Politics and views in the United States

The Gulf ignores Trump's comment that the Strait of Hormuz will soon be U.S territory. A high number of incumbents face scandals in their primaries and new ICE gloves capable of delivering shocks draw bipartisan criticism.

Transcript

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

Pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.

We have the blockade.

No ships get through unless we want them to.

President Donald Trump wants to claim the vital waterway as a U.S. territory, but Tehran called that, quote, "delusional," and the other Gulf nations are basically ignoring it.

Trump continues to tell Americans keeping Iran from having a nuclear weapon is worth high gas prices, but a 60-day ceasefire has now ended with the straits still closed and no progress towards a new nuclear deal.

Iran warned Trump's eroding popularity with what has been a fiercely loyal base could prove a midterm drag for the GOP.

A new Financial Times poll finds a quarter of Republicans say they're worse off since Trump's second term began with nearly 4 in 10, saying the economy is headed in the wrong direction.

Georgia Democratic Senator John Ossoff is a top GOP target since he's up for re-election in a formerly red, now purple state.

He's been hammering on that message.

Under Donald J. Trump, it costs more than ever to stock your fridge, to power your home, to make a cup of coffee, to buy school supplies for your kid or a tractor for your farm.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is the latest Republican refusing to endorse Representative Corey Mills for re-election in the state's 7th district.

Mills is the subject of numerous ethics issues, including a police report alleging domestic violence, assault, and several financial problems.

Leading up to today's primary, polls say he's way behind conservative news anchor Ryan Elijah.

Ohio Republican Congressman Max Miller faces allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife.

Party leaders, including Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, who is also his father-in-law, are calling on him to drop out.

But Michigan Representative Tom Barrett is withholding judgment.

Due process is a fundamental right we have to respect as Americans, and we have an ethics committee in Congress for a reason.

The Department of Homeland Security is providing ICE agents with gloves capable of delivering electrical shocks.

The generated low-output voltage emitter, or GLOVE, is described as a de-escalation device, but legal experts say they violate Fourth Amendment due process and excessive force limits.

Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins is in a tough race in a state where ICE is unpopular.

She says this isn't what she had in mind when she voted to fund the embattled agency.

The money we put in for de-escalation training was intended to help agents deal more effectively when there's a large crowd that appears to be getting out of control.

New court documents show federal agents infiltrated protest planning at Minnesota churches and union halls during last winter's immigration crackdown.

DHS claims, quote, violent opportunists exploited the protest in an attempt to breach federal property.

Emilia Gonzalez-Avalos with UnidosMN says this politically motivated operation isn't what taxpayer dollars should go for.

I and many would like to live in a free democracy where our government responds to us.

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

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