Thursday, April 23, 2026

Iran seizes ships after Trump extends ceasefire

Also, Georgia Democratic Rep. David Scott has died. He was 80. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
Read in browser

eNewspaper   |    Crosswords   |   Horoscopes

 

On Politics

Wed Apr 22 2026

 

Kathryn Palmer Politics Reporter

@KathrynPlmr

Hello readers, welcome back to On Politics. Kathryn Palmer here. I've got a handful of updates on stories we were following yesterday, including some election results and some breaking news. Let's get into it.

Iran seizes 2 ships after Trump extends ceasefire

Iran seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz today for alleged maritime violations, tightening its grip on the strategic waterway after President Donald Trump issued an open-ended extension of the original two-week ceasefire.

Despite this truce extension, the U.S. Navy is continuing its blockade of ships visiting Iranian ports, and Tehran maintains its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The joint war has erupted into a regional crisis in the Middle East. In another region of that conflict, Lebanese and Israeli diplomats will meet in Washington tomorrow to try to hammer out a new agreement themselves. The clock is winding down on a fragile 10-day ceasefire agreement between their two countries, addressing the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which operates largely from Lebanon.

Iran Crisis Lebanon Israel

Mourners attend the funeral of people, including Hezbollah members, who were killed during the conflict with Israel before a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Kfar Sir, Lebanon, April 21, 2026.

Marko Djurica, REUTERS

A politics roundup:

Journalists urge protest of Trump at this weekend's correspondents' dinner
Trump's Oval Office Bible reading is creating a stir
Key civil rights group was indicted for paying informants − but FBI does it, too
A royal test: Can King Charles create his mother's magic with Trump?

Gallery: Grief and destruction in the Middle East amid Iran War ceasefire

A Georgia Democrat, Rep. David Scott, has died

Rep. David Scott, a veteran Georgia Democrat, died today. He was 80.

Scott served more than two decades in Congress, becoming the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and before that, was a member of the state legislature in Georgia for nearly three decades. Scott's office did not immediately identify a cause of death. He was running for reelection.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-New York, offered his condolences on Capitol Hill, calling him a friend and saying he was "going to be missed."

Virginia approves new maps, giving Dems 2026 edge

Virginia voters approved a full redrawing of the state’s congressional districts yesterday, a change that could blunt Trump's push to expand the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The approved maps could transform the state's 11-member delegation from a 6-to-5 Democratic edge to an overwhelming 10-to-1 advantage. Republicans could still launch legal challenges if they're seeking to preserve the old maps.

The map redraw comes on the heels of other states' moves to change their maps ahead of November races. They include Missouri, North Carolina, Texas and California.

Thanks for reading! Scroll down for more stories. You can reach me at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @ KathrynPlmr.

Donald Trump holds up a Bible as he stands in front of St. John's Episcopal Church across from the White House on June 1, 2020.

President Trump has frustrated some supporters in recent weeks after sharing an image that depicted himself as Christ-like and then slammed the pope.

The UGA women's tennis team celebrated their 2025 national championship at the White House, but their posing behind men sparked controversy on social media.
 

Why social media is upset about the UGA women's tennis White House visit

The UGA women's tennis team are national champions, but during a recent visit to the White House, they were posed behind men, sparking outcry.

A member of the media raises her hand for a question as President Donald Trump talks while holding up renderings of the planned White House ballroom, aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on March 29, 2026.
 

Contract for $400M White House ballroom keeps many donors secret

The contract for Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project remained secret until Public Citizen won its release in federal court.

Louisiana Attorney Liz Murrill is surrounded by law enforcement leaders during a Dec. 18, 2025 press conference in Ruston.
 

Louisiana mayor arrested, charged with Medicaid fraud

Winnsboro Mayor Alice Wallace has been charged with Medicaid fraud.

A bronze statue of President Trump was commissioned in August 2024 by a cryptocurrency group for Zanesville-based sculptor Alan Cottrill. It was gilded with gold leaves in late 2025 and early 2026.
 

Sculptor says golden Trump statue won’t be released unless he's paid

Ohio-based sculptor Alan Cottrill finished a 15-foot bronze statue of Donald Trump. But a fight over payment is getting international attention.

 

Sign up for the news you want

Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don’t miss out! We’re always working to add benefits for subscribers like you.

SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS 

Newsletters   |    eNewspaper   |   Crosswords

Follow Us

Problem viewing email? View in browser

LiveIntent Logo AdChoices Logo

No comments:

Post a Comment