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Will the Iran war slow U.S. hiring? Economists say risks are rising.

April 1, 2026 / 1:32 PM EDT / CBS News

The Iran war is adding fresh pressure to a slowing U.S. labor market, with at least one major employer already freezing hiring plans.

Consumer goods giant Unilever, which owns brands such as Dove and Vaseline, told CBS News on Tuesday that it’s hitting the brakes on hiring amid an unstable economic backdrop. In a memo obtained by Reuters, a Unilever executive pointed to “macroeconomic and geopolitical realities, especially in the Middle East conflict” as the reason for the company’s three-month hiring freeze.

Even before the Iran war began, the U.S. hiring rate had slowed, with the February Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey hitting its lowest level since 2020. Employers across the U.S. shed 92,000 jobs in February, a sharp and unexpected setback in a labor market marked by anemic job growth during the past year as businesses grappled with tariffs and economic uncertainty.

“We’re in a period of uncertainty, much like in 2025 with tariffs,” Oxford Economics senior U.S. economist Matthew Martin told CBS News. “Companies weren’t sure what the policy, what their cost structure was going to be, which led them to delay hiring.”

The Iran war’s impact on hiring may not be immediately reflected in the March jobs report, set to be released on April 3 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Employers across the U.S. likely added 60,000 jobs last month, rebounding from February’s decline, according to the average estimate of economists polled by FactSet.

“The March jobs report is likely to show modest gains due largely to the ongoing strength of healthcare employment,” said Heather Long, the chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, in an email. Friday’s data release will be “too early to see the impact from the war in Iran.”

Fresh economic headwinds

As the Iran war continues, businesses are facing fresh headwinds from higher transportation costs, while consumers are coping with higher fuel costs that are straining their budgets. Airlines are hiking fares, and economists expect some food prices to rise due to the war’s impact on fertilizer supplies.

Companies may delay hiring as they digest the impact of higher energy prices, said Martin of Oxford Economics. Unilever, for instance, may be “looking for ways to reduce overall spend” as it copes with higher production and distribution costs, while also facing uncertainty about how long the Iran war may continue, he added.

Soaring energy prices could also dent economic growth, which, in turn, could translate into weaker hiring, said Yelena Shulyatyeva, senior U.S. economist at The Conference Board’s Economy, Strategy and Finance Center. Still, oil prices would have to hit $140 a barrel — up from Brent crude’s current price of about $102 — for the U.S. economy to tip into a recession and negatively impact the labor market, according to her analysis.

“The slower the growth rate is, the lower the need for new employees,” she told CBS News. The Iran war “will probably exacerbate these low-churn conditions, because companies don’t know what to expect. There’s high uncertainty.”

A higher unemployment rate?

The unemployment rate could increase by 0.2 percentage points to 4.6% by the end of September, according to Goldman Sachs analysts. Higher oil prices typically “reduce job growth and raise unemployment,” they wrote, adding that the arts and entertainment and accommodation and food services industries may be most likely to scale back hiring.

That’s partly because of the financial impact on consumers, who are spending a greater share of their budgets on gasoline, leaving them with less money to spend on other goods and services. Some consumers may cut back on non-essential purchases, while others may spend more cautiously as they build their savings as a buffer, Martin said.

“Discretionary goods and services like travel and luxury items would be the hardest hit as people scale back and only spend on the essentials,” he said.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/jamie-dimon-says-he-doesnt-know-if-iran-war-will-tip-economy-into-recession/

Elon Musk’s SpaceX files confidential initial public offering

April 1, 2026 / 3:30 PM EDT / CBS News

Billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX has confidentially filed for an initial public offering in what could be the largest stock market debut ever, according to the Associated Press.

The space exploration company submitted a draft IPO filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, with a possible listing expected in June, the news outlet reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Texas-based company did not disclose how much it is planning to raise, but could seek as much as $75 billion. Going public could boost SpaceX’s valuation to $1.5 trillion, nearly double what the company was valued at in December, according to research firm Pitchbook.

Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned petroleum and natural gas company, went public in 2019 for $25.6 billion, according to investment bank Renaissance Capital, while Alibaba, a Chinese company that specializes in e-commerce, went public for $21.8 billion in 2014.

The confidential filing allows the company to gather private feedback from regulators and temporarily insulates it from public scrutiny. Once the registration filing is made public, investors will be able to get a snapshot of the company’s operations and finances.

