April 24 — What Matters Today (Live Updates)

Latest updates at the top:

Trump admin just slapped new sanctions on a China-based oil refinery along with dozens of tankers and crypto wallets tied to Iranian shipments as Hormuz seizures drag on.


Trump is using a “two-track” strategy today: sending his top private dealmakers to Islamabad while surrounding Iran with the largest naval carrier presence in a generation.
If Kushner doesn’t secure a nuclear concession in Pakistan over the next 48 hours, the “Operation Epic Fury” carrier group is positioned for a violent shift from blockade to engagement. Position for a high-tension weekend.


White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are heading to Pakistan for mediated talks with the Iranian delegation. This is the first official confirmation of the Trump “A-Team” returning to the negotiating table today.


INTEL’S HISTORIC $400 BILLION REBOUND: SHARES ROCKET 24%…
Greatest single-day surge in decades after Q1 earnings “crush” expectations…
Lip-Bu Tan’s “Terafab” project with Musk & SpaceX fuels AI chip mania…
Market cap explodes as semiconductor sector leads global tech rally…


White House confirms Trump’s “dealmakers” heading for high-stakes Iran talks…
Pakistan intermediaries scramble to broker round two of direct ceasefire negotiations…
Leavitt: “Trump demand remains—hand over nuclear material or no deal”…
Araghchi on “timely tour”: Iranian FM arrives for bilateral consults…


DOJ SIGNS FINAL ORDER TO RESCHEDULE MARIJUANA…
Blanche moves FDA-approved medical products to Schedule III…
“Commonsense approach” ends decades of high-level criminalization…
Public hearings set for June as federal restrictions crumble…


IPO MANIA: SPACEX, OPENAI, ANTHROPIC EYE $3 TRILLION DEBUTS…
Historic “liquidity event” being prepared to test war-time appetite…
Reuters: OpenAI seeking valuation near $1 trillion for public debut…
SpaceX targeting record $1.75 trillion to fund “Starlink dominance”…


AI threatens millions as experts warn white-collar jobs are first to go


Oil tanker crews stuck in Strait of Hormuz suffer breakdowns and refuse to sail even when it opens





HEZBOLLAH DEFIANT: CALLS TRUMP’S CEASEFIRE EXTENSION “MEANINGLESS”…
Israel carries out fresh strikes Friday morning despite 3-week truce…
Lebanese officials: “Aggressive” raids target southern launch sites…
Netanyahu/Aoun White House summit rumors swirl as tension holds…


Intel’s monster beat: Shares soar 27% in historic overnight surge…
Lip-Bu Tan’s AI bet pays off: Data center sales blow past targets…
Silicon shield: Chipmakers lead Nasdaq futures higher as sector rallies 4%…
Tesla secured as major customer for Intel’s next-gen 14A process…


President bypasses shipping rules to flood US ports with energy…
Oil prices flip lower on White House surprise: “More supply, faster”…
Brent retreats to $98 as 60-day stabilizer becomes permanent war strategy…
“Effective closure” of Hormuz neutralized by massive tanker re-routing…



43% of young US college grads are still underemployed according to the latest data.

They got the degree but they’re stuck in jobs that don’t need it — waiters, Uber drivers, retail, gig work. That number has barely moved in years.


Microsoft and other cloud providers tighten GPU access with AI startups facing higher prices and months long wait times through end of 2026.

Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi launches diplomatic tour to Pakistan, Oman, and Russia starting today to ease tensions and coordinate mediators after the US port blockade.

‘Clearing Hormuz logjam will take a minimum of 275 days.’

‘Occult science’ could harm new Ayatollah.


King Charles won’t meet Epstein survivors during visit…


SOLDIER CHARGED WITH BET ON RAID
IRAN DEPLOYS MORE MINES IN STRAIT
AP: TRUMP 33% APPROVAL
WEEK BEFORE CONGRESS WAR VOTE


BREAKING: WHITE HOUSE EXTENDS SHIPPING WAIVER TO EASE OIL SUPPLY TIGHTNESS


NEW HEADLINES ON IRAN, ALL NIGHT.


Press conference with Gen. Caine and Defense Secretary Hegseth at 8 AM ET.


Trump appeared to fall asleep mid health care affordability event after bragging on deals including Regeneron pricing cuts. The clip spreads fast.


UK PM Starmer representative confirms the prime minister will not be swayed on the Iran war issue and has made stance clear to all US governments.


NFL draft 1st round picks.


Trump stressed he has total control of the Strait of Hormuz and keeps it sealed until a deal lands while claiming Iran military is totally defeated with leaders fighting like cats. Do not rush him on talks.