Tehran Refuses to Back Down on Hormuz Shipping Control
The Morning Sixpack - 06/26/2026: Iran escalates Hormuz tensions, Venezuela reels from deadly quakes, Texas Bible vote, factory layoffs, Trump book, #MorningSixpack
Iran says it—not the U.S. or its Gulf allies—will decide how shipping moves through the Strait of Hormuz, keeping one of the world’s most important trade routes on edge.
Iran Doubles Down on Strait of Hormuz Control as Shipping Tensions Rise
Iran is making it clear it has no intention of giving up control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz despite U.S. and Gulf pressure.
With a fifth of the world’s oil moving through the narrow waterway, even a single confrontation can send markets and governments scrambling.
Tehran blasted a joint statement from the U.S. and six Gulf nations rejecting Iran’s demand to charge tolls for ships using the strait. Iranian officials insisted safe passage depends on recognizing Iran’s authority as a coastal state and warned neighboring Gulf countries against siding with Washington.
The tension turned more than diplomatic after Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine said one of its ships was struck near Oman by an “unknown object” before safely continuing its voyage. Two U.S. officials told Reuters Iran fired on the vessel, while Iranian state media also claimed Revolutionary Guard forces warned off three foreign tankers attempting what it described as unauthorized transit through the strait.
“The stability of the Persian Gulf Arab states is indebted to Iran’s century-long management of the Strait of Hormuz... their strategic survival is at the mercy of Tehran’s tolerance,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader.
The latest dispute underscores just how fragile the preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement remains. While oil prices fell despite the rhetoric, disagreements over shipping rights, Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, missile programs, and regional conflicts all remain unresolved as negotiators enter a 60-day window for broader talks.
Source: Reuters
Editor: Every side says it wants stability. Funny how that keeps involving more warships, more warnings, and more reasons for oil traders to keep one eye on the headlines.
Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes have killed at least 235 people and exposed just how unprepared the country’s strained infrastructure was for a major disaster.
Venezuela Earthquake Disaster Leaves Hundreds Dead as Rescue Crews Race Against Time
At least 235 people are dead after two powerful earthquakes ripped through northern Venezuela, flattening buildings and overwhelming rescue crews.
With hospitals strained, neighborhoods reduced to rubble and survivors still trapped, every passing hour makes rescue efforts more difficult.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck within seconds of each other Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction across Caracas, La Guaira, and several northern coastal states. Volunteers armed with little more than shovels and hammers have joined firefighters and soldiers searching collapsed buildings as international rescue teams begin arriving.
Residents described terrifying scenes as buildings shook violently and people fled into the streets. “Everything was moving. My flower vases were crashing on the floor, and even paintings were falling off the walls … I had never experienced something like this,” said Caracas resident Claudia Castillo.
Authorities say the worst damage is centered in the port city of La Guaira, where apartment buildings collapsed into piles of concrete and steel. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency, closed the country’s main airport after structural damage was discovered and called on every available doctor and nurse to report for duty as hospitals struggle to cope.
The disaster comes as Venezuela continues battling aging infrastructure, shortages of medical supplies, and frequent power outages, leaving emergency responders stretched well beyond their limits even before the earthquakes struck. International aid from across the Americas—including U.S. rescue teams—is now arriving to support search-and-rescue operations.
Source: NPR
Editor: Nature doesn’t care about politics, but weak infrastructure always pays the price. When governments neglect the basics, disasters become far deadlier than they ever should have been.
Florida is shutting down the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center after officials say it helped deport thousands of illegal immigrants—but critics say closing the facility doesn’t end the underlying problems.
Florida Closes ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ After Nearly 21,000 Deportations
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered the closure of the Everglades immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” saying it completed the mission it was built to accomplish.
The temporary facility became one of the most controversial symbols of President Trump’s immigration crackdown—and now it’s closing less than a year after opening.
DeSantis said the detention center helped support nearly 21,000 deportations by providing space to hold immigrants awaiting removal instead of releasing them back into Florida communities. Remaining detainees have been transferred to other federal facilities while the site is being dismantled.
“So, I have no doubt that when you start talking about 21,000 folks, that is without question, has made our state safer and it’s made the country safer as well,” DeSantis said while announcing the closure.
The Everglades facility attracted protests almost from the day it opened. Civil rights groups filed lawsuits alleging detainee abuse, poor living conditions, and inadequate access to legal representation, while environmental advocates argued the detention center never belonged inside the fragile Everglades ecosystem. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called the closure “long overdue” and wants the land permanently preserved as part of Everglades restoration efforts.
The ACLU of Florida welcomed the shutdown but warned that transferring detainees elsewhere does not resolve broader concerns over immigration detention. For supporters, however, the closure marks the successful completion of a temporary operation that they argue strengthened border enforcement and improved public safety.
Source: UPI
Editor: Temporary government programs have a funny way of becoming permanent. This one actually had an expiration date—and whether you cheered it or protested it, that’s a rarity worth noticing.
The U.S. lost its World Cup group finale, but finished first anyway—and coach Mauricio Pochettino made it clear he thinks critics are missing the bigger picture.
U.S. Wins the Group Despite Late Loss—and Pochettino Isn’t Having the Criticism
The U.S. men’s national team fell 3-2 to Turkey, but still finished atop its World Cup group and now turns its attention to the knockout rounds.
Mauricio Pochettino rested most of his starters, protected key players, and still nearly escaped with an unbeaten group stage before a heartbreaking goal on the final kick.
With first place already secured, Pochettino rolled out nine new starters while resting players carrying yellow cards and easing Christian Pulisic back from a calf injury. Turkey scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time to earn its only win of the tournament, but the result had no impact on the Americans’ advancement. The U.S. will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
“For you not say congratulations that we won the group, that is a little bit sad,” Pochettino told reporters.
The coach defended his lineup decisions, arguing that preserving player health mattered far more than chasing a meaningless group-stage victory. The Americans still produced seven goals during group play—matching their best offensive output before the knockout rounds—and showed enough depth to remain confident heading into the tournament’s most important matches.
The loss may sting in the moment, but finishing first is what mattered. If Pochettino’s gamble pays off with a healthy roster and a deep tournament run, nobody will remember the final seconds against Turkey. They’ll remember what happens next.
Source: AP News
Editor: Fans always want perfection. Coaches usually settle for something more valuable—having their best players available when the games actually count.
U.S. factories are cutting jobs at the fastest pace since the 2008 financial crisis—excluding the COVID shutdown—even as broader employment remains relatively stable.
Factory Job Cuts Surge to Highest Levels Since 2009 as Warning Signs Grow
America’s manufacturing sector is shedding workers at a pace not seen since the Great Recession, raising fresh concerns about where the economy is headed.
Factories may still be producing, but employers are clearly preparing for leaner times as demand uncertainty and rising costs squeeze the industry.
S&P Global reported factory job cuts accelerated sharply in June, with manufacturers trimming payrolls for the third time in four months. Economists point to concerns over slowing global demand, higher raw material costs, and uncertainty about whether recent increases in production can be sustained. While manufacturing activity modestly exceeded expectations, much of the improvement came from companies rebuilding inventories rather than stronger customer demand.
“Most worrying was the further fall in employment, notably in the manufacturing sector,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. “Factory job cuts are running at the highest since 2009 if the pandemic is excluded, reflecting concerns over the sustainability of the recent upturn in demand alongside worries over the escalating cost of raw materials.”
The broader economy continues sending mixed signals. Overall hiring has remained solid in 2026, and manufacturing employment is still modestly positive for the year according to federal data. Meanwhile, easing oil prices following Middle East ceasefire developments have helped improve business confidence after months of inflation worries.
Still, S&P estimates overall economic growth remains sluggish, with second-quarter output tracking near a 1% annualized pace. That’s far from recession territory, but it’s hardly the kind of growth that inspires manufacturers to keep adding workers.
Source: CNBC
Editor: Businesses don’t usually slash payrolls because they’re feeling optimistic. When factory owners start tightening belts while everyone else insists the economy is humming along, it’s worth paying attention to who’s signing the paychecks.
A new book claims President Trump was more upset by descriptions of his personal living habits than by several of its national security revelations.
New Book Claims Trump’s Biggest Complaint Wasn’t National Security—It Was the Bathroom
A new insider book alleges President Donald Trump was privately furious over descriptions of his personal bathroom and bedroom habits, according to anonymous White House sources.
The report says the issue wasn’t the book’s high-profile political scoops—it was concern over how the president would be perceived personally.
According to Regime Change (link), written by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, White House officials were already worried about the book because of its reporting on sensitive internal discussions. But Zeteo reported that one section allegedly drew an especially angry reaction from Trump: Descriptions of his preference for a carpeted bathroom and other personal habits that aides feared would make him look bad.
“It makes him look so f------ gross,” a senior Trump appointee anonymously told Zeteo. “The president sees everything, and he knows about the trash and bathroom sections, and thinks it’s complete bulls--- that it got published.”
Zeteo reported that Trump complained privately to aides about those passages and subsequently discouraged administration officials from publicly discussing the book. The allegations have not been independently verified, and the reporting relies on unnamed sources describing private conversations inside the White House.
Whether the claims are accurate or not, the story highlights a familiar reality of modern politics: Policy battles often take a back seat to image management, especially when a president’s personal reputation becomes part of the news cycle.
Source: Raw Story
Editor: Washington runs on anonymous sources. Sometimes they uncover major scandals. Other times they tell us what kind of carpet someone supposedly likes in the bathroom. Readers can decide which category this belongs in.
BONUS
Texas is poised to require millions of public school students to read Bible stories in class, setting up another major legal and political fight over religion in public education.
Texas Set to Require Bible Readings in Public Schools
Texas could soon become the first state to require Bible stories as part of the curriculum for every public school student from elementary through high school.
Supporters call it teaching America’s foundations. Opponents call it government-sponsored religion—and the courtroom battles are almost certain to follow.
The Republican-controlled Texas State Board of Education is expected to give final approval to a required reading list that includes stories such as David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Noah’s Ark, the parable of the prodigal son and selected passages from the New Testament. If approved, the curriculum would begin rolling out in 2030 and affect roughly 5.5 million public school students.
“We need to focus on what our nation was founded on and not apologize for that,” Susan Perez, founder of Citizens for Education Reform, told the board during public testimony. “It is the truth and we should not be afraid.”
Supporters argue Judeo-Christian teachings played a central role in the nation’s founding and deserve a place in public education. Critics counter that the reading list overwhelmingly favors Christianity while excluding other major faith traditions, raising constitutional concerns over the separation of church and state. Education groups also note that statewide mandatory reading lists of this kind are virtually unheard of in American public schools.
Texas has increasingly become a testing ground for expanding religious expression in schools, including allowing chaplains to counsel students, approving Bible-based curriculum options, and requiring classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. This latest proposal could become the state’s most sweeping move yet—and one likely headed for years of legal challenges.
Source: AP News
Editor: Teaching the Bible as literature or history has long been debated. Requiring it statewide in public schools guarantees one thing before a single student opens a book: Plenty of lawyers will fight over this for decades.