Darius Rucker’s Songs of Summer Tour (Live Nation)
If you’re longing for warmer weather, Darius Rucker’s giving you something to look forward to with his just-announced Songs of Summer Tour.
“For me, it’s not summer if we’re not playing music outdoors,” he says. “When I think of the concerts I love attending, it’s the people, the hits and the hot summer air… there’s nothing that compares, so Songs of Summer in a lot of ways is my nod to being in that moment together.”
The 20-city run kicks off June 4 in Toledo, Ohio, and wraps Aug. 1 in Indianapolis. Lauren Alaina, George Birge, Evan Honer, Old Crow Medicine Show, Robert Randolph and Austin Williams will join him along the way.
Most tickets go on sale Friday, with select shows opening up in March.
Prior to his Songs of Summer jaunt, Darius will play his Big Band Gala April 7 at Charleston’s Gaillard Center. Proceeds will help music education in Charleston County Schools and the Carolyn G. Rucker Nursing Scholarship, named after his mother.
An oil tanker is seen anchored in Lake Maracaibo after loading crude oil at the Bajo Grande Refinery port. Jose Bula Urrutia/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
(WASHINGTON) — The Pentagon announced the third seizure in the Indian Ocean of an oil tanker allegedly linked to Venezuela’s illicit oil operation that had fled the Caribbean.
“Three boats ran and now all three have been captured,” said a post from the Department of Defense on X announcing the seizure. “The vessel was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and attempted to evade. From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it. No other nation has the global reach, endurance, or will to enforce sanctions at this distance.”
The department added it would continue to “deny illicit actors and their proxies freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain.”
After the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would continue enforcing a legal “quarantine” of illicit oil tankers transiting to and from Venezuela.
President Donald Trump said that his administration will work with private U.S. companies and the government in Caracas to expand Venezuelan oil production and exports — with the U.S. controlling the revenue of oil sales.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez announced earlier this month that the country’s first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas had been exported to the U.S.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Taylor Swift has posted behind-the-scenes footage from her song and video “Opalite” as a thanks to fans who helped get the track to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Just a few Opalite memories to celebrate the Hot 100 #1 you guys just got this song!!” she wrote. “I can’t even sum up my excitement and I’m so blown away by the love you’ve shown this song and video.”
The carousel includes footage of Taylor recording the song in the studio, practicing the video choreography and admiring the ’90s outfit she wore on set.
Taylor then adds in the caption that The Life of a Showgirl is now her first album since 1989 to produce two number-one hits; it’s song “The Fate of Ophelia” also topped the chart.
“[I]t all adds up to me being so thankful to the fans who helped make this happen by welcoming this song into your lives with open arms,” she continues. “Seriously bouncing off the walls about this!! Just wanted to say THANK YOU, might go buy a giant pretzel at the mall to celebrate, iykyk.”
That last line is a reference to a scene in the video, in which she and co-star Domhnall Gleeson go on a date to a mall and eat giant pretzels while riding the escalator. She added a pretzel, rock and cactus emoji, referring to other items that are prominently featured in the video.
Twenty One Pilots at 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Disney/Frank Micelotta)
Twenty One Pilots are headlining the 2026 Shaky Knees Music Festival, taking place Sept. 18-20 in Atlanta.
The Strokes and Gorillaz also lead the bill, while the rest of the lineup includes Turnstile, Pierce the Veil, Fontaines D.C., LCD Soundsystem, Pavement, The Prodigy, Geese, Modest Mouse, Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, Wolf Alice, Coheed and Cambria, Jet, OK Go and Violet Grohl.
You can sign up now for a presale happening Thursday at 9 a.m. ET, after which any remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public.
Cover of U2 EP ‘U2-Days of Ash’ (Interscope Records)
U2 has released a documentary short for their new song “Yours Eternally,” which appears on their just-released EP, Days of Ash. The song features Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian musician-turned-soldier Taras Topolia.
The four-and-a-half-minute clip was directed by Ukrainian cinematographer and filmmaker Ilya Mikhaylus and was released to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mikhaylus and his crew shot the video this past December, when they were embedded alongside the soldiers of Khartiya Corps. The clip is part of a full-scale documentary that will be released at the end of the year.
“For four years, Ukraine has been resisting Russia’s full-scale invasion, and the soldiers of the Khartiya Corps are among the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians defending their homeland,” says Mikhaylus. “In this short film, and in the upcoming full-length documentary, we attempt to show the beating human heart of those incredible men and women, the struggles and sacrifices they are making everyday for the most sacred thing on this planet – freedom.”
U2 released the six-track EP Days of Ash on Feb. 18, featuring five songs and one poem. It was described as “an immediate response to current events and inspired by the many extraordinary and courageous people fighting on the frontlines of freedom.”
