INTERNACIONAL
Democrats build midterm momentum, but Republicans still in driver’s seat in Senate majority battle
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A leading nonpartisan political handicapper predicts that the Democrats’ path to winning back the Senate majority in this year’s midterm elections is getting wider thanks to a rough political climate for the GOP, but that capturing control of the chamber remains a «tall order.»
The Cook Political Report on Monday shifted the ratings in four key Senate races in favor of the Democrats, but added that Republicans «remain the narrowing favorites to retain the upper chamber.»
Republicans currently control the Senate 53-47 but are battling stiff political headwinds, as the party in power in the nation’s capital traditionally loses seats in the midterms. The GOP faces a rough political climate fueled by economic concerns amid persistent inflation, as well as rising gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and President Donald Trump’s underwater approval ratings.
«Right now, we see the likeliest outcome is a one to three seat Democratic pickup — still just out of reach of the four seats the party needs to reclaim the majority,» Cook Report Senate and Governors Editor Jessica Taylor said in a release.
SNUBBED BY TRUMP, THESE GOP CANDIDATES ACT LIKE THEY HAVE HIS ENDORSEMENT ANYWAY
An exterior view of the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 12, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
The Cook Report shifted the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis in battleground North Carolina from toss-up to lean Democrat. Former two-term Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is facing off against former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley in what will likely be one of the most expensive and competitive Senate showdowns in the nation this autumn.
In battleground Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is running for a second six-year term, the Cook Report also moved the race from toss-up to lean Democrat. Republicans view Ossoff as the most vulnerable Senate Democrat seeking re-election this year, but he has built a massive war chest while the GOP faces a three-way primary battle for its nomination.
STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING
In red-leaning Ohio, where appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted will face off in November against former longtime Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Cook Report shifted their ranking from lean Republican to toss up, noting that «even recent GOP polling» has indicated the race is all knotted up.
The Cook Report also shifted Nebraska, a red state where GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts will face a general election challenge from independent candidate Dan Osborn, from solid Republican to likely Republican.
President Donald Trump is facing low polling numbers in the wake of the Iran conflict and rising gas prices. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
«We concede that these ratings changes are coming as Trump is at a new polling low and still navigating a yet-to-be-resolved war in Iran. So it’s possible things could rebound for his party or that they could find a rallying cry to get his base out in November — a summer Supreme Court retirement certainly wouldn’t hurt,» Taylor noted.
And she pointed out that «Democrats are still contending with messy primary fights in Maine, Michian, Minnesota and Iowa, where Republicans are rooting for flawed or bruised nominees to emerge. And Republicans will have a significant institutional financial advantage.»
FOX NEWS POLL: AN EARLY LOOK AT THE 2026 MIDTERMS
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) chair, Sen. Tim Scott, acknowledged in a Fox News Digital interview last month that «there’s no doubt the climate has gotten more and more difficult by the day, it seems like at times.»
But Scott added that he remains «incredibly optimistic» the GOP can not only hold but expand its current majority.
The rival Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), in an email to supporters titled «Democratic Odds of Taking the Senate Increase as Four Ratings Shift in Their Favor,» spotlighted the Cook Report’s ratings shift.
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Earlier this year, DSCC chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told Fox News Digital she was «very optimistic that with the quality of candidates that we have, with the recruiting failures and the poor candidates the Republicans have, and this very harmful climate that President Trump is creating, we have all the makings of a blue wave.»
democrats elections, midterm elections, republicans elections, senate elections, democrats senate, donald trump
INTERNACIONAL
Iran shifts 20M barrels through ‘dark’ offshore oil network bypassing US port blockade, firm says
US implements Iran port blockade in Strait of Hormuz, halting trade
The U.S. has formally implemented a blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, with CENTCOM reporting halted economic trade and costing Iran $435 million daily. President Donald Trump emphasizes China’s cooperation and upcoming talks, while Saudi Arabia fears escalation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and economic experts discuss the naval forces’ financial repercussions and the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, noting record U.S. oil exports and significant economic pressure on Iran.
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Iran is moving tens of millions of barrels of oil through covert offshore networks to bypass the new U.S. blockade on its ports, maritime intelligence firm Windward AI says.
The blockade, which took effect April 13, came amid a two-week ceasefire and failed peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, and as President Donald Trump insisted the waterway must remain open. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes through it.
«Iranian oil distribution continues through indirect routing and offshore transfer networks,» Windward told Fox News Digital.
«As of April 13, at least 11 tankers carrying approximately 20 million barrels of Iranian oil are positioned offshore Malaysia within a ship-to-ship transfer hub,» the firm determined.
TRUMP DETAILS SWEEPING ‘ALL OR NOTHING’ BLOCKADE OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ AFTER FAILED IRAN TALKS
A ship is seen passing through the Strait of Hormuz during a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8, 2026. (Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty Images)
«These vessels are likely awaiting counterpart vessels for offloading or preparing for onward movement.»
