America woke up this morning staring at the same ugly number: Gas prices above $4.50 a gallon (near $6 where I live). But behind that number sits a geopolitical mess stretching from Tehran to Washington to Wall Street. Today’s Morning Sixpack dives into the Iran crisis rattling global energy markets, Trump’s worsening economic polling, and a surreal new exhibit turning the Epstein files into a public spectacle.
Pakistan’s Iran Gamble Is Starting to Blow Up in Public
Pakistan is suddenly stuck in the middle of a collapsing U.S.-Iran ceasefire and accusations it secretly helped Tehran shield military aircraft. Trump is openly trashing Iran’s peace proposals while Washington questions whether Islamabad has been acting as a neutral broker—or quietly carrying water for Iran. Meanwhile, diplomats keep talking about peace while everybody involved prepares for the possibility diplomacy fails spectacularly.
Iran War Inflation Is Hitting Americans Right at the Pump
Inflation is roaring back because the Iran conflict is squeezing global oil markets and hammering consumers. Gasoline prices jumped more than 28% year-over-year, grocery costs are climbing again, and businesses are warning Americans are pulling back spending. The White House now faces the kind of energy-driven inflation spiral politicians hate most because voters see it every time they stop at a gas station.
Voters Are Blaming Trump’s Economy—And Republicans Are Starting to Panic
A brutal new CNN poll shows Americans increasingly blame Trump for rising costs, with even Republicans turning sour on gas prices and inflation. Democrats suddenly lead Republicans on economic trust issues that the GOP dominated during the Biden years. But the bigger story may be that millions of Americans trust neither party to fix anything anymore.
Trump Is Tapping America’s Emergency Oil Reserve to Keep Gas Prices from Getting Worse
The administration is draining more oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to stop fuel prices from spiraling further out of control. More than 30 countries are coordinating emergency oil releases as the Strait of Hormuz disruption rattles global supply chains. Washington insists the reserve exists for moments like this. Critics point out the reserve is shrinking fast while the crisis keeps growing.
Trump’s Gas Tax Holiday Will Backfire Spectacularly
Trump’s latest idea—a federal gas tax holiday—may sound good politically but economists warn it could mostly help oil companies instead of drivers. Previous fuel-tax suspensions produced limited consumer relief while draining infrastructure funding. Translation: Washington may be treating a global energy crisis with campaign-season gimmicks and crossed fingers. It’s like pouring gasoline on a fire…
A New York Gallery Just Turned the Epstein Files into America’s Darkest Reading Assignment
A massive exhibit in New York now displays all 3.5 million pages of the Epstein files, physically documenting one of America’s most grotesque scandals. The installation traces Epstein’s relationships with powerful figures, including Donald Trump, while organizers say the project is ultimately about the more than 1,200 alleged victims tied to the case. Somehow the country managed to turn systemic institutional failure into a museum installation.
The common thread through all six stories? Institutions under pressure. Governments scrambling to contain economic pain. Politicians trying to survive voter anger. And the public increasingly wondering whether anybody in charge actually knows what they’re doing anymore. Welcome to 2026.
