US and Iran Trade Strikes After Brief Pause, Fauci Pleads The Fifth, New Asylum Rule

Escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran have triggered a new wave of airstrikes following a surprise attack on U.S. bases in Jordan, raising concerns about a return to full-scale war. Meanwhile, domestic political friction intensifies as Senator Rand Paul moves to hold former infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a hearing regarding COVID-19 origins. Simultaneously, a new administration rule is reshaping the asylum process by allowing officers to bypass interviews and send cases directly to immigration courts, a policy shift occurring alongside record-low asylum approval rates. These developments reflect a broader trend of administrative pressure on immigration systems and heightened geopolitical instability in the Middle East, where Iran-backed militias continue to challenge government authority in Iraq.