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King Charles’ visit to Washington is unfolding under tightened security after a shooting forced last-minute changes to his schedule. Oil has surged past $111 as Iran tensions stall diplomacy and spill into markets, while Congress is pressing the Pentagon in its first major war hearing.

At the same time, a Supreme Court ruling and a record DHS shutdown are reshaping how power operates at home. These stories are colliding, revealing pressure points across alliances, markets and U.S. institutions.

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President Trump said he is reviewing a new Iranian proposal to end the US–Iran war. He told reporters he was "not satisfied" with the terms but did not reject them outright.

In a letter to Congress, Trump argued the ceasefire ends any need for war-powers authorization. Markets remain jittery, with Washington threatening sanctions on shippers paying Iranian transit tolls.

Tehran's outreach lands as oil markets price in continued disruption to Gulf shipping. Any agreement would mark the highest-stakes US diplomacy in the region since the 2015 nuclear deal.

Spirit Airlines ceased operations this week after rescue talks with lenders and the Trump administration collapsed. Executives cited surging jet fuel costs from the Iran conflict, which had crushed margins on the ultra-low-cost carrier's fares.

The shutdown leaves passengers and crew stranded and removes a major source of cheap domestic seats. Remaining low-cost rivals stand to absorb routes and capacity in the coming weeks.

Spirit's collapse ranks among the largest US airline failures in decades, ending a brand that reshaped low-cost travel. Travelers holding tickets will likely see partial refunds at best as the carrier winds down operations.

King Charles addresses a joint session of Congress Tuesday — the first British-monarch speech to lawmakers since 2007 and the centerpiece of his four-day state visit. Speech emphasizes US-UK ties and shared institutions at a moment when the two governments are on opposite sides of multiple policy questions.

Saturday's correspondents' dinner shooting forced a security-perimeter rewrite that has the King moving in tighter motorcades than originally planned. Charles and Camilla landed at Andrews on Tuesday morning and head to a Capitol Hill ceremony before evening events at the British ambassador's residence.

Palace officials previewed the King's line that the UK and US always find ways to come together, language echoing Churchill's joint-session speech eighty years ago. Day 2 of the visit includes a state dinner at the White House and meetings with congressional leadership from both parties.

The conservative majority struck down a Louisiana congressional district designed to give Black voters a majority, reshaping how maps can be drawn. The 6–3 ruling weakens Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and opens the door for states to reduce protections in redistricting.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh authored the majority opinion, joined by the chief justice and four other conservatives. Dissenting justices warned the decision could revive tactics used before 1965 to dilute minority voting power.

Republican-led statehouses across the South are preparing new congressional maps ahead of the midterms. Civil rights groups say the upcoming election cycle will test how far the ruling reshapes representation.

Trump signed the DHS funding bill on Wednesday, ending the agency's longest shutdown on record and bringing TSA back online before the May travel surge. Continuing resolution funds the agency through mid-July, putting the next funding fight in the middle of summer.

House Republicans had loaded the bill with a $70 billion immigration supplemental, which Senate Democrats rejected and which was ultimately stripped to pass the CR. Move sets up a separate Senate fight in May over the supplemental as standalone legislation.

TSA had been operating at reduced capacity for over two weeks, with major airports reporting hour-plus security lines and airlines coordinating to clear booking backlogs before May travel peaks. Bill also reauthorizes routine cybersecurity functions and the Coast Guard's law-enforcement budget through July.

A new analysis argues that current U.S. policy is reshaping global alliances and norms in ways that could define a new geopolitical era. The shift is forcing allies and rivals alike to rethink long-standing assumptions about cooperation and conflict.

Trump hosted Artemis astronauts while signaling support for expanded missions to the moon and Mars. The push reflects a broader effort to accelerate U.S. space ambitions amid rising global competition.

Hospitals are preparing for a wave of international visitors during the upcoming World Cup, with concerns ranging from infectious diseases to crowd-related injuries. Health systems are expanding capacity and protocols as large-scale global events bring added public health risks.

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These developments highlight a growing strain across institutions that once provided stability in moments of uncertainty. A high-profile state visit meant to reinforce historic alliances is unfolding against a backdrop of security threats and policy divergence, underscoring how even longstanding partnerships are being tested.

At the same time, the Iran conflict continues to ripple through energy markets and into Congress, where questions of oversight and accountability remain unresolved.

Domestically, the Supreme Court’s ruling and the temporary shutdown of a major federal agency point to structural pressures inside the U.S. system itself — from how elections are shaped to how basic government functions are funded.

Together, the week reflects a landscape where geopolitical tension, economic volatility, and institutional change are colliding, making coordination harder both at home and abroad while raising the stakes of every policy decision.

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An “escaped zebra” reported in Armenia turned out to be a donkey painted with stripes, highlighting how quickly unusual sightings can spread confusion.

Drivers slowed after a large alligator wandered onto a Florida highway, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down lanes.

Crews rescued a kitten trapped inside a Texas storm drain after hearing faint cries from below the street.

That’s your Five Minute Daily Sunday Special. Share it with someone who wants to stay informed in minutes, not hours.

—The Five Minute Daily Team