https://www.csmonitor.com The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online daily edition, and email newsletters. en-us Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved. Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:46:50 EDT 300 https://www.csmonitor.com/extension/csm_base/design/csm_design/images/csmlogo_250x30.png https://www.csmonitor.com https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0420/congress-retirements-gridlock-partisanship?icid=rss 59305e20f7af5d64f351862c92e3ec60 Legislators say fundraising and attention-getting are eroding norms of policymaking and consensus as the institution cedes its constitutional role. Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:35:15 -0400 Caitlin Babcock https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0420/iran-war-regime-change-hard-line-new-leaders?icid=rss 5ffa7d05397b38af7b3dc9fa4cf751e0 After the U.S.-Israeli war’s “decapitation” strikes against top Islamic Republic political and military leaders, who is this new generation that has taken the reins in Iran? They are more hard-line than their predecessors, and less willing to compromise. Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 Scott Peterson https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2026/0420/russia-economy-small-business-entrepreneurs-interest-rates-taxes?icid=rss bfe113ef8a2e455eb9c3ddf93cc75aea With the costs of the war in Ukraine growing, the Kremlin has been raising taxes on and rolling back exemptions for Russian small businesses. Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:00:10 -0400 Fred Weir https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0419/trump-iran-hormuz-vance?icid=rss 64f8cb5daa103c196e7da3a5d3cc14b2 President Donald Trump says U.S. negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran. The aim is to extend a fragile ceasefire set to expire by Wednesday. Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:18:04 -0400 Michelle L. Price, Samy Magdy and Sam Metz https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0418/iran-hormuz-us-ships?icid=rss 0cfc9796cd72957ff5c7cccd2ac7aa0f The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has escalated again as Iran reverses its reopening of the crucial waterway and fires on ships attempting to pass. Saturday's developments come after the United States said it would continue its blockade of Iranian ports. Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:14:34 -0400 Sam Metz and Samy Magdy https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2026/0418/hampshire-college-closure-endowment?icid=rss e707591bba28af99bd26bc7507d5fcbd 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. Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:00:16 -0400 Cameron Pugh https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0418/virginia-redistricting-spanberger-legislature-polls?icid=rss 9ec3177aa4d1cd51ab7d728a18e19f5c Ahead of Tuesday’s vote on redrawing Virginia’s congressional districts, the first few months of Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s term have made clear how difficult it is to govern from the center when your party controls the state legislature and politics remain so polarized. Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:00:10 -0400 Story Hinckley https://www.csmonitor.com/Perspectives/From-the-Editors/2026/0417/affordability-cost-of-living-election?icid=rss e105a7b820035aab62d6b55861526cf8 Voters regularly cite cost of living as their top concern, and political analysts say it will likely be a central topic in this year’s midterms. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:00:10 -0400 Stephanie Hanes https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0417/israel-trump-lebanon-ceasefire-hezbollah-iran?icid=rss 13859e1d81675ef416170eca2b641fb8 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’s hands. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:16:00 -0400 Shoshanna Solomon https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-Reviews/2026/0417/best-books-april-2026?icid=rss 37468d585a2a090f9071494adb6915e5 April’s top nonfiction titles include a revelatory take on Lewis and Clark’s expedition, while fiction favorites cover the latest from Tana French and Ben Lerner. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:54:53 -0400 Monitor reviewers