NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (April 13)

Welcome to NTD Evening News. Our top story tonight, the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz taking effect. That, as President Trump demands Iran end its nuclear program, the president's warning for Iran's fast attack ships, and his latest on peace negotiations, Mariotsu at the White House. And President Trump warned the Chinese Communist Party that if it arms the Iranian regime, it could face a 50 percent tariff. Jack Bradley with the latest. Congressman Eric Swalwell has just announced on social media he is resigning from Congress one day after stepping back from California's governor's race. The developments come as he faces sexual misconduct allegations he denies, Christina Corona reports. And newly released documents suggest there was a coordinated effort to manufacture a conspiracy to impeach President Trump in 2019. More on the documents declassified by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. And Congress returns to Washington this week after a two-week spring recess. Lawmakers facing a full agenda of hearings and early moves on key budget and national security priorities. Chris Bobb brings us the updates. This is NTD Evening News, live from our global headquarters in New York City. Good evening and thank you for joining us tonight. I'm Cary Dunst. We begin with breaking news just in. California Congressman Eric Swalwell has announced on X that he is resigning from Congress and ending his run for governor. The move follows sexual misconduct allegations he denies as pressure grows for accountability. NTD's Christina Corona has the latest. Representative Eric Swalwell is suspending his campaign for California governor following a series of sexual assault allegations against him. The Democrat made the announcement on social media Sunday, saying to my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past. The allegations were first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. An unnamed woman claims Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice while she worked for him, including incidents where she says she was too intoxicated to consent. CNN reports three other women have accused Swalwell of various forms of sexual misconduct. Swalwell has since denied all allegations. These allegations of sexual assault are flat, false. They're absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have. I do not suggest to you in any way that I'm perfect or that I'm a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past. But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position. The allegations are drawing calls from both parties for accountability. House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, is pushing for an ethics investigation, while some lawmakers say Swalwell should resign or be expelled. The House Ethics Committee has now begun an investigation into whether Swalwell violated congressional conduct rules. In a statement, the committee says it will gather additional information regarding the allegations that Representative Eric Swalwell violated the code of official conduct or any law, including claims of sexual misconduct involving a staff member. The committee also emphasizes the review does not mean any wrongdoing has been confirmed. Prosecutors are also reviewing the claims. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has opened an investigation, and officials in Alameda County say they're evaluating whether any crimes were committed. As of Monday, Swalwell has not said he plans to step down from Congress, where his term runs through 2027. Meanwhile, California's primary is set for June 2nd. Democrats still in the race include Javier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, and Antonio Villaraigosa. Christina Corona, NTD News. And thanks to Christina for that report. Next, the U.S. naval blockade of Iran, now in full effect as President Trump demands the regime end their nuclear program. We now go live to NTD's White House correspondent, Mari Otsu, at the North Lawn. Mari, good evening. What's the latest from the president? Hey, Kerry. Good evening to you. That's right. And President Trump is continuing to vow that the Iranian regime will not have a nuclear weapon. He says that there will never be a deal with the regime if that is not agreed to. And this is coming after 21 hours of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan over the weekend, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, ultimately did not lead to a lasting agreement with President Trump today, ordering a U.S. naval blockade of ships entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz that was effective at 10 a.m. today. Take a look. We can't let a country blackmail or extort the world because that's what they're doing. They're really blackmailing the world. We're not going to let that happen. And, you know, the amazing thing is we don't can you believe this? We don't use the Strait. We don't need the Strait. We have our own oil and gas, much more than we need. The U.S. Central Command announcing the terms of the blockade, saying, quote, the blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Agency confirms that maritime restrictions are being enforced, affecting Iranian ports and coastal areas along the Gulf of Oman and Hormuz Strait. President Trump saying that other nations are involved. Other nations are working so that Iran will not be able to sell oil and that would be very effective. But what we want to do is we want to and again, we don't need it. This coming as President Trump declares, quote, Iran's Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated 158 ships. But we have not hit or their small number of what they call fast attack ships because we did not consider them much of a threat. Warning, if any of these ships come anywhere close to our blockade, they will be immediately eliminated using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at sea. It is quick and brutal. Ahead of the blockade, the president saying Iran is in very bad shape, that the ceasefire is holding well and that he doesn't care if the regime comes back to the negotiating table. I don't care if they come back or not. If they don't come back, I'm fine. Their military is gone. Their missiles are largely depleted. The manufacturing capability for missiles and drones is largely defeated. We've been very nice. We haven't ripped down too many bridges. We did one only because they broke their word. They broke their promise. And remember, their promise was that they were going to open the Hormuz Strait. They didn't do it. They lied. Meanwhile, Kerry, President Trump is again condemning The New York Times for their coverage of Operation Epic Fury, calling the outlet, quote, corrupt. And he says, quote, for those people that still read The Failing New York Times. And despite the fact that Iran has been totally obliterated militarily and otherwise, you would think that Iran is actually winning or at the very least doing quite well. But it's not true. And this is coming as the White House continues to criticize a wide range of media narratives, both at home and abroad about the operation. President Trump has declared that the coverage is undermining the U.S.'s decisive wins against Iran and that the risks for biased media coverage during this operation are, quote, far graver than ever amid it, with ramifications for national security. Back to you. Thanks for that update, Mari. Next, the United States is working to clear the Strait of Hormuz after the Iranian regime placed dangerous mines in the critical waterway. NTD's international correspondent, Ariane Pasdar, has more on that effort to guarantee safe passage through the strait. The U.S. is conducting mine sweeping missions in the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command issuing a statement over the weekend saying we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce. Adding that the Strait of Hormuz is an international sea passage and an essential trade corridor that supports regional and global economic prosperity. British Prime Minister Peter Starmer on Monday saying his country has mine sweeping capabilities as well. The region remains on edge and a lot of work is required to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to de-escalate the situation leading to a sustainable ceasefire. The first peace talks between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan failed over the weekend. Starmer says he hopes the negotiations will continue. And that applies to the running saw that is the Strait of Hormuz, shamefully exploited by Iran. And Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese is calling for the full reopening of the Strait. His new defense chief also announces that Australian ships are ready and capable of assisting. But Albanese says so far the country hasn't been asked to reopen the Strait. What we have done is continue to provide support. I've extended the period of service of our Wedgetail aircraft in the Middle East. It's providing defensive support particularly to the UAE and to Gulf countries that aren't participants in the war but have been victims of it as a result of Iran's unprovoked attacks. He added that about 20,000 Australians live in the Gulf region which is another reason why the country is willing to provide defensive support. And the Prime Minister of Qatar pressuring the Iranian regime to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Leaders from the two countries having a phone call on Monday. Qatar says its Prime Minister underlined the importance of keeping maritime routes open and ensuring freedom of navigation. Warning against using them as a bargaining chip. The Qatari Prime Minister added that any disruption could have serious consequences for countries in the region as well as for global energy and food supplies. Aryan Pasdar, NTD News. And in the Middle East, Israeli forces are reporting another barrage of strikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon. They come just ahead of tomorrow's talks between Israel and Lebanon set to be held in Washington. NTD's Jason Perry has the update. The Israel Defense Forces keeping up the pressure against the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon. On Monday, Israel reported striking about 150 Hezbollah targets in the previous 24 hours, including strikes on rocket launchers, attack drones, anti-tank missile launch points and terrorist command centers. The Israeli Air Force says the strikes are in support of troops currently operating on the ground in southern Lebanon, who have been battling Hezbollah terrorists in close quarters combat. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops in Lebanon the day before. One of the things we see here is that we have essentially changed the face of the Middle East. Our enemies, Iran and the axis of evil, came to destroy us, and now they are simply fighting for their survival. We see this in every arena. The Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon appears to be using tactics similar to those used by the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli troops report discovering and dismantling an underground tunnel used for terrorist activity in southern Lebanon. And the day before, Israel reported finding military-grade weapons stored in a hospital in southern Lebanon, another tactic that Hamas has been accused of. Also on Monday, Lebanese state-run media said an Israeli airstrike hit a Red Cross facility, killing one person. And the day before, in a separate incident, the Lebanese Red Cross accused Israel of killing a Red Cross volunteer. A memorial was held for him at which Hezbollah flags were prominently displayed around the burial site. An inscription on the Hezbollah flag reads, the Islamic resistance in Lebanon, signifying the group's fight against Israel. When asked about the strike, an Israeli military spokesperson said Israeli forces targeted a Hezbollah terrorist operating near Israeli troops, and that they were investigating the incident. The leader of Hezbollah recently urging the Lebanese government not to hold talks with Israel. Lebanon and Israel are expected to hold talks on Tuesday in Washington to discuss the situation with Hezbollah. Lebanon's foreign minister says Beirut will use the meeting to push for a ceasefire, while Israel says that a ceasefire with Hezbollah is not on the table. Jason Perry, NTV News. Thanks to Jason for that report. Next, the U.S. and Indonesia are establishing a major defense partnership. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted his Indonesian counterpart today at the Pentagon. According to the framework of the agreement, both countries will work on exploring cutting-edge programs. Those include the development of asymmetric capabilities, next-gen defense technologies, and enhanced joint special forces training. As part of the cooperation, the two nations are also discussing granting U.S. military aircraft access to Indonesian airspace. The proposal would allow access for emergency operations, crisis response missions, as well as joint military exercises. And Congress is back in Washington after their two-week spring recess. At the top of their list, a push for the budget package to fund immigration enforcement, and expected moves to force a vote on U.S. military actions in Iran. The Senate is back in session Monday, and the House set to gavel in later Tuesday. Open hearings begin Wednesday as President Trump's fiscal year 2027 budget request takes center stage. A slate of top administration officials is set to testify, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are advancing a narrow budget plan that would fund the Department of Homeland Security for three years through reconciliation. That effort is being led by Senator Lindsey Graham, with leadership aiming to send a bill to the president's desk by June 1. On the Senate floor, debate will resume for the Save America Act. Some conservatives, including Senator Mike Lee, are pushing leadership to keep debate open longer, resisting efforts to move quickly to a final vote. That tension is also feeding into a broader fight over the filibuster. Senator Rick Scott posting on X, quote, It's time to blow up the filibuster. And Senator Tommy Tuberville responding to Scott, quote, Lawmakers may also be forced to weigh in on U.S. military action abroad. Democrats are preparing to force a War Powers vote that could limit the administration's ability to carry out military operations against Iran, without explicit approval from Congress. Some Republicans are already warning against any concessions. Senator Graham writing, quote, No enrichment means no enrichment. Back in the House, a possible expulsion effort is beginning to take shape. Congressman Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor over the weekend following allegations of sexual assault. Now, Congresswoman Ana Paulina Luna says she plans to force a vote to expel him. Expulsion would require a two-thirds majority of the chamber. In a statement, House Democratic leadership is calling for an investigation, saying the accusations must be taken seriously and handled swiftly. Chris Bobb, NTD News. And as we reported earlier in the show, Swalwell has just announced he is resigning also from Congress. We're going to keep you updated on how that affects the investigation and expulsion effort. Coming up, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is probing Lululemon, launching an investigation into whether the popular clothing brand's activewear contains harmful chemicals linked to serious health risks. And a White House report studying challenges to homeownership, what the report finds, and what solution it lays out next. Shen Yun Creations, the streaming platform from Shen Yun, featuring world-class dance, past programs, and all original music. Masterclasses, behind the scenes, comedy, and more. Explore ShenYunCreations.com. It's finally here, our second annual mega sale. This sale only comes around once a year, so take advantage of the best offers ever while you can. For example, save 50% on our Giza Dream bedsheets, as low as $29.98. And for the first time ever on TV, MyPillow mattresses and MyPillow mattress toppers, as low as $99.98. And you save 50% on our LuxePure six-piece towel sets, regular $69.98, now only $39.98. And our best-selling standard, MyPillows, regular $49.98, on sale for $17.98. Wait on it, mega sale, only $14.98. So go to MyPillow.com or call the number on your screen. Use this promo code to take advantage of our second annual mega sale. But wait, there's more. To make the mega sale even more special, when you order right now, your order's going to ship absolutely free. Now that's power. Even blows snow right off your vehicle in no time. Turbo clean your porch in a flash or tidy up your dirty garage floor in seconds. Get it today for just $99.99. But wait, act now and get a $20 discount. So it's only $79.99. Plus, you'll get the adjustable extension tube. Yours free. And it all comes with free shipping. Order now. Call 1-800-209-2313 or go to bullseyeblower.com. That's 1-800-209-2313 or order online at bullseyeblower.com. Order now. Welcome back to NTD's Evening News. I'm Cary Dunst. Next, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard releases never-before-seen documents suggesting there was a coordinated effort to manufacture a conspiracy that was used to impeach President Trump in 2019. Bunch of crooked people. You're talking about with respect to all of the things that they put against me? Well, it's come out that in so many different ways. Thank you very much for that question. I appreciate it. Gabbard says the so-called whistleblower, whose complaint led to the impeachment, had no firsthand knowledge of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. She says the newly released documents show that Inspector General Michael Atkinson's preliminary investigation instead relied on politicized actors and