Americans are increasingly taking early hardship withdrawals from their retirement accounts, with Vanguard reporting a rise from 4.8% to 6% of clients in 2024. While these withdrawals incur penalties and taxes, and reduce future growth potential, Vanguard suggests the increase may not be entirely concerning. This trend could be influenced by easier access to hardship distributions since 2019 and the rise of automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans, particularly for lower-income workers. Despite the potential drawbacks, these withdrawals can serve as a financial safety net for those facing unexpected stress, especially when coupled with overall rising account balances.
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Appearing on The Benny Show, Vice President JD Vance suggested that alleged extraterrestrial beings may in fact be demons, framing his skepticism through a religious lens. He expressed a desire to investigate classified information during his time in office, stating his obsession with the subject. This viewpoint contrasts with recent public and political interest in UFOs, including former President Obama’s comments and President Trump’s pledge to declassify relevant files, which Vance indicated were underway during the Trump administration.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addressing G7 leaders, indicated that the U.S. may not achieve freedom of transit through the Strait of Hormuz, even as a war objective, due to Iran’s potential to establish a tolling system. This suggests Iran would emerge significantly empowered, capable of asserting sovereignty over the crucial waterway. Rubio stated that the world, with U.S. participation, must plan to confront this illegal and unacceptable situation, highlighting that other nations have a substantial stake in ensuring international waterways are not controlled by any single state. The U.S. appears to have conceded that Iran will be strengthened post-war, shifting the burden of addressing tolling to European and Asian allies.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson has dealt a significant blow to efforts to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown by refusing to bring a bipartisan Senate deal to the House floor. Johnson’s opposition stems from the Senate bill’s failure to fund all DHS operations, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Instead, he proposed an eight-week continuing resolution, a plan that has been met with strong rejection from Democrats and a nearly unanimous “zero percent chance” of passage in the Senate. Within his own conference, numerous House Republicans have voiced serious concerns about Johnson’s strategy, questioning its viability and warning that the party may ultimately bear the blame for the ongoing shutdown.
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The Handala Hack Team, a cyber group formally attributed to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, has announced a $50 million reward for the elimination of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This announcement follows the group’s claim of breaching FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email account, demonstrating their operational reach. The formal attribution of Handala to Iranian state intelligence elevates these threats beyond rogue hacktivist rhetoric, positioning them as a state-adjacent concern requiring a formal response from security agencies. Handala has a documented history of issuing bounties, using these declarations as both psychological pressure and a signal of operational intent.
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The president has playfully renamed the Strait of Hormuz the “Strait of Trump,” referring to the vital oil-shipping route as a key choke point in the ongoing conflict. This moniker highlights the strait’s significance, as Iran’s continued ability to potentially disrupt its passage, which normally ferries 20 million barrels of oil daily, has significantly impacted global energy supply and prices. The president’s remarks, made at the Future Investment Initiative in Miami, were met with laughter and were framed as intentional, not accidental.
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Members of Congress and supporters have voiced significant concern regarding potential escalation, according to Arizona Representative Eli Crane. He expressed a strong hope that current operations will not devolve into a “boots-on-the-ground situation” or lead to another protracted Middle Eastern conflict. While acknowledging the President’s authority, Crane emphasized that many in Congress and among supporters share these apprehensions.
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Despite the ongoing and significant consequences for human lives and the global economy, President Trump is reportedly growing “bored” with the conflict in Iran and wishes to conclude it. However, the continued Iranian obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz presents a complex challenge to a swift resolution, as it continues to drive up global energy costs. This situation is met with criticism, with some lawmakers highlighting the human toll and economic impact of the war, questioning the president’s apparent detachment.
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This article introduces “Getting In,” a weekly newsletter offering parents a playbook for college admissions, delivered directly to their inbox each Thursday. Subscribers receive updates from U.S. News & World Report and its partners, along with access to the latest information designed to provide an edge in the application process. Signing up signifies agreement to the platform’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
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House Republicans have rejected a Senate-approved funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, opting instead to pursue a short-term measure to keep the agency funded through May. This move, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, signals continued discord over immigration enforcement provisions, with House conservatives demanding the restoration of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the inclusion of federal voter ID requirements. While the Senate’s bipartisan proposal aimed to end the ongoing shutdown, which has caused significant airport delays and impacted TSA agents, House Democrats view the Republican gambit as a delay tactic unlikely to pass the Senate. President Trump’s intervention to ensure TSA agents are paid may offer some relief, potentially allowing for further negotiations.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
JD Vance Believes Aliens Are Demons
Appearing on The Benny Show, Vice President JD Vance suggested that alleged extraterrestrial beings may in fact be demons, framing his skepticism through a religious lens. He expressed a desire to investigate classified information during his time in office, stating his obsession with the subject. This viewpoint contrasts with recent public and political interest in UFOs, including former President Obama’s comments and President Trump’s pledge to declassify relevant files, which Vance indicated were underway during the Trump administration.
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