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Why this matters:

• The war spiked gas prices and increased shipping costs. Meanwhile, the U.S. withdrew from a deal allowing duty-free imports of tomatoes from Mexico, which grows most of America's supply. Tomatoes were slapped with a 17% tariff.
  
  

• As the cost trickles down, outraged consumers are voicing their displeasure online, but the impact has been most pronounced for businesses that rely on tomatoes as a key ingredient in their kitchens. Wayne Humphrey, chief operating officer of Snarf’s Sandwiches, which operates dozens of stores in Colorado, Missouri and Texas, says tomatoes will cost him an additional $1.7 million annually.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• About 8% of the country lacked health insurance in 2025, new data shows. That could rise next year

POLITICS

FACT FOCUS: Trump says Obama and Biden spent ‘hundreds of millions’ on reflecting pool. They did not

During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Donald Trump claimed that the Obama and Biden administrations spent “hundreds of millions of dollars” to fix the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This is false. Read more.

What to know:

• The Obama administration spent at least $34 million on a massive, two-year reconstruction project that ended in 2012. No major repairs to the pool were done during the Biden administration.
  
  

• Trump has put the cost of his administration’s work on the pool at $1.5 million to $2 million. But records show that at least $14.8 million worth of contracts have been awarded for the project so far.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• In new memoir, Jill Biden wonders whether acknowledging Joe’s poor debate would have been better
   
• Pam Bondi to face closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over Epstein files 
  
  
• Michigan Gov. Whitmer says she won’t run for president in 2028 then backtracks hours later
   
• 5 Southern Democratic chairs say South Carolina should lead off 2028 presidential primary calendar 
  
  
• ABC stations say FCC’s early call for license renewal is ‘unconstitutional’ 
  
  
• Louisiana House approves congressional redistricting to benefit Republicans. Senate to vote next 
  
  
• El-Sayed goes on the offense as Michigan Democrats clash in Senate debate
  
  
• Conan O’Brien speaks at Harvard commencement as Trump tightens pressure on the school 

WORLD NEWS

With a stalemate in Ukraine and discontent at home, Putin seems ready to escalate his war

Amid a stagnating economy and growing war fatigue among Russians, the government’s warning to carry out “consistent and systematic” missile strikes on Kyiv and call for evacuating foreign embassies from the capital signal President Vladimir Putin’s intention to expand Russia’s campaign. Read more.

Why this matters:

• The Iran war has effectively put U.S. mediation efforts in Ukraine on hold and drained American missile arsenals, delaying the delivery of U.S.-made Patriot missiles that Ukraine desperately needs to fend off Russian attacks. Moscow-based military analyst Sergei Poletaev said Russia sees the shortage of air defense assets in Kyiv as an opportunity.