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"Artemis  II astronauts head for the Moon."

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By Mark Garrison April 02, 2026

In the news today: Astronauts start their high-stakes moon mission; Trump’s national speech about the war against Iran; and the immigrants stuck in limbo. Also, the sunken warship that was found after 225 years underwater. The Morning Wire team will be off tomorrow in observance of Good Friday. Be sure you are signed up for AP News Alerts so you don't miss any major breaking news. NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)  SCIENCE Astronauts blast off on NASA’s first moon voyage in decades Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years. Read more.

Why this matters: All of NASA’s moon plans — a surge in launches over the next several years leading to a sustainable moon base for astronauts assisted by robotic rovers and drones — hinge on Artemis II going well. It’s been more than three years since Artemis I, the only other time NASA’s SLS rocket and Orion capsule have soared. With no one aboard, the Artemis I capsule lacked life-support equipment and other crew essentials like a water dispenser and toilet. These systems are now making their space debut on Artemis II, ratcheting up the risk.   “On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation,” launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson told the crew right before liftoff. “Good luck, Godspeed Artemis II. Let’s go.”

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Photos of the mission WATCH: The rocket lifts off WORLD NEWS Takeaways from Trump’s address: No end date for Iran war and few details on strategy ahead President Donald Trump sought Wednesday to explain his rationale for the war against Iran at a pivotal moment at home and abroad, but he offered few new details. Read more.

Why this matters: Notably missing from Trump’s primetime address was his oft-repeated assertion that negotiations with Iran were underway. He softened his insults against NATO allies and did not indicate he was preparing to send in ground troops, particularly to retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium. But he gave no definitive end date for the conflict. He maintained that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, calling such a prospect “an intolerable threat,” and said the country was building a vast arsenal of ballistic missiles that were a threat to America’s homeland. While he said Iran’s ballistic missile capacity was greatly reduced, he didn’t explain how the operation had headed off Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He and his administration had previously insisted that the U.S. and Israel “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program in strikes last summer.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Read the complete speech transcript FACT FOCUS: False claims Trump made as he addressed the nation about Iran As gas prices rise during the war, some states are still hesitant to cut fuel taxes POLITICS Immigrants seeking asylum are ordered to countries they’ve never been to, but end up stuck in limbo Some immigrants find themselves in immigration limbo, unable to argue their asylum claims in court and unsure if they’ll be shackled and put on a deportation flight to a country they’ve never seen. Read more.

Why this matters: More than 13,000 immigrants were living legally in the U.S., waiting for rulings on asylum claims, when they suddenly faced so-called third-country deportation orders, destined for countries where most had no ties, according to the nonprofit group Mobile Pathways, which pushes for transparency in immigration proceedings. Yet few have been deported, even as the White House pushes for ever more immigrant expulsions. Some are in detention, though it’s unclear how many. All have lost permission to work legally, a right most had while pursuing their asylum claims, compounding the worry and dread that has rippled through immigrant communities. “This administration’s goal is to instill fear into people. That’s the primary thing,” said Cassandra Charles, a senior staff attorney with the National Immigration Law Center, which has been fighting the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda. The fear of being deported to an unknown country could, advocates believe, drive migrants to abandon their immigration cases and decide to return to their home countries. “DHS is using every lawful tool available to address the backlog and abuse of the asylum system,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement, which was attributed only to a spokesperson. There are roughly 2 million backlogged asylum cases in the immigration system.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Death of a refugee left at a Buffalo doughnut shop by Border Patrol is ruled a homicide Whispers in the Supreme Court as Trump takes front-row seat for birthright citizenship oral arguments Republican plan to fund Homeland Security could get first test vote on Thursday DHS boss rescinds restrictive $100,000 approval process, giving hope to FEMA relief efforts Democrats sue to block Trump’s executive order targeting mail ballots Diabetes advocates cross their fingers as a bipartisan bill revives efforts to lower insulin costs US lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez Trump ally testifies in trial over secret Venezuela lobbying effort CDC pauses dozens of types of lab testing during evaluation and in wake of downsizing Texas judge rejects push to let churches make political endorsements Georgia’s Brad Raffensperger showcases Ponzi scheme fight as he runs for governor ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Baghdad kidnapping: Reporter known for pursuing gutsy, low-budget assignments Serial killer: New DNA testing confirms Ted Bundy killed a Utah teen in 1974 Conspiracy case: Man sentenced in cross burning hoax to help elect Colorado Springs’ first Black mayor ‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor: Eugene Mirman rescued from fiery crash by New Hampshire governor’s detail Health: FDA grants speedy approval to Eli Lilly’s weight-loss pill Now Streaming: Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and Jon Hamm Today in History: In 2005, Pope John Paul II died at 84 WATCH Casting call: Newborn lambs audition for starring role in London’s sheep drive A CHANGE OF PACE Morten Johansen, head of maritime archaeology at Denmark’s Viking Ship Museum, shows a metal insignia recovered from the wreck of Danish flagship "Dannebroge" that sank during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday. (AP Photo/James Brooks) Sunken warship discovered after 225 years We love a story about uncovering history. So we’re happy to share the news of a Danish warship discovered in Copenhagen Harbor, more than 200 years after being sunk by Adm. Horatio Nelson and the British fleet. During the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, the British attacked and defeated Denmark’s navy. Researchers say very little is known about what it was like onboard the ships. So as divers recover more of the wreckage, the discovery offers a rare chance to get a whole new perspective on a famous naval battle.

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