Trump coin can be expected to rise to the next resistance level 3.2900 – the breakout of which can lead to the next resistance level 3.5000.

• Trump reversed from the strong support level 2.7330
• Likely to rise to resistance level 3.2900

Trump coin recently reversed up from the support zone between the strong support level 2.7330 (which stopped previous wave (B) at the start of March as can be seen from the daily Trump coinchart below) and the lower daily Bollinger Band. The upward reversal from this support zone stopped the previous minor correction 2 – which belongs to the medium-term impulse wave (C) – which started from the same support level at the start of  March.

Given the strength of the aforementioned support level 2.7330, oversold daily Stochastic, the bullish divergence on the daily Stochastic and the bullish sentiment seen across the cryptocurrency markets, Trump coin can be expected to rise to the next resistance level 3.2900 – the breakout of which can lead to the next resistance level 3.5000.

The subject matter and the content of this article are solely the views of the author. FinanceFeeds does not bear any legal responsibility for the content of this article and they do not reflect the viewpoint of FinanceFeeds or its editorial staff.

The information does not constitute advice or a recommendation on any course of action and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial situation, or individual needs. We strongly recommend you seek independent professional advice or conduct your own independent research before acting upon any information contained in this article.

The post Trump Coin Bounces : Bulls Eye 3.29 Breakout, 15 April, 2026 appeared first on Seaside Success Stories.

Geopolitical tension and energy volatility drive market uncertainty, as central banks balance inflation risks against fragile growth and diplomatic hopes.

The High-Stakes Balancing Act: Diplomacy and the Dollar

The global financial landscape is currently caught in a tug-of-war between high-stakes diplomacy and the cold realities of geopolitical tension. While optimistic signals from Washington and the United Nations suggest a potential peace deal between the U.S. and Iran could be on the horizon, the market remains on edge. The specter of military reinforcements and the continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz serve as a stark reminder that stability is far from guaranteed. For currency traders, this uncertainty has transformed the U.S. Dollar into a primary barometer of fear; any flicker of escalation reinforces the Greenback’s safe-haven status, while signs of a “diplomatic off-ramp” fuel the risk-on rallies that recently pushed the Euro to six-week highs.

Energy Volatility: The Shadow Over Central Bank Policy

Crude oil has emerged as the invisible hand guiding interest rate expectations, creating a “cloud” over the path of major central banks. The direct correlation between energy prices and monetary policy is now undeniable, with analysts estimating that every ten-dollar jump in oil prices adds roughly 25 basis points to market-implied rate hike projections. This surge is breathing life into the threat of stagflation—a toxic cocktail of slowing growth and stubborn, supply-driven inflation. For the ECB and the Bank of England, this creates a policy trap: the need to combat energy-driven price spikes suggests a hawkish stance, yet the underlying fragility of the European and UK economies makes aggressive tightening increasingly risky.

Policy Divergence and the Data-Dependent Consolidation

As the initial fervor of the spring risk rally fades, the market is entering a period of sober consolidation defined by diverging central bank narratives. In the United States, softer-than-expected PPI data has provided the Federal Reserve with a convenient window to remain “on hold,” tempering the immediate need for further tightening and capping the Dollar’s recovery. Conversely, the Euro’s momentum has stalled below the 1.1800 handle as investors realize that the ECB may be forced to pivot away from its hawkish rhetoric to protect domestic growth. This shift highlights a market no longer trading on momentum alone, but rather on a granular, data-dependent evaluation of which central bank will be the first to blink in the face of a slowing global economy.

Top upcoming economic events:

Wednesday, April 15

04/15/2026 — BoE’s Governor Bailey Speech (GBP) As the head of the Bank of England, Governor Bailey’s remarks are scrutinized for hints regarding interest rate shifts. Given current concerns over UK growth and inflation linked to energy prices, any hawkish or dovish lean in his tone can cause significant volatility for the Pound Sterling.

04/15/2026 — RBNZ’s Breman Speech (NZD) High-impact communications from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand often signal changes in the local monetary landscape. Investors look for guidance on how the RBNZ plans to manage the New Zealand Dollar amidst fluctuating global risk sentiment and commodity price swings.

04/15/2026 — ECB’s President Lagarde Speech (EUR) President Christine Lagarde’s speeches are pivotal for the Euro. With markets currently debating whether the ECB will hike rates in June, her commentary on “data dependency” and the impact of volatile oil prices on the Eurozone’s recovery is a top priority for traders.

Thursday, April 16

04/16/2026 — Unemployment Rate s.a. (AUD) The Australian labor market remains a key pillar for the RBA’s policy decisions. A lower-than-expected unemployment rate usually strengthens the Australian Dollar, as it suggests economic resilience and potentially higher domestic inflation.

