Iran war, gas prices take a toll : NPR

Key Points:

• President Trump faces mounting political pressure in his second term due to multiple stressors including court losses, the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi, tariffs, rising gas prices, and an ongoing war with Iran.
• His overall job approval rating has dropped to 39%, with particularly low approval (31%) on his handling of the economy, which voters cite as their top issue; this decline is linked to tariffs and war-driven inflation.
• Trump became the first sitting president to attend Supreme Court oral arguments, where justices expressed skepticism about his immigration policies, specifically his challenge to birthright citizenship.
• Despite expectations for a clear plan to end the Iran conflict, Trump's prime-time address offered no exit strategy, instead promising intensified military action, which led to market declines and increased uncertainty.
• The week also saw widespread anti-Trump protests across the U.S. and abroad, reflecting heightened opposition, while economic indicators such as job reports show signs of softening amid the ongoing geopolitical and domestic challenges.