Here are today's featured stories, posted by DU members and curated by the Administrators. More news items can be found in our Latest Breaking News forum, and for all the most up-to-the-minute stories that are being talked about by DU members, visit the Latest Discussions page.
May 11, 2026
Trump rejects 'unacceptable' Iran response to peace plan, oil prices jump
(Reuters) President Donald Trump's swift rejection of Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal sent oil prices surging on Monday amid concerns the 10-week-old conflict will drag on, keeping shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralyzed. Days after the U.S. floated an offer in the hopes of re-opening negotiations, Iran on Sunday released a response focused on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, where U.S. ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
Go to discussionHegseth calls for Sen. Mark Kelly to be investigated by Pentagon for second time
(CNN) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday called for Sen. Mark Kelly to be investigated over comments he made about US weapon stockpiles, marking the second time the Pentagon chief has opened a review into the Democratic senator. Hegseth slammed the retired Navy captain and former astronaut for expressing concern on CBS’ “Face the Nation” over US weapons stockpiles amid the Iran war, saying Kelly was “blabbing on TV” about a classified Pentagon briefing.
Go to discussionTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy defends new reality show amid backlash
(NBC News) Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is making a controversial road trip back to reality TV. “The Great American Road Trip,” a five-part reality series set to air on YouTube in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, follows Duffy as he travels across the country with his wife, Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, and their nine children.
Go to discussionNetanyahu wants to wean Israel off US military support, he tells CBS
(Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to wean Israel off U.S. military support within a decade as his country pushes to strengthen ties with Gulf states, he said in an interview that aired on Sunday. "I want to draw down to zero the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have," Netanyahu told CBS News' "60 Minutes" program.
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Trump says he wants to check whether the gold in Fort Knox is still there because 'they steal a lot'
(The Independent) President Donald Trump says he still wants to travel to Fort Knox, peer inside its secure vaults and verify that the gold is still there — because, he said: “They steal a lot.” “Well, we wanted to go and knock on their door — Fort Knox, very thick door — and to see whether or not we have any gold in there,” Trump said, after being reminded about his earlier promise. “It’s a very interesting question. We played with that. I wondered if they left the gold in Fort Knox because they steal a lot,” he added, though who exactly he was referring to was not clarified.
Go to discussionWSJ sounds alarm on 'extortion' deal Congress cut to bail out Trump's tariff mess
(Raw Story) The Wall Street Journal's editorial board is accusing the ethanol lobby of "extortion" after Congress handed it a sweetheart deal as "political compensation" for the damage caused by President Donald Trump's tariff blitz, and warning that American drivers will pay the price at the pump. In a scathing editorial published Sunday, the board described how the corn fuel lobby threatened to hold the five-year farm bill hostage unless Congress agreed to permit year-round sale of E15 fuel, a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline, and severely restrict waivers from the ethanol mandate for small refiners.
Go to discussion'They Fear Me': Marc Elias Hits Back At Trump After Truth Social Attack
(Mediaite) Democratic attorney Marc Elias hit back at President Donald Trump after his Truth Social attack on him Sunday, calling the post “unhinged” and touting his legal victories over the president. Trump took to his social media platform earlier in the day to express his anger over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s so-called “election integrity group”– an effort begun by the senator to block possible election interference in the upcoming midterms.
Go to discussionHigher fertilizer prices pressure Trump-loyal US farmers
(Roll Call) Fertilizer costs have increased during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, putting pressure on American farmers who have been politically loyal to Donald Trump, as Democrats draw a direct connection between the president’s actions and suffering farms. In his successful 2024 White House bid, 77.7 percent of the country’s farm-dependent counties went to Trump, according to one analysis based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data and elections results.
Go to discussionPsst: What No One Will Tell You About the National Debt (But I Will)
(Robert Reich) The U.S. national debt just crossed a once-unthinkable threshold on the way toward breaking the record set in the wake of World War II: It now exceeds 100 percent of America’s gross domestic product. As of March 31, our publicly held debt was $31.27 trillion, while America’s GDP in 2025 was $31.22 trillion. This puts the ratio at 100.2 percent, compared with 99.5 percent when the last fiscal year ended September 30. Should you worry?
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