included no firsthand evidence. She says other witness interviews released today show that Atkinson's claim of corroborating evidence was in fact false. Gabbard also says that Atkinson noted in his own words that he hadn't done, quote, an investigation to determine whether the alleged actions actually took place. And the Religious Liberty Commission held its last meeting before it's expected to make recommendations to the White House Faith Office. During the hearing, it discussed a case involving New York nuns who are suing the state over forced gender ideology training and policies. And today's correspondent, Jason Blair, brings us more. Because when a nation begins to treat faith as something to be managed instead of protected, it does not become freer. It becomes more fragile. Religious liberty is not a threat to civil rights. It is what made civil rights possible. When a government seeks total control, it does not begin with the economy or even with the ballot box. It begins with the individual. The Religious Liberty Commission holds its seventh and final meeting highlighting the, quote, past, present and future of religious liberty in America. One specific case is a New York lawsuit involving the Dominican sisters of Hawthorne who have operated a hospice home for cancer patients for 125 years. The sisters are suing the New York governor over the state's Equality Act. They charge no fee. They take no government aid. They accept no insurance. They're requiring the sisters to train in gender ideology, requiring them to engage in speech and services that are gender affirming, biological men in women's rooms, even over the opposition of a female roommate. If the nuns do not comply, they could face fines, loss of license and prison time. They view their work as a form of living their faith, not merely social service. The Religious Liberty Commission was established in May of 2025 with an executive order by President Trump. After this final hearing, it's expected to submit its recommendations to the White House Faith Office, as well as the Domestic Policy Council on Religious Liberty Policies of the U.S. Reporting in Washington, D.C., Jason Blair, Entity News. Thanks to Jason for that report. Next, an update on the pause of the White House ballroom project. Construction can resume for at least a few days more after an appeals court panel rules that it needs more information from the lower court. Entity's Arlene Richards has the details. We are proud to announce that the construction of the new White House ballroom will begin. Work on the planned White House ballroom can continue for now after a split federal appeals court reversed a lower court's decision to pause the project. A district court judge in D.C. had blocked the pending construction on the grounds that it had to be approved by Congress. But the appeals panel sent the case back to the judge asking for clarification on whether his injunction interferes with the administration's plans for safety and security. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December just a week after the East Wing was demolished, naming both the administration and the National Park Service. The group argues the defendants don't have authority over federal property. In a statement, the CEO said their goal is to honor the historic significance of the White House. But the administration says if construction is delayed, it could put critical security features planned for beneath the ballroom at risk. Last year, former first lady Michelle Obama said tearing down the East Wing denigrates its historical significance, particularly for the first lady whose office is located there. The president responded this way. It was a poor, sad sight, and I could have built the ballroom around it, but it would not have been. We're building one of the greatest ballrooms in the world. The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of innately designed and carefully crafted space. For now, construction moves ahead through at least April 17, giving the Justice Department some time to either go to the Supreme Court or wait for more clarity from the lower court. Arlene Richards, NTD News. Thanks to Arlene for that report. Next, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is launching an investigation into clothing brand Lululemon over the potential presence of forever chemicals in its active wear. The probe will determine whether the brand's athletic apparel contains substances which are known as PFAs, which have also been called forever chemicals, because they do not break down easily in nature. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PFAs are associated with harmful health effects in humans and animals. Paxton said, quote, if Lululemon has violated Texas law, it will be held accountable. And a new White House report says the U.S. has a shortage of 10 million homes. White House economists laying out a plan to fix that. The analysis is part of the economic report of the president prepared by the White House Council of Economic Advisers. It finds there would be 10 million more houses in the country if home building had continued at its historical pace prior to the 2008 financial crisis. The report puts the blame on regulations on home construction, such as changing building codes, compliance costs and zoning approval fees. The report estimates that cutting regulatory costs would help spur construction of as many as 13 million homes. It argues this could add on average 1.3 percent to the annual economic growth over the next decade and support 2 million manufacturing and construction jobs. And with tax season in full swing, the White House is turning to a tiny new spokesperson to highlight a signature financial program. In a newly released video, the administration is using a bit of humor and a very vocal toddler to pitch Trump accounts. The message, while these kids are still learning about shapes, their investments are already shaping their future. Have a look at that. And coming up, President Trump