May 11, 2026: All Newsclips

Lead Stories

Iran says it will ‘never bow’ as Trump rejects peace counteroffer, prolonging Middle East conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s counterproposal to end the 10-week war in the Middle East, calling it “totally unacceptable,” while Tehran vowed to “never bow,” prolonging a standoff that has choked the Strait of Hormuz and roiled global energy markets. “I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called “Representatives.” I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” the president said in a Truth Social post on Sunday. Iranian state media framed Tehran’s response as a rejection of the U.S. proposal, which it characterized as a demand for “surrender.” In its response to the latest U.S. proposal, Tehran has insisted on war reparations, full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, an end to sanctions, and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone as negotiations proceeded Sunday. “We will never bow our heads before the enemy, and if talk of dialogue or negotiation arises, it does not mean surrender or retreat,” he said on X in Persian, translated via Grok. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” said the war was not over because there was “more work to be done.” Iran had neither surrendered its enriched uranium nor dismantled enrichment sites, and continues to support regional proxies and advance its ballistic missile program, he said. The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran rejected U.S. demands regarding its nuclear program and stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Instead, Tehran proposed separate negotiations and offered to dilute some of its highly enriched uranium and transfer the rest to a third country, with a provision that it be returned if Washington exits any eventual deal, the Journal reported. The U.S. wants assurances that Iran will end its nuclear program as part of any peace deal. Iran has reportedly agreed to suspend enriching uranium, but for a shorter period than the 20-year moratorium proposed by the U.S. Iran has rejected dismantling its nuclear facilities. Tehran has also demanded that the U.S. end its blockade of Iranian ports as a condition for it to open the Strait of Hormuz.

After Virginia redistricting map is tossed, Democrats search desperately for a response

Democrats are struggling to respond to a major redistricting setback in Virginia, with some party leaders discussing an audacious and possibly far-fetched idea for trying to restore a congressional map voided by the court but showing little indication they have a clear plan. During a private discussion on Saturday that included Democratic House members from Virginia and Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the minority leader, the lawmakers vented anger at their defeat at the Virginia Supreme Court, spoke about a collective determination to flip two or three Republican-held seats under the existing map and discussed a bank-shot proposal to redraw the congressional lines anyway, according to three people who participated in the call and two others who were briefed on it. They did not land on a specific course forward, and Mr. Jeffries and the other members of Congress agreed to consult with their lawyers about the most prudent way to proceed, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private talk.

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The conversation reflected the desperation and fury that have gripped the party after the state Supreme Court struck down a favorable map that had been ratified by voters. The most dramatic idea they discussed — which would involve an unusual gambit to replace the entire state Supreme Court, with a goal of reinstating their gerrymandered map — drew mixed reactions on the call, said the people, and it was not clear that it would even be viable, or palatable to Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly. After Democrats had fought Republicans to a rough draw last month in a nationwide gerrymandering war, a pair of recent court rulings quickly gave the G.O.P. the clear upper hand in the race to redraw maps ahead of the midterm elections. Facing stiff headwinds, including President Trump’s low approval ratings and high gas prices, Republicans are looking for every advantage they can find to defy the odds and hold on to their narrow majority. Any plans to enact a new congressional map for this year’s midterm elections would require action in the next few days. In a court filing last month, Steven Koski, the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections, said any changes to the maps after Tuesday, May 12, “will significantly increase the risk” of his agency being unable to properly prepare for the state’s scheduled Aug. 4 primary election. A spokesman for Mr. Jeffries declined to comment.

White House distances itself from tighter AI regulation

Senior White House officials are trying to soothe industry concerns that the administration could require tech companies to submit their advanced artificial intelligence models for federal vetting before releasing them to the public. A day after one top White House economic adviser publicly confirmed that such a review was under discussion — likening it Wednesday to the Food and Drug Administration’s yearslong testing of prescription drugs — aides to President Donald Trump were sending a different message: Not so fast. “There’s one or two people who are very intent on government regulations, but they’re sort of the minority of the bunch,” said one senior White House official. This person, like others in this report, was granted anonymity to describe sensitive policy discussions.

