Tuesday's ceasefire had just taken effect, but Israel, which said Lebanon was never included in the deal, launched the largest coordinated strikes on the country since the war began. Lebanon's health ministry reported at least 182 people killed and nearly 900 wounded. Iran immediately responded by stopping access to the Strait of HormuzStrait of HormuzA narrow waterway between Iran and Oman connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Roughly 20% of the world's oil supply passes through it, which is why disruptions there quickly move global energy markets. again. Pakistan, who brokered the deal, said the ceasefire covered all fronts including Lebanon, but NetanyahuNetanyahuBenjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. He leads Israel's wartime government and has argued that the Iran ceasefire does not apply to Israel's campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. said it didn't. Formal talks begin Friday in Islamabad, but the ceasefire is already being tested by a fundamental disagreement over which land it actually covers.
Earlier this week, Pope Leo XIV rebuked the wars raging in the world, but did not call out any single nation by name. However, speaking to reporters outside his residence at Castel Gandolfo, he directly addressed Trump, saying his “whole civilization will die tonight" warning was "truly unacceptable," calling it a violation of international law, and moral failure.
Markets exploded Wednesday on ceasefire news. The stock market wiped out weeks of losses in a single session. This pattern has earned a nickname: TACO- "Trump Always Chickens Out.” Investors have learned to buy the dip when Trump escalates, betting he'll take back his words before the worst happens, resulting in the market bouncing back. It worked again on Tuesday.
Reuters obtained internal ICE data showing that the TSA shared records on more than 31,000 travelers from the start of Trump's presidency through February 2026, resulting in more than 800 arrests. The scale at which these arrests were made was far from what was publicly known.
Amid a targeted vehicle stop in Patterson, Northern California, ICE agents shot Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez. Hernandez weaponized his vehicle, and the acting ICE agent acted as he was trained and fired “defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public” (Todd Lyons, Acting Director of ICE). Hernandez was an alleged member of the 18th Street Gang, a wanted gang in El Salvador with connections to a murder. Hernandez is currently hospitalized, but his condition has not yet been disclosed.
One section unlocks each morning. Day 4 is live now.
The Record
The 95-day ledger is more complicated than either side is presenting it to be.
Mamdani and Hochul announced a $1.5 billion state investment over two years, with $510M in recurring funding. Universal infant care still remains unfunded, but the 2 and 3 year old childcare expansion is moving.
A new board majority has been appointed. They have basically guaranteed roughly one million stabilized apartments to not see any rent increase this fall. This required no state approval.
The city comptroller'sComptrollerA government's chief fiscal watchdog and financial officer. In New York City, the comptroller audits agencies, analyzes the budget, monitors pension funds, and evaluates the city's fiscal condition. formal analysis stated Mamdani's inaugural budget is a significantly more transparent accounting of the city's expenditures than the previous administration.
New York State has two legislative chambers- the Assembly and the Senate. The Assembly (the lower chamber) put $15 million in their budget proposal to test free buses on a small scale. This is not a law, just a proposal. The Senate (the upper chamber) has voiced vague support, but has not attached any money amount to the proposal. Citywide free buses would cost nearly $1 billion annually, a huge gap from the proposed $15 million. However, the Governor controls the state budget. Hochul hasn't committed a single dollar to a free bus service.
Hochul has refused to increase income tax for higher brackets. Without them, Mamdani has threatened a 9.5% property tax increase, which Hochul also opposes. The budget standoff has no current resolution.
A homemade explosive was thrown into a crowd at an anti-islam protest outside Mamdani's official residence. Two men were charged. Mamdani condemned both the attacks and the protest that prompted it.
The 95-day track record: One major policy win (childcare). One policy on track with no opposition needed (rent freeze). One policy blocked with no clear path forward (free buses). High tension with the governor and public opposition resulting in an attack.
The record is not a clean win or a clean failure. It is a partially moving agenda colliding with the institutions that still control the state's money and legal authority.