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1 Iran Conflict: President Trump Says US Will Take Out Iranian Ships That Approach Blockade
The United States naval blockade of Iranian ports took effect at 10 am yesterday, raising the stakes in the Iran war and sending already elevated oil prices climbing again. U.S. Central Command confirmed the blockade applies to all maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, while clarifying it will not impede ships traveling between non-Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran called the move outright piracy and said its armed forces are on maximum combat alert. Oil prices rose sharply yesterday, with Brent crude settling near $99 and West Texas Intermediate near the same level, up roughly 40-percent since the war began in late February. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said prices will likely remain high or climb further until meaningful tanker traffic gets through, and said he does not expect that to happen for several weeks. The average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. stood at $4.12 as of yesterday.
2 Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Tony Gonzales To Resign From Congress
The congressional misconduct crisis that had been building over the weekend came to a head yesterday, with two members of the House announcing their departures. California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell said yesterday he plans to resign his seat, a day after suspending his campaign for California governor amid sexual assault allegations from a former staffer. Within roughly two hours of Swalwell's announcement, Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales separately announced that he, too, is stepping down today. Gonzales had admitted earlier this year to having an affair with a congressional staffer who later died by suicide, a disclosure that prompted him to drop his reelection bid. The departures will trigger two separate special elections to fill their seats, which could have implications for the House's already razor-thin Republican majority.
3 DHS Orders Furloughed Employees Back To Work
The Department of Homeland Security has ordered thousands of furloughed workers back on the job, despite the DHS shutdown now entering its 45th day with no congressional resolution in sight. Internal emails obtained by CBS News show DHS citing "available funds" to justify the recall, telling employees at agencies including FEMA and CISA to report to their normal duty stations or face possible disciplinary action. More than 35,000 DHS employees received their first paychecks in weeks last Friday, covering the period since the shutdown began on February 14. However, the department warned that future paychecks beyond this cycle depend entirely on Congress passing a funding bill. Legal experts are raising questions about whether the recall runs afoul of the Antideficiency Act. On top of the employment problem, FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund is running low, with hurricane season approaching.