04/16/2026 — Gross Domestic Product YoY (CNY) As a major engine of global growth, China’s GDP data has a massive ripple effect. A strong reading typically boosts “risk-on” currencies like the AUD and NZD, while a slowdown can trigger global recession fears and support safe havens like the USD.

04/16/2026 — Retail Sales YoY (CNY) This event measures the strength of Chinese consumer spending. It is a vital indicator of whether China’s domestic economy is successfully transitioning and recovering, providing essential context for global trade dynamics and commodity demand.

04/16/2026 — Core Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices YoY (EUR) This is the preferred inflation gauge for the ECB. It excludes volatile items like food and energy, offering a “cleaner” look at underlying price pressures in the Eurozone. A high reading would increase the pressure on the ECB to maintain a hawkish stance despite growth risks.

04/16/2026 — Initial Jobless Claims (USD) This weekly indicator provides the most current snapshot of the U.S. labor market’s health. In the context of the Fed’s “higher for longer” debate, any significant spike in claims could lead to a quick sell-off in the Dollar as traders price in an earlier pivot to rate cuts.

Friday, April 17

04/17/2026 — IMF Meeting (USD) The International Monetary Fund meetings involve high-level discussions between global finance ministers and central bankers. Statements regarding global growth forecasts (currently under pressure from energy shocks) and systemic financial risks can shift long-term market trends.

04/17/2026 — BoE’s Breeden Speech (GBP) Closing out the week, Sarah Breeden’s insights provide further clarity on the Bank of England’s internal consensus. Following earlier data releases in the week, her perspective on the UK’s economic prospects and the potential for stagflation will be key for the Pound’s weekly close. 

The subject matter and the content of this article are solely the views of the author. FinanceFeeds does not bear any legal responsibility for the content of this article and they do not reflect the viewpoint of FinanceFeeds or its editorial staff.

The information does not constitute advice or a recommendation on any course of action and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial situation, or individual needs. We strongly recommend you seek independent professional advice or conduct your own independent research before acting upon any information contained in this article.

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The S&P 500 is once again within striking distance of its all-time high. And this despite the fact that the Iran conflict remains unresolved, that oil prices continue to fuel inflation, and that hopes for lower interest rates have thus evaporated rather abruptly. One is quite justified in asking how this actually fits together.

Putting emotions and logic aside, our indicators remain bullish, even though the US indices have already gained around 10% since the low at the end of March. After such a sharp rally, consolidations are of course possible at any time. Yet investors are currently accumulating US stocks with a determination rarely seen before. The «Smart Investors Action», which measures the largely hidden transactions of major investors behind the scenes, makes exactly this visible: The light blue area lies deep in the positive zone.

With these massive gains, sentiment on Wall Street is also brightening again. But market sentiment has only just returned to the optimistic zone—and experience shows that this is precisely where the biggest gains often occur.

As already highlighted in the last two issues of Pretiorates’ Thoughts, stocks from cyclical, economically sensitive sectors continue to be favored. Investors are behaving as if the U.S. economy were on the verge of a new upswing…

In contrast, defensive stocks—that is, those stocks investors turn to during economically challenging periods—have served their purpose for now. One example is companies in the utilities sector, which can demonstrate relatively stable business performance even during downturns. In any case, the ratio between the S&P 500 and the utilities sector signals that Wall Street is likely anticipating further price increases.

Another intriguing indicator is the «Happy Friday Indicator», a somewhat unorthodox but by no means unappealing tool: If investors head into Friday evening in good spirits after a successful week, their risk appetite usually increases in the following week. If this happens too often, investors become careless, which is why the indicator functions almost perfectly as a counter-indicator. Recently, however, nervousness before and during the weekend has generally been high for well-known reasons. This extreme risk-off sentiment caused the indicator to drop to its lowest level in recent years—and that is precisely why several buy signals are now flashing…

We also mentioned in the last two issues that we are focusing on the AI and Quantum sectors in this new Wall Street upswing. A great deal is currently happening in the field of quantum computing, even though Wall Street has so far reacted rather cautiously. Nvidia has just launched the first chip for quantum computers. Google, for its part, recently announced that «Q-Day» is expected as early as 2029. This term refers to the hypothetical point in time when quantum computers will be commercially available or powerful enough to break today’s standard cryptographic encryption methods such as RSA or ECC. Just imagine what AI might be capable of when combined with the computing power of such quantum computers…

Even though we’re supposedly only three years away from it, investors are currently focusing primarily on AI stocks, which have already reached a new all-time high. Our AI index has already hit a new all-time high. But here, too, the «after-hours action» has only just returned to positive territory. This suggests that this rally should continue for much longer…

Many investors have also been following the debacle of software stocks since the start of the year. At first glance, these stocks now appear very cheap and could certainly tempt one to buy. We are nevertheless staying away from them. If AI is currently good for anything truly productive, it is for writing or programming software code. The problem for software companies is not even primarily that they themselves could be replaced by AI—which we do not really expect. But AI is likely to replace a great many software users, which is why software companies will probably sell significantly fewer licenses in the future…

Artificial intelligence will massively change our lives in the coming years. All the more so when it is combined with the computing power of quantum computers. Accordingly, the relevant tech stocks are likely to continue driving Wall Street higher in the medium and long term.

