The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas has become a battleground for a generational divide over the Iran war. While younger conservatives express disappointment and betrayal over Donald Trump's launch of strikes against Iran, older conservatives argue that the war is a pragmatic act forced by threats to the US. This divide highlights the tension between the MAGA movement's commitment to ending foreign entanglements and the reality of global threats. The conference also witnessed a debate on the movement's direction, with concerns over a president who campaigned on ending wars finding himself mulling a ground invasion of Iran. The Iran war has entered its second month, with thousands of people killed and global energy supplies disrupted. Iran has accused the US of plotting a ground assault while publicly seeking talks. The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, and US lawmakers are responding to these reports. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has become the longest partial shutdown in US history, and the abortion rate is holding steady despite bans in some states. The Pope has rebuked leaders who wage war and have 'hands full of blood', and more than 8 million people protested against the Trump administration at No Kings events across the US and in more than a dozen countries. These events reflect the complex and conflicting priorities of the American public and the challenges facing the Republican Party in the midterm elections.
