Iran War, Political Violence in US, New Action on Housing Affordability

Tensions in the Middle East escalate as the war between the U.S./Israel and Iran widens, drawing in Gulf countries and Lebanon. Strikes on Iran's Kharq Island, a critical oil export hub, prompt retaliation threats, while the U.S. claims near-total control of Iranian airspace. Simultaneously, incidents of political violence are on the rise in the U.S., potentially fueled by extremist ideologies amplified by social media. NPR's Odette Youssef notes the challenge of directly linking these attacks but acknowledges the exploitation of the conflict by foreign terrorist groups. Domestically, efforts to address housing affordability through deregulation and congressional action are underway, but the ongoing war with Iran introduces economic uncertainty, driving up mortgage rates and complicating the home-buying landscape, according to NPR's Stephen Basaja.