The hour was defined by escalating Middle East tensions as the U.S. military withdrew troops and air-defense systems from Erbil, Iraq, amid sustained attacks, even as President Trump ordered fresh military actions against Iran. Domestically, political activity remained intense; the Senate moved to accelerate President Trump’s nominee confirmations, while the President appealed a court ruling regarding his IRS lawsuit. In the markets, positive earnings reports from tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon helped drive a recovery, balancing concerns over broader structural shifts like Ford’s pivot toward performance vehicles and Gen Z’s increasing preference for vocational trades over college. Meanwhile, regulators signaled support for a new melanoma therapy, and the U.S. issued a notice continuing the national emergency regarding North Korea.