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The back-and-forth messaging comes as tech industry officials anxiously await an executive order spelling out how the administration plans to prevent powerful new AI models from being misused to launch cyberattacks or even develop bioweapons. POLITICO reported Tuesday that the White House is eyeing a vetting system that could require AI giants such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google to go through the government before releasing new models. While it is not immediately clear how onerous that oversight system would be, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said in a Fox Business interview Wednesday that the administration was considering a pre-release safety testing regime akin to what the FDA does for drugs. “We’re studying possibly an executive order to give a clear roadmap to everybody about how this is gonna go, and how future AIs that also potentially create vulnerabilities should go through a process so that they’re released into the wild after they’ve been proven safe — just like an FDA drug,” Hassett said.

Confident in China’s power, Xi is ready to host an unpredictable Trump

President Donald Trump is set to visit China this week for the first time since 2017, when he received a red-carpet welcome from children waving American and Chinese flags, and Chinese officials hoping to negotiate with a leader they viewed as a pragmatic businessman and dealmaker. This time, Trump will return to a Beijing that is a far more powerful, confident seat of global power than a decade ago — with a seasoned leader, Xi Jinping, who now understands Trump weaponizes unpredictability and holds no illusions about making lasting deals with the American leader. Instead, Xi wants to project China as a more reliable and responsible counterweight to U.S. volatility, U.S. and Chinese experts say. “China’s comprehensive national power has grown significantly since 2017,” said William Klein, who arranged Trump’s visit at the time as a senior official at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

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The summit, which was delayed from March because of the war in Iran, comes as the U.S. is mired in a Middle East conflict that shows no sign of winding down. Trump’s standing, domestically and worldwide, has also been weakened because of the public’s dissatisfaction with the war and the severe damage to the global economy. As they meet this week, Xi and Trump, leaders of the world’s two biggest economies, are looking to stabilize the bilateral relationship after tit-for-tat export controls and sweeping U.S. sanctions on Chinese shipping firms and vessels suspected of doing business with the Iranian regime. In the more than 15 months since Trump’s return to the White House, Xi has displayed confidence in going toe-to-toe with his American counterpart, refusing to blink in response to repeated tariff threats and instead negotiating what was largely viewed as a mutual de-escalation. “China, after almost a decade of dealing with the U.S., has more experience and confidence now and is more clear-minded,” said Wang Huiyao, a former government policy adviser and president of the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based think tank.

State Stories

Austin SBOE candidates debate: which are worse for public ed? Private school vouchers or charter schools?

Democrats Allison Bush and Stephanie Bazan, competitors in the May 26 runoff election to represent District 5 and Travis County on the Texas State Board of Education, agree on most things – but not all – when it comes to shaping our state’s education system. When asked about the most pressing problems facing Texas public schools right now, Bazan said it’s private school vouchers. Bush argued it’s charter schools. And at a moment when Austin ISD faces a growing budget deficit and school closures, which presents the bigger strain on neighborhood public schools has come to the forefront of the runoff. More than 500 Austin-area students have been awarded private school vouchers, the Statesman reported March 5, a program that costs the state $1 billion in its first school year.

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But Austin ISD is also losing money to charter schools. Maggie Stern of Our Schools Our Democracy told the Chronicle they estimate that the district lost $148 million from students transferring to charter schools in the 2024-2025 school year alone. “That’s obviously a pretty large number in a district that is talking about budget cuts and already voted to close campuses,” Stern continued. “That revenue loss has real consequences for the vast majority of Texas families who continue to choose their local public school.” Bazan and Bush emerged from a crowded Democratic primary to represent six Austin-area counties on the SBOE, the Republican-majority board that approves public school curriculum standards and textbooks, manages how the state’s large Permanent School Fund is used, and approves new charter school systems – privately funded public schools like Austin-area IDEA and KIPP meant to diversify public education options. In March, Bush pulled ahead with about 36% of the vote – over 83,000 votes – while Bazan earned about 49,500, 21% of the vote. The winner of this month’s runoff will face Republican Mica Arellano in November. And while the SBOE is often a branch of state government that flies under the radar, it incited statewide protests last month. In early April, members advanced a controversial draft of the state’s curriculum standards for social studies that centers Texas’ and Christianity’s role within national and world history, and a literary works list that includes references to the Bible. Both Bush and Bazan expressed deep concern to the Chronicle about what the SBOE has accomplished this month.

