Never before has the relationship between Washington and the Vatican revolved around two Americans — specifically, a 79-year-old politician from Queens and a 70-year-old pontiff from Chicago.

Several Democratic elected officials in Illinois released statements on social media calling for Trump to be impeached, including calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked.

U.S. President Donald Trump said late Tuesday he’s pulling back on his threats to attack Iranian bridges, power plants and other civilian targets, subject to Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran on Monday rejected the latest ceasefire proposal and instead said it wants a permanent end to the war, even as U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum loomed for progress to avoid a major escalation in attacks against power plants and bridges.

“It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare — all these individual things,” President Donald Trump said. “They can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal.”

According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02 — over a dollar more expensive than it was before the war began on Feb. 28. That’s the largest monthly jump the motor club has seen on record.

The Chicago demonstration is taking place after the area was targeted in the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz” immigration enforcement effort and amid ongoing military action in Iran.

Saturday’s day of action is expected to include millions of protesters in more than 3,000 planned demonstrations across the U.S., including a handful of events in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is on the verge of hitting $4 for the first time since 2022.

“Volatile” is the word many are using to describe the economy these days. How should you react to the ups and downs of the market?

Iran’s response to the surprise Israeli and U.S. bombardment that started 12 days ago has upended trade routes, choked supplies of fuel and fertilizer coming out of the Gulf and threatened air traffic through one of the world’s most-traveled regions. Both sides have dug in, hoping to outlast the other.

The national average gas price was $3.48 a gallon on Monday, up from $2.90 a month ago, before the war, according to tracking by AAA.

Iran named the hard-line Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as supreme leader on Monday, signaling no letup in the war launched by the United States and Israel. 

There was no sign of the war letting up on its seventh day, as U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to rule out negotiations with Iran and called for its “unconditional surrender.“

The war has escalated each day, affecting an additional 14 countries across the Middle East and beyond.

The U.S. and Israel launched the war Saturday, targeting Iran’s leadership, missile arsenal and nuclear program while suggesting that toppling the government is a goal. But the exact aims and timelines have repeatedly shifted, signaling an open-ended conflict.