• Jones Act suspended: The White House announced on Wednesday that President Donald Trump had temporarily waived the Jones Act for 60 days in light of Iran’s efforts to close the Strait of Hormuz. “This action will allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow freely to U.S. ports for sixty days,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained, noting that “the administration remains committed to continuing to strengthen our critical supply chains.” The 1920 law bars shipping between U.S. ports on vessels that are not American-built, -owned, or -crewed. Given that there are fewer than 100 Jones Act-compliant ships in existence today, this action will significantly help reduce shipping costs. The permanent suspension of this needless, arcane, and economically onerous law would require an act of Congress.

• Actual Russian interference: Emerging reports indicate that Russia has been increasing its support for the Iranian regime by providing intelligence to help its ally target U.S. military assets and personnel. Furthermore, as Operation Epic Fury progressively eviscerates Iran’s military capabilities, Russia has increased its efforts to assist, including by sharing new drone tech. With the Islamic regime being systematically eliminated by the day, why would Russia risk conflict with the U.S. by injecting itself into the war? The answer appears to be connected to oil. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil prices to spike, directly benefiting Russia, whose main export is black gold. Moreover, in defiance of President Trump’s embargo, two vessels carrying Russian oil are due to arrive in Cuba.

• Kent probed for leaks, visits Carlson’s podcast: Former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent, who resigned publicly on Tuesday, was the subject of a months-long leak probe, new reports say. After Kent publicly betrayed and undermined the U.S. president during wartime, other members of the administration called Kent an “egomaniac” and suggested that he had been out of the loop on intel discussions “for a while.” As if trying to drive a wedge between former allies as deeply as possible, Kent immediately appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show, where he blamed the Israelis once again for the strikes in Iran, something President Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard outright deny.

• Mullin grilled by the Senate: Sen. Markwayne Mullin, President Trump’s pick to replace Kristi Noem as DHS secretary, was grilled by the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday. During the hearing, Mullin walked back his comment on Alex Pretti, the anti-ICE activist whom he called a “deranged individual” after Pretti was killed during a confrontation with Border Patrol agents. Mullin said he had responded “without facts” and promised to do better as secretary. Fellow Republican Sen. Rand Paul blasted Mullin, accusing him of lying, saying he is a “man with anger issues.” Paul noted that he will vote against Mullin. However, it appears Mullin will get the committee’s green light because Democrat Sen. John Fetterman has indicated he will vote to approve.

• DNI testifies before the Senate: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard described the Islamic regime of Iran as “intact but largely degraded” after weeks of joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. She said Iran’s ability to project military force abroad was “largely destroyed.” Gabbard was hammered by Democrats over the administration’s claims that Iran’s nuclear capability had been “obliterated” in last year’s Operation Midnight Hammer, yet Iran still represented an “imminent threat.” Gabbard replied that the Iranian intention to rebuild and resume enrichment had not changed and that only the president, based on various intelligence sources, has the knowledge necessary to identify imminent threats. Gabbard, in her personal capacity, is usually vocally anti-war, but in her role in the Trump administration, she has acted as a loyal subordinate.

• Iran executes national wrestling team member: Iranian wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi and two other men, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, have been executed by Iran. The three men took part in the January protests against the abhorrent Islamic regime. Anti-protest crackdowns are believed to have killed as many as 40,000 protesters. Nineteen-year-old Mohammadi was arrested on January 15, and the U.S. State Department appealed for his release. Iran says that the men were convicted of killing two police officers during the protests and of “waging war against God.” They were also accused of collaborating with the U.S. and Israel, a common accusation made against Iranian dissidents.

• Bondi, Epstein, and Dem theatrics: Democrats demonstrated their lack of interest in justice yesterday by walking out of a closed-door committee meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi. Democrats wanted Bondi to answer “any and all questions” about her handling of the Epstein files, but then complained that she “refused to say she would show up for her under oath deposition.” Bondi made it clear afterwards that she would “follow the law” if subpoenaed. GOP Rep. James Comer commented on the walkout, “This was a voluntary briefing, and at least the majority got to ask a lot of substantive questions. … The only questions they asked were, ‘Will you commit to coming in for a deposition?’” Fellow Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert stated, “Democrats all just stormed out after refusing to ask questions because the cameras are off. Nothing is ever good enough for these theatrical fools.”

• Hochul beseeches wealthy deserters: The problem with targeting the wealthy with ever-higher taxes is that they will eventually decide to move. Both California and New York are seeing this reality play out in dramatic fashion as the uber-wealthy are picking up stakes and fleeing these Democrat-run states. Given the resulting significant tax revenue loss, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s solution is not to reverse harsh tax policies but to plead with the wealthy to stay because it’s the “patriotic” thing to do. “I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state,” Hochul stated. “There are some patriotic millionaires who stepped up. Okay! Cut me the checks if you want to be supportive. But maybe the first step should be go down to Palm Beach and see who you can bring back home.” Question for Hochul: How is it patriotic to use billions of taxpayer dollars to support tens of thousands of illegal aliens?

• HHS investigating states requiring insurance coverage for abortions: The Department of Health and Human Services’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating 13 states over a requirement that private insurers cover abortions. Those with the principled belief that a child in the womb is still deserving of human rights are forced in states like California, New York, and Maine to choose between forgoing health insurance or purchasing plans that pay for abortion. Office of Civil Rights Director Paula Stannard says that the Weldon Amendment is meant to protect healthcare entities that are shielded from state discrimination for not funding or providing abortions for any reason. The investigations were not triggered by any particular complaints in the 13 affected states but rather fall under the agency’s compliance review authority.

Headlines

• Federal Reserve holds firm with decision not to cut interest rate (NewsNation)

• House tanks balanced budget amendment as national debt tops $39T (Center Square)

• Israel says it assassinated Iranian intelligence minister Esmaeil Khatib (NY Post)

• Pete Hegseth says “largest strike package yet” coming today in Iran war (CBS News)

• American youths are miserable — despite happier young people in the rest of the world (NY Post)

The Executive News Summary is compiled daily by Jordan Candler, Thomas Gallatin, Sterling Henry, and Sophie Starkova. For the archive, click here.