Gov. Abbott activates state emergency resources ahead of severe storm threat

Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate state emergency response resources as a massive storm system threatens much of the state with hurricane-force winds, giant hail, and the risk of tornadoes. The severe weather, expected to last through Monday morning, covers a vast footprint including West, North, East, Central, and South-Central Texas. Forecasters warned the system could produce wind gusts exceeding 75 mph and hail larger than 2 inches in diameter.

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What they're saying: "Texas is prepared to confront the severe storms that pose a threat to communities all across our state," Abbott said in a statement. He urged Texans to monitor local forecasts and warned motorists never to drive through flooded roadways, invoking the phrase, "Turn Around, Don't Drown." Heavy rainfall is expected to be widespread, with some areas potentially seeing isolated totals of 3 to 6 inches, which could lead to significant flash flooding. As the system progresses, the threat is expected to shift toward the South and Southeast Texas coasts.

New immigration rule for Texas occupational licenses leaves some beauty professionals in ‘limbo'

Jadira sweeps the floor of her beauty salon tucked into a southern Dallas neighborhood as a client and her two kids arrive. Jadira helps the four-year-old up on the salon chair as his mom explains the type of haircut she would like for her son. For the last 20 years, Jadira — whom KERA is only referring to by her first name because she does not have legal status in the U.S. — has been forging relationships with community members and has seen generations grow up and remain loyal customers. But she is now afraid that the trust and connections she has built could be taken away because of a new regulation that requires occupational license holders to show proof of legal status. “I’m worried about the new requirements to get a license because my livelihood depends on this,” Jadira told KERA in Spanish. “I’ve also talked to various people in the same situation as me, and we don’t know what to do.”

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She said she’s “in limbo” without any clear guidance. Under the new requirement by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) that went into effect May 1, anyone renewing their license must show proof of legal status in the U.S. The new rule affects approximately 40 professions, including cosmetologists like Jadira, estheticians, nail techs, eyelash techs and barbers. “It’s a very radical change because it doesn't just affect those who work in the beauty industry, but the majority of Latinos without legal status in areas such as plumbing, air conditioning, electricity,” Luisa Carrillo, who runs a beauty school based in North Dallas, said in Spanish. “So we’re not just talking about beauty.” Carrillo is worried of what the change means for the future of beauty schools in North Texas – the ones that have predominantly migrant students. Some of her students have considered leaving the beauty school, she said.

Texas law enforcement agencies brace for FIFA World Cup impact

As North Texas prepares to host matches and events tied to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, law enforcement agencies across the region are ramping up security operations, investing in technology and coordinating staffing efforts ahead of what officials expect to be one of the busiest summers in recent history. North Texas officials estimate roughly 3.8 million visitors could travel through the region during the tournament, creating additional concerns surrounding transportation, crowd control and public safety. “So, there’s issues regarding transportation and traffic. There’s issues regarding security,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which will be called Dallas Stadium during the tournament, will host nine soccer matches.

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The expected influx of visitors is prompting agencies across the region to adopt new tools and strategies. The Burleson Police Department is using body cameras capable of conducting real-time translations in 50 languages. “It’s a game-changer,” said Officer Jay Davis of the department. Meanwhile, the North Central Texas Council of Governments is investing $200,000 into artificial intelligence software designed to help 911 operators translate calls from non-English speakers. “We’re expecting to see a higher usage in language translation services,” said Rodger Mann of the North Central Texas Emergency Communications District. Dallas is also preparing to host the FIFA Fan Festival and the International Broadcast Center, both of which will require a significant police presence and security operations. The Dallas Police Department is receiving a $22 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to help fund those efforts.

Spurs coach defends Wembanyama amid 'disgusting' physicality

Coming to the defense of Victor Wembanyama following his ejection in Game 4 against the Timberwolves, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said the physicality his star player faces on a nightly basis is “actually disgusting.” Wembanyama was kicked out of Sunday’s 114-109 loss in Minneapolis with 8:39 to play in the second quarter after swinging his elbow into the chin of Minnesota’s Naz Reid while battling for a rebound. Officials assessed a flagrant 2 foul following a review. Asked after Friday’s Game 3 about the fresh scratches and bruises across his body, Wembanyama said the physical punishment is “gonna happen” in the playoff environment. But Johnson had less patience following Game 4, pointing to the league’s responsibility to protect Wembanyama.

