A significant generational and ideological divide has emerged within the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas regarding the ongoing Iran war. While younger conservatives expressed disappointment and a sense of "betrayal" over President Donald Trump's military strikes, viewing them as a contradiction to his anti-foreign entanglement pledges, older conservatives justified the actions as a pragmatic response to threats against the US. The absence of President Trump, reportedly consumed by the conflict, highlighted the deep concerns among attendees about the movement's direction, especially how a president who campaigned on ending wars could contemplate a ground invasion of Iran.

The war, now entering its second month, has escalated with mounting fears of a US ground invasion. Iran has issued stark warnings, vowing to turn any ground assault into a "swamp of death" and to "set [American soldiers] on fire," threatening eternal punishment for their regional partners. These threats come as the US has significantly increased its military presence, deploying approximately 2,500 Marines to the Gulf. Reports from US officials, including those to the Washington Post, indicate that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations, which may involve a series of raids rather than a full-scale invasion. Potential targets discussed include seizing Kharg Island, a crucial Iranian oil export hub, and raiding coastal areas near the blockaded Strait of Hormuz to destroy weapons targeting shipping.

Key US assets arriving in the region include the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship carrying thousands of marines and sailors, and the USS Boxer, along with other ships and Marine Expeditionary Units. Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of secretly plotting a ground attack while publicly seeking diplomatic solutions. Despite these preparations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that America could achieve its objectives without ground troops. However, the conflict has already claimed the lives of 13 US troops, and an Associated Press poll reveals that 62% of Americans oppose a ground invasion.

The economic repercussions of the Iran war are substantial and global. Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which 20% of the world's oil and nearly a third of global fertilizer supplies pass, has caused immense disruption. Approximately 2,000 vessels remain trapped in the Persian Gulf. This has led to a dramatic surge in fuel prices, with crude oil surpassing $100 a barrel. In the UK, motorists' spending on fuel jumped over 10% in the week following the outbreak of the war, with unleaded petrol rising above 150p per litre and diesel nearing £2 per litre. Small petrol stations have reportedly chosen to close rather than charge these astronomical prices. Beyond fuel, fertilizer costs are climbing due to supply chain disruptions, impacting global food distribution and leading to production cuts in countries like Slovakia, India, and Algeria. Experts warn of "inevitable" increases in food prices. The conflict has also disrupted air travel and caused a slump in consumer spending on holidays and travel, which dropped 7.9%.

Internationally, there are efforts towards de-escalation, with Pakistan announcing it would host talks between the US and Iran. President Trump claimed negotiations were "going very well," a statement Iran denies. Meanwhile, Pope Leo, during his Palm Sunday Mass, strongly condemned the justification of war, stating that God is the "king of peace" who "rejects war" and "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them." This message came as thousands of US troops arrived in the Middle East and seemingly rebuked the Trump administration and US officials, such as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had invoked their faith to cast the war as a Christian nation vanquishing enemies. The Pope's comments were delivered amidst global "No Kings" protests against the Trump administration, which saw over 8 million people demonstrate across the US and in other countries.

In other US domestic news, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) experienced the longest partial government shutdown in US history. Separately, a new report found that the US abortion rate remains steady despite state-level bans, primarily due to interstate travel for services and a significant increase in telehealth appointments, with the number of abortions slightly increasing last year.