Registration Would Expand U.S. Surveillance State: Antiwar Activist

The federal government is preparing to begin automatically registering eligible U.S. men ages 18 to 26 for the military draft pool. The U.S. hasn’t had a military draft since 1973, but it still maintains a registry of eligible men in case the draft is restored. New rules around automatic military draft registration were tucked into the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

Trump Fires Judges Who Blocked Deportations of Student Activists Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi

The Trump administration has fired six more immigration judges in its effort to reshape immigration policy and the immigration courts. Two of the fired judges, Roopal Patel and Nina Froes, had each dismissed high-profile cases brought by the government against international students who had advocated for Palestinian rights, Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi. Around 100 immigration judges have been fired by the Trump administration. Firings in previous administrations were rare.

Viktor Orbán’s Era Is Over: Hungarians Celebrate as Longtime Far-Right Leader Suffers Landslide Loss

Official election results in Hungary show Péter Magyar and his opposition Tisza party won Sunday’s parliamentary election in a landslide, with more than the two-thirds majority needed to amend Hungary’s constitution. Hungary’s far-right Viktor Orbán has been prime minister of the country since 2010, making him the European Union’s longest-serving leader. His campaign was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Trump administration.

Trump Orders Naval Blockade of Iran After Failed Talks, Iran Threatens Retaliation in Gulf

Ship traffic has been halted again in the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump ordered the U.S. military to begin a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas starting Monday at 10 a.m. ET. Iran denounced Trump’s move as an illegal act amounting to “piracy” and has threatened to strike Gulf ports in retaliation. Trump ordered the blockade after the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war following 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.