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“The physicality people try to impose on him and the lack of protection is really disappointing,” Johnson said. “At some level, it’s starting to get actually disgusting, just in terms of when he tries to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff.” Johnson said the Spurs have spoken to Wembanyama about defending himself against his opponents’ physicality. “I do think it’s getting to a point that if the people who are in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality of the game don’t do that, at some point he’s going to have to protect himself,” Johnson said. “We’ve been asking him to do that for a while.” Though Johnson defended Wembanyama for responding to Minnesota’s aggression, he clarified that he did not condone Sunday’s foul against Reid. “I’m glad he took matters into his own hands,” Johnson said. “Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid. I want to be very clear about that. I’m glad Naz Reid was OK. I didn’t want him to elbow him. But he’s going to have to protect himself, if they’re not. And I think it’s disgusting.” The league is expected to review the play on Monday, and Wembanyama could face additional punishment. Johnson said he did not believe anything beyond Sunday’s ejection would be warranted. “There was zero intent,” Johnson said. “To have anything on top of that, I think, would be ridiculous.”

Port of Corpus Christi rolls out new environmental guidelines as activity surges

The Port of Corpus Christi is introducing new environmental guidelines aimed at shaping future operations as activity at the port continues to grow. The announcement comes as the port has drawn national attention for a recent surge in activity, largely tied to the war in Iran. That increase, along with ongoing concerns about the Coastal Bend’s water supply, has sparked questions from community members about how local industry is addressing environmental impacts. Longtime Sinton resident Lilly Wilkinson said she has seen environmental changes in the area over the decades. “There was a lot of sludge and things and a lot of waste from the petroleum industry that dumped into rivers and creeks in the bays,” Wilkinson said, recalling what Corpus Christi Bay looked like in the 1960s.

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Wilkinson said conditions today are much different. “The water now is so fresh and so clean I've never seen it this clean and pristine,” Wilkinson said. She shared her perspective after attending a community meeting hosted by the port announcing their updated environmental policies. Kent Britton, CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi, broke down the new guidelines. “We kind of have a cadence for our strategic planning at the port of three years. And so as we kind of update our strategic plan every three years, which we just approved, I don’t know, four or five months ago, then falling right on the heels of that, we update our environmental policy,” Britton said. Britton said many environmental regulations for their customers are overseen by agencies such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, but the port is focusing on changes within its own operations.

Texas can tax VELO oral nicotine products as tobacco, state Supreme Court rules

Despite not containing true tobacco, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday a line of oral nicotine pouches and lozenges are tobacco products, and the state can tax them as such. VELO products are made of a blend of plant matter and nicotine. The combination makes the products tobacco substitutes, subjecting them to state tax laws that the Texas Comptroller enforces, Justice Brett Busby wrote in an opinion for the court. “A VELO pouch is essentially a type of snus—a porous pouch that is filled with cellulose and nicotine isolate instead of pulverized tobacco,” Busby wrote. “In short, the primary ingredient in VELO pouches—a blend of powdered cellulose and nicotine isolate—takes the place and function of the tobacco plant matter in snus, a 'preparation of pulverized tobacco' that is taxable under (the Texas Tax Code)."

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In a concurring opinion, Justice James Sullivan said he considers the presence of plant matter in VELO pouches irrelevant to the court's interpretation of tobacco tax law. "Respectfully, I’m doubtful that the presence of 'microcrystalline cellulose, a naturally occurring organic compound found in the cell walls of plants,' is essential to a VELO pouch’s having been 'made of . . . a tobacco substitute,'" Sullivan wrote, citing Busby's opinion and state law. In a statement, a spokesperson said the Texas Comptroller’s Office is “pleased” with the high court’s ruling. KERA News has reached out to RJR Vapor Co. and will update this story with any response. RJR Vapor Co. sells oral nicotine products throughout Texas, including VELO, a competitor of ZYN nicotine pouches. The distributor was seeking a $16,000 refund on taxes it paid in 2020 after the comptroller determined VELO pouches and lozenges were taxable as tobacco.

