Trump’s statements on Iran increasingly contradict each other

The president has made conflicting comments on questions both large and small related to the war

April 20, 2026

By Natalie Allison, Isaac Arnsdorf 

and Cat Zakrzewski

Appearing on Sunday morning news shows, top officials in President Donald Trump’s administration confirmed the plan for the next round of diplomatic talks in Islamabad, Pakistan: Vice President JD Vance, whom Trump had tapped earlier this month to lead the U.S. negotiations, would be there again.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving Trump’s Cabinet after abuse of power allegations

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer listens as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, April 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
By SEUNG MIN KIM
Updated 10:16 PM PDT, April 20, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is out of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, the White House said Monday, after multiple allegations of abusing her position’s power, including having an affair with a subordinate and drinking alcohol on the job.

Mexico: Canadian killed in shooting at Teotihuacan pyramid

CRIME MEXICO

DEUTSCHE WELLE
Rana Taha with AFP, AP, Reuters

10 hours ago10 hours ago

A gunman opened fire at the popular tourist and archeological site outside Mexico city.

A shooting at Mexico's Teotihuacan pyramids, a famous tourist and archaeological site, killed one Canadian woman and injured several others on Monday, Mexican authorities said.

The shooter later killed himself at the site, which lies outside Mexico City.

Day 52 of Middle East conflict - Trump says extension of ceasefire with Iran is ‘highly unlikely’

Updated 12:18 AM EDT, Tue April 21, 2026
1 hr 13 min ago
Key developments

• Seized ship: Iran’s Foreign Ministry called for the release of the Iranian cargo vessel seized by the US Navy on Sunday, as well as “its sailors, crew and their families.” Iran has vowed to retaliate for the seizure.

• Looming deadline: US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran ends “Wednesday evening Washington time,” adding it’s “highly unlikely” he would extend it if a deal is not reached before then.

• Status of negotiations: Vice President JD Vance and top US officials are expected to depart Tuesday for Pakistan ahead of a potential second round of talks, according to sources. Trump projected confidence Tehran would come to the table although Iran’s Foreign Ministry earlier insisted there were no negotiations.

• Lebanon-Israel talks: A second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled for Thursday, according to Israeli and US officials.

Transcript: Trump Accidentally Reveals His Contempt for MAGA Voters

The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent / April 20, 2026

THE NEW REPUBLIC

PODCAST

As Trump rages at ex-allies in telling outbursts, the author of a piece on Trump and the global right explains how he’s shrinking MAGA—and politically damaging himself and the GOP.

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the April 20 episode of the Daily Blast podcast. Listen to it here.

Exposing a Global Surveillance Empire

Politics
Reveal April 18, 2026
In a major investigation, a young reporter uncovers a powerful technology used to spy on thousands of people across the world.

In June, a sharp-suited Austrian executive from a global surveillance company told a prospective client that he could “go to prison” for organizing the deal they were discussing. But the conversation did not end there.

26 years later, IDF restores its south Lebanon security zone — with key changes

 ToI in southern Lebanon   truce took effect 'exactly' as troops reached the deployment line  
While the military avoids calling it a ‘security zone,’ the boundaries are nearly the same; commanders say this time troops won’t face same threats

By Emanuel Fabian 19 April 2026

AYTA ASH-SHAB, Lebanon — The Israeli military is reestablishing a security zone that it left some 26 years ago, although commanders say that this time around, it will not carry with it the same dangers that troops faced during the 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon in 1982-2000.

Rumen Radev wins in Bulgaria, says Europe is 'a victim of its ambition to act as a moral leader.'

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

By Marina Stoimenova from Sofia

Published on 19/04/2026 - 20:05 GMT+2•Updated 22:19

'Europe has, in many ways, become a victim of its ambition to act as a moral leader in a world without clear rules, says Rumen Radev after winning the parliamentary vote.

The snap elections in Bulgaria are shaping up to have significant political implications across Europe. Radev, a former fighter pilot who stepped down as president in January, appears to be the clear frontrunner.

