The Iran war has become the gravitational center of US politics. After Trump launched strikes February 28 without congressional authorization, four Senate and three House war powers resolutions failed, and on May 1 Trump declared hostilities 'terminated' to sidestep the 60-day clock. Gas above $4 and approval near 33-36% are eroding GOP midterm prospects, accelerating mid-decade redistricting fights in Virginia, Florida, and Indiana. A gunman fired at the April 25 Correspondents' Dinner; suspect Cole Allen now anchors competing rhetoric-blame narratives. Three House members resigned over scandals; Hegseth fired the Navy secretary. The open question is whether Republicans accept Trump's ceasefire-pauses-the-clock theory.