Skip to main content

Featured

U.S.–Iran Strikes Escalate: What It Means for Your Gas Bill and Savings

  ⚡ BREAKING · MAY 8, 2026 By MoneySavings.ca Editorial Team   |  May 8, 2026  |  5 min read The Strait of Hormuz, photographed from space. Approximately 20% of the world's oil supply passes through this narrow waterway. (Image: NASA / Public Domain) American warships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on May 7, 2026 — and the U.S. military fired back hard, striking Iranian ports at Qeshm and Bandar Abbas. For Canadians, this isn't just a distant war story. It's a pocketbook issue. 20% of global oil transits the Strait of Hormuz every day $94 projected WTI crude price per barrel if closure continues (CEPR, 2026) 5% of normal shipping traffic still moving through the Strait What Happened — and When The crisis didn't begin overnight. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, targeting nuclear infrastructure and senior military leadership — including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the strik...

article

Congress in Crisis: Scrambling to Avert Government Shutdown



In a dramatic turn of events, the U.S. Congress is racing against the clock to prevent a partial government shutdown. This urgency follows the rejection of a demand by President-elect Donald Trump to lift the nation's debt ceiling. The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, is attempting to navigate a narrow path that can satisfy both the Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-majority Senate as the midnight Friday funding deadline looms.

Conservative Republicans recently dismissed Trump's call for a five-year suspension of the U.S. debt ceiling, which could have added trillions more to the government's $36 trillion debt. This rejection has left Congress without a clear plan to avoid the shutdown. The situation is further complicated by Trump's insistence on extending the debt ceiling to 2029, a demand that has not gained traction among lawmakers.

The failure of a hastily revised alternative bill, which aimed to keep the federal budget running at its current level through March and provide $100 billion in disaster relief, has added to the uncertainty. This bill was rejected by a vote of 174-235, highlighting the deep divisions within the Republican Party and the broader Congress.

As the deadline approaches, the pressure is mounting on Congress to find a solution that can avert the shutdown and ensure the continued functioning of the federal government. The stakes are high, with potential disruptions to government services and paychecks for federal workers hanging in the balance.

Comments