New Wilmer council member aims to take on rapid data center growth

A lifelong Wilmer resident campaigned on a promise to regulate the rapid growth of data centers in and around the small town south of Dallas – and won. Council member-elect Moses Garcia said apart from industry, he hasn’t seen much growth in his city of about 7,000 people over the years. “The last time that we had anything in Wilmer was the main strip in town, and that was done when I was like 10 years old,” Garcia said. Low tax rates and city incentives have turned the town and surrounding area into a hub of industrial development in recent years. Major companies like Procter & Gamble, Ace Hardware and Amazon have built warehouses in the largely rural corner of southern Dallas County.

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Quality Technology Services – or QTS – recently began developing a multi-building data center campus southwest of the town. According to the company, several facilities are under development and more are under review. “South Dallas is a key growth area for the region’s digital and industrial economy, and Wilmer is well positioned to benefit given its location, infrastructure, and existing industrial base,” read the statement. “QTS expanded in Wilmer to support long-term growth and to serve as a committed community partner.” Four Granbury residents accused city leaders of secrecy and Open Meetings Act violations tied to a controversial data center and Knox Ranch annexation. The multi-billion dollar company has donated $25,000 to the Wilmer Fire Department and took part in an initiative to plant more trees in the region, but Garcia said residents are wary of the new development as data center growth threatens energy and water supplies in other small Texas towns. The QTS development caught his attention when he first began campaigning for Wilmer’s city council.

Historic Stoneleigh hotel reopens in Dallas after $20M renovations

The historic Stoneleigh hotel in Dallas has reopened following a $20 million renovation, just in time for Mother’s Day. The upgrades include refreshed guest rooms, a redesigned lobby and the addition of a new Italian restaurant led by a Michelin-starred chef, offering a fresh dining experience inside the iconic property. Guests visiting the restaurant can expect an upscale menu featuring caviar, steak tartare and a variety of house-made pastas.

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Austin spends millions on outside attorneys to handle lawsuits

As the city of Austin enters another, leaner budget season, some say it should rein in spending and have more oversight on its contracts with pricey outside attorneys. Austin has spent tens of millions of dollars in recent years hiring attorneys to handle litigation against the city. A case before City Council this week highlighted the practice and pushed Council Member Mike Siegel to rethink the city's approach. The lawsuit stems from a botched raid and detainment of a couple at their home in South Austin in 2023. Glen and Mindy Shield's home off Channel Island Drive was raided by state troopers after the Austin Police Department believed an armed suspect was inside. Troopers busted down the door with explosives, used flashbang devices and caused more than $23,000 in damages, according to the Shields' lawsuit. In late March, the city had a chance to settle that lawsuit, but attorneys acting on behalf of the city opted to pursue the case further. Council OK'd more than $609,000 in payments to an outside firm, Richards Rodriguez and Skeith.

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On Thursday, the council approved a possible $350,000 settlement in that case, in addition to the money paid to the law firm. Siegel, who voted in favor of that contract extension and the potential settlement, said the City Council needs more oversight in cases like these. "I think most people would agree that an outside attorney is more likely to be expensive for a variety of reasons," he said. "And then the question becomes, 'Are they more effective?'" KUT News reached out to the city's Law Department and the City Manager's Office, but neither would provide an on-the-record interview for this story. A statement from a city spokesperson said the city used outside attorneys in cases with a conflict of interest, when "expertise" is needed or when the city needs to "balance workload." "The City Attorney’s Office always takes into consideration the efficient use of public dollars when deciding to hire outside counsel and the firms hired understand this responsibility in their role representing the City," the statement read. The increase in spending has dovetailed with a boon in civil lawsuits against the city's police department after the 2020 protests. Austin has paid out more than $20 million to plaintiffs who alleged city police used excessive force against protesters. All told, Austin has paid out more than $48 million in settlements since that year for all cases filed against the city, and many of those cases have leaned on outside attorneys. Austin attorney Scott Hendler said that isn't uncommon for any city, but the six-figure contracts incentivize third-party trial lawyers to bill for as much as they can, slowing down the process.

Texas A&M University System issues cease & desist to Muslim education entity

The Texas A&M University System is objecting to what it calls the unauthorized use of the Texas A&M name and trademarks by a Muslim education entity in North Texas branding itself as “TexAM University.” System officials say they’ve sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding the group stop using names, marks, domains and other branding elements they believe infringe on or dilute Texas A&M trademarks. According to the A&M System, the use of “TexAM,” “Texas AM University,” and similar variations could create confusion and mislead the public into thinking there is an affiliation or endorsement. The A&M System says the entity is not affiliated with Texas A&M University or The Texas A&M University System.