warns the Chinese Communist Party that if it arms the Iranian regime, it could face a 50 percent tariff. That's as a U.S. naval blockade tightens in the Strait of Hormuz. Jack Bradley reports next. Whispered across generations, a hidden secret unveils the essence of longevity and vitality, a timeless legend regarding energy and wonder. Rooted in ancient health wisdom, we proudly introduce Puritang Black Ginseng, a 100 percent natural organic energy drink made from premium six-year-old Korean ginseng. It takes 2,260 days and nights from seed to growth, undergoing a meticulous nine-step process of steaming and drying. Black Ginseng reaches its full potency, enriched with ginsenicide RG3 and enhanced absorption efficiency. No sugar, no caffeine, no artificial ingredients. Experience the pure, natural power of Puritang Black Ginseng. Nourish your body, strengthen your immunity, and boost your energy. To order Puritang Black Ginseng, please visit puritang.com. My mom and dad were traditional Asian parents. Now, my father would go to work before I woke up in the morning, and then he would come home too tired to play with me. I tell my son, I love you every single day. My dad has never said that to me. Not because he doesn't love me, but because culturally it was uncomfortable for him. So I teased him the other day and I said, how come you never say that to me? And he said, you're too old now. Now that he's a grandfather, he says I love you to my son every time he sees him. My advice to all the fathers out there, forget the material things, forget the cultural restrictions. They grow up way too fast for you to waste even a single precious minute or moment. Say bye bye. Welcome back. I'm Cary Dunst. Rising tensions with Iran now colliding with China. President Trump warns Beijing could face major consequences if it's caught arming Iran, and the U.S. turns away Chinese tankers at the Strait of Hormuz. NTD's Washington correspondent Jack Bradley has more. At least two Chinese oil tankers have been turned away from the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. blockade began. That's according to Maritime Traffic, a maritime analytics provider. Both of these ships were Chinese tankers disguising themselves by flying false flags, one flying a Malawi flag and the other Botswana, both landlocked African countries. That's because the U.S. Navy is only blocking ships of countries that receive Iranian oil. China is the largest purchaser, buying over 80 percent of Iranian oil, and the Strait accounts for roughly 40 to 50 percent of China's oil, now shut off. China's really the one that's going to face the brunt of the pain. Now this comes as President Trump is warning that China could get hit with a massive 50 percent tariff if it's caught sending weapons to Iran. Well, if China does that, China's going to have big problems, OK? When I hear news reports about China giving the shoulder missiles, what's called a shoulder missile, anti-aircraft missile, I doubt they would do that because I have a relationship and I think they wouldn't do that, but maybe they did a little bit at the beginning, but I don't think they would anymore. No, but if we catch them doing that, they get a 50 percent tariff, which is a staggering, that's a staggering amount. China has sent technology to Iran used in their weapons systems, but the fact that these aren't panning out in Iran's favor may look bad on the CCP. China provided their most advanced air defense capabilities to Iran. We completely destroyed them. They didn't shoot down one American or Israeli plane, so China now has the problem that their military technology is not recognized as being up to par to the United States. That's going to have huge implications with a whole host of other countries. It's a situation that's putting more pressure on the Chinese Communist Party, both economically and militarily, all seeming to give President Trump the upper hand, going into face-to-face talks with CCP leader Xi Jinping in China next month. For NTD News, Washington, I'm Jack Bradley. And joining us now live to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, the Chinese regime and the energy He's a former career diplomat and energy department official, as well as a foreign policy analyst. Bart, thank you for joining us. So far, the Strait of Hormuz has encountered that naval blockade that President Trump ordered at 10 a.m. this morning. So far, there's been no attacks on U.S. naval vessels. What are your expectations in regards to the blockade? Oh, I think Iran will try something, and I do think that China will try to supply them. I believe that China already has supplied them with hypersonic anti-ship missiles, and they're just licking their chops, waiting for a chance to try them out. I'm sure that the United States Navy is anticipating that and has taken steps to mitigate the risk from that. And in terms of that, there seems to be an odd triangle, if you will, because Iran's top two partners, of course, China as well as Russia. But the Chinese Communist regime relies on Iran for a large percentage of its oil, as Jack just reported. And the only leverage really that Iran has is to close that strait. Of course, there's also risk to President Trump if the oil markets remain so high as we creep closer to the midterms. So I want to get your sense. Is potentially President Trump and President Xi aligned in this regard? I think that Chinese interests and American interests are aligned in regard to getting shipping cleared out of the Persian Gulf. However, President Trump has made clear that no ships that call at an Iranian port will be allowed through. The blockade is only on ships that go into or out of Iranian ports. So in that way, we are at complete loggerheads with China. Because unless China decides that they're going to buy their oil from the GCC countries, the Arab countries on the other side of the Persian Gulf, this is a policy that is aimed partially at China. The real aim is Iran. But President Trump knows very well that taking out Iran as a threat and as a supplier of steeply discounted oil to China is a severe blow to Chinese power. Is there any advantage to the U.S. in leaving the strait closed in that so much as it hurts the Chinese regime? Well, it is closed as far as the Chinese regime is concerned, and it is open as far as the rest of the world is concerned. And so that gives President Trump an enormous amount of leverage over Xi Jinping when they meet. Xi Jinping will want, he will be willing to make concessions to get the strait opened for Chinese ships to bring Iranian oil out. What those concessions will be, I'm not sure. But right now, President Trump holds the whip hand and he's not letting go. And Bart, in terms of those very stiff tariffs that President Trump is threatening, you explained that your view is that they have already supplied Iran with defense capabilities. How do you expect this to play out? Yeah, and it's not just missiles. I'm not absolutely certain that they've given up hypersonic anti-ship missiles. I suspect it. I can't say that with any certainty, but I suspect it. One thing I am certain of is that they have supplied Iran with ammonium perchlorate and sodium perchlorate. These are the necessary precursors to manufacturing both explosives and rocket fuel, especially the solid rocket fuel for the SEDL missiles that are so dangerous. Because with solid fuel, they can be set up in less than 30 minutes and fired within 30 minutes of the time they come out of their underground lair. Whereas the liquid-fueled missiles take several hours to fill up into fuel. It makes them more vulnerable. The closing off the shipping lanes is not enough, however, to stop that resupply, because both Russia and China are capable of supplying Iran through overland routes, and they have been doing that. So I'm sure we have military eyes on those routes and we're watching them, but that's another thing that we have to be careful of. Knowing that we have somewhat of a three-person chess game with interrelated interests, do you expect the situation to continue to escalate, or do you expect de-escalation over the next day and week? I expect de-escalation. It's in China's interest to get Iran to de-escalate. What they need is a stable energy supply, and President Trump has wisely called that into question. Until they can replace all that Iranian oil, 90% of the oil Iran sells has been sold to China recently. I can't remember off the top of my head, I think it represents 30% of China's oil and gas supply that comes from Iran. And they've been getting that at a steep discount because it's been under sanctions, so they don't have to pay world market prices. When you're buying sanctioned oil, you get it cheaply. But the other thing that we need to pay attention to in regard to China is the Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway. So is the South China Sea. With all the islands that China has militarized, they are looking carefully at what the United States does to open up the Strait of Hormuz because they may have to deal with U.S. kinetic action at some point in the future if they decide to take aggressive action against Taiwan and they try to close off the South China Sea. They're going to be watching, observing, learning, and making notes and preparations for some future conflict near their shores. And as you point out, another multidimensional element, because China would like us to be embroiled in the Middle East as much as possible because it reduces our posture in the Asia-Pacific theater, but they need that waterway open so that they can get the oil. So how does China try to reconcile their interests in that respect? They're kind of over a barrel, aren't they? And interestingly, before this ever started, President Trump took over Venezuela's oil, which was another sanctioned country that had been supplying a great deal of very cheap oil to China. China's economic growth has depended in a large part on cheap oil from Venezuela and Iran, and it no longer has it. And so they cannot be so cavalier. They thought they were the rising power of the 21st century, but they're not because they have no native supply of oil and gas as we have in the United States. They are dependent on external sources for their energy, and they don't have the leverage that President Xi expected a year ago that he would have. Yes, the critical minerals being the main thing in their poker hand, if you will. But for President Trump, I want to understand, if he's to play his hand as well as possible, it sounds like what you're saying is that he wants to restrict the discounted Iranian oil, completely discounted, below market value, but open up the rest of the strait, because President Trump himself is under political pressure to bring the cost of oil down. What is involved in the blockade to be able for the president and the U.S. military to be able to achieve that? The first thing they have to do is make sure that there are indeed no mines in the waterways. And as of this moment, I'm not aware that they have found any. I believe they have found zero mines in the waters. And it's looking like the whole threat of mining the sea was a psyop by the Iranians, carried out quite cleverly and quite well on their part, by the way. But to blockade the Iranian ships, they don't have to blockade the strait physically. All they really have to do is make sure that the pilots, the skilled pilots who take the supertankers into and out of Kharg Island terminal, are not allowed to do that. There are nine berths there. I don't know how many pilots there are, probably 100 or 200. It would not be that hard to restrict their movements and their access. That alone would stop Iranian oil getting out or any tankers going in to collect Iranian oil. That whole blockade will be carried out at the Iranian ports rather than on the high seas. And so it's relatively easy, once we've established that there are no mines, it's relatively easy to escort tankers through the Gulf and be ready to shoot down any hostile attacks against the navy ships or the tankers. That's something that we did 30 years ago, and we know how to do it so much better now. So nothing is easy when it comes to this, but there are several hundred ships loaded with oil inside the Strait of Hormuz. I expect that we will start to see them coming out in the next several days. Once the U.S. government is convinced, the reinsurance industry and the maritime insurance industry, that it's safe to take the tankers out, you'll see them starting to come out and the world price of oil will start dropping. And China, by the way, if it wants to buy oil, whether it's buying it from Iran or elsewhere, will have to pay world price from now on. It's a fascinating moment. Certainly the futures market will look at that very closely. Looking at your predictions. Thank you so much for joining us. Bart Marquois. Thank you. It was a pleasure to be with you. And how important is religious liberty to the foundation of this country? And what is the significance of President Trump's initiatives on religious freedom? And today, Sam Wong was out on the National Mall in D.C. to hear from the people. How important is religious liberty to the foundation of this country? It's what our nation was founded on. And I think, you know, if the United States wants to continue to be prosperous, we need to continue to remember the beliefs of what our father, Found Fathers started and built this country on. It's super important. I think that that's why a lot of people came to this country is to, you know, pursue their choice of religion. It's everything. I mean, that was why the Pilgrims first came here. You know, it was the basis of our Constitution and our Declaration. And we wouldn't be the same country without it. I think it's fundamental that religious freedom exists. I would say most religions that I think of, they all have the same thing in common. Just do good. Now, I happen to have a Catholic shirt on. So to take that, I believe I don't care what religion you are, whether you're a Baptist, a Muslim, it does not matter. You should have religious liberty, period. In the past year, President Trump established the White House Faith Office, as well as the Religious Liberty Commission. What do you make of this or this renewed attention on religious liberty? I think God put him here for a reason. And I don't know who else have put an office of faith into the executive branch. I've never heard of that before. So I think he's doing a lot of unheard of things as it relates to faith. I just think it's important, again, for people to be reminded of their faith and being close to it. Matter of fact, I think it's a good idea. I think we need to put faith back in our schools, not where we have to drill a denomination down them, but at least that we want to keep it. It's our right to have prayers, school prayers, all of that. So there's a separation of church and state, right? And I get it, but a lawless state is not what we want. Religions help guide you in those moral principles, because if you don't have religion, then, you know, how do you know what's right and wrong? Each and every one of us' beliefs are different from the other one. That's the reason God created each and every one different. He's bringing our country back to the faith and back to the beliefs, you know, and here in America, we need a great revival, you know, and I think your leadership, that's where it begins. And coming up in golf, Rory McIlroy repeats as master's champion, but not without a little drama. Dave Martin joins us with a recap next. The 8th NTD International Piano Competition Distinguished Pianists from Celebrating the Depth, Discipline, and Expressive Power of the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Repertoire September 1st through the 5th, 2026, New York City Apply at Pianomdtv.com Honoring the timeless tradition of the piano They're just young people, hungry, homeless, and vulnerable. Covenant House is helping young adults facing homelessness. We're providing safe shelter to thousands, but the need is overwhelming. Please call or go online now. With your gift of $19 a month, we'll send you this blanket as a reminder of the comfort your gift provides a young person tonight. You'll provide safe shelter, hot meals, and medical care. Call the number on your screen or go online to safeplacetosleep.org. There's a whirlwind of emotion and activity going on in this painting. And there's chaos all around and threat from below. The walls surrounding her and they're anything but unmoved. They're moving all the time and we sense that. But this little girl remains unmoved. She's in quite a perilous situation, but she's completely strong and serene and she's actually meditating. It was very, very well liked because no matter what culture or what sort of walk of life you're from, I think people, they see it and they immediately understand what that energy, what that message is. And they're drawn to it because everybody kind of needs a little bit of that in their own life of, you know, the steadfast calmness and something to hold on to. It's definitely an inner peace in the midst of something very chaotic. And for a lot of people right now, the whole world is very, very chaotic. So I guess that's another reason why so many people are very drawn to this. And now for your sports news, we're joined by MTD's Dave Martin. Dave, we've got some NBA news, some NHL news, but let's start with the Masters. Of course, Rory McIlroy, he repeated. What do you think? You know, it was, it was like a roller coaster window, even though he was ahead or at least co-in the lead. You know, after all four rounds, there was drama pretty much every round, though. You know, yesterday he double bogeyed four, then he bogeyed six. All of a sudden, he fell two shots behind Cam Young. But then he rebounded on the back nine. He got birdies on 12 and 13. All of a sudden, he had a three-shot lead there. He held on for then a one-shot win over a hard-charging Scotty Sheffler there at the end. This marks his second straight Masters title. Now, last year's title completed the career Grand Slam for him. This win just marks the fourth golfer ever to win back-to-back Masters titles. Let's listen to what he said afterwards. I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win the Masters and the Grand Slam. And then this year, I realized it's just really difficult to win the Masters. I tried to convince myself it was both. But yeah, just incredible. I obviously did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. And I don't think I would have believed anyone if they said to me, you know, all you have to do is shoot even par for the weekend and you'll win. Yeah, you know, he had a record six-shot lead heading into the weekend, you know. But ending 12, even over number one, Scotty Sheffler. Sheffler had an exemplary Saturday and Sunday. Came all the way back. It was just one shot short. But incredible day, incredible win early by Matt Corley again. One-shot difference made all that amazing. You know, he bogeyed 18 too, right? So he's going to the two-shot lead on the final hole, bogeyed, still made it. It was pretty cool. So Rory has an extra green jacket in the closet. Congrats to him, of course. Yeah. I want to switch to the NBA, though. It's that time of year where, you know, if you just watch the finals or the semis, maybe you're not tuning in. If you got a few gray hairs like I do, you may not even know what this play-in thing is. It used to be eight teams in the east, eight teams in the west. What's the play-in, and what are the implications for the teams? You know, the play-in is what determines the seven and eight seeds in each conference. We've already determined the one through six seeds. So we've got four more spots to the side. That's two on each side. And we've got eight teams still in the mix. And because, really, they want to give, you know, those who finish higher a better chance, it makes it a little tricky. Now, here is how it works. Let's look at the Eastern Conference. Tonight, we've got the Hornets versus the Heatons. This is the 10 versus 9 matchup. The loser of this game, season over, out of the playoffs, they're done for. But the winner, they're not actually yet into the playoffs. They go right here for a Friday game. Meanwhile, this Sixers versus Magic game, this is going to happen on Wednesday night. This is the seven versus the eight. The winner of this game is right into the playoffs as a seventh seed. They will play the Boston Celtics there. Meanwhile, the loser, though, their season is not over yet. The loser here comes up to play the winner of this nine versus 10 game. This will be Friday night. The winner of this game gets the thankless job of playing the number one seed Detroit Pistons in the first round. Now, it's going to mirror on the Western Conference here, too. You've got the Suns versus Blazers. Winner of that gets the seventh seed. And then the other team then gets the eighth seed to face the reigning champion, Oklahoma City Fenway. I feel like I'm a teacher here. Do not collect $200. You have to face OKC. That's the prize you get. That is how it is. It's a complicated thing. They could have just done, you know, 7-10 and 8-9 and the winners play. But they wanted to do a little bit different. And that's what they came up with. Give a little bit more excitement for some of those teams on the bubble. A lot of them, some have rising talent. So it's exciting to see them in that. Got rising talent. You also have the Warriors kind of, you know, kind of dropping at the end of their run, too. But yeah, it's still entertaining. Yeah, the Warriors with Steph, you know, you never know what you're going to see in one of these kinds of play-ins. You know, the Warriors 10 years ago are pretty much where the Thunder are at right now. You know, Thunder in the prime, Warriors, they're hoping to hang on for a little bit more. We'll see. A lot of drama there in the NBA playoffs. Let's move to the NHL. So we have the Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. He got an assist yesterday. Could be his final home game. What's happening there? Yeah, Ovechkin said, you know, he has not decided yet. He will decide sometime this offseason. The guy's 40 years old. He still can play, though. Now, Milo. Is he the Great One? He beat the Great One. He beat the Great One a year ago. He passed the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, in goal scoring. Now, Gretzky still has him in assists and total points. But Ovechkin, the greatest goal scorer. It was a different era, obviously, when Gretzky played. They had a little more offense then. Anyway, his Capitals team had their final home game of the season last year. So we're not sure if this is Ovechkin's final game. Meanwhile, the opposing team, actually, the Penguins, whether to shake his hand afterwards. Here's what Ovechkin said about that. Because I don't decide it yet. And I don't know. Thanks for them to wait out there. But I'm going to see it right now after the interview and Gino. And we'll talk. Ovi, what did you make of the one more year chance from the fans? I will think about it. So here's Washington Capitals team. They trail Philadelphia for the final playoff spot in the East. Now, the Flyers can actually clinch the spot and Ovechkin's season with a win tonight against Carolina. Carolina, though, is the top seed in the East. So we'll see how that goes. Maybe he could get a playoff home game. And otherwise, this could be it. This could be it for the greater one. The greater one. That's a new one, Kerry. I think we should copyright that one. Clearly, I've got a little more blather than Tiff here. So we didn't even get to the MLB. Let's come back tomorrow and do it again, Dave. Let's try it again. All right. Well, it is all the time that we have for today. But for around the clock original news coverage, you can always visit us at ntd.com slash live or use our entity app. Thanks for tuning in. I'm Kerry Dunst. Good night.