Kitchen Briefs - April 17, 2026 AM

- Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is open and Trump is claiming that Iran promises to never close it ever again while also claiming further peace talks could take place this weekend, as well as continuing his own blockade of Iranian ports

- Trump is also considering unfreezing $20B in Iranian assets

- The International Energy Agency said it’s going to take approximately 2 years for Middle East energy output to return to pre-war levels

- Oil prices plunged 10%

- Sailors on the USS Tripoli and USS Abraham Lincoln, are facing severe shortages of food and basic supplies. Meanwhile care packages have been disrupted after the United States Postal Service suspended deliveries to military ZIP codes due to the conflict

- Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons is resigning

- Last night after midnight, House Republicans called for a special vote after the Senate approved a short-term renewal until April 30 of a surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies

- China is warning travelers to avoid Seattle after 20 scholars with valid visas were denied entry into the US

- Sean Hannity is now picking on the Pope as well

- There have been severe storms in the central part of the country with tornadoes, hail and flooding

- Prime Minister to Japan Sanai Takaichi used to play keyboards in a Deep Purple tribute band and this week got to introduce them as they toured Japan