Windward also clarified that the concentration highlights Iran’s «continued use of offshore storage and transfer mechanisms.»
This allows Iranian oil flows to «persist outside direct transit through the Strait.»
«Dark activity remains a central enabler of ongoing operations, supporting both post-transit port calls and broader evasion strategies,» Windward added.
«At the same time, Iranian oil flows are increasingly routed through offshore hubs, reducing reliance on direct Hormuz transit.»
U.S. forces began implementing the blockade at 10 a.m. ET April 13 after Trump vowed to block «any and all ships from trying to enter or leave» the strait, following weeks of pressure on Tehran.
IRAN THREATENS TO HALT RED SEA TRAFFIC IN RESPONSE TO US MILITARY BLOCKADE OF PORTS
Fishing boats dot the sea as cargo ships, in the background, sail through the Arabian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz off the United Arab Emirates, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo)
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, the U.S. military confirmed Wednesday it stopped nine oil tankers from attempting to breach the blockade.
«During the first 48 hours of the U.S. blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, no vessels have made it past U.S. forces,» U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
«Additionally, nine vessels have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area,» CENTCOM wrote on X.
Fox News was also told all nine vessels were oil tankers. None of the vessels ordered to turn around needed to be boarded by U.S. forces, a senior U.S. defense official said.
On the first «full day» of the blockade, April 14, however, under active U.S. enforcement, Windward noted vessel behavior indicating «a fragmented and uneven response to the blockade.»
«Initial movements show a combination of continued transit, route deviation and potential evasion,» the firm said.
MORNING GLORY: THE US-IRAN NEGOTIATIONS IN ISLAMABAD BECAME REYKJAVÍK 2.0
Oil tanker waits for its turn to get loaded by barrels of oil in the Persian Gulf south of Iran. (Farzad Frames/Getty Images)
«Sanctioned and falsely flagged vessels remain active, with some proceeding through the Strait while others delay, reverse course or adjust routing patterns.
«Iranian oil flows continue through indirect distribution networks, with significant volumes accumulating offshore rather than transiting directly through Hormuz.»
CENTCOM said the blockade would apply only to maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports.
It stressed that U.S. forces would not «impede freedom of navigation» for vessels transiting the strait to and from other destinations.
The blockade on the key trade route would be enforced «impartially» against any vessels entering or departing Iranian ports, including those in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
So far, sanctioned and falsely flagged vessels continue to operate under evolving enforcement conditions.
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Rich Starry, a U.S.-sanctioned handy-size tanker signaling laden status, resumed outbound transit after previously turning around.
Windward said its routing did not follow the Larak Island corridor and instead aligned with the alternative outbound path proposed by Iran.
At the same time, Murlikishan, a U.S.-sanctioned chemical tanker, was also observed journeying inbound, Windward clarified.
energy, middle east, iran, sanctions, trade
INTERNACIONAL
Trump administration’s Federal Reserve HQ probe escalates with unannounced site visit by prosecutors
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Deputies from the United State’s Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia (USADC) showed up earlier this week, unannounced, at the Federal Reserve’s construction site in Washington, D.C., which is part of an investigation tied to congressional testimony from Chairman Jerome Powell.
After speaking with construction workers, two prosecutors from the USADC were reportedly turned away and told they could not be permitted access because they had not gotten preauthorized clearance, the Wall Street Journal first reported. They were then reportedly given the contact information of the appropriate Fed staff to reach out to.
The visit underscores U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro’s view of the case the Trump administration launched in November against Powell. In January the Trump administration’s Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas amid an investigation into the Federal Reserve’s multi-billion dollar D.C. headquarters renovation that began in November and is tied to whether Powell lied to Congress about the $2.5 billion renovation or failed to comply with the appropriate permitting rules.
BOASBERG BLOCKS SUBPOENAS AGAINST FED CHAIR JEROME POWELL
U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro delivers remarks on an arrest connected to the 2012 U.S. Embassy attack in Benghazi, at the Department of Justice on Feb. 6, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Justice Department officials announced that the FBI has arrested Zubayr al-Bakoush, a suspect in 2012 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
A Fed spokesperson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s inquiry and it declined to comment when contacted by the WSJ.
«Any construction project that has cost overruns of almost 80% over the original construction budget deserves some serious review,» Pirro said in a statement to Fox News Digital. «And these people are in charge of monetary policy in the United States?»
An outside attorney for the Federal Reserve, Robert Hur, reportedly objected to the visit in a latter to Pirro’s office.
Hur, in his letter, pointed to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s ruling last month that threw out the subpoenas in a 27-page ruling describing them as an effort to «harass and pressure Powell.» Boasberg is an appointee of former President Barack Obama.
