Offensive stage of Iran war is over, US Secretary of State Rubio says

Kathryn Armstrong / BBC

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the initial US-Israeli offensive in Iran - known as Operation Epic Fury - is over after it reached its objectives.

"We would prefer the path of peace. What the president [Donald Trump] would prefer is a deal," he told reporters on Tuesday. 

His comments come after a spate of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz raised fears the ceasefire between the US and Iran was in jeopardy. The US has said it aims to guide stranded ships out of the Gulf through the largely closed waterway.

Tehran has not commented on Rubio's statement, but Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf earlier said: "We know well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America, while we are just getting started."

Ghalibaf, Iran's top negotiator in last month's talks with the US, said "Shipping security and energy transit have been jeopardised by the US and its allies with the ceasefire violations and blockade. However, their evil acts will fail". Read more here.

Trump’s nixing Michelle Obama’s student health program and restarting Presidential Fitness Test at US schools 

Emily Goodin / NEW YORK POST 

President Trump formally nixed former first lady Michelle Obama’s student health program and reinstated the Presidential Fitness Test to schools across the country Tuesday as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” movement.

Surrounded by school children, champion golfers and cabinet secretaries, Trump announced the new Presidential Fitness Test Award, which he called “a certificate in recognition of achievement of the gold standard of physical fitness.”

“I work out so hard on a personal basis. I work out so much – like about one minute a day, max, if I’m lucky,” Trump joked to laughter in the Oval Office.

The original Presidential Physical Fitness Test was scrapped in 2013 and replaced with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, part of Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative, which focused more on overall health than personal athletic achievement and performance based standards. Read more, see photos and video here. 

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...Podcast 

Here's the podcast of last nights LIVE radio broadcast where RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig and Diane discussed 'Bipartisanship or Bust', 'Gaslighting vs. The Receipts'; Iran updates; judge apologizes to assassination suspect; and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to meet with Pope Leo IV in Rome on May 7th. Listen to it on https://rspradio1.podbean.com or on our RSP website at https://rspradio1.com/?page_id=39