Trump Teases Next Iran War Phase, Judge Reverses Migrant Policy, Artemis II Launches | AM Update 4/2

Summary of Trump Teases Next Iran War Phase, Judge Reverses Migrant Policy, Artemis II Launches | AM Update 4/2

by SiriusXM

18m•April 2, 2026
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Overview of Trump Teases Next Iran War Phase, Judge Reverses Migrant Policy, Artemis II Launches | AM Update 4/2

Host Megan Kelly (SiriusXM) delivers a fast-paced AM Update covering three major stories: President Trump’s primetime address escalating U.S. strikes on Iran and hinting at a new phase of attacks; a federal judge ordering the reinstatement of parole status for thousands of migrants admitted via the Biden-era CBP‑1 app; and NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission successfully launching and beginning a 10‑day lunar flyby test flight.

Top headlines (quick)

  • Trump vowed to intensify Operation Epic Fury over the “next two to three weeks,” threatening further strikes on Iranian infrastructure while stopping short of announcing ground troops.
  • A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled the administration unlawfully terminated parole for CBP‑1 app users and ordered restoration of legal status pending asylum hearings for affected entrants (May 2023–Jan 2025).
  • Artemis II launched successfully despite a pre‑launch Flight Termination System (FTS) scare; Orion and crew are now on a 10‑day mission that may send humans farther from Earth than ever before.

Deep dives

Trump’s primetime address — Operation Epic Fury

  • What he said: Trump declared major battlefield gains (saying Iran’s navy and air force are “in ruins” and many leaders are dead) and warned the U.S. will “hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” including potential strikes on electric generating plants “very hard and probably simultaneously.” He said oil infrastructure has not been targeted to give Iran a chance to survive and rebuild.
  • Tone and posture: Escalatory rhetoric, refusal so far to announce ground‑troop deployment but extending the operation’s timeline beyond the original 4–5 weeks.
  • Context & reaction:
    • Public opinion: Economist/YouGov — 28% support the war, 59% oppose. MAGA Republicans largely supportive (79%); non‑MAGA GOP support has dropped (33% now vs. 56% two weeks earlier). Reuters‑Ipsos shows only 7% support a full-scale ground invasion; 14% support boots on the ground more generally.
    • Economic fallout: U.S. gas national average topped $4/gallon (highest since 2022). CNN poll: Trump’s economic handling approval at 31%; 65% say his policies have made the economy worse.
    • International/NATO remarks: Trump urged Hormuz‑dependent countries to take the lead in protecting the strait and expressed frustration with NATO commitments and some allies’ reluctance to join the campaign. He touted U.S. energy independence (“Drill Baby Drill”) and a new relationship with Venezuela to bolster supply.

Federal judge orders reinstatement for CBP‑1 migrants

  • Ruling: U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs (D. Mass.) found the administration unlawfully terminated parole for migrants who entered via the CBP‑1 app and ordered their lawful parole status reinstated pending asylum hearings. The judge said the administration failed to follow required procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act.
  • Who’s covered: Migrants who used the CBP‑1 app between May 2023 and January 2025 and remain in the U.S. (CBP‑1 processed many thousands—transcript cites ~1,450/day at peak and roughly 900,000 gaining legal status via the program).
  • Background: CBP‑1 (a Biden administration program) allowed migrants to schedule legal port-of-entry appointments and often granted temporary parole and work permits. The Trump administration stopped CBP‑1, repurposed it as CBP Home, and in April 2025 sent mass notices terminating parole (seven‑day deadline).
  • Legal arguments & fallout:
    • Plaintiffs (migrant groups from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti) argued the termination violated APA procedures.
    • DHS called the ruling “blatant judicial activism undermining the president’s Article 2 authority.” Conservative commentators (e.g., Sean Davis) criticized the decision as judicial overreach.
    • Practical impact: Reinstatement is temporary pending appeal/ongoing litigation; the decision may trigger appeals and further legal battles over parole termination authority and procedure.

Artemis II — historic lunar mission underway

  • Launch summary: Artemis II lifted off after resolving a last‑minute Flight Termination System (FTS) issue; official go at ~6:22 p.m., boosters ignited ~6:35 p.m., and the SLS provided the thrust to send Orion to space.
  • Mission profile (10 days):
    • Day 1: Systems testing in Earth orbit (life support, comms, navigation).
    • Days 2–4: Transit toward the moon.
    • Day 5: Moon’s gravity becomes dominant.
    • Day 6: Closest approach to the moon and farthest distance from Earth (could exceed Apollo 13’s record of 248,655 miles).
    • Day 7: Gravity‑assist slingshot for return.
    • Day 9: Re‑entry preparations; splashdown in the Pacific at ~25,000 mph; U.S. Navy recovery.
  • Significance: First crewed lunar voyage in over 50 years and a major test of Orion/SLS systems and human factors for future lunar and deep‑space missions.

Notable quotes

  • President Trump: “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.”
  • Trump on potential strikes: “We are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously.”
  • Judge Burroughs (paraphrase from ruling): Defendants terminated parole “not in accordance with law.”
  • DHS on the ruling: Called it “blatant judicial activism undermining the president’s Article 2 authority.”
  • Sean Davis: Characterized the ruling as “legislating from the bench” and judicial overreach.

Main takeaways and implications

  • Military: Trump signaled clear intent to escalate strikes on Iran if no deal is reached, raising the risk of wider regional spillover and prolonged U.S. involvement. Public support is limited and falling among some Republican subgroups.
  • Immigration & law: The CBP‑1 ruling underscores procedural limits on executive actions affecting immigration parole and will likely prompt appeals; it temporarily restores status for many migrants and complicates the administration’s border policy changes.
  • Space: Artemis II’s successful launch is a major technical and symbolic milestone for NASA and a key step toward returning humans to the moon and beyond.

What to watch next

  • Security: Statements and actions over the promised “next two to three weeks” — whether strikes escalate, targets chosen, and any decision on ground forces.
  • Legal: Appeals or higher‑court rulings on the CBP‑1 parole reinstatement and how DHS responds operationally.
  • Artemis II milestones: Closest/farthest points, lunar flyby performance, re‑entry/splashdown and recovery operations.

Quick reference (numbers & facts)

  • Polling: Economist/YouGov — 28% support war, 59% oppose; MAGA GOP 79% support. Reuters‑Ipsos — 7% support full ground invasion.
  • Gas prices: U.S. national average > $4/gal (highest since 2022).
  • CBP‑1 timeframe: May 2023–January 2025; peak ~1,450 app admissions/day; transcript cites ~900,000 people gained status via program.
  • Artemis II: SLS total mass ~5.75 million lbs; twin solid boosters supply ~75% of liftoff thrust; mission ~10 days; possible distance > Apollo 13’s 248,655 miles.