TRUMP’S PICK TO LEAD THE FEDERAL RESERVE MEETS GOP SENATOR HOLDING UP HIS CONFIRMATION
U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell listens to a question during a press conference after the Monetary Policy Committee meeting, at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. on March 19, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)
Powell has been pressured by President Donald Trump to lower interest rates and to step down as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. His term as chair ends May, but the probe also threatens President Trump’s pick to replace him Kevin Warsh.
Outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has said he would withhold his vote to confirm Warsh if the Fed investigation is not dropped.
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., head of the Senate Banking Committee, proposed that Pirro’s investigation would be completed in a few weeks during an interview with Fox News. However, when pressed on whether he knew for sure the investigation would end Scott indicated he did not have any evidence of that.
President Donald Trump defends the DOJ probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell during an interview on «CBS Evening News.» (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters; Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
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President Trump, meanwhile, thanked Pirro and others for having «courage» to perserver in the investigation.
«We have a moron at the Fed. Who wouldn’t be lowering interest rates right now?» Trump said last month. «I want to thank Jeanine Pirro and Pam and her group for having the courage to bring this suit. And I believe that the contractor on that job is probably one of the richest men in the country right now. I believe that it’s not possible to spend that kind of money — $3 billion, $4 billion — nobody knows, nobody has any idea what it is. But it’s over $3 billion and it’s probably going to be over $4 billion by the time they finish and it may never get finished, unless I take it over. I’ll get it finished. But it can never be what it was.»
attorney general, corruption crime, investigations, federal reserve, washington
Durante los últimos tres años, Chile ha consolidado su liderazgo en inteligencia artificial (IA) en América Latina. Según el último Índice Latinoamericano de Inteligencia Artificial (ILIA), el país alcanzó 70.5 puntos, reflejando la solidez de su industria tecnológica y el impulso de políticas públicas orientadas a la innovación y la formación de talento.
El crecimiento no es solo institucional. La inteligencia artificial ya impacta directamente el mercado laboral: de acuerdo con datos de la plataforma Buk, el 23% de los trabajadores en Chile se está capacitando en IA, posicionando al país como el más activo de la región en este campo.
A este indicador se suma un alto interés por la especialización: el 57% de los trabajadores en Chile busca formación técnica y el 54% participa en procesos de transformación digital dentro de sus empresas. Estas cifras no solo reflejan una tendencia interna, sino que también superan el promedio de la región, donde el interés en formación técnica alcanza el 38% y la participación en transformación digital el 41%.
En este contexto, Chile se ha consolidado como un “hub” de talento digital en la región. Factores como los programas del Servicio Nacional de Capacitación y Empleo (SENCE), incentivos fiscales y el crecimiento del ecosistema tecnológico han facilitado el acceso a formación avanzada, incluso en sectores tradicionales. Como resultado, las habilidades digitales están siendo valoradas en el mercado laboral, con incrementos salariales que pueden alcanzar hasta un 30%.
Del aprendizaje a la productividad
Más allá del acceso a la formación, el foco ahora está en su aplicación. Según Buk, uno de los principales desafíos es lograr que el conocimiento adquirido se traduzca en resultados concretos en el trabajo. Sin una aplicación práctica inmediata, hasta el 70% de la información técnica puede perderse en las primeras 48 horas.
La plataforma señala que, cuando el aprendizaje se aplica de manera efectiva, se generan tres beneficios clave en las organizaciones:
- Reducción de errores: los trabajadores que implementan nuevas técnicas digitales cometen menos fallas, ahorrando tiempo y recursos.
- Mayor autonomía: los colaboradores pueden tomar decisiones sin depender constantemente de supervisores, agilizando la cadena de mando.
- Optimización de procesos: los empleados capacitados sugieren mejoras en los flujos de trabajo, generando un retorno de inversión real.
De acuerdo con la información de Buk, las empresas líderes y exitosas en capacitación en 2026 han adoptado el modelo 70-20-10, en el que el 70% del aprendizaje ocurre en la práctica, el 20% a través de interacción social y solo el 10% en cursos teóricos. Esta metodología ha demostrado su eficacia al reducir errores, aumentar la autonomía y optimizar los procesos internos.
Persisten, no obstante, barreras que pueden limitar el impacto de la capacitación: la falta de tiempo, la resistencia al cambio en los mandos medios y la ausencia de herramientas adecuadas. Para superarlas, Buk recomienda estrategias como proyectos piloto, formación de líderes y personalización de contenidos según los indicadores clave de cada área.
El resultado de estas prácticas es lo que algunos expertos identifican como el “modelo chileno de productividad digital”. En este esquema, la capacitación tecnológica no solo impulsa la eficiencia, sino que también fortalece la competitividad nacional.
inteligencia artificial,educación,universidad,robótica,tecnología,estudiantes,aula,capacitación,innovación,futuro digital
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