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“The Texas A&M University System has a responsibility to protect the name and trademarks, which represent more than a century of academic excellence, public trust and institutional integrity,” Chancellor Glenn Hegar said in a statement. “When another organization uses branding that is similar, particularly in the same educational space, we must act to prevent confusion and protect the value of those marks.” The entity is formally known as the Texas American Muslim Institute of Technology at Dallas, according to the A&M System. Officials also say it is not recognized as a university by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. A&M System officials say they are prepared to pursue legal action if necessary.

Harris County treasurer arrested, charged with DWI in Galveston County weeks after burglary charge dismissed

Weeks after a grand jury declined to indict her on another criminal charge, Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt was arrested in Galveston County on Saturday for allegedly driving while intoxicated, jail records show. Wyatt, 56, was being held on a $3,000 cash bond in Galveston County late Saturday for the DWI charge. It’s the second time Wyatt has been accused of driving while intoxicated during her tenure as the Harris County treasurer after she was arrested in 2023 for allegedly having a blood-alcohol concentration of at least .15%, nearly twice the legal limit. That charge was dismissed in August last year after Wyatt completed a pretrial diversion program, court records show.

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She was arrested again in Harris County last December and accused of breaking into another person’s vehicle in a restaurant parking lot with intent to commit theft. Prosecutors said several people watched as Wyatt searched through items inside a vehicle that wasn't hers. Sign up for the Hello, Houston! daily newsletter to get local reports like this delivered directly to your inbox. A Harris County grand jury declined to indict her on the burglary charge in April. Her attorney in that case, Christopher Downey, said Wyatt received a medical consultation following her arrest for cerebrovascular disease and a mini-stroke, information that he said was presented to the grand jury. It’s not clear whether Wyatt’s recent medical history factored into the grand jurors’ decision to no-bill the county treasurer. Wyatt had begun treatment for anemia and made certain changes to her daily nutritional intake and work habits, Downey previously told Houston Public Media. Wyatt also is in the throes of a shakeup in the county treasurer’s office after county commissioners in February stripped the office of a key function and voted unanimously to pursue dissolving the office, which would require voter approval. The county treasurer, elected in 2022, is set to be on the ballot again in November after she did not have any challengers in the Democratic primary election in March. Marc Cowart won the Republican nomination for the seat. No defense attorneys for Wyatt were listed in online Galveston County court records as of late Saturday.

Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress says Pope is wrong about Iran

First Baptist Dallas' senior pastor Robert Jeffress said in a recent Fox News segment Pope Leo XIV is wrong when it comes to Iran, expressing his support for the Trump Administration's war on the regime. Iran's nuclear capabilities are part of the rationale that the Trump administration has earlier provided for launching a war on the regime, The Associated Press reported earlier this year. The White House has previously said the decision to launch Operation Epic Fury to destroy Iran's offensive missile and security infrastructure was based on a cumulative effect of direct and imminent threat that the regime posed to the United States, The AP reported.

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Pope Leo, the first American Pope, expressed his strong disapproval of the war that the Trump administration has launched against Iran and has criticized the situation, saying "God does not bless any conflict," The AP reported. "The Pope is a good man, he is sincere in his faith, but he is sincerely wrong when it comes to Iran," Jeffress said. The pastor told Fox News that a few days after the U.S.-Iran conflict began, he was in the Oval Office with faith leaders and President Donald Trump, who said "Iran was within weeks of getting a powerful weapon that would destroy Israel, much of the Middle East and could bring great harm to America, and he had no choice but to act." Jeffress said, in the segment, he commends the president for fulfilling his "God-given" responsibility to protect the nation. He added the role of the government is to protect its citizens from evil-doers.

National Stories

Private credit’s hot streak is over

Private-credit firms delivered eye-popping returns to investors in recent years. That hot streak is over. The latest earnings results across the industry show returns that appear to be entering a more modest chapter, just as investors have grown worried about other aspects of private-credit funds that lend to riskier companies. Ares Capital Corp., Golub Capital and other publicly traded funds marked down their net asset values in the last quarter after lowering the valuations of loans they made to software and other companies. Others like Sixth Street Specialty Lending also trimmed their dividends.

