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Happy Friday, Wake Up Right fam! There's a lot of focus in the news, rightly, on what's going on across the world lately, but let's kick off the weekend in our own backyard…
New data, published by the NY Times, shows asylum grant rates have plummeted to just 7% under President Trump - the lowest in modern American history. For perspective, under Obama and Biden, it was nearly 60%.
That's the difference between rubber-stamp asylum and rubber-band asylum — snap back, you're going home.
📉 U.S. fertility hit a record low in 2025
💰 Record-high 70% say taxes are too high
🐧 Emperor penguins become an endangered species
⬇️ Asylum approval rate has fallen to its lowest in decades
📈 Trump approval avg: 41.2% approve, 56.3% disapprove
Strait talk
A two-week US-Iran ceasefire is three days old – and already fracturing over Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, with high-stakes talks set to begin in Islamabad today.
Back up: President Trump announced the truce on April 7, suspending strikes on Iran after 40 days of US-Israeli military operations. The ceasefire expires on April 22.
Are bombs still flying? Yes. Hours after the ceasefire, Israel launched roughly 100 airstrikes across Lebanon in ten minutes – killing at least 303 according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes continued into Thursday.
Trump told NBC he asked Netanyahu to be "a little more low-key" in Lebanon to protect the Iran negotiations.
The core dispute: Iran insists Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire. The White House and Israel say it is not.
The choke point: Despite the deal requiring Iran to guarantee "safe passage” for shipping vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, it is effectively still closed.
Five vessels crossed on Wednesday, seven on Thursday – compaired to a pre-war average of over 100 daily.
Of the ships tracked in the first 24 hours, four were Iranian, four were Greek, and one was Chinese.
Geopolitics: Back in late March, Iran had granted "friendly nation" safe passage to China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan before the ceasefire.
More than 600 vessels, including 325 tankers, remain stranded in the Gulf.
Do not pass Go. Collect $1 million dollars: Iran released a naval map indicating it may have mined the strait, directing ships along routes closer to its mainland. This is likely because Iran is planning to demand tolls in cryptocurrency for passage.
Big picture: The ceasefire may have stopped the shooting between the U.S. and Iran, but the strait is still closed, and 20% of the world's oil is effectively taken hostage.
What’s next? U.S. and Iranian officials will meet Saturday in Islamabad for their first face-to-face negotiations since the war began.
This Deloitte Fast 500 Honoree Is Eyeing 7X Growth
On 55,000+ screens in the US, a new cutting-edge AI platform is modernizing the guest experience across industries.
And the company behind it, Edison Interactive, is just getting started. They’ve even opened a new investment opportunity with plans to grow its footprint from 55,000 to 400,000 screens.
Edison’s AI-powered entertainment platform modernizes screens in venues like golf courses and hotels, helping the company earn Deloitte Fast 500 Honoree. Already deployed at premier locations like TPC, Bethpage, and Caesars Entertainment, it opens new revenue streams for operators and Edison. In fact, they’ve already earned $60M to date.
And to grow its footprint 7X, Edison is doing more than just expanding in golf and hospitality. Verizon is partnering with Edison to bring their platform to professional sports stadiums. From there, airplanes, cruise ships, trains, and more await.
This is a paid advertisement for Edison Interactive Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.edisoninteractive.com/
⚖️ The Supreme Court struck down Colorado's ban on conversion therapy, ruling the state violated a Christian counselor's free speech rights in an 8-1 decision. Read more.
🇱🇧 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he has authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible” aimed at disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the neighbors. Read more.
👨⚖️ A Biden-appointed federal judge blocked the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopians in the U.S. Read more.
🦸 An Oklahoma high school principal took a bullet in the leg while tackling an armed former student who told police he came to kill students and staff. Read more.
🔍 A teen feared kidnapped in 1994 has been found alive — now a 45-year-old married mother of three working for a PI firm in Missouri. Read more.
📊 The majority of NYC voters say the city is on the wrong track under socialist Mayor Mamdani. Read more.
✅ Another five individuals pleaded guilty in a massive fraud scandal in Minnesota, including one connected to the state’s attorney general, Keith Ellison. Read more.
🤦 Actor Michael J. Fox reassured fans he’s still alive after CNN aired a death tribute to the Back to the Future actor. Read more.
🏰 Disney is laying off up to 1,000 employees — its first round of cuts under newly appointed CEO Josh D'Amaro. Read more.
🇺🇸 Times Square is planning a special summer ball drop on July 3 at midnight to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Read more.
The details: Insured families are getting surprise bills packed with fees they never expected.
Why it matters: Routine care is becoming a financial trap – even for the insured.
The bottom line: Read how hospitals get away with it.
🎥 President Trump posted this EXTREMELY GRAPHIC video on Truth Social, showing an illegal alien beating a woman to death with a hammer. He posted it ”so people can see what Democrats are protecting.” Watch if you dare.
🎥 Canadian politician mocked for using an insanely long LGBTQ acronym. Watch.
🎥 Ninth scientist linked to secret U.S. programs turns up dead. Watch.
🎥 Laura Ingraham DEMOLISHES amnesty-pushing RINO Mike Lawler on live TV. Watch.
🎥 Hunter Biden wants a cage match with President Trump's sons. Watch.
🎥 First Lady Melania blasts “lies” linking her to Epstein. Watch.
🎥 Hakeem Jeffries says DEI is part of the U.S. Constitution. Watch.
🎥 Chris Cuomo and Bill O'Reilly get into a HEATED argument. Watch.
🎥 Here’s how Texas Roadhouse keeps its beef prices down. Watch.
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