dn2026-0407-es

This episode of Democracy Now! covers escalating global tensions amid U.S.-led military threats against Iran, with President Trump warning of devastating strikes on Iranian infrastructure and suggesting the country could be 'eliminated in one night.' Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on U.S. and allied military bases across the Persian Gulf, including in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, while also targeting civilian infrastructure such as Tehran University. The conflict has triggered humanitarian crises in Lebanon and Gaza, with mass displacement, civilian casualties, and the suspension of medical evacuations from Gaza after an attack on a WHO contractor. The International Monetary Fund warns the war will cause global inflation and economic stagnation, disproportionately affecting vulnerable nations. Meanwhile, domestic U.S. policies under Trump are under scrutiny: the rescission of transgender student protections in schools, anti-LGBTQ+ education laws in Iowa, and the controversial oil embargo on Cuba—despite a recent Russian oil shipment to the island. In Europe, Trump’s ally Viktor Orbán faces a tight election in Hungary amid allegations of a fabricated security threat involving U.S.-made equipment in Serbia. The Supreme Court also cleared the way for Steve Bannon’s criminal prosecution over January 6th-related charges, marking a significant legal development in the aftermath of the Capitol riot.