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Apollo Global Management said this past week that gross returns on its direct origination funds that include investment-grade loans to companies were 0.5%, down from 2.6% a year ago. Gross returns reflect dividends paid to investors as well as their investment’s change in value, before fees. Earlier, Blackstone and Blue Owl also reported lower returns for the period from a year ago. Just a few years ago, investors had enjoyed mid- to high-double-digit annual gross returns, fueled by a confluence of unusual circumstances. During the pandemic, for instance, private lenders stepped up to supply credit to borrowers when others were pulling back, earning strong returns for doing so. That was followed by a dealmaking frenzy that drove up demand for borrowing. Then, when the regional-banking crisis hit in 2023 and banks pulled back on this lending, private-credit firms took more share.

For struggling JetBlue, Spirit’s demise may offer an opportunity

Mere hours after Spirit Airlines shut down last weekend, JetBlue Airways announced more than two dozen new flights out of Spirit’s home airport. JetBlue’s speed in filling the void was not surprising. The airline is trying to turn itself around after years of losing money. JetBlue wants to make Spirit’s base — Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, near Miami — the next pillar of its business, and seized the opportunity to attract thousands of travelers suddenly left in the lurch. Once celebrated as a hip, disruptive upstart, JetBlue has fallen on hard times. The company has shrunk somewhat in recent years to under 5 percent of domestic air travel, making it about one-fourth as big as the country’s largest airlines.

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As a result, it is not big enough to compete head to head with American, Delta, United or Southwest. And its costs are too high to pursue the low-fare approach popularized by Spirit and others. That leaves JetBlue in a difficult situation: It needs to grow, but it has few easy or good options. “It is the most uncomfortable place in the world,” said John Grant, chief analyst at OAG, an aviation data provider. “You don’t know where you’re going and how you can compete.” From 2019 to 2025, JetBlue’s operating costs rose almost 29 percent as it matched industrywide raises handed out to pilots and other employees and paid more in airport fees. But its revenue climbed just 13 percent. The airline has lost money every year since 2019 and has about $8.5 billion in debt. JetBlue, which is based in New York, declined to make its chief executive available for an interview for this article. The airline has tried various strategies to put itself on a more sustainable footing, but few have worked out.

Budget-conscious shoppers are feeding a boom in discount groceries

When Rachel Negro-Henderson started shopping at Aldi regularly during the pandemic — a change her family made when her husband lost his income as a crew coach — she'd sometimes have awkward run-ins with acquaintances. "People would not want to talk about why they were here, like it was a mistake," the healthcare administrator said. "They just stumbled into a grocery store because they needed a tomato." But after just a few years, those interactions have changed. Negro-Henderson, who lives in Audubon, N.J., with her husband and three kids, says she now sees people she knows there all the time.

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A slew of factors has been making it harder to put an affordable meal on the table. Food insecurity mushroomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and grocery prices have skyrocketed in recent years. Layer onto that inflation, the threat of tariffs and corporate cost-cutting schemes like shrinkflation and electronic shelf labels, which give retailers the ability to change prices based on demand. "Consumers are just to a point where [they're saying], 'Give us a break,'" said grocery industry analyst Phil Lempert. "This is food. You don't screw around with our food." Many of those facing economic pressures and frustrations have begun shopping at budget grocery stores and warehouse clubs in lieu of traditional supermarkets, their priorities shifting in pursuit of a good deal. Look to social media to see the change, where creators regularly post their favorite finds at Aldi or meals they've made entirely from ingredients bought at Costco. In the process, Lempert said, discounters have invested in improving their food and beverage offerings, shaking off any lackluster reputations they may have had in the past and ushering in a new generation of cost-conscious consumers.

‘It’s literally going to break me.’ Commuting is now unaffordable for some American workers

Stephen Kaledecker was psyched when he was promoted in December to regional manager at the hotel chain where he works – but his enthusiasm cratered when gas prices started to skyrocket after the US-Israeli conflict with Iran began earlier this year. The new job entails thousands of miles of driving each month to properties in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. With the price of gas topping $5 a gallon on his trips, he is spending more than a $1,000 a month on fuel. That means he will end up losing money, since his raise won’t cover the increased fuel expenses – and his employer won’t reimburse him for mileage once he fully transitions into his new role next month. But he can’t go back to his old position managing a hotel in Ohio, because the role has already been filled.

