President Trump and Iranian officials are sparring over control of the Strait of Hormuz after the president deployed a U.S. blockade to the critical path of transit for much of the world's oil and gas.
The strait reopened Friday morning, one day after Israel and Lebanon called for a 10-day ceasefire in compliance with Iran's 14-day ceasefire deal with the U.S. But hours later, Iran shut down the strait for a third time since the start of U.S.-Israeli conflict with the Middle Eastern country.
Trump had praised its reopening but insisted that the blockade, installed on Monday, would remain there in "full force" until both sides reach a long-lasting agreement. On Friday, he warned Iran about the upcoming Wednesday deadline, when the ceasefire ends, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that if a new deal is not reached, "we'll have to start dropping bombs again."
Negotiations following a failed attempt at peace in Islamabad, Pakistan, last Saturday, appear likely. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday said he was "very hopeful" negotiations will go on. Trump also indicated that negotiations were going "very well," saying on Saturday "we're talking to them."
During planned appearances on Sunday morning news shows, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, United Arab Emirates Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy and exiled Crown Prince of Iran Reza Pahlavi could all be asked about the state of the ceasefire and the likelihood both the U.S. and Iran reach an agreement by the upcoming deadline.
Al Hashimy is scheduled to appear on ABC's "This Week" and Pahlavi will be a guest on Fox News's "Sunday Morning Futures." Waltz will appear on "This Week," CBS News's "Face the Nation" and NBC News's "Meet the Press."
Energy prices saw a major dip following the strait's brief reopening on Friday. Brent crude, the global benchmark, decreased to $89 per barrel. The U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate reached $81 per barrel.
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Amos Hochstein and Energy Secretary Chris Wright could also be asked about the ongoing energy crisis affected by the strait's closure. Hochstein will appear on CBS News's "Face the Nation," while Wright is a scheduled guest on CNN's "State of the Union" and Fox News's "Fox News Sunday."
Elsewhere, Virginia voters are already casting ballots ahead of a special election on Tuesday to decide if its state legislature will pass a measure to redraw its congressional maps and give Democrats an advantage in the November midterm elections. It would likely bump Democrats' current 6-5 congressional delegation edge to a 10-1 advantage.
Former President Obama appeared in a new video telling supporters of the measure "we're counting on you."
But dark money groups are largely fueling the campaigns for and against the measure, made up of 501(c)(4) groups that do not have to disclose the nature of their funders.
On Capitol Hill, fallout has grown following the resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) after they each were accused of sexual misconduct. Both announced their resignations this week as they faced the threat of expulsion from Congress.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office and the Department of Justice all announced investigations into the allegations against Swalwell. The California Democrat has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the allegations.
But other embattled lawmakers face expulsion from a House floor vote next week. Lawmakers are eying Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.). Cherfilus-McCormick is accused of funneling millions in improperly paid disaster funds into her campaign, while Mills faces allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations.
Swalwell's exit from the California gubernatorial race could be brought up to California candidates for governor Matt Mahan (D) and Steve Hilton (R) in their respective appearances on "The Hill Sunday" on NewsNation, The Hill's broadcast partner.
In other Congress news, Republican lawmakers are growing frustrated over a Senate plan to bring funding back to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). GOP leaders want to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol for three years via a "skinny" party-line reconciliation bill to speed it through the process.
But GOP senators are holding back on criticizing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) so as not to further inflame the situation. They warned the White House that it will run out of flexibility to keep paying Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers without congressional action.
Republican Sens. Rick Scott (Fla.) and Eric Schmitt (Mo.), along with Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), could be asked about the ongoing stalemate in Congress and what next steps can be expected. Scott will appear on "Fox News Sunday," while Schmitt and Pfluger are scheduled guests on Fox News's "Sunday Morning Futures."
See the full list of guests on the Sunday morning news shows below:
- NewsNation's "The Hill Sunday": California gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan (D), California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton (R)
- CBS News's "Face the Nation": Former Attorney General Eric Holder, former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Amos Hochstein, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz
- NBC's "Meet the Press": U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), entrepreneur Emma Grede
- CNN's "State of the Union": Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)
- Fox News's "Fox News Sunday": Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Kentucky Senate candidate Daniel Cameron (R)
- ABC's "This Week": United Arab Emirates Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)
- Fox News's "Sunday Morning Futures": Exiled Crown Prince of Iran Reza Pahlavi, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas)