President Trump said the United States would blockade the Strait of Hormuz after high‑level peace talks with Iran in Pakistan ended without a deal, raising fears the fragile ceasefire could collapse and driving energy costs higher worldwide. The waterway is a vital maritime route for roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil supply. In response to the increased risk, U.S. warships transited the Strait to help clear mines, and officials warned that market uncertainty could keep gasoline and heating costs elevated for months.
CBS News polling this weekend showed political fallout for the administration: 64% of Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of the Iran situation, and 66% say the administration has not clearly explained U.S. goals. The president acknowledged higher energy prices could persist through the fall, saying a blockade could prevent Iran from selling oil but that gas might not come down quickly. AAA reported retail gasoline jumped about 40% from the day before the war began.
Behind the scenes in Islamabad: U.S. officials including Vice President J.D. Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Iranian delegates led by the speaker of parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in talks brokered by Pakistan. Negotiators reportedly failed to resolve key sticking points: halting uranium enrichment, dismantling enrichment facilities, surrendering stockpiles, curbing regional proxy funding, and fully reopening the Strait without tolls. Pakistani leaders said they would try to host further talks, while analysts warned the ceasefire could unravel before the April 22 deadline if disagreements persist.
Back in Florida, President Trump downplayed the talks’ collapse while acknowledging economic pain from rising oil prices. Lawmakers in Washington are expected to return to consider supplemental war funding on top of a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget request.
Political fallout at home
In California, Representative Eric Swalwell faced growing calls to withdraw from the governor’s race and to resign from Congress after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office opened a probe into an alleged assault. Swalwell denies the allegations. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other party leaders urged a swift investigation and for Swalwell to end his campaign; all 21 of his Democratic endorsements were withdrawn. Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have said they will weigh possible expulsion votes.
Crime and missing persons
CBS News reported new details in the case of Lynette Hooker, an American woman missing in the Bahamas. Her husband, Brian Hooker, provided images to friends that he said marked where she fell from a dinghy; he is in police custody but has not been charged. In New York City, a machete attack at a busy Grand Central subway station injured three people; police described the assault as random and not terrorism‑related. An officer shot and killed the attacker; none of the injuries were reported to be life threatening.
Weather and natural hazards
Heavy rains triggered a dramatic rockslide on Oahu, Hawaii: video showed massive boulders tumbling onto a highway and closing sections of the road. The islands were hit by their third major storm since mid‑March, with rainfall totals not seen in more than two decades. On the U.S. mainland, forecasters warned of extremes: additional rain and high‑elevation Sierra snow, and sharply rising temperatures across the East Coast that could push cities from New York to Philadelphia into the 90s later in the week.
Sports and entertainment
Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters, becoming the first golfer in nearly 25 years to win back‑to‑back green jackets — a feat last accomplished by Tiger Woods in 2001–2002. McIlroy overcame challenges from playing partners and closed with birdies on the back nine to secure his sixth major championship.
In entertainment, Justin Bieber made a comeback performance at Coachella after a multi‑year hiatus due to health issues. In Miami, the former Mandarin Oriental hotel was reduced to rubble in a controlled implosion.
Global politics
Across the Atlantic, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán conceded defeat in a bitter election that ended his 16‑year rule, a noteworthy shift in European politics. In Israel, Chief Foreign Correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces voter discontent after a six‑week war that left many Israelis questioning whether its goals — from neutralizing threats to weakening Iran — were achieved. Street protests and a divided electorate set the stage for high‑stakes political contests ahead.
Space milestone
Artemis II’s crew returned to Earth after a landmark lunar mission, bringing extraordinary imagery of the moon and Earth to the public and marking a high point for NASA. The four‑astronaut crew splashed down safely and were welcomed home in Houston after the first human lunar return era since Apollo. NASA officials and crew members described the mission as inspiring, one meant to rekindle interest in deep‑space exploration and to encourage the next generation of scientists and explorers.
Science and human interest
CBS News highlighted the emotional homecoming for the Artemis II astronauts and aired footage of the mission’s splashdown and recovery. The flight carried symbolic mementos — including fabric from the Wright brothers’ plane and flags flown on shuttle missions — underscoring continuity in American spaceflight heritage.
What Americans are weighing
The top items on viewers’ minds this weekend were security and cost of living: the breakdown in diplomacy with Iran and its potential to reignite broader conflicts; the immediate economic effects of higher oil prices on gasoline and inflation; domestic political accountability amid misconduct allegations for elected officials; and the steady roll of breaking news from natural disasters, violent crime, and high‑profile investigations.
CBS Weekend News reporters and correspondents contributed field reports from Islamabad, Doral, Los Angeles, Houston, New York, Hawaii and Tel Aviv, among other locations, providing live updates, polling analysis and human stories tied to the day’s top developments.