NPR News: 04-12-2026 5PM EDT

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of President Trump, has conceded defeat in Hungary’s election, ending his 16-year grip on power. The opposition leader, Péter Magyar, will take over. The result was a direct rebuke to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who visited Hungary just last week to campaign for Orbán in an attempt to shore up votes for the authoritarian leader. The loss removes one of Trump’s most reliable international partners and marks a significant shift in the European political landscape.

A naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz

President Trump announced that the U.S. Navy will immediately begin blockading all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. The move is designed to prevent Iran from exporting its oil or collecting tolls from other countries’ vessels. Trump also posted that any Iranian who fires at the U.S. or other peaceful vessels will be “blown to hell.” Iran has responded by saying it will not bow to threats. The blockade is a dramatic escalation, but its logic is unclear: by closing off one of the most important choke points for global oil and gas, it would also prevent any oil from coming through the strait, making it difficult to see how the move will help bring down high gas prices—which were themselves caused by disruptions at that very choke point.

Congress returns to a fight over war powers