Is there another reason why the U.S. economy might be on the verge of a boom—at least according to the indicators mentioned at the beginning? We find one theory that has been brought to our attention more frequently lately fascinating, not yet truly credible, but certainly alarming: Following the peace negotiations, US President Trump suddenly seized control of the Strait of Hormuz—and blocked it. The longer this situation persists, the greater the problem becomes, especially for Asian countries, as their oil reserves run low. Depending on the country, this could happen between now and mid-June.

For China, this would mean that after Venezuela, Iran might also fall out as an energy supplier. The number of global oil exporters is limited — partly due to a lack of pipelines and inadequate infrastructure. Theoretically, it would thus be conceivable that the U.S. could rise to become a global energy powerhouse and China could suddenly become a buyer of U.S. energy. That would shift the geopolitical balance of power once again. And with them, the US petrodollar could suddenly experience a sort of rebirth. At the moment, however, this theory is still pure speculation. Yet US President Trump has just announced that an above-average number of empty tankers are already on their way to the US. Keep an eye on this development!

The post Pretiorates’ Thoughts 127 – Climbing While the World Wobbles appeared first on Seaside Success Stories.

The main shift that will reshape financial markets for the foreseeable future is the conflict between the US and Iran. This turned out to be not a short-term military event as the US is moving troops for a ground operation. It’s hard to estimate the effects for all instruments, but prices of crude oil futures have held above $100, and that boosts inflation expectations around the world.

The immediate reaction by bond markets to this escalation was the growth of US 30-year Treasury yields and the “flight to safety” regime across all markets. According to CME FedWatch, rates in the US are expected to stay unchanged until the end of the year.

The full impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on global trade is yet to be determined, but the risks of cascade effects in different markets are increasing.

Macroeconomic indicators

Have we seen any tectonic shifts in terms of macroeconomic indicators in Q1 2026? We can construct the picture out of three major benchmarks – the NFP indicator (payroll employment), CPI (consumer inflation) and manufacturing PMI (from the Institute of Supply Management).

Payroll employment has shown some slowdown in February, which might not be necessarily a sign of economic slowdown yet, as recessional signals need more time to develop, i.e. two or three consecutive quarters. For now, it might be perceived as seasonal volatility.

The US PMI indicator showed good momentum in January and February, fueled by fiscal stimulus in the US and accompanied by a rally for industrial stocks. Generally, the PMI indicator above 50 displays a robust state of the economy and, in normal conditions, correlates with positive performance for the S&P 500.

Nowadays, given extreme fear in markets, the divergence between indices and PMI might hold for an extended period.

Bitcoin

Current conditions

Bitcoin is no longer trending clearly in either direction but a phase of consolidation following a failed attempt to push higher. Price action reflects this shift clearly, as Bitcoin rallied toward $76,000 before experiencing a two-leg correction down to $67,000, eventually stabilising around $70,000, which in itself signals a loss of momentum and a move toward a more balanced, rangebound structure.

Underlying indicators across spot, derivatives, and on-chain activity suggest that both demand and supply are adjusting, with neither side currently strong enough to dominate, resulting in a market defined by caution, reduced participation, and early signs of stabilisation rather than expansion.

Demand

Demand has softened materially, particularly within spot markets, where declining volume and a sharp drop in ETF inflows indicate that the strong buying pressure seen previously has faded significantly. ETFs’ net inflows collapsed from over $790 million to just $150 million within a week, while trading activity also declined, reflecting a clear pullback in institutional engagement and a broader cooling in participation.

Spot demand is the backbone of sustainable movements. Without it, any upward movement becomes increasingly dependent on thinner liquidity and short-term positioning rather than genuine accumulation. The current environment therefore reflects a market where buyers are still present, but less aggressive and more selective in deploying capital.

Derivative activity reflecting defensive positioning

In derivative markets, the picture reinforces this cautious tone, as open interest has edged slightly lower, while cumulative volume delta (CVD) has flipped negative across both spot and perpetual futures, signalling a shift to sell-side aggression.

Although funding rates have moved back into positive, indicating a modest rebuilding of long exposure, this shift is not strong enough to signal conviction but suggests that traders are cautiously re-entering positions without committing aggressively. This combination of reduced leverage, defensive positioning, and mixed sentiment creates an environment where movements are more likely to be reactive and unstable.

Options market signalling cautious sentiment

The options market further confirms the lack of confidence, as volatility remains subdued and open interest is largely unchanged, pointing to stable but unenthusiastic participation. The increase in delta skew indicates a growing demand for downside protection, meaning that even as panic has not escalated, traders are actively hedging against potential declines.