Where will the money go?

The injection of funding could help SpaceX further scale its space operations, build more data centers — which Musk wants to put into space — and expand Starlink technology to new satellite constellations, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said in a report last week.

Going public could also position SpaceX to get more defense contract opportunities with the Trump administration, particularly for the “Golden Dome” project, Ives added. President Trump announced plans for the Golden Dome last year, a missile defense system to protect the country from aerial attacks.

SpaceX, founded by Musk in 2002, develops and launches spacecraft. Last month, the company sent four NASA astronauts on an 8-month mission to the International Space Station.

NASA has also tapped SpaceX to develop a “human landing system” — a specialized spacecraft — to deliver a crew to the lunar surface as part of its Artemis program. The last moon landing was in 1972.

SpaceX’s portfolio has grown, with the acquisition of Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, in February 2026, boosting the company’s valuation to $1.25 trillion.

Test case with Tesla?

Tesla, Musk’s electric car company that went public in 2010, could prove to be a useful test case for SpaceX as it navigates the IPO process. The EV maker has faced some headwinds in the last year due to Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, cost-cutting efforts.

On the whole, Tesla has performed well financially, although its annual revenue growth has flatlined in recent years. In 2025, the company brought in nearly $95 billion in revenue compared to around $97.7 billion in 2024, according to S&P Capital IQ. Still, the company’s investors have reaped major benefits, with the company’s share price up more than 73% in the last five years alone.

Tesla’s self-driving technology and the development of a humanoid robot, dubbed Optimus, are expected to further turbocharge growth, according to Ives.

Ives said SpaceX could also eventually absorb Musk’s electric vehicle company. He predicts a 2027 merger.

“Musk wants to own and control more of the AI ecosystem and step-by-step, the holy grail could be combining SpaceX and Tesla in some way to give the connected tissue between both disruptive tech stalwarts looking to lead the AI revolution,” he said.

Edited by Aimee Picchi

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Trump administration cannot alter homelessness funding conditions, US court rules

2026-04-01 18:24:59 UTC / Reuters

By Nate Raymond

April 1, 2026 6:24 PM UTC Updated 2 mins ago

节点运行失败

A homeless person sleeps on a bench near the National Mall, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

• Summary

• Court says changing grant rules would harm housing organizations and recipients
• Lawsuit by Democratic officials, local governments, nonprofits argued changes risked thousands losing housing
• Trump administration sought to shift focus from ‘housing-first’ to transitional housing

BOSTON, April 1 (Reuters) – A federal ​appeals court on Wednesday refused to allow the Trump administration to impose new restrictions on billions of dollars in grant funding ‌used to provide permanent housing and other services to homeless people.

A three-judge panel of the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined, opens new tab to put on hold a ruling by U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy in Providence, Rhode Island, that had blocked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from changing the criteria used ​to distribute grant funding from the Continuum of Care program.

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U.S. Circuit Judge Julie Rikelman, who like the other appellate judges ​was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, said a ruling to the contrary would be “destabilizing and disastrous” ⁠for funding recipients, leading to the shuttering of housing organizations and people losing their housing.

“In sum, the record paints a disturbing picture ​of the harms that would flow to the plaintiffs, their constituents, and the public from issuing a stay,” she wrote.

A HUD spokesperson in a ​statement said the department “remains committed to reforming the misguided ‘Housing First’ approach that for years funded the self-serving homeless industrial complex, rewarded activists, and ignored solutions.”

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‘HOUSING-FIRST’ APPROACH

The ruling stems from a lawsuit brought by Democratic officials in 20 states and Washington, D.C., local governments and nonprofit organizations.

Lawyers for some of the plaintiffs said ​that if the administration had prevailed, more than $2 billion worth of grant funding supporting 4,000 local housing coalitions could have become subject to ​HUD’s new rules.

“Because the appeals court refused to grant the federal government’s motion to stay the injunction pending appeal, almost 200,000 people — many living with ‌disabilities — will ⁠not be displaced from stable housing,” Jill Habig, the head of the legal group the Public Rights Project, said in a statement.

At issue was the Continuum of Care program, which has provided resources since 1987 for states, local governments and nonprofits to deliver support services to homeless people, with a focus on veterans, families, and people with disabilities.

