As the week comes to a close, let’s take a look at the top political stories that made headlines, from international tensions to presidential updates.

US Fires Hellfire Missile At Fifth Ship Defying Iran Blockade

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) fired a Hellfire missile at a fifth commercial vessel, the M/V Lian Star, on Friday. The ship, which was flying the Gambian flag, was heading towards an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman, defying the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This action comes amidst a potential deal to reopen the strait. 

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As Trump Weighs Iran Ceasefire Extension, Bolton Warns Tehran Is ‘Buying Time’

Despite the ongoing Iran ceasefire and the possibility of an extension, former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton warns that Tehran is leveraging the situation to its advantage. Bolton expressed his concerns on X, emphasizing that each day that goes by strengthens the regime in Tehran. 

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Trump Says He Aced Another Cognitive Test

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he scored a perfect 30 out of 30 on his fourth consecutive cognitive exam at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Trump took to Truth Social to share his results and called for Congress to mandate similar testing for all presidential candidates. 

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Adam Schiff Says Trump Gave His Son A $600 Million ‘Wedding Present’

Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif) took a jab at President Trump over alleged misuse of taxpayer funds. Schiff suggested that Trump, who missed his son’s wedding, gave a $600 million “wedding present” to one of his companies. Schiff’s comments were made on X. 

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Rand Paul Reacts After Scott Bessent Reveals Shocking $500 Billion Fraud Estimate

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) commended the Trump administration for its efforts to address widespread government fraud, which he estimates costs taxpayers up to $500 billion annually. Paul acknowledged the comments made by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during an April interview with independent journalist Nick Shirley. Bessent estimated that the U.S. loses between $250 billion and $500 billion each year due to fraudulent activities. 

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