Wednesday Mix

HEADLINES:

• ‘Largest ever’ oil reserve release agreed by 32 countries, as Strait of Hormuz ships attacked (BBC)

• At Least 3 Ships Are Struck In and Around a Key Gulf Oil Passage (NYT)

• US will end war with Iran ‘on our timeline,’ Hegseth says (CNN)

• Oil prices are volatile amid conflicting reports about security in the Strait of Hormuz (NBC)

• Aluminium, Helium and Sulfur: The Iran War Is Affecting More Than Oil (NYT)

• Why emergency oil releases won’t fix this crisis (CNN)

• What Americans think about the war in Iran, according to recent polls (AP)

• Human Rights Watch accuses IDF of unlawful use of white phosphorus in Lebanon (TJP)

• Is the war in Iran over or just beginning? When confronted about the mixed messages from his administration, Trump said it's "both" on Monday. But some of his own advisers are now urging him to map a way out of the conflict, amid concerns that a continued war could fuel further political backlash, according to The Wall Street Journal. [HuffPost]

• Iran is wagering it can outlast the United States and Israel - not militarily, but by grinding the war into a brutal contest of endurance. Its strategy is stark: Unleash drones and missiles, cut vital energy routes and jolt global markets hard enough to force Washington to blink first. Read our analysis. (Reuters)

• RFK Jr’s pick to review Covid vaccines authored misleading research, experts say (Guardian)

• How the special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene is testing the power of Trump’s endorsement (CNN)

• Judge limits crowd control devices at Portland ICE building, says federal officers must identify themselves (OPB)

• Wyoming governor signs ban on abortions after about 6 weeks but cites misgivings (AP)

• In Marjorie Taylor Greene’s District, a Trump-Backed Candidate Advances (NYT)

• Trump reiterates threat of a ‘friendly takeover’ of Cuba as fuel crisis deepens (CNBC)

• Whistleblower claims ex-DOGE member took Social Security data to his new job (WP)

• The Weather-Changing Conspiracy Theory That Will Never End (Atlantic)

• The Bay Area Considers the Unthinkable: Life Without BART (NYT)

• Meta hires duo behind Moltbook (Axios)

• Research: How AI Is Changing the Labor Market (HBR)

• AI Layoffs Are a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy (Atlantic)

• MAGA Voter Claims She Loves High Gas Prices (Onion)