This behaviour reflects a market that is not fearful, but clearly not confident either, where participants are willing to stay engaged but are simultaneously protecting themselves against downside risk.

On-chain demand remains subdued

On-chain activity adds another layer, showing weak network participation, declining volume, and generally low throughput, all of which point to a lack of strong organic demand. While active addresses have increased slightly, overall activity remains below normal, reinforcing the idea that the market is operating with limited engagement from both retail and institutions.

Taken together, these signals confirm that demand is not absent, but it is clearly insufficient to drive a sustained trend, leaving the market vulnerable to short-term fluctuations rather than long-term directional moves.

Supply

There are increasing signs that sell pressure has started to re-emerge, particularly in the short term, as evidenced by the sharp reversal in CVD across both spot and derivative markets, which indicates that sellers have regained some control after a period of relative balance.

This shift does not yet represent aggressive distribution at scale, but it does signal that the market is no longer supported by dominant buy-side flows, which increases the likelihood of continued consolidation or further downside if demand does not improve.

Long-term holders anchoring market structure

Despite short-term selling pressure, the broader supply structure remains relatively stable, as long-term holders continue to dominate the market, while the share of short-term and highly reactive capital remains subdued. The slight decline in the short-term holder to long-term holder supply ratio, combined with low levels of “hot capital,” suggests that the market is still largely controlled by more patient investors rather than speculative participants.

This dynamic provides a degree of underlying support, as long-term holders are typically less sensitive to short-term movements and less likely to sell aggressively during periods of volatility.

Sentiment remaining in fear

Sentiment from the Fear and Greed Index was mostly unchanged in the first quarter of 2026, with fear dominating overall. This sentiment is clearly shown on the daily chart of Bitcoin, where the price has remained rather muted, trading in a sideways channel for the past couple of months. The anticipation of the Fed holding rates steady at its next meetings in the upcoming quarter remains, and this could be somewhat affecting sentiment for Bitcoin. According to CME FedWatch, the probabilities for the next meetings in April and June are to keep rates unchanged, with over 90% chance in both cases.

Technical view

The price of Bitcoin declined rather aggressively in mid January, losing around 24% in a single month before settling in a sideways range between $65,000 and $75,000 for the past two months. The stochastic oscillator signals oversold while the moving averages validate the overall downtrend. Bollinger Bands are contracted, showing that volatility is low. These point to a continuation of the current consolidation with no major hints of an uptrend going into the second quarter.

The opinions in this article are personal to the writers: they do not represent the opinions of Exness. This is not a recommendation to trade.

The post Oil’s gains, gold’s losses, but what about bitcoin in April? appeared first on Seaside Success Stories.

European currencies continue to move higher, reaching previously targeted levels as demand for both the euro and sterling remains firm. The rally is unfolding amid evolving market expectations and persistent weakness in the US dollar. That said, as prices approach important resistance zones, traders are increasingly cautious, recognising the potential for momentum to ease and price action to stabilise.

Much of the support for the euro and pound stems from anticipation surrounding upcoming economic releases from the UK and the eurozone, which remain central to investor focus. Data on growth and business activity could reshape expectations for central bank policy and influence demand for both currencies. Meanwhile, attention is also firmly on forthcoming US figures, which may shift the current balance and alter expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next steps.

EUR/USD

EUR/USD is trading in the 1.1800–1.1830 area, maintaining bullish momentum after its recent breakout. From a technical perspective, further upside towards 1.1900–1.1940 is possible if 1.1800 continues to act as support. However, a pullback towards 1.1740–1.1760 remains a risk, particularly if eurozone data disappoints or US indicators come in stronger than expected.

Key events for EUR/USD:

• today at 13:45 (GMT+3): speech by Bundesbank representative Mauderer;
• today at 15:30 (GMT+3): Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (US);
• today at 19:45 (GMT+3): speech by Bundesbank President Nagel.

GBP/USD

GBP/USD is following a similar trajectory, holding near recent highs within an ongoing uptrend. However, a “harami” pattern identified on the daily chart signals a potential pause in the rally. Confirmation of this pattern could trigger a decline towards 1.3480–1.3500. On the upside, a break above 1.3590 may open the way for gains towards 1.3670–1.3700.

Key events for GBP/USD:

• today at 09:00 (GMT+3): UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP);
• today at 10:55 (GMT+3): UK manufacturing output;
• today at 18:40 (GMT+3): speech by Bank of England Deputy Governor Woods.

Overall, European currencies remain in an advancing phase but are approaching levels that may challenge further upside. Upcoming economic data will be decisive: strong releases could extend the rally, while weaker figures may lead to consolidation or a corrective pullback.

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President Donald Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” as a deadline looms for Iran to agree to U.S. demands, escalating his rhetoric even as last-minute negotiations continue through intermediaries to avert sweeping military strikes.

Trump has set a Tuesday night deadline for Iran to accept terms that include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil artery, as U.S. officials — including Vice President JD Vance — continue back-channel talks through intermediaries such as Pakistan. 

But significant gaps remain, and the president’s latest comments raise the risk the U.S. may move forward with strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, including power and transportation systems and beyond. 

TRUMP REVEALS IRAN MADE ‘SIGNIFICANT PROPOSAL’ AFTER ULTIMATUM, BUT ‘NOT GOOD ENOUGH’

Trump’s latest remarks mark a sharp escalation from earlier warnings focused on infrastructure. He also suggested Iran had undergone “complete and total regime change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail.”

Mojtaba Khamenei was named Iran’s supreme leader after U.S. strikes killed his father, Ali Khamenei, though his current status and control remain unclear amid conflicting reports. 

And Iran has threatened to take action if Trump follows through on his threats. 

“Iran will not stand idle in the face of such egregious war crimes,” said Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations. “It will exercise without hesitation its inherent right of self-defense, and will take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures.”

Diplomatic efforts to avert a wider conflict are ongoing but increasingly strained, with mediators including Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey working to broker a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz before broader talks can begin.

“We are absolutely in touch with” Iran, a senior U.S. official told Fox News. “Absolutely. (The talks) have been positive. If we get lucky, we will have something by the end of the day.”

Iran repeatedly has rejected a temporary truce in favor of a permanent end to the war, while U.S. officials have dismissed Tehran’s proposals as insufficient, leaving key differences unresolved as the deadline approaches.

Trump underscored the threat in a profanity-laced Truth Social post Sunday, declaring that “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day” in Iran and warning that the country’s infrastructure would be destroyed if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He told Iran to “open the F—in’ Strait… or you’ll be living in Hell.”

As the deadline nears, the conflict already is intensifying on the ground. Airstrikes hit parts of Iran’s capital city of Tehran Tuesday, while Iranian officials urged civilians to form human chains around power plants in an effort to deter potential U.S. attacks on critical infrastructure, Iranian state media reported. 

Overnight, the U.S. struck dozens of military sites on Kharg Island — including bunkers, radar stations and ammunition storage facilities — a senior U.S. official told Fox News. The island is Iran’s primary oil export hub, making it one of the regime’s most critical economic assets. 

By targeting military sites while avoiding energy infrastructure, the strikes suggest the U.S. is applying pressure while holding Iran’s oil lifeline at risk as a potential next step if the deadline passes without a deal.

Israel also has signaled a potential expansion of the target set to include Iran’s rail network, warning civilians to avoid trains ahead of possible strikes. Rail lines play a critical role in moving military forces and equipment, particularly in and out of Tehran, and disrupting them could significantly limit Iran’s ability to reposition assets and sustain operations.

While Trump has centered his deadline on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the negotiations have expanded into a broader dispute over ending the war, including Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, sanctions relief and security guarantees — issues that remain unresolved as both sides clash over what concessions must come first.

Trump’s “civilization” remarks have raised new questions about whether the potential U.S. target set could extend beyond bridges and power plants to include additional infrastructure or systems tied to the Iranian regime’s ability to maintain power.

IRAN’S TALLEST BRIDGE COLLAPSES AFTER REPORTED US AIRSTRIKES, IRAN THREATENS AMERICAN ALLIES IN RETALIATION

Trump has warned that “every bridge in Iran will be decimated” and that power plants could be left “burning, exploding and never to be used again” if Tehran fails to meet his demands, underscoring the scale of potential infrastructure strikes.

Trump also has repeatedly extended similar deadlines in recent weeks, delaying threatened strikes as negotiations continued before issuing new ultimatums. The pattern has raised questions about whether the latest deadline will hold — or serve as another pressure tactic in the final hours of talks.

Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes in peacetime — already has sent shock waves through global markets, raising pressure on the administration to reach a resolution while increasing the stakes of any potential military escalation.

Military options now on the table

Trump’s rhetoric has fueled questions about how far a potential U.S. strike campaign could extend beyond the infrastructure targets he has publicly identified. 

Military analysts say options range from continued infrastructure strikes aimed at crippling Iran’s ability to function to a broader campaign targeting the regime’s core power centers.

The White House rapid response team shot down a post on X which quoted Vance and suggested it implied “Trump might use nuclear weapons.” 

“Literally nothing @VP said here ‘implies’ this, you absolute buffoons.”

“The Iranian regime has until 8PM Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States. Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. 

A U.S. operation could focus on disabling Iran’s electrical grid, transportation networks and energy facilities — a strategy designed to create nationwide disruption and pressure leadership. Such strikes could trigger cascading effects across communications, water systems and industrial production and would impact the civilian population.

Other options could involve further targeting of leadership, facilities tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including command-and-control nodes, weapons production sites, and economic assets that fund the regime’s operations. 

Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum, said the president’s language suggests a focus on dismantling the regime’s underlying power structures rather than targeting Iran as a nation.

