The Headlines - The Republicans Who Disapprove of the War, and a Wave of College Closures

Episode Date: April 15, 2026

Plus, will the World Cup bring tourists back to the U.S.? Here’s what we’re covering: 51 Percent of Americans Think the War in Iran Has Not Been Worthwhile, by Ruth Igielnik A Divided America Processes a War That Trump Has Scarcely Explained, by Jack Healy, Pooja Salhotra, Jazmine Ulloa, Anna Griffin, Emily Cataneo and Ruth Igielnik Rare Direct Talks Between Israel and Lebanon Focus on Hezbollah, by Michael Crowley, Euan Ward, Anushka Patil and Thomas Fuller Gallego Dismissed Rumors of a ‘Flirty’ Swalwell, Highlighting a Culture of Silence, by Michael Gold ‘I Got Back Every Penny’: Inside Trump’s Supercharged Tax Season, by Andrew Duehren Hampshire College Will Close Amid Student Enrollment Declines, by Mark Arsenault Will the World Cup Bring Tourists Back to America? by Gabe Castro-Root Tune in every weekday morning, and tell us what you think at: [e-mail]. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. Today's Wednesday, April 15th. Here's what we're covering. This war on Iran, what are we doing? I don't think we have any business being over there. I don't think it's America first at all. The amount of money and resources that's gone into that.

It's ridiculous. The Times has been asking people across the country what they think of the war with Iran. What are we doing here? You know, that's concerned. Well, your city are Republicans. So did you support him? Could you vote for President Trump?

So I actually voted for President Trump all three times. Even among some Republicans, there is growing dissatisfaction with the conflict, while others in the president's base still support his war effort. I guess I have faith that the president decided it was time we had to act. I sometimes get a little unnerved by the president's rhetoric, but I elect the guy to do things, not to worry about what he says, about what he's doing. Right.

Overall, a new poll from Ipsos and Reuters showed that 51% of Americans think the war in Iran has not been worthwhile. 24% think it has been, and 22% aren't sure. One pronounced split in the data is that young Republicans specifically are far less likely to approve of Trump's decision to go to war than older Republicans. I recognize that a lot of young voters don't

love the policy that we have in the Middle East. Okay, I understand that. Vice President J.D. Vance seemed keenly aware of that last night at an event for the youth-focused conservative group, Turning Point USA. I'm not saying you have to agree with me on every issue. What I'm saying is don't get disengaged because you disagree with the administration on one topic. Get more involved. Make your voice heard even more. That's how we all believe. Meanwhile, an update on Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, which has been threatening to upend the fragile ceasefire with Iran. This is a process, not an event. This is more than just one day.

This will take time. Yesterday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted Israeli and Lebanese officials for rare talks in D.C. The first time the two countries have sat down together in decades. Israel's been carrying out large-scale attacks in southern Lebanon, saying they're necessary to push. back on Hezbollah forces there that are backed by Iran. The Israel-Lebanon talks underscore how both countries have come to share the common goal of disarming Hezbollah. Israel, however, has vowed to continue its attacks, which are being condemned by a growing number of countries. In the past month, more than 2,000 people in Lebanon have

been killed, according to the country's health ministry. Now, two other headlines from Washington. First, my delay in taking action against Eric was driven by fear. not doubt, fear of his political power, his background as an attorney, and his family law enforcement ties. Yesterday, another woman came forward to accuse Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of sexual assault. On the same day, he officially resigned from Congress after facing a swirl of other allegations. The woman said she had come to Swalwell in 2018 for advice on her own political career, when he drugged and raped her at a West Hollywood hotel. Her lawyers said they plan on sharing evidence with law enforcement.

The Times has not independently confirmed her account. A lawyer for Swalwell said yesterday that he, quote, unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault. What were the rumors that you heard? It was flirty. It was flirty. And that was when? About what year was it?

I mean, we've heard that throughout. When asked about Swalwell's behavior, Democratic Senator Rube's, Ruben Gallego, a friend of Swalwell's, told reporters that there had been whispers of misbehavior for years. He said he never witnessed him engaging in any harassment or abuse, but he regretted not confronting Swalwell about the rumors he had heard. Gallego suggested that turning a blind eye like that has become an unfortunate part of a culture of silence among lawmakers on Capitol Hill. And a second update from D.C. Taxes are due today, and Republicans are hoping that Americans will now start notice. noticing the tax cuts they passed last year, potentially giving the party a boost ahead of the midterm elections. An estimated two-thirds of Americans are expected to see lower taxes, and the average

tax refunds so far have been about 10% higher than last year. Still, tax experts say the benefits are unevenly distributed. For example, while many middle-class families will get tax relief, just a fraction of the lowest-income Americans will see new cuts to their taxes. And over Overall, poor Americans are likely to be worse off going forward since Republicans offset some of the costs of the tax cuts by cutting funding for safety net programs like Medicaid and food stamps. In Western Massachusetts, the small liberal arts school Hampshire College has announced it is shutting down.

It had been struggling financially for years as enrollment dropped to just about 600 students, half of what it was 20 years ago. The closure is part of a wave of colleges and universities shuddering. across the U.S. According to one analysis, in the last two decades or so, more than 300 have closed, often after facing the same kinds of issues as Hampshire. Some of what is staring down these schools is a demographic issue. According to one expert in higher ed, schools in the Northeast and Midwest specifically have been struggling because those states have shrinking populations. And since students generally stay close to home for college, those schools have taken a hit. Another factor at play is how

more and more Americans are questioning the value of a liberal arts education. The higher ed expert said students have been migrating towards bigger institutions that often have programs in business and technology. Hampshire's president said it's all part of an increasing focus on what students will earn after graduating, not what they're learning in school. And Hampshire's most famous alum, the documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, agreed, saying that in his view, higher ed has become, quote, hijacked. by the transactional.

And finally, $95. That is what's going to cost to take the bus from the center of Boston out to the stadium for the World Cup this summer. And it could cost more than $100 for the train ride from Penn Station to the New Jersey Stadium, a ride that normally costs about $12. Reaction to the high prices has been fierce.

Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer accused FIFA of a shakedown saying World Cup host cities were having to foot the bill for transportation costs and pass it on to consumers, even while FIFA reaps billions in profits. Steep transportation costs, piled on top of sky-high ticket prices, not to mention hotels, etc., may be one factor that could keep visitors away from the World Cup. The first kickoff is just 60 days away, and tourism leaders in 11 U.S. host cities are watching closely to see how many people are going to make the trip, especially from other countries. Last year, the U.S. was the only major nation to have a decline in international tourism.

For potential World Cup visitors, it's not just cost, but also concerns about visa restrictions, stories about people's phones being searched at the border, and fears about immigration agents. According to my colleagues at the athletic, senior FIFA officials have talked about asking Trump to stop ice raids while the World Cup is on. Local host committees in New Jersey, San Francisco, and Seattle have all downed. sized planned fan festivals recently, fueling more discussion about whether there's not as much demand as cities had hoped. Those are the headlines. Today on the Daily, three Times reporters on the strategy behind Trump's blockade of the

Strait of Hormuz, and whether or not it will work. You can listen to that in the New York Times app or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.