Hegseth: Ceasefire ’not over’ as U.S., Iran exchange fire in Strait

The episode of *The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell* delivers a scathing critique of Donald Trump’s escalating war with Iran, framing it as a reckless, poorly planned military campaign with no clear exit strategy. Host Jonathan Capehart and guests—including Democratic Congressman Jason Crow and former Senator Sherrod Brown—highlight the chaos in the Strait of Hormuz, where U.S. and Iranian forces have exchanged fire, leading to near-total commercial shutdowns and soaring global oil prices. Despite Trump’s claims of success, intelligence assessments confirm Iran’s nuclear timeline remains unchanged, and the war has cost American lives, depleted military resources, and alienated allies. The episode also examines the domestic fallout, with gas prices in Ohio hitting nearly $5 a gallon, fueling voter anger and undermining Trump’s economic narrative. In a broader constitutional reckoning, Congressman Jamie Raskin exposes the mysterious 'Board of Peace'—a shadowy entity allegedly siphoning $1.25 billion in taxpayer and foreign funds without congressional oversight. Raskin and legal analyst Melissa Murray further argue that the judiciary and executive are undermining democratic safeguards, from the War Powers Act to reproductive rights, as Trump’s administration pushes an authoritarian agenda through executive overreach and cultural warfare. The episode concludes with a call to reclaim the Constitution’s original promise: that power ultimately resides with 'we the people'.