“I really think that what he’s talking about are the fundamental roots and the anchors of the Islamic Republic, not of the country of Iran,” Roman said.

“Everything that the United States would target in a hypothetical attack on power plants, bridges, other key points of infrastructure would really have to focus on those that are connected to the ability of the generals who are currently in charge of this regime and their ability to maintain power,” he added.

Roman said Trump’s reference to “civilization” likely reflects the 47-year rule of the Islamic Republic rather than Iranian society as a whole.

“I don’t think he’s speaking about Persian civilization. I think he’s speaking about the 47 years that the Islamic Republic has ruled as a polity.”

Iranian officials have called on civilians to help protect key infrastructure. Earlier, Iranian official Alireza Rahimi issued a video message calling on “all young people, athletes, artists, students and university students and their professors” to form human chains around power plants.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Iranians are willing to give their lives in defense of Iran. 

“More than 14 million brave Iranians have so far declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives to defend Iran. I have also sacrificed my life for Iran, I am, and I will continue to do so,” he wrote on X.

Fox News’ Bill Hemmer, Jennifer Griffin and Louis Casiano contributed to this report. 

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A top Senate Republican is eyeing a way to put a “down payment” on Trump-backed voter ID legislation through a party-line bill later in the year.

The Senate has been debating the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act for almost a month. But without Democratic votes to break the filibuster, the legislation has no chance of passing.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wants to put portions of the voter ID and citizenship verification legislation into a budget reconciliation package, which requires only Republican votes to pass.

GOP SENATOR’S GAMBIT EXPOSES FALSE DEM CLAIMS ABOUT SUPPORTING VOTER ID

“Reconciliation has limits, but we’re going to make a down payment on the SAVE Act in reconciliation in the fall,” Graham said Monday on a South Carolina radio show, “Straight Talk with Bill Frady.” 

Graham, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, is in charge of designing the framework for the reconciliation process in the upper chamber. He plans to meet with the White House Friday to “get this thing moving.”

Reconciliation does not allow for straight policy, meaning any provisions included in the package must have a budgetary or spending impact to survive Senate rules. If they don’t, they are stripped out.

Graham says he has a solution.

THUNE ACCUSES CRITICS OF ‘CREATING FALSE EXPECTATIONS’ AMID BACKLASH OVER STALLED SAVE AMERICA ACT

“Voter integrity laws — I’m going to create grant programs, but they’ll have conditions on them,” Graham said. “To get a grant, you’ve got to make sure you purge your rolls of illegal immigrants. There are a lot of blue states out there that don’t do that, and we’ll try to get as much of a voter ID system as I can.”

President Donald Trump and conservatives have demanded that the Senate launch a talking filibuster — or eliminate the filibuster entirely — to pass the SAVE America Act. But Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and other Republicans have made clear the option does not have enough support.

The current floor debate, which is paused while lawmakers are away from Washington, D.C., for the Easter break, is designed to force Senate Democrats to argue against voter ID — a policy that polls show is popular with voters across party lines.

SENATE PASSES BILL TO FUND MOST OF DHS AFTER HOUSE GOP CAVES

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued late last month that Democrats’ objection to the SAVE America Act is “not to a photo ID when you show up to vote,” despite blocking a standalone voter ID provision pushed by Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio.

“Our objection is it’s a voter suppression bill, 20 million, maybe more people, when they show up to vote will be told you’re off the rolls,” Schumer said. “That’s the problem with the bill.“

While Graham’s provision could pass muster under Senate rules, it would likely come in a second reconciliation package in the fall, as midterm elections take center stage. Whether it would take effect by November is unclear. He’s eying provisions that would tackle fraud in the package, too.

Before that, Graham and Republicans are eyeing front-loading funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in a reconciliation bill that Trump wants on his desk no later than June 1.

Senate Republicans are largely aligned behind the idea, arguing that Democrats have refused to fund immigration enforcement without stringent reforms — reforms Republicans say they have offered and Democrats have rejected.

Still, House Republicans are not entirely on board, and their resistance could further prolong the longest government shutdown in history.

They are frustrated with the current Senate Department of Homeland SecuritySenate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, which carves out ICE and portions of CBP funding. They are demanding the upper chamber make real progress on a reconciliation bill before voting for the compromise plan.

“What I’m going to do is draft a reconciliation bill and load up ICE and Border Patrol funding without a single Democratic vote — give them all they need for three to 10 years, whatever I can fit in,” Graham said. “We’re going to fund the Border Patrol, and we’re going to fund ICE with Republican votes only.”

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A new national poll is the latest to indicate that Democrats are facing major problems with their party’s image as they try to win back congressional majorities from the Republicans in this year’s midterm elections.

Just 28% of Americans questioned in a CNN poll view the Democratic Party positively, with 56% seeing Democrats in an unfavorable light.