The program has long been based on a “housing-first” approach to combating homelessness, ​which prioritizes placing people into ​permanent housing without preconditions such ⁠as sobriety and employment.

Along with housing, the grants fund childcare, job training, mental health counseling and transportation services.

The administration has criticized the housing-first approach, and HUD in November said it was overhauling the grant ​program to focus on transitional housing initiatives with work requirements and other conditions.

McElroy in December concluded HUD’s ​efforts conflicted with ⁠the mandates of a federal law that provides money for homeless shelter programs. She cited Congress’ prioritization of providing funding for stable and permanent housing.

After Congress passed a spending bill in February that mandated HUD renew Continuum of Care projects and issue new grant awards, the administration asked ⁠McElroy to ​set aside her injunction, allowing some of the roughly $4 billion for the program to ​become subject to HUD’s new rules.

But McElroy declined to do so, citing the need to protect funding recipients from “upheaval and service gaps.” The administration then appealed, citing the new law, ​which the plaintiffs said never blessed HUD’s approach to grant funding.

Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Deepa Babington

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Iran’s ceasefire push may be a ‘cycle of deception,’ analysts warn as shadowy figure gains power

2026-04-01T12:44:27-04:00 / Fox News

Real authority over war and peace lies with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked figures, experts warn

By Efrat Lachter Fox News

Published April 1, 2026 12:44pm EDT

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6392341390112

President Trump suggests US will finish in Iran in two to 3 weeks

President Donald Trump indicated on Tuesday that he thinks the U.S. will finish its attacks on Iran in two to three weeks. (Credit: The White House via YouTube)

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President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that Iran may be seeking a ceasefire, but analysts say real power lies with hardline figures inside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including newly prominent Commander Ahmad Vahidi.

Trump did not name the Iranian figure he was referring to, but his comment likely pointed to President Masoud Pezeshkian, writing: “Iran’s New Regime President, much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE! We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

Experts caution, however, that Iran’s president does not control decisions of war and peace.

“He clearly does not have the authority to turn on or turn off a major military conflict with the United States,” Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY SHOWCASES ‘DOCTRINE OF UNPREDICTABILITY’ AMID STRIKE THREATS AND SUDDEN PAUSE

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi speaks during a press conference after the parliamentary elections in Tehran, Iran, March 4, 2024.(Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)

Instead, analysts say real power lies with senior figures tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including Vahidi, Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and security official Mohammad Zolghadr, all of whom operate within overlapping centers of influence.

Attention is turning to the new terror chief seen as an extremist pulling strings, Vahidi — a longtime Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander whose reemergence highlights a broader shift underway inside Iran’s leadership.

Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, warned that even when Iran signals interest in a “ceasefire,” it may not reflect a Western understanding of the term.

He pointed to the concept of “hudna,” describing it as “a ceasefire with deception — they stop when they are weak, rebuild their strength, and then attack again, whether against Israel or the United States.”

Sabti added that such pauses can become “a cycle of violence that does not end,” driven by ideological motivations, and should not be interpreted as a genuine end to hostilities.

Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, and Iraj Masjedi, Deputy Coordinator of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, participate in a ceremony to mark the memory of former IRGC commander, Hossein Salami, who is killed in Israeli attacks, at a mosque in an IRGC organizational house complex in Tehran, Iran, on July 25, 2025.(Morteza Nikoubazl/Nur Photo via Getty Images)

From covert operations to global attacks

At the center of that uncertainty is Vahidi, the new Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander.

“He is a very violent man and belongs to a generation that fought in guerrilla warfare,” Sabti told Fox News Digital.

Sabti described Vahidi as part of an early cadre of Iranian operatives who built ties with militant groups in Lebanon before and after the 1979 revolution, relationships that later became central to Iran’s regional strategy. Some accounts suggest Vahidi trained in camps linked to Palestinian and Lebanese factions in southern Lebanon, helping lay the groundwork for Iran’s long-standing alliance with Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah.

DESTROY THE REGIME’S POWER WITHOUT OCCUPYING IRAN: A SMARTER WAR PLAN

Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf looks on as Parliament members chant in support of the IRGC while wearing military uniforms in Tehran, Iran, Feb 1, 2026.(Hamed Malekpour/Islamic consultative assembly news agency/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuters)

Vahidi rose through the ranks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and went on to serve as commander of its elite Quds Force in the 1990s, a unit responsible for overseas operations.

He has been linked to some of the deadliest attacks attributed to Iranian-backed networks abroad, including the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.

Sabti said Vahidi was also accused of maintaining connections with al Qaeda figures following the Sept. 11 attacks, reflecting what he described as Iran’s willingness to cooperate with groups targeting Western and Israeli interests.

Despite later holding positions that appeared political or bureaucratic, Sabti said Vahidi never truly stepped away from the Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s powerful military and intelligence arm, meaning his role remained closely tied to the regime’s security and operational apparatus.

“He always remained part of the Revolutionary Guards — even wearing uniform,” he said. “That’s common in Iran. Even when they move into politics, they stay within the force.”

Sabti also pointed to Vahidi’s alleged role in suppressing Kurdish uprisings in northwestern Iran in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, underscoring his longstanding involvement in internal security operations.

HEGSETH REVEALS COVERT VISIT TO TROOPS FIGHTING IN OPERATION EPIC FURY

A composite image shows several Iranian leaders named in the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program offering up to $10 million for information on key figures tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Mojtaba Khamenei, top left.(State Department / Rewards for Justice; Khoshiran / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

A system driven by power, not position

Vahidi’s renewed prominence comes as Iran’s internal structure appears increasingly fragmented, with authority concentrated in overlapping and sometimes competing networks.

“It’s not clear how coordinated either the military or political actions of the government of the Islamic Republic is today,” Ben Taleblu said.

He described Iran as “a system of men, not a system of laws,” where personal ties and informal influence often outweigh formal titles.

That dynamic has intensified as the war continues.

“We are seeing the IRGC ascendancy… across a host of Iranian political and security institutions,” he said.

“This IRGC ascendancy will mean a more crass Islamic Republic, but it comes at a time when this regime is militarily less capable than ever before,” he added.

More power, less restraint

Sabti said Vahidi may now be more influential than other prominent figures in Tehran, including parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

“In my view, he is more dominant right now, even if they are coordinated. This is not a time for internal competition,” Sabti said.

He warned that Vahidi’s rise could further harden Iran’s posture.

“He brings even more radicalization into the system and may not want to stop the war, because it serves the interests of the Revolutionary Guards to continue,” Sabti said.

“They could become masters of the region if the United States folds — and that is very much in his interest.”

Trump’s suggestion that Iran is seeking a ceasefire has raised hopes of a potential diplomatic opening, but experts caution that such signals may not reflect a unified position inside Iran.

“The question is what was shared with President Trump genuine, or is it wheeling and dealing of just one ambitious person?” Ben Taleblu said.

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Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Sep. 16, 2024.(WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Majid Asgaripour via Reuters)

“Pezeshkian clearly does not have the authority to turn on or turn off a major military conflict with the United States,” Ben Taleblu said.

That leaves open the possibility that any outreach could be tactical, fragmented, or even contradictory.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Efrat Lachter is a foreign correspondent for Fox News Digital covering international affairs and the United Nations. Follow her on X @efratlachter. Stories can be sent to efrat.lachter@fox.com.

A new COVID-19 variant called “Cicada” is spreading. Here’s what to know.

April 1, 2026 / 12:07 PM EDT / CBS News

“Cicada” is trending, but not because it’s the season for the noisy insects to appear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization are both monitoring a COVID-19 variant called BA.3.2, which is nicknamed “Cicada.”

Where is it?

BA.3.2 was first identified in November 2024 and has since spread to at least 23 countries. It’s also been detected in at least 25 states in the U.S. as of February, according to the CDC.

But while the variant is spreading here, it’s not the dominant strain.

“Whether it will push itself to the front of the line remains to be seen,” Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, told CBS News “We’ll have to wait and see.”

What is it?

The variant is a member of the Omicron family and is highly mutated, with 70 to 75 mutations. A recent study in the journal Lancet found the current COVID-19 vaccine is less effective against BA.3.2 compared to the current dominant strains, although it does provide some protection.

“These are still early days, ” Schaffner said. “But at the moment the conclusion seems to be there is this capacity for this new variant to evade some of the protections we have all acquired over the years.”

Is it more severe?

Currently the CDC is not reporting a nationwide increase in severe disease from COVID-19. Case rates, emergency visits and hospitalizations are trending downward. But state rates can vary. Massachusetts and Florida are estimated as likely having an increase in cases.

“We haven’t seen evidence of this variant causing more severe disease or an increase in hospitalizations elsewhere,” according to CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder, editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News.

What to know about symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat and congestion.

The CDC says it’s important to get the current COVID vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, have never received a COVID vaccine or are at high risk for severe illness from COVID. The high-risk group includes people younger than age 65 with a chronic medical condition like heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, as well as those who are immunocompromised.

“Get a dose of the vaccine towards the end of May, beginning of June in order to provide some protection against the summer increase,” Schaffner advised. “We anticipate that will happen because that’s what’s happened in the past.”

Trump working to clean ‘filthy’ Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, blames Biden for maintenance delays

April 1, 2026 2:41pm EDT / Fox News

Trump admin new beautification push for National Mall as America 250 celebrations begin

By Louis Casiano Fox News

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was working to clean up the “filthy” Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, blaming the Biden administration for neglecting the Washington, D.C., landmark.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was working with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on the project, the latest in a series of beautification initiatives targeted by the Trump administration.

SEWAGE SPILL SENDS E COLI SURGING IN THE POTOMAC RIVER NEAR DC

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at the Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. President Donald Trump has vowed to clean the pool.(Interior Secretary Doug Burgum)

“Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and I are working on fixing the absolutely filthy Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument,” Trump wrote.

“This work was supposed to be done by the Biden Administration, but Sleepy Joe doesn’t know what ‘CLEAN’ or proper maintenance is — The President and Secretary do!” he added.

Burgum confirmed the project on X.

TRUMP TELLS MEXICO TO FIX CROSS-BORDER SEWAGE PROBLEM FLOWING INTO US COMMUNITIES ‘IMMEDIATELY’

The “Super-Scrubber” at the Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C.(National Parks Service)

“Unlike the Biden administration, @POTUS knows how to get things done! @Interior is working to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful! Proud to work with you on this important task, Mr. President,” he wrote in a post accompanied by images of himself at the pool.

In 2022, the National Parks Service posted a video on X showing a “Super-Scrubber” and vacuum cleaning the pool area.

“Our facilities team cleaning up a year’s worth of trash, algae, and goose poop in the Reflecting Pool,” the post read.

People join hands as they pose for a photo in the Reflecting Pool in the shadow of the Washington Monument.(AP)

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The pool is drained and cleaned once per year before being refilled with water. Fox News Digital has reached out to the NPS and Interior Department.

On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered Trump to halt construction of his ambitious White House ballroom project. The ruling came amid a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued the project required congressional authorization before moving forward.

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.

US farmers to plant less corn as Iran war spikes fertilizer prices

2026-04-01 16:47:11 UTC / Reuters

By Tom Polansek

April 1, 2026 4:47 PM UTC Updated 3 hours ago

节点运行失败

Corn is harvested from a field in Roachdale, Indiana, U.S. October 29, 2019. REUTERS/Bryan Woolston/File Photo

• USDA publishes first survey-based US plantings estimates
• Iran war hikes prices for fertilizer needed for planting corn
• Analysts say survey does not fully reflect war impact
• USDA may cut corn planting estimate later, analysts say

CHICAGO, March 31 (Reuters) – U.S. farmers plan to plant less corn and more soybeans in 2026 than ​last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, as the Iran war drives up fertilizer and fuel prices in the latest blow to ‌the struggling agricultural sector.

The agency published on Tuesday its first survey-based crop acreage estimate of the year in a prospective plantings report, along with quarterly U.S. grain stocks data.

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Analysts cautioned that plantings estimates, gleaned from farmer surveys conducted in the first half of March, could not fully account for disruptions and price impacts caused by the war. As a result, the agency may further reduce its ​estimate for corn acreage, they said.

USDA, which has struggled for years to get farmers to respond to surveys, faced criticism over the reliability of its data ​this year after making unprecedented increases to corn acreage estimates for the 2025 crop. The response rate to its March agricultural ⁠survey was 37.6%, down from 44.3% last year and the lowest for that survey, the agency’s National Agricultural Statistics Service said on X.

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“Because of what’s happening in ​the fertilizer market, and the timing of when the survey went out, this is probably the highest number in planted acreage we’ll see in corn this year,” said Jake ​Hanley, managing director and senior portfolio specialist at Teucrium Trading.

Corn and wheat require more costly fertilizer, making them less attractive for growers to plant than soybeans with the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran cutting off critical nitrogen supplies from the Gulf to the world’s farmers.

Spiking fertilizer costs are the latest hurdle for farmers grappling with weak grain prices, rising bills for other inputs and uncertainty over ​China’s demand for U.S. crops. A trade war launched by the Trump administration last year dramatically disrupted U.S. soybean export sales to China, the world’s largest importer.

HURDLES ​FOR FARMERS

Farmers intend to plant 95.338 million acres of corn this year, down from 98.788 million acres in 2025, and 84.7 million acres of soybeans, up from 81.215 million acres last ‌year, USDA ⁠said.

Analysts expected disruptions from the Iran conflict to curb corn acreage even further. They pegged corn plantings at 94.371 million acres in a Reuters poll and soybean plantings at 85.549 million acres.

USDA’s lower-than-expected estimate for soy acres rallied soybean futures .

For wheat, farmers planted 43.775 million acres for harvest this year, which was down from 45.328 million acres last year and the lowest since records began in 1919, USDA data showed. Analysts expected 44.786 million acres.

Most Midwest farmers grow corn and soybeans, alternating what is planted on each ​field every year to preserve soil ​health. Some acres can break from the ⁠traditional rotation if growers see an opportunity to turn a better profit or lose less money.

U.S. net farm income is forecast to turn lower this year despite near-record government aid payments, marking the fourth straight year of tight margins, high production costs ​and low commodity prices.

GRAIN STOCKS RISE

Farm groups have urged Congress to approve additional aid for crop growers as the repercussions ​of the Iran war ⁠rattle the broader economy. President Donald Trump’s administration is already distributing $12 billion to farmers after his trade dispute with China hurt U.S. soybean sales.

U.S. stocks of corn, soybeans and wheat as of March 1 were up from a year ago, USDA said, reflecting ample supplies after bumper harvests and trade disruptions last year.

U.S. corn stocks reached 9.024 billion bushels ⁠as of ​March 1, compared to 8.147 billion bushels a year earlier and analysts’ expectations of 9.104 billion bushels.

Plentiful ​inventories weigh on prices for crop farmers and ease costs for livestock producers and biofuel manufacturers.

“There’s plenty of corn right now to be had,” Hanley said. “But all the elements right now are building that ​the risk is to the upside here.”

Reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago, Additional reporting by PJ Huffstutter and Heather Schlitz in Chicago, Editing by Deepa Babington and Matthew Lewis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

American commandos join Ecuadorian troops in mission targeting alleged narco-terrorists

2026-04-01T13:14:00-0400 / CBS News

Washington — American commandos in recent days joined Ecuadorian troops in a joint mission aimed at dismantling a suspected criminal hub operated by an alleged narco-terrorist organization along the country’s coast.

The operation, dubbed Lanza Marina, focused on a compound believed to serve as a staging ground for high-speed boats linked to Los Choneros, a powerful Ecuadorian criminal organization, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News under condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The two U.S. officials said the American forces worked in advisory roles, assisting and accompanying their Ecuadorian counterparts as they moved against the site, part of a broader effort to curb trafficking networks that rely on fast-moving maritime routes.

U.S. Southern Command did not immediately respond to a CBS News request for comment.

The Defense Department has historically used several authorities such as security cooperation agreements and train-and-equip programs to allow U.S. special operation forces to support foreign forces. For instance, “127 Echo missions,” referring to 10 U.S.C. § 127e, are commonplace. 127e is the legal authority that allows for the U.S. military to support foreign forces to combat terrorism. While these types of missions are overseen by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, the defense secretary has historically been required to approve these missions and to sign congressional notification letters, according to documents obtained by The New York Times.

CBS News exclusively reported last year that President Trump rolled back constraints on American commanders to authorize airstrikes and special operation raids outside conventional battlefields, broadening the range of people who could be targeted. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the reporting by CBS News was accurate.

In early March, the United States and Ecuador launched joint military operations against “designated terrorist organizations” in the South American country amid the U.S. military’s unilateral strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific accused by the Trump administration of smuggling drugs.Strikes against suspected drug smuggling boats began in September 2025 resulting in at least 47 strikes killing about 163 people.

“We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country,” said Marine Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command in a statement last month.

An Ecuadorian soldier looks on during a visit of special envoy of the U.S. Shield of the Americas Program Kristi Noem outside the Carondelet Palace in Quito on March 25, 2026. Rodrigo BUENDIA /AFP via Getty Images

Last year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Los Choneros had been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

The first designation, conferred by the State Department, carries the weight of criminal law and national security doctrine as well as immigration consequences. By contrast, the second designation, which is administered by the Treasury Department, is rooted in financial warfare that targets the economic lifelines of organizations and individuals.

For decades, Los Choneros has exerted a profound influence over the country’s escalating violence, evolving from a regional gang into a sprawling network with international reach.

Formed in the 1990s, the group adopted a decentralized structure more akin to a franchise than a traditional hierarchy, according to the National Counter Terrorism Center. Loosely aligned factions have operated under its name, allowing the organization to expand and adapt even as authorities targeted its leadership.

Beyond the country’s borders, Los Choneros has forged ties with powerful transnational networks, including Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel and criminal groups from Albania, enabling it to play a role in global drug trafficking routes. The National Counter Terrorism Center assesses that the organization has approximately 12,000 members and while it primarily operates in Manabi, Ecuador, they also have a presence in at least 10 other Ecuadorian provinces as well as Colombia and Peru.

Eleanor Watson contributed to this report.

Booker urges Supreme Court to allow Roundup cancer lawsuits to proceed

April 1, 2026 / 2:00 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Democratic Sen. Cory Booker filed a legal brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday backing cancer patients in a high-stakes case that could determine whether thousands of lawsuits over the weedkiller Roundup can proceed — and drawing a direct contrast with the Trump administration’s position.

The filing, known as an amicus brief, supports a plaintiff who alleges Monsanto failed to warn consumers about cancer risks tied to Roundup, one of the most widely used herbicides in the world.

The case — Monsanto Company v. John L. Durnell — centers on whether federal law governing pesticide labeling overrides state-level claims that the company did not adequately warn users about potential health risks.

If the court sides with Monsanto, it could significantly limit or block many of the lawsuits brought by people who say long-term exposure to Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, caused them to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. A ruling against the company would allow those cases to continue moving through state courts.

Bayer, Monsanto’s parent company, has paid more than $10 billion to resolve earlier Roundup-related claims and is now pursuing a proposed $7.25 billion settlement to address additional cases.

Monsanto has denied a link between the active ingredient in glyphosate and cancer, saying hundreds of studies have established that glyphosate is safe.

In his brief, Booker argued Monsanto is seeking a “broad federal shield from liability” that it has “repeatedly failed to obtain from elected representatives,” warning the court against stepping in on an issue lawmakers have debated but not resolved.

He also said federal pesticide law, known as the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, was designed to set minimum safety standards, not to block state-level lawsuits.

Booker argued those lawsuits serve as a critical mechanism for holding companies accountable, particularly as scientific understanding of potential risks evolves over time.

Booker has also pushed the issue in Congress. In recent years, he has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening accountability for pesticide manufacturers, including a bill that would allow people harmed by pesticides to sue in federal court and another targeting the use of certain harmful chemicals. Both efforts would amend the same federal law at the center of the Supreme Court case.

The case has also drawn in the Trump administration. The Justice Department filed its own brief backing Monsanto, arguing that federal law should preempt state-level failure-to-warn claims because federal regulators have already approved the product’s labeling.

In a statement to CBS News, Monsanto said federal law was designed to create a “uniform, nationwide framework” for pesticide labeling and argued that allowing lawsuits to proceed would create conflicting state standards.

“The security and affordability of the nation’s food supply depend on farmers’ and manufacturers’ ability to rely on the science-based judgments of federal regulators. Clarification from the Court is essential to restore uniformity, certainty, and the rule of law,” Monsanto said.

At the same time, President Trump has moved to boost domestic production of glyphosate, calling it critical to national security and the U.S. food supply, even as litigation over its safety continues.

Booker has also criticized the administration’s approach. In February, he condemned an executive order directing federal agencies to boost production of glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup, as lawsuits over its potential health risks continue.

Roundup’s key ingredient, glyphosate, has been at the center of a long-running scientific debate. The World Health Organization has classified it as a probable carcinogen, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it is not likely to cause cancer when used as directed.

That divide has fueled years of lawsuits, including cases where juries found Monsanto failed to adequately warn users about potential risks. Before serving as Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. successfully represented a man dying of cancer in a 2018 lawsuit against Monsanto in which the jury awarded $289 million to the plaintiff.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments April 27, with a decision expected later this term that could shape the future of Roundup litigation and determine whether thousands of claims can move forward.

Trump calls for second ‘big, beautiful bill’ to fund ICE on his desk by June 1

April 1, 2026 2:30pm EDT / Fox News

Sen John Hoeven said Monday the move could lock in immigration enforcement funding for the next 3 years

By Adam Pack Fox News

Rep Jeff Van Drew slams Congress amid DHS shutdown

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., criticized the congressional recess amid the ongoing DHS shutdown and spoke out against Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s proposed reparations for illegal immigrants.

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For 47 days, Democrats have refused to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and parts of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without sweeping reforms. President Donald Trump is now considering a move that could make both agencies shutdown-proof for the rest of his second term.

The president is asking top Republicans to draft a budget reconciliation package funding ICE and CBP that could pass both chambers without any Democratic support.

“We are going to work as fast, and as focused, as possible to replenish funding for our Border and ICE Agents, and the Radical Left Democrats won’t be able to stop us,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We will not allow them to hurt the families of these Great Patriots by defunding them.”

The president added that he wants the legislation on his desk by June 1.

Congressional Republicans are eying their own fixes to Obamacare subsidies, but the Senate and House are diverging in their approaches. Ultimately, President Donald Trump will be the deciding factor.(Getty Images)

HOUSE CONSERVATIVES ERUPT OVER SENATE GOP, WHITE HOUSE DEAL AMID SAVE ACT FIGHT

The budget reconciliation push comes as Republican efforts to fund ICE and the Border Patrol through regular order have stalled in the Senate due to widespread opposition from Democrats.

With the Senate’s 60-vote legislative threshold in place, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., effectively has veto power over DHS appropriations if he keeps his caucus in line.

The budget reconciliation process would allow Republicans to steer around Democratic opposition and pass a DHS funding bill at a simple majority threshold. Republicans narrowly passed Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act using reconciliation in June 2025 after months of intraparty squabbling.

The feat could prove more difficult in an election year when lawmakers will have to identify pay-for spending cuts. The strategy could also extend the funding lapse for several more months.

It is not clear how long Republicans would seek to fund immigration enforcement or whether they would also include funding for non-immigration-related DHS agencies in a forthcoming budget reconciliation bill.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6392274000112

The U.S. Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Secret Service have seen a lapse in appropriations, though Trump took executive action to provide back pay to TSA agents reporting to work during the shutdown.

A Senate bill funding those DHS subagencies was immediately rejected by House Republican leadership on Friday for failing to fund immigration enforcement.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS PASS RIVAL DHS PLAN, SETTING UP SENATE FIGHT AS SHUTDOWN SET TO BECOME LONGEST IN HISTORY

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., told reporters Monday that Senate Republicans are considering a budget reconciliation package that would fund Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown efforts for the next three years.

“The Democrats can’t create another shutdown like they did this time,” Hoeven said, if the bill were to be signed into law.

The North Dakota lawmaker also disputed that a budget reconciliation bill would take several months to put together.

“We’ll get it done as quick as you can,” Hoeven said. “I hope it’s certainly not months.”

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Republicans are considering a budget reconciliation package making Immigration and Customs Enforcement shutdown-proof.(Mariam Zuhaib/AP Photo)

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Amid both chambers’ planned two-week recesses, Trump told the New York Post on Tuesday he is considering calling Congress back to Washington to find a solution to the DHS shutdown.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Wednesday that a “skinny reconciliation bill” funding the department would pass both chambers once Congress resumes session in mid-April if a deal has not been reached.

House GOP leadership has previously voiced skepticism about funding immigration enforcement through a budget reconciliation package. Some conservatives have also complained about the precedent of letting Democrats decide which agencies receive funding through the normal appropriations process.

“The problem is that what they’re doing is they’re placing the burden on the Republican Party entirely to make sure that we have border security funding and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, because they’re going to try to force it into a reconciliation bill,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade on Friday. “That’s a very difficult task. It is a high risk gamble for us to assume that we could do that.”