海角大神

2026
April
18
Saturday

Monitor Daily Podcast

April 18, 2026
Clayton Collins
Director of Innovation

Welcome, Saturday readers.

This week, controversy widened over a presidential social media post. Negotiators put a decadeslong conflict between Israel and Lebanon, reignited by the Iran war, on pause, to mixed early reactions.聽A U.S. surveillance program got a short-term extension.

The civil war in Sudan entered its fourth year. The cost to civilians has been steep. Still, our reporter found a sliver of hope at an orphanage in the Nuba Mountains. A Monitor archive dive can broaden perspective: Our 2024 series on Sudan puts faces to a humanitarian crisis through personal accounts. You can .

There鈥檚 more on the Iran war below. Then a gentle landing, with butterflies.


We also have a short video to share. Jingnan Peng probes 鈥渟heltered workshops,鈥 where people with disabilities can find work. It鈥檚 a nuanced story, one of subminimum wages but also dignity and agency. It took time and care to produce. You can view it here.

Find the latest news, including on the status of the Strait of Hormuz, on our homepage or app.


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Today’s stories

And why we wrote them

For decades, perceptions of U.S. power did not rely on the use of America鈥檚 unrivaled military might. In the Iran war, a militarily inferior adversary used asymmetric warfare to resist that might, and allies whom President Donald Trump did not consult are voicing concern over the state of U.S. strategic thinking and planning.

The ceasefire in Lebanon left northern Israeli residents saying they felt betrayed, and that Hezbollah was still a threat. Opposition leaders blamed the Netanyahu government for the lack of a clear strategy that meant decisions were taken out of Israel鈥檚 hands.

The Explainer

Hampshire College stood out for its nontraditional style, with no grades or majors. The recent announcement of its upcoming closure underscores the financial and demographic pressures facing many small liberal arts colleges.

鈥淟orne,鈥 a new documentary about Lorne Michaels, the creator and producer of 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥 promises unprecedented access to the legendary TV figure. Director Morgan Neville reveals how the long-running show comes together each week, even as Michaels largely remains an enigma.

Essay

A lone volunteer's effort to save monarch butterflies creates a caring community, one rock and seed packet at a time.


Viewfinder

( The illustrations in today’s Monitor Daily are by Jacob Turcotte. )

More issues

2026
April
18
Saturday

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