The poll, the most recent over the past year to indicate the Democratic Party brand hitting historic lows, comes with just over six months to go until the midterms, when they hope to escape the political wilderness.

The GOP, which is working to defend its fragile House and slim Senate majorities in the 2026 ballot box showdowns amid President Donald Trump’s underwater approval ratings and a rough political climate that doesn’t favor the party in power, doesn’t fare much better in the poll, which was conducted March 26-30.

WHAT OUR LATEST FOX NEWS NATIONAL POLL SAYS 

Thirty-two percent of Americans said they viewed the Republican Party positively, with 55% seeing the GOP in a negative light.

An average of the most recent national polls that asked how respondents viewed the two major political parties show the Republicans’ favorability 15 points in negative territory but the Democrats 20 points underwater.

Helping to sink the Democratic Party’s underwater ratings are Democrats themselves.

A healthy percentage of Democrats feel that their leaders in Congress aren’t fighting back more vocally against Trump and his unprecedented second-term agenda. That’s fueling a less favorable view of the Democratic Party among Democrats compared to a noticeably more favorable view of the GOP among Republicans.

That’s a departure from 2006 and 2018, the most recent midterms, when the Democrats rode blue waves to win back the House when Republicans controlled the White House. In those years, Democrats led by double digits in net favorability.

Democrats were ecstatic two weeks ago after flipping a Republican-controlled legislative seat in a right-leaning, Palm Beach, Florida-anchored district that includes Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s home turf. The same day, Democrats also flipped a state Senate seat in Florida in a separate special election. The Democrats’ Sunshine State victories were their latest wins or overperformances in a slew of special elections from coast to coast since Trump returned to power in the White House 14 months ago.

DNC CHAIR KEN MARTIN BOASTS ‘WIN AFTER WIN,’ SHRUGS OFF MASSIVE TRUMP, REPUBLICAN MONEY LEAD

Democrats also scored larger than expected victories in last November’s gubernatorial elections in blue-leaning Virginia and New Jersey.

Partially fueling the Democrats’ ballot box performances is their laser focus on affordability amid persistent inflation. And the victories are further energizing Democrats as they work to win back control of Congress in the midterms.

“From now until November, Democrats are all gas and no brakes as we compete across every corner of Florida and the nation,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said after the Florida special elections.

But along with their brand issues, also troubling for Democrats ahead of the midterms is their standing in the generic ballot, the closely watched polling indicator that asks respondents whether they’d back the Democrat or Republican in their congressional district without offering specific candidate names.

Democrats are up over the Republicans by five points in the CNN poll, and an average of all the most recent national surveys to ask the generic ballot question gives the Democrats an edge over the GOP of just under six points. That margin for the Democrats is smaller than at the same point in the 2018 and 2006 cycles, when they won back the House.

National polls also indicate that when it comes to how both parties are handling the key issues that matter to voters, Democrats don’t enjoy any overwhelming advantage.

The most recent Fox News national poll, which was conducted March 20–23, indicated Democrats with a slight three-point margin over Republicans on which party has a clear plan to bring down prices and make things more affordable. The vast majority of voters questioned in the Fox News poll gave a big thumbs down to both parties.

Veteran political scientist Wayne Lesperance, the president of New England College, told Fox News Digital that Democrats “have no room to coast.”

“Voters remain unimpressed with their brand and for far too many voters the party continues to be defined by Biden and Harris. Democrats are expected to win big in November. But, there is a great deal of work to rehabilitate their brand with voters for 2026 and 2028,” Lesperance said.

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A Democratic congresswoman whose parents fled the regime of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini decades ago announced Monday she would file articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for alleged war crimes amid the current conflict.

Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona previously told the New York Times she initially “felt a rush of hope, but also unease” when she learned Americans and Israelis had taken out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February.

But she has since been harshly critical of how the Trump administration has overseen the conflict, including President Donald Trump’s Easter message to what’s left of Iranian leadership to “open the f—ing Strait” of Hormuz by Tuesday or risk strikes on critical infrastructure.

“Donald Trump’s deranged statements — including one on Easter Sunday — are further entrenching our country and our world in another devastating, never-ending war,” Ansari said in a statement announcing her plans to impeach Hegseth.

77-YEAR-OLD HOUSE DEM FACING YOUNGER PRIMARY CHALLENGERS SEEKS TO IMPEACH DONALD TRUMP

Ansari claimed Trump is threatening war crimes in violation of the Geneva Convention and has already committed “illegal actions and atrocities already committed at his direction — including violence that has destroyed schools, hospitals, and critical civilian infrastructure.”

“As the daughter of Iranian immigrants who fled this regime, and as an American Congresswoman who swore an oath to the United States Constitution, I know that this cannot go on,” she said.

Ansari’s father was a medical student studying in the United States when the Iranian Revolution broke out and couldn’t return to Iran, while her mother fled and was sent to live with another family in Delaware at age 17 after the Khomeini regime continually restricted women’s rights, according to the UK Guardian.

