Politics and views in the United States

Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz again. E.U. leaders warn that the Iran War shouldn’t be a 'transatlantic stress test' and more Americans face barriers to accessing their Social Security benefits.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

This process should go very quickly, and most of the points are already negotiated and agreed to.

Despite President Donald Trump's confidence about peace talks, Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, citing the new American blockade of its ports and the seizure of an Iranian cargo ship by the U.S. Navy.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has fired on shipping, and its foreign minister says ending its nuclear program and turning over enriched uranium is a non-starter.

The two-week ceasefire is set to end Wednesday, but Iran is rejecting new talks with a, quote, erratic Trump.

Despite official warnings, thousands of displaced people are returning to their homes in Lebanon under a fragile 10-day ceasefire with Israel.

After six weeks of fighting, that truce seems to be holding, although Israeli troops remain in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah has not formally joined the deal.

The White House is criticizing NATO for not reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force, but European Union leaders are warning that America's war with Iran also risks becoming a transatlantic stress test.

Several EU countries say they might join a military operation to protect shipping, but only after the conflict ends.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says reopening the strait is a vital international task.

We need to act to get global energy and trade flowing freely again to bring down prices for working people.

Our citizens need to see a return to peace and stability, and we will play our full part.

Since returning to office, Trump has taken the country out of nearly 70 international organizations, including more than 30 UN agencies.

Meanwhile, the International Peace Research Institute finds North Korea has increased its nuclear arsenal to as many as 50 warheads, with enough material to make 40 more.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the last election, says his alienating allies and breaking international norms is damaging America's position.

He has, one, in the eyes of our allies, made us unreliable.

And two, he has eroded whatever influence we had to be able to speak to certain issues.

Two more War Powers resolutions have failed in both chambers of Congress on near-party-line votes.

If the fighting goes past 60 days, some Republicans say they may change their position, since a president's power to wage war unilaterally will have expired.

Some Democratic lawmakers say they want to see Trump impeached or removed from office as unfit under the 25th Amendment.

A new report finds people with disabilities nationwide face overwhelming odds to access Social Security benefits.

Department of Government Efficiency staffing cuts and office closures have pushed services online and reduced help in person or on the phone.

California State University professor Katie Savin says they created many more errors and delays.

Our respondents told us that as a result of some of these delays, their clients lost access to housing, were evicted.

Some clients even died as a result of missing necessary medical care.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.