Friday Afternoon Updates: Iran Ditches Team Trump. Again. — 4/24/26

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing on the Iran war, amid a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Hi all, Ben here. It’s Friday, and wow, what a week it has been. Let me get you up to speed on everything we’re tracking before we dive in.

Top stories today:

• University of Michigan consumer sentiment hits its lowest point in the index’s 50+ year history

• Trump posts unhinged Obama/Clinton “treason” content on social media all morning

• Iran again refuses to meet with Witkoff and Kushner in Pakistan despite Trump’s announcement

• Iran mines more of the Strait of Hormuz as Hegseth holds an embarrassing press conference

• NATO officially drops Boeing, picks Saab’s GlobalEye for its AWACS replacement

• DOJ investigation into Jerome Powell shut down

• Justice Department announces the return of the firing squad as a method of execution

• Trump invites Putin to the G20 in Miami while threatening NATO members

• New Cook Political Report polling signals major Democratic wave in 2026

Before I go any further, I want to thank all our paid subscribers. At MeidasTouch, you know we don’t care about access. We don’t care about offending power. We don’t act as stenographers for Trump’s lies. We care about getting you the truth. If you’re already a Meidas+ Substack member, thank you. If not, join us today and support our unapologetic reporting.

Ok, deep breaths. You ready? Let’s get into the details.