Ansari urged invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office and said she would file articles of impeachment and seek to formally impeach Hegseth “next week.”

DEMOCRATS THREATEN TO GRIND SENATE TO A HALT TO FORCE PUBLIC IRAN HEARINGS

She alleged the Pentagon chief “repeatedly violat[ed] his oath of office and his duty to the Constitution. Only Congress has the power to declare war, not a rogue president or his lackeys.”

“Hegseth’s reckless endangerment of U.S. servicemembers and repeated war crimes, including bombing a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, and willfully targeting civilian infrastructure, are grounds for impeachment and removal from office.”

Hegseth and Trump recently engineered the rescue of an airman shot down by Iranian forces over the weekend, with the president telling the press at the White House that a large military operation was required.

Gen. Dan “Raizin” Caine declined to state how many troops were involved, likely for security reasons.

When reached for comment, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson slammed the plan to impeach her boss, telling Fox News Digital that Ansari is “just another Democrat trying to make headlines” as an ongoing Mideast military operation and two “daring and successful” rescue operations were conducted.

“Secretary Hegseth will continue to protect the homeland and unleash epic fury on Iran’s radical regime,” Wilson said.

“This is just another charade in an attempt to distract the American people from the major successes we have had here at the Department of War.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

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Shelly Kittleson, the American journalist who was kidnapped last week in Iraq, has been released, according to Al-Monitor, the Middle East publication where she works as a freelance contributor. 

Viral surveillance footage appeared to show Kittleson being forced into a car by two men at a busy intersection in Baghdad last Tuesday. The State Department previously said an individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah was believed to be involved in Kittleson’s capture. 

Kataib Hizballah issued a statement that Kittleson was set free in “appreciation of the patriotic positions” of Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who pushed for her release. The group said she would be set free “on the condition that she leaves the country immediately,” according to Al-Monitor.

AMERICAN JOURNALIST KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ, EMPLOYER SAYS

“This initiative will not be repeated in the future… we are in a state of war waged by the Zionist-American enemy against Islam and in such situations many considerations are disregarded,” Kataib Hizballah security commander Abu Mujahid Al-Asaf added, according to The New York Times. 

A U.S. official confirmed her release to Fox News. 

“There were U.S. efforts behind the scenes, I am told, to secure her release from Kataib Hezbollah,” Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst reported. 

Former Pentagon official Alex Plitsas, a friend of the journalist who has called himself her designated U.S. point of contact, posted on X that he isn’t ready to celebrate.

“We are still awaiting Shelley to be transferred to US officials. We welcome the news of her pending release but will save celebratory statements until she is transferred…. we will have more to say when she is in US hands,” Plitsas wrote. 

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.

The 49-year-old freelance journalist, an American citizen and Wisconsin native based in Rome, reported from war zones for years, spending time in Afghanistan and Syria before Iraq. She “often worked without formal assignments from editors and on a shoestring budget, taking shared taxis to lawless corners of Iraq where militia rule outweighs government control,” the Associated Press reported after speaking to her friends, family and colleagues. 

REPORTER KIDNAPPED IN BAGHDAD KNOWN FOR PURSUING GUTSY, LOW-BUDGET ASSIGNMENTS WHILE LIVING ‘FRUGAL EXISTENCE’

Recent headlines published by Kittleson include, “On eve of Iran’s Pezeshkian visit, Iraq jostles for Shiite space amid rivalries,” “Iraqis protest proposed ‘anti-women’ amendment to personal status law” and “Honor killings in Iraq rekindle efforts to criminalize domestic violence.”

“Hope she can return to do her job and tell the story of many who are not heard in region,” Al-Monitor top editor Joyce Karam posted when reporting her release. 

The Associated Press, citing “an Iraqi official with direct knowledge of the situation,” reported that she was freed in exchange for “several members” of Kataib Hezbollah that had previously been detained by Iraqi authorities.

US STRIKES AGAINST IRAN-BACKED MILITIAS IN IRAQ REPORTEDLY CONTINUE AS BAGHDAD WARNS OF ‘RIGHT TO RESPOND’

Reporters Without Borders released the following statement: “We are overjoyed by reports that Shelly Kittleson has been released by her captors in Iraq. Shelly’s abduction underscored the very serious risks facing even the best-trained and experienced journalists. RSF is deeply grateful to all the parties involved from the American and Iraqi governments who were able to secure this positive outcome. RSF, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the Foley Foundation wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 3, urging him to do everything in his power to bring Shelly home. We are now waiting for reassurance that she is all right and that she will be able to reunite with her loved ones soon.”

Before she was abducted, Kittleson told friends that U.S. officials had told her a militia group intended to target her, but she didn’t believe the threat was credible. 

This is a developing story, more to come… 

The Associated Press and Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst  contributed to this report. 

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