Cover of U2 EP ‘U2-Days of Ash’ (Interscope Records)
U2 has released a documentary short for their new song “Yours Eternally,” which appears on their just-released EP, Days of Ash. The song features Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian musician-turned-soldier Taras Topolia.
The four-and-a-half-minute clip was directed by Ukrainian cinematographer and filmmaker Ilya Mikhaylus and was released to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mikhaylus and his crew shot the video this past December, when they were embedded alongside the soldiers of Khartiya Corps. The clip is part of a full-scale documentary that will be released at the end of the year.
“For four years, Ukraine has been resisting Russia’s full-scale invasion, and the soldiers of the Khartiya Corps are among the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians defending their homeland,” says Mikhaylus. “In this short film, and in the upcoming full-length documentary, we attempt to show the beating human heart of those incredible men and women, the struggles and sacrifices they are making everyday for the most sacred thing on this planet – freedom.”
U2 released the six-track EP Days of Ash on Feb. 18, featuring five songs and one poem. It was described as “an immediate response to current events and inspired by the many extraordinary and courageous people fighting on the frontlines of freedom.”
Flyleaf has announced a U.S. tour celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary.
The summer outing launches July 8 in Atlanta and will wrap up July 31 in Anaheim, California. It will feature original Flyleaf vocalist Lacey Sturm, who rejoined the band in 2022.
Presales are open now, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit FlyleafMusic.com.
Flyleaf released their self-titled debut album in 2005. It spawned the singles “I’m So Sick” and “All Around Me.”
The band then put out two more albums — 2009’s Memento Mori and 2012’s New Horizons — featuring Sturm, who left Flyleaf just before the release of New Horizons. They released one more record, 2014’s Between the Stars, with Kristen May on lead vocals, before going on hiatus in 2016.
The 20th anniversary tour marks Flyleaf’s first full live outing since reforming with Sturm.
Flyleaf has announced a U.S. tour celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary.
The summer outing launches July 8 in Atlanta and will wrap up July 31 in Anaheim, California. It will feature original Flyleaf vocalist Lacey Sturm, who rejoined the band in 2022.
Presales are open now, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit FlyleafMusic.com.
Flyleaf released their self-titled debut album in 2005. It spawned the singles “I’m So Sick” and “All Around Me.”
The band then put out two more albums — 2009’s Memento Mori and 2012’s New Horizons — featuring Sturm, who left Flyleaf just before the release of New Horizons. They released one more record, 2014’s Between the Stars, with Kristen May on lead vocals, before going on hiatus in 2016.
The 20th anniversary tour marks Flyleaf’s first full live outing since reforming with Sturm.
US President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at the White House, Washington, D.C., US on February 20, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump has pushed back against news reports that his top military adviser, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, privately cautioned that if Trump ordered a U.S. military strike on Iran, a lack of critical munitions and support from allies could pose risks to American troops.
“General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won,” Trump posted Monday on his social media platform.
That statement came as Trump was said to be considering military options as he puts pressure on Iran to end its nuclear program or face “bad” consequences.
According to a U.S. official, Tehran was expected to offer a new nuclear proposal by Tuesday ahead of another round of negotiations in Geneva led by special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday.
The meeting would be the second round of indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran, with Omanis and Qataris passing notes between the delegations.
In a statement, a Joint Staff spokesman emphasized that Caine’s role is to provide “a range of military options, as well as secondary considerations and associated impacts and risks, to the civilian leaders who make America’s security decisions.”
The president added that he will make the final call regarding military action, and repeated that he wants a deal with Iran, but warned that if there is not a deal “it will be a very bad day for that Country.”
“I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them,” Trump said.
Trump also doubled down on his previous claims that Iran’s nuclear supply has been “obliterated” after last summer’s Operation Midnight Hammer, saying that it was “blown to smithereens.”
“He knows Iran well,” he said, referring to Caine, “in that he was in charge of Midnight Hammer, the attack on the Iranian Nuclear Development. It is a Development no longer, but rather, was blown to smithereens by our Great B-2 Bombers.” Trump said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Iran during a speech to the Knesset on Monday, warning the Iranian ayatollah if Iran strikes Israel, “we will respond with a force they cannot even imagine,” according to remarks of his speech google translated from Hebrew to English.
“No one knows what the day will bring. We are vigilant, we are prepared for any scenario,” Netanyahu said.
Donald Trump delivers remarks during a working breakfast with governors in the State Dining Room at the White House on February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — When President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term Tuesday night — it will be a chance to make the case for his sweeping policy goals directly to millions of Americans — ahead of November’s midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake.
One year ago, Trump proclaimed “America is back” as he addressed a joint session of Congress shortly after taking office, laying out novel plans to make good on issues he campaigned on, including lowering prices while imposing worldwide tariffs, the mass deportations of immigrants in the country illegally, and a promise to keep America out of foreign wars.
Since then, he has taken unprecedented, often highly controversial, steps to reshape the federal government and achieve those goals, testing the limits of presidential power on both the domestic and foreign policy fronts. But he’s done so at a political cost – with polls showing a growing number of Americans displeased or opposed.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday morning that the president will contend that he and Republicans are the best choice to “continue tackling the affordability crisis” and that he’ll feature a Pennsylvania waitress who benefitted from his “no tax on tips” policy.
Earlier, she posted on X that “In one year, President Trump has turned our country around from the brink of disaster, and he will rightly declare the State of Our Union is strong, prosperous and respected.”
He could also use his speech to shore up support from lawmakers and the American people on two major, immediate issues: the current showdown with Iran that could end up with Trump ordering the U.S. military into war — and his tariff policy — much of which was struck down as illegal last week by the Supreme Court.
At least some of the justices are expected to attend, possibly including the conservatives ones he picked and who joined in that ruling. By tradition, they will be seated just in front of him, and the presence of justices he has railed against, even personally attacked, could bring fireworks to the House chamber.
The economy and tariffs
After months of blaming former President Joe Biden for leaving what he repeatedly called an economic “mess,” Trump has now taken full responsibility for the economy, even declaring last week that he “won affordability.” While he is sure to tout the relative taming of inflation in recent months – down to 2.4% now from 3% when he took office – that hasn’t translated into lower prices across the board for many Americans.
Prices for some key household goods such as eggs and gas are down, but his tariffs and other factors have increased the prices of many household goods such as produce, beef and coffee.
The ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows that almost half of Americans, 48%, say the economy has gotten worse since Trump took office — although that number is down slightly from 52%, who said the same in October.
Given that, he faces an uphill battle to persuade Americans they are better off. According to that recent ABC/Post/Ipsos poll, 65% of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling inflation and 57% disapprove of how he’s handling the economy overall.
“We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had,” Trump said Monday. “We have the most activity we’ve ever had. I’m making a speech tomorrow night, and you’ll be hearing me say that. I mean it’s — it’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about.”
As Democrats make the rising cost of health care a major message for their candidates to run on in this fall – after many Americans saw their premiums skyrocket when Affordable Care Act subsidies expired at the start of the year – Trump will likely need to counter that by citing what he says he’s done to make health care more affordable.
He will surely point to his Most Favored Nation policy that lowered the cost of some pharmaceuticals and the TrumpRx platform aimed at making those lower prices for some medications more transparent.
Foreign policy
Trump will also have the chance to make the case for some of the ambitious foreign policy moves he’s made during his first year in office. His reshaping of America’s role in the global order comes as even some Republicans have criticized Trump for focusing too much on foreign policy rather than on domestic issues.
At his orders, the U.S. has amassed a major military force near Iran as negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program between American and Iranian officials are likely to continue on Thursday. Even so, critics say Trump and his administration have not made publicly clear exactly what objectives they are seeking in Iran.
At the same time, he has made clear the possibility of military action — either limited or more prolonged — is not out of the question, even as polls show Americans are hesitant about the U.S. getting involved in another war to make changes in another country.
More than half of Americans, 54%, oppose Trump using the U.S. military to force changes in other countries, while only 20% support it (and 26% say they have no opinion or did not respond to the question), according to the ABC/Post/Ipsos poll.
Trump will also have the chance to lay out his view that America has supremacy over the Western Hemisphere, what he has coined the “Don-roe Doctrine.”
That view was evident in the military operation that put American boots on the ground in Venezuela to capture then-President Nicolas Maduro and the ongoing strikes he’s authorized on boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific that have killed more than 150 people.
That ideology was also a cornerstone in his repeated calls for the U.S. to “own” Greenland, something that alarmed many of America’s closest European allies. The president said that a deal with Denmark was in the works for ownership of the territory during his trip to Switzerland in January, but since then no other information has come from the White House about the status of those talks.
Immigration
The president will also likely tout success on the border and immigration, even as some public opinion has turned on the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the immigration crackdown he’s ordered.
The Department of Homeland Security said in December that 2.5 million undocumented migrants were removed from the U.S. and the president has celebrated the reduction in crossings as the southern border, both of which were major campaign promises.
However, as ICE operations have ramped up, public opinion has started turning against them in the wake of the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota by federal law enforcement.
The ABC/Post/Ipsos poll found that the president’s approval ratings on immigration are also at a low for his second term — with 58% disapproving of his handling of immigration and 40% approving.
ABC News’ Fritz Farrow contributed to this report.
