NPR is reporting that the Trump administration is threatening increased economic pressure on Iran to compel negotiations regarding the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has labeled this campaign an “economic D-Day,” with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expected to detail new measures on Monday. The U.S. has already imposed extensive sanctions limiting international trade, and while Iran's economy was struggling, the government is reportedly willing to endure hardship to survive. Iran seeks sanctions relief and the unfreezing of billions in assets held abroad, and NPR said more sanctions are likely to deepen Iran's distrust of the U.S. Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln is returning home after its approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines spent nine months at sea during U.S. military operations against Iran.
The Supreme Court is set to decide whether President Trump can continue construction on his ballroom project, following a lawsuit by the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation. An appeals court previously ruled in the nonprofit's favor but paused its order until today. The nonprofit argues that congressional approval is required for the project, while the Trump administration contends the ballroom is vital to an “integrated military complex” that includes medical facilities, a drone port, and bomb shelters. NPR said a halt in construction could create a logistical nightmare, especially given the millions already spent, and the slow pace of congressional decision-making could leave the incomplete complex in limbo. The dispute highlights President Trump’s approach to decision-making and the courts.
NPR also reported that investors sold off stocks and bonds yesterday after government debt yields reached their highest level in nearly two decades earlier this week. The Trump administration's attempts to calm markets were unsuccessful. Big tech companies are heavily borrowing to build AI data centers, and the government is also seeking lenders. Rising interest rates mean the government is projected to spend over $1 trillion on interest this year. While the Treasury Department is buying back bonds to reassure investors, this relief has been temporary. When the government pays more to borrow, consumers may face higher rates on mortgages and car loans.
In other news, NPR said U.S. officials are managing the growing population of wild horses on federal lands across 10 Western states by removing horses when their numbers exceed the land's capacity. In rural Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management is using helicopters to capture about 1,000 horses, many of whom will be sent to controversial long-term holding facilities and are unlikely to be reunited.
Additionally, new research found that individuals who used magic mushrooms through Oregon's pioneering psychedelic industry reported largely positive experiences. KJZZ, via NPR, reported that the Mexican state of Sonora confirmed its first case of the New World screwworm parasite just days before the U.S. border is scheduled to reopen to cattle. KJZZ also reported that the Eloy Police Department in Arizona is collaborating with eSleuth Inc., an AI-powered software that assists investigations by providing AI "investigators."