{"id":208831,"date":"2026-04-25T13:34:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T13:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/u-s-soldier-accused-of-betting-on-maduro-raid-and-nfl-draft-takeaways-morning-rundown-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T13:34:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T13:34:29","slug":"u-s-soldier-accused-of-betting-on-maduro-raid-and-nfl-draft-takeaways-morning-rundown-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/u-s-soldier-accused-of-betting-on-maduro-raid-and-nfl-draft-takeaways-morning-rundown-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. soldier accused of betting on Maduro raid and NFL Draft takeaways: Morning Rundown – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In today\u2019s newsletter: <\/strong>Iran\u2019s regime is in no rush to end the war and may have benefited politically from the conflict, officials say. Why using AI is becoming less taboo in Hollywood. And a U.S. soldier involved in the Maduro raid is charged with betting on the operation.
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Here\u2019s what to know today.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed to bring the war with Iran to a speedy end by stepping up bombing raids, threatening to wipe out infrastructure and ordering a naval blockade. But Tehran is in no rush to cut a deal.
This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up <\/strong><\/em>here<\/strong><\/em><\/a> to get it in your inbox.<\/strong><\/em>
Despite the assassinations of its leaders and the damage to an array of military sites, Iran\u2019s regime seems to have benefitted politically from the attacks started by the U.S. and Israel, according to a Western diplomat with knowledge of the conflict and five Western officials, all with knowledge of intelligence assessments on Iran. The regime is, improbably, more stable now than before the war and slightly more hard line, five of the officials said.
In Iran, the mass anti-government protests that rocked the country have receded. And the so-called moderate or reformist faction inside the regime has been marginalized because heavy bombing and Trump\u2019s frequent ultimatums have undermined their arguments that a more accommodating approach with Washington could produce benefits, five of the officials said.
Meanwhile in the U.S., the political costs are mounting. The midterms are drawing near. A critical meeting between Trump and China\u2019s Xi Jinping is on the horizon. Gas prices are rising. And new polling shows that majorities of voters disapprove of Trump\u2019s handling of the war.
Now Trump, who previously called the war a \u201clittle excursion\u201d that would be over in roughly five weeks, is denying he\u2019s under any time pressure to end the conflict. Yesterday, he told reporters in the Oval Office that he didn\u2019t want to rush anything. But as the war drags on, voters are souring on Trump\u2019s handling of the conflict and its economic repercussions.
Why officials and analysts say Iran isn\u2019t feeling pressure to end the war<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 especially as it maintains its own stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
When Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock suggested to their fans that it was time to learn how to use AI, the internet immediately pushed back. But even as much of the public opinion continues to be informed by fear and skepticism, the idea of using AI is growing less taboo in Hollywood<\/strong><\/a>.
Rebecca Keegan and I talked to industry experts to figure out whether Hollywood professionals are changing their tune, and how they\u2019re now working with the rapidly proliferating technology. Some are gravitating toward companies they consider more ethical, and others are drawn by emerging commercial opportunities.
People are also increasingly coming to the realization that the technology isn\u2019t going away \u2014 but they also realize that there are ways to use AI without relying on it to generate the final product. Still, celebrities have to grapple with the reputational risks of leaning into a technology that garners widespread public distrust. \u2014 <\/em>Angela Yang<\/strong><\/em>, culture and tech reporter<\/em>
A U.S. special forces soldier who \u201cparticipated in the planning and execution of the U.S. military operation to capture Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u201d was accused of making bets on the raid, federal authorities said. The soldier, identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke, \u201cbet a total of approximately $33,034\u201d on the operation on the prediction platform Polymarket, authorities said.
According to the Justice Department, Van Dyke made \u201capproximately 13 bets\u201d from Dec. 27 to Jan. 26. An unsealed indictment said he ultimately made more than $409,000 as a result of the bets he placed. Federal authorities said that on Jan. 6, three days after the Maduro raid, Van Dyke asked Polymarket to delete his account.
Read more about the allegations.<\/strong><\/a>
Republican Sen. Katie Britt and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman pushed for more legislation to address social media use by children and teenagers in a wide-ranging interview with NBC News. The senators warned of social media\u2019s effects on mental health for young people, saying they\u2019ve introduced and co-sponsored bills because they feel a need to put up guardrails for the next generation.
In a separate interview at the event in Washington, Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell said social media has contributed to a rise in toxicity and polarization in Congress, with Dingell saying it\u2019s \u201cwithout fail, one of the worst things that\u2019s happened to this country.\u201d
The lawmakers\u2019 comments came at a Common Ground<\/strong><\/a> event, part of an NBC News franchise bringing together leaders with different perspectives to focus on solutions to pressing issues.
Read the full story here.<\/strong><\/a>
The beginning of the 2026 NFL Draft began as many expected, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza being selected as the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. What happened next had plenty of twists and turns. NBC News sports reporters Rohan Nadkarni and Andrew Greif shared a few standout moments:
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night came from the Los Angeles Rams, who chose Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick. With the Rams, Simpson could benefit from coach Sean McVay, a quarterback whisperer whose play-action heavy offense could unlock Simpson\u2019s potential. It\u2019s also unlikely Simpson will be expected to start any time soon.
And what about the biggest gamble of the night? That distinction goes to the Arizona Cardinals, which selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love third overall. In choosing Love, the Cardinals disregarded conventional wisdom that quality running backs can be plucked much later in the draft and at a much lower cost.
See more takeaways.<\/strong><\/a>
You\u2019re never too old to learn a new skill. One NBC Select editor took us behind the scenes of her journey learning to DJ<\/strong><\/a> from the comfort of her bedroom. Speaking of bedrooms, these editor-loved cooling sheets<\/strong><\/a> are 50% off for a limited time only. Plus, here are all the products that launched this month<\/strong><\/a> that you should know about.
Sign up to The Selection<\/strong><\/em><\/a> newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.<\/em>
Thanks for reading today\u2019s Morning Rundown. Today\u2019s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you\u2019re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>. <\/em>
Elizabeth Robinson is a newsletter editor for NBC News, based in Los Angeles.
© 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC<\/p>\n

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