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Having to decide whether to continue as regional manager, which he loves, has left him terrified and crying some nights in his hotel rooms on the road. While he was looking forward to advancing in his career, the Gahanna, Ohio, resident feels he can’t justify it financially. “It’s going to literally break me,” said Kaledecker, who has already put more than 20,000 miles on his 2018 Chevy Silverado, which he uses to carry equipment and supplies for the hotels, this year. “I look at my bank account and I’m like, ‘Okay, if I go here and do what they ask me to do, I’m not going to be able to get my prescriptions, or I’m not going to be able to pay that electric bill.’” Kaledecker, 46, is among the American workers feeling the pain from soaring gas prices, which climbed to an average of $4.52 per gallon nationwide on Sunday, up from $2.98 per gallon when the conflict began in late February, according to AAA. Workers with long commutes are being hit particularly hard, forcing some to make tough choices about whether to continue in their jobs. Others are asking if they can work from home more, while still others are narrowing their job searches to minimize the time required in their cars.

Berlin sceptikal as Putin proposes Germany's ex-chancellor Schroeder as Ukraine mediator

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed longtime ally and friend, former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, as mediator in the Ukraine war – an idea that has been met with scepticism in Berlin. Asked on Saturday who he would like to help restart talks with Europe, Putin said he would "personally" prefer Schroeder, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005. Schroeder, 82, has remained close to the Kremlin leader long after leaving office, standing apart from most Western leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. German officials reacted cautiously, saying they had "taken note" of Putin's comments but viewed them as part of "a series of bogus offers" from Russia, government sources told AFP Sunday.

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One source said a real test of Moscow's intentions would be to extend the current three-day truce. Schroeder's stance has made him a controversial figure at home. He has never publicly condemned the invasion of Ukraine, costing him several privileges normally granted to former chancellors. He previously held key roles in Russian energy projects, including work on the Nord Stream gas pipelines and a seat on the board of Russian oil firm Rosneft, which he gave up in 2022. Some German politicians from Schroeder's own SPD party – a junior partner in Germany's coalition government – say this makes him unsuitable for any mediator role. Michael Roth, former SPD lawmaker and chair of the foreign affairs committee, said a mediator "cannot be Putin's buddy", in an interview with Tagesspiegel. He stressed that any mediator must above all be accepted by Ukraine. "Neither Moscow nor we can decide that on Kyiv's behalf."

With Netflix new ad-free standard plan at $20, streaming's tipping point into old TV is getting closer

Streaming companies are discovering that their most valuable customers may not be the ones paying the most. Instead, it’s increasingly the viewers who watch the most. The change is being driven by a move away from a subscription-only model to one that combines subscription fees with advertising. Because ads are sold based on viewership, the more time a subscriber spends watching, the more revenue that viewer generates. In March, Netflix raised prices for the second time in just over a year, pushing its standard ad-free plan to around $20 a month, versus an ad-supported tier at $9, signaling that how much a subscriber watches may matter as much if not more than what they pay upfront. “It’s a double payday,” said Kevin Krim, president and CEO of EDO, a company that measures the impact of advertising across streaming and linear TV. “As long as the ad-tier subscriber is engaged with the content and the ads, they will be at least as valuable or more than ad-free subscribers,” Krim said.

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After years of resisting advertising, Netflix is now leaning heavily into that model, rapidly building out its advertising business alongside subscriptions. “We’re making good progress, and the opportunity ahead of us is massive,” Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said after the company’s latest earnings report. Disney’s Hulu has long combined subscription and advertising revenue, and Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and Comcast have pushed similar strategies across their streaming platforms. Netflix’s advantage, however, comes from both its scale and how much its audience watches. According to the company’s Q4 2025 shareholder update, it has over 325 million subscribers globally, and viewers collectively watched more than 95 billion hours of content in the first half of 2025 alone, providing far more opportunity than competitors to generate advertising revenue over time. According to Peters, closing the gap between ad-free and ad-tier subscribers is a major focus for the company. The “gap is narrowing,” and closing it will be a “key opportunity for future revenue growth,” he said on the company’s recent earnings call.

Copyright May 11, 2026, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved