Overview of Evening Wire: Iran Comes Back Online & Is Pope Leo Right About AI? | 5.26.26
This episode of Evening Wire covers rising tensions with Iran, backlash over Democrats’ Memorial Day messaging, immigration policy changes under President Trump, and a wide range of domestic and cultural stories. It also highlights Pope Leo’s major warning about artificial intelligence, a California chemical incident that has been contained, and early buzz around a new Star Wars release.
Foreign Affairs and Iran
Iran-U.S. tensions intensify
- Iran’s internet has begun coming back online after an extended blackout that lasted months and was described as one of the longest shutdowns in modern history.
- Iran’s supreme leader escalated threats against the U.S., warning that American military footholds in the Middle East would no longer be secure.
- Iran also accused the U.S. of violating a ceasefire, while U.S. Central Command said overnight strikes were defensive and targeted missile infrastructure and vessels preparing to deploy sea mines.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations are now focused on the wording of a final agreement.
Trump pushes the Abraham Accords
- President Trump called for more Muslim-majority countries to join the Abraham Accords, including Iran.
- He said participation in any peace deal should be tied to normalization with Israel.
- Countries named in his remarks included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan.
U.S. Politics and Immigration
New immigration rule closes a green-card loophole
- A new federal rule requires foreigners in the U.S. who want a green card to return to their home country to apply.
- The administration says this closes a loophole that encouraged people to stay in the U.S. while pursuing permanent residency.
- USCIS framed the move as a return to the “original intent of the law.”
- Exceptions remain for extraordinary circumstances.
Democrats face backlash over Memorial Day posts
- The DNC drew criticism after posting a Memorial Day message referring to “13 U.S. service members who have died in Trump’s war with Iran.”
- The post was called disrespectful even by some Democrats, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
- The DNC later deleted the post.
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was also criticized for posting about George Floyd before honoring fallen service members.
- New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill spent Memorial Day at an anti-ICE protest outside an immigrant detention center in Newark, where protesters clashed with federal officers.
Texas primary runoff and another controversial Democrat
- Texas voters are deciding between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton for the GOP Senate nomination.
- Trump has endorsed Paxton, who is leading Cornyn in several polls despite scandals.
- The episode also noted that Democrat Maureen Galindo may advance despite criticism from top Democrats over her comments about Zionists and detention centers.
Domestic News
California chemical spill contained
- A chemical tank at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove overheated, prompting fears of a toxic leak or explosion.
- About 50,000 residents evacuated; officials now say the situation is under control.
- A smaller evacuation zone of roughly 16,000 people still cannot return.
- The cause is under investigation, and a class-action lawsuit has already been filed.
California weatherization spending under scrutiny
- A report from City Journal’s Chris Rufo says California’s low-income weatherization program has spent heavily on solar panels, efficient windows, and refrigerators for illegal immigrants.
- A farmworker portion of the program reportedly received $49 million since 2019 for about 2,000 homes.
- The report says many farmworkers in the program are likely undocumented.
Technology, Faith, and Society
Pope Leo warns about AI
- Pope Leo released a 45,000-word encyclical focused on the dangers of artificial intelligence.
- He called for government regulation, protection of workers’ dignity, retraining for displaced jobs, and caution about AI in weaponry.
- His message emphasized that technology should not be separated from conscience and responsibility.
- The document, titled Magnifica Humanitas, was compared to Rerum Novarum in its potential importance for modern Catholic teaching.
Culture and Entertainment
New Star Wars film underwhelms
- A new Star Wars movie opened in theaters for the first time in seven years and posted what the segment described as a shaky debut.
- It earned about $100 million domestically, outperforming other films that weekend but still landing below expectations.
- The report compared it to Solo, which was also considered a flop and is still the last comparable Memorial Day release.
Other Notable Points
El Niño outlook
- Analysts warned that a potentially powerful El Niño event could bring heavy rain to California and drier conditions in the South.
- The segment noted that modern infrastructure may reduce the worst effects, but the system could still be significant.
Key Takeaways
- Iran remains a major flashpoint, with ceasefire talks continuing alongside threats and retaliatory accusations.
- Trump is linking future peace arrangements in the Middle East to the Abraham Accords.
- Immigration policy is tightening around green-card applications.
- Democrats drew criticism for politically charged Memorial Day messaging and protests.
- Pope Leo is positioning AI as a major moral and societal issue.
- California remains in the spotlight for both emergency response and controversial spending programs.