Iranian forces struck at least six commercial vessels including fuel tankers loaded in Iraq and a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, setting some ablaze, killing at least one crew member, and prompting full crew evacuations while Iraq suspended oil terminal operations. Oman evacuated vessels from its oil terminal in a precautionary move as the incidents halted shipping through the waterway that carries one-fifth of global oil, driving Brent crude above $100 per barrel despite strategic reserve releases and tying into expanded fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon that has killed over 630 people in the past week. Iran made it clear that they will use the strait as a leverage point by controlling who and what comes in and out of there, they functionally take control over the cost of energy. I really can't see this going anywhere positive but that seems relatively obvious at this point.

José Antonio Kast, who is often referred to as a far-right leader, was recently sworn in as Chile’s new president after winning the December 2025 runoff with 58 percent of the vote, marking the country’s biggest conservative turn since the Pinochet dictatorship era. Kast, who has publicly praised Pinochet and appointed two former lawyers for the former dictator to his cabinet, immediately vowed an emergency government with sweeping reforms including border security enhancements, government audits, crime crackdowns, and business tax cuts from 27 percent to 23 percent over four years. While the intellectual types decry the rightward movements taking place all throughout the world, we seem to be avoiding the most meaningful question which is why is this happening. It seems that people are collectively gravitating towards populist and nationalist leadership and I think there may be more to that shift than that the people don't understand their own interests.

Parliament recently passed and approved legislation removing the remaining 92 hereditary peers, aristocrats such as dukes, earls, and viscounts, from automatic seats and voting rights in the House of Lords after seven centuries. The reform under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government fulfills a manifesto pledge with a compromise granting some life peerages to affected Conservatives and crossbenchers, effective at the end of the current parliamentary session this spring as part of broader modernization plans. It's interesting to see such a legacy institution shift like this and it makes me wonder where the pressure to do so is coming from. Given I have an affinity for being from a country that flatly rejects nobility, removing these positions from the government seems like a good idea to me.

The Pentagon told senators that U.S. military operations in the Iran conflict cost $11 billion in munitions alone during the initial six days beginning February 28, 2026. The federal budget deficit exceeded $1 trillion through February with narrowing trends slowed by tariff revenues. Obviously this is not a sustainable approach for the future of our republic and more importantly, it's enraging to consider that this money is being spent to do things like accidentally blow up schools full of little girls.

A national survey reveals that roughly one-third of American adults, more than 82 million people, have reduced spending on food, utilities, or other necessities over the past year solely to afford healthcare amid rising premiums and expenses. Many households are also rationing medications, borrowing money, postponing retirement, or delaying major purchases such as homes or vacations due to the ongoing financial strain of medical costs. So it would intuitively seem that if we're just going to spend on a deficit and can find $11 billion a week to fight Israel's war in Iran perhaps we can take some of those funds and subsidize healthcare.

The administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow revocation of Temporary Protected Status for more than 350,000 Haitians despite ongoing gang violence and displacement of over one million people in Haiti. Lower courts had blocked the move on procedural grounds, leaving Haitian communities, including those in Indiana, facing renewed deportation fears as protections remain in limbo. The real question here is whether or not the situation in Haiti is in good enough shape for them to return home.

A federal judge determined that ICE agents conducted warrantless stops and detentions based solely on race or ethnicity during Minnesota’s recent enforcement surge, documenting at least 23 cases targeting Somali and Latino communities. The court found the tactics likely unconstitutional but declined a preliminary injunction to halt them while the class-action racial profiling lawsuit proceeds. Although this represents a relatively small number of encounters in the overall operation, it's important that those engaging in bad policing tactics are held accountable.

Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed a city council ordinance that would have extended eviction filing notice periods from 30 to 60 days through August to provide tenant relief amid housing pressures. Frey instead proposed directing an additional $1 million in emergency rental assistance funds while housing advocates continue pressing for stronger protections. How long is fair in relation to an eviction notice?

Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation prohibiting cities and counties from adopting civil rights protections broader than state law, specifically eliminating local ordinances covering gender identity after its removal from the statewide code. Separately, a University of Iowa employee was demoted after an undercover video captured discussions of DEI initiatives on campus in which she detailed how the university was skirting laws related to DEI.

Indiana officials have expanded collaboration with Turning Point USA, announcing a joint initiative with Club America to boost voter registration drives targeted at high school students statewide. The partnership aims to increase overall electoral participation through the organization’s programs and networks. The creep of TPUSA into public institutions seems really insidious and hopefully people start to see the organization for what it's become over the last several months.