World weighs fate of Mideast ceasefire after US seizes Iranian cargo ship

By Daphne Psaledakis and Hatem Maher

April 19, 2026 7:06 PM PDT

Updated 1 hour ago

Summary

• US military says it intercepted Iranian ship trying to run blockade
• Iran says will respond to 'armed piracy.'
• IRNA says Iran rejects talks, citing US blockade
• Islamabad prepares for second round of negotiations

WASHINGTON/CAIRO, April 20 (Reuters) - Concerns grew on Monday that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran might not hold after the U.S. said ​it had seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade and Iran vowed to retaliate.

Canada’s prime minister says economic ties with US are a weakness that must be corrected

By JIM MORRIS
April 19, 2026
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a video address released Sunday that Canada’s strong economic ties to the United States were once a strength but are now a weakness that must be corrected.

White House Leak Reveals Trump Booted From Briefing After Hours-Long Freakout

 Politics 

WHINER-IN-CHIEF

Even the president may have doubts about his war.

Laura Esposito 

Breaking News Reporter

Updated Apr. 19 2026 11:19AM EDT Published Apr. 19 2026 10:36AM EDT 

Photo Illustration by Eric Faison/The Daily Beast/Getty Images

Donald Trump, 79, reportedly threw such a tantrum during a fraught rescue operation in Iran that his aides banished him from the room as they were briefed.

Trump’s approval rating hits new low amid war and high gas prices

Energy Secretary Chris Wright didn’t help matters Sunday when he said gas prices won’t fall below 

$3 per gallon anytime soon

April 19, 2026 

By Erum Salam

A new poll shows President Donald Trump’s approval rating has sunk to a new low, driven by Americans’ concerns over rising costs, particularly at the pump. Trump’s energy secretary, Chris Wright, may not have helped win over any new fans for his boss after he said Sunday that gas prices likely won’t fall below $3 per gallon until next year.

Honor's "Tin Man" wins Beijing half-marathon, breaking the human world record!

Edited by Yiannis Damellos

Apr 19, 2026

BEIJING (AP) — In a stunning sports event that left all spectators flabbergasted, a skinny robot looking like a post-modern Tin Man from The Wizard of OZ won a half-marathon in Beijing running the track faster than an entire pack of caffeinated cheetahs! 

The speedy little humanoid tin can, engineered by the Chinese smartphone whiz kids at Honor, zipped through the 21-kilometer (13-mile) course in a dazzling 50 minutes and 26 seconds. For reference, the human world record holder, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, was still waiting for his coffee to cool, finishing in a leisurely 57 minutes during a road race in Lisbon. 

8 children killed in Louisiana mass shooting

The alleged gunman, who is related to some of the children, was killed after a vehicle chase, according to police.

April 19, 2026

By Mirna Alsharif and Cristian Santana

Eight children ranging from 1 to 14 years old were killed in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Sunday morning, according to police.

JD Vance is "On the Road again"

April 19, 2026

EDITED BY YIANNIS DAMELLOS

The President's right-hand man has been summoned once again to lead the second round of negotiations with Tehran on Monday in an effort to make a deal that will facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and possibly, if Israel SITS TIGHT, bring an end to the war. 

UPDATE: Tehran Confirms No Talks Scheduled with US, as Hormuz Strait Remains Blocked

The Greek Courier

News source: Al Jazeera News

April 19, 2026

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh announced that there are currently no dates set for renewed discussions with the United States, criticizing Washington's unwavering stance and "maximalist" demands.

Exiled ultra-conservative Venezuelan conspirator is looking for European fascists to support her vile cause

There is nothing more treacherous than a she-wolf wearing a sheep's fur pretending to be a fairy godmother

By Yiannis Damellos

April 18, 2026

MADRID — While Spain’s progressive Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, an outspoken critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, was hosting a summit of like-minded progressive leaders from around the world on Saturday, Venezuela’s exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado was addressing several thousand of her MAGA supporters at a rally in Madrid during her multicountry European tour.

Putin finally admits Russia’s economy is in trouble and grasps for answers, after warnings about a financial crisis have been piling up

 Economy  Russia 

By Jason Ma, Weekend Editor

April 18, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his concerns about the economy public as he vented frustration at aides and demanded they come up with solutions.

During a televised meeting on the economy Wednesday, he revealed that GDP shrank by combined 1.8% in January and February, adding that manufacturing, industrial production and construction were negative.