Trump flip-flops on Hormuz toll and threatens Iran’s civilian infrastructure | First Thing

Trump Threatens Expanded Strikes on Iran After Tanker Incidents, Withdraws Hormuz Fee Proposal

Good morning. Donald Trump has stated that US strikes on Iran could expand next week to include power plants and bridges unless Tehran accepts a negotiated agreement. Similar statements were made by the president in March. The announcement came after reported Iranian attacks on commercial tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of which resulted in the death of a crew member. The US president also withdrew a proposal requiring ships to pay a 20 percent fee to the United States for security services in the strait. He attributed the decision to discussions with Middle East leaders and referenced associated investment commitments. The US will maintain its blockade of Iranian ports.

Senate Democrats prevented advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act while military operations continue. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the party would not support moving the legislation forward under those conditions. House Democrats have indicated opposition to proposals reducing US military assistance to Israel amid internal party divisions over that policy.

ICE Halts Vehicle Stops Following Shootings in Texas and Maine

Federal immigration authorities have directed officers to cease vehicle stops until further review, according to a Department of Homeland Security official. The directive follows two fatal shootings in Texas and Maine in which immigration officers killed individuals inside vehicles. Since January 2025, federal immigration personnel have shot and killed 11 people, five of whom were in vehicles at the time. Department statements in several cases described the vehicles as having been used against officers; video recordings from some incidents have been cited by critics as inconsistent with those accounts.

Meta Employees File Lawsuit Alleging AI Use in Layoff Selections

Twenty-six current and former Meta employees have filed a federal lawsuit in the Northern District of California claiming that artificial intelligence systems were used to identify staff for termination. The complaint alleges that the tools disproportionately selected employees who had requested protected leave, maternity leave, or disability accommodations. The suit references Meta’s earlier reduction of roughly 8,000 positions. A company spokesperson stated that the claims lack merit.

Additional Developments

Mahmoud Khalil has announced plans to sue Trump administration officials and several pro-Israel organizations, alleging a coordinated effort to penalize individuals for advocacy related to Palestinian rights.

The death of Senator Lindsey Graham and questions surrounding Senator Mitch McConnell’s health have prompted various online claims connecting the events to foreign actors, vaccines, and political figures.

Federal health officials report that outbreaks of cyclospora infection are likely to persist through August and are investigating possible sources in the food supply.

Large numbers of visitors have viewed the rare blooming of corpse flowers at several California locations.

Maryland police arrested a man accused of robbing a bank while holding a stolen cat, which authorities said was used during the incident.

Florida Carries Out Execution of Dennis Sochor

Dennis Sochor, aged 74 and convicted in the 1982 killing of Patricia Gifford, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison. The victim’s body has not been recovered. A statement from the victim’s family noted that Sochor had not disclosed the location of the remains during more than four decades of incarceration. This was the tenth execution by lethal injection in Florida this year.

Sunscreen Application and Heat Management Guidance

Dermatologists advise that stinging from sunscreen does not require abandoning protection and recommend testing products on small areas or switching formulations. Additional recommendations include consistent reapplication and seeking shade during peak sun hours. For individuals who experience irritability in high temperatures, measures such as pre-cooling indoor spaces and maintaining hydration are suggested.

Reports on Child Marriage Trends in Afghanistan

Families in Afghanistan have increasingly arranged marriages involving girls under the age of nine, according to interviews conducted by The Guardian and Zan Times. The reported increase coincides with Taliban policies that permit such marriages and restrict girls’ access to schooling, alongside ongoing economic hardship that has prompted debt settlements through these arrangements.

3D Documentation of Historic Shipwrecks Completed

An expedition has produced high-resolution 3D models of the wrecks of vessels associated with Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott. Project leaders described the scans as preserving details of largely intact hulls located in deep water and noted that the imaging process allows repeated examination without further disturbance to the sites.

California Shark Sightings Increase

State wildlife officials and researchers anticipate elevated numbers of juvenile great white sharks along California beaches this summer. The shift is attributed to El Niño-driven temperature changes that have moved the animals northward from Mexican waters.

Bear Incident Under Investigation in Japan

Local authorities in Iwate prefecture are searching for a bear that entered a residence and removed items from a refrigerator. The animal is suspected in a series of 14 similar entries over the preceding two weeks. Officials have stated that repeated targeting of one location is uncommon and are prioritizing capture.