This story appeared in The Logoffa daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news rule your life. Register here.
Welcome to The Logoff: The US-Iran ceasefire, as it stands, is breaking down.
What is happening? After Iran shot down a US helicopter earlier this week, tensions between the two sides are escalating once again. The United States achieved its goals inside Iran Wednesday, and President Donald Trump threatened to “hit them hard again today,” as Iran launched new attacks against several Gulf states, including nearby Jordan.
Iran also attacked Israel for the first time since early April over the weekend, amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah; Israel responded strikes of its kind.
What is the context? The current turmoil comes after Trump started the week on a high note; On Tuesday, he told reporters that a “very good plan” was on the horizon. As CNN’s Aaron Blake points outthough, Trump’s predictions are rarely worth the (figurative) paper they’re written on: He’s now predicted negotiation success at least 38 times with nothing to show for it.
what is the main picture? Trump’s Wednesday claims about “secret” (it’s not really a secret) efforts to help ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz aside, the vital sea route remains largely closed to commercial traffic, and its impact on the global economy is only increasing.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data on Wednesday showing inflation rising to 4.2 percent, its highest rate in three years. Much of the increase is due to higher energy prices, a result of the closure of the strait. (Abroad, economic pressure from the war is doing more damage; has led to violent protests in many countries.)
None of this means that Trump will give ground and agree to end the war more quickly — as my colleague Josh Keating wrote late last month, yet apparently he thinks he’s winning. But Trump doesn’t really have a path to the kind of big win he seems to be looking for, and at this point, the results will continue to mount.
And so, it’s time to leave…
As my colleague Dylan Scott explains, the key ingredient in sunscreen, bemotrizinol, isn’t new — it’s just new to us in the US, where it’s been a challenge to get new FDA-approved sunscreens. But it’s an improvement in all sorts of important ways, which you can read about here and a giveaway link.
Have a good evening, and we’ll see you here tomorrow!
