The week brought new sanctions on Iran, a Stonewall flag agreement, and a key court decision on Jan. 6 cases.
Dante Belcher
Apr 17, 2026
Trump’s 65th week brought updates to Iran, LGBTQ rights and court decisions. As the war in Iran continues, the Treasury Department announced more sanctions on Iran’s oil infrastructure. This comes following a previous report from The Introspective detailing failed ceasefire talks in Pakistan and Trump announcing a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, the Department of Justice asked a federal appeals court to drop charges against members of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, raising implications following a previous report from The Introspective detailing Trump pardoning more than 1,500 people involved in the insurrection. Meanwhile, following a previous Introspective report detailing Trump filing a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit.
Iran and Jan. 6
With the war in Iran ongoing, the Treasury Department announced more sanctions on Iran’s oil infrastructure.
“Treasury is moving aggressively with Economic Fury by targeting regime elites like the Shamkhani family that attempt to profit at the expense of the Iranian people,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a press release.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, Treasury will continue to cut off Iran’s illicit smuggling and terror proxy networks. Financial institutions should be on notice that Treasury will leverage all tools and authorities, including secondary sanctions, against those that continue to support Tehran’s terrorist activities.”
This comes amid failed ceasefire talks in Pakistan last week, with talks potentially continuing Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice asked a federal appeals court to drop charges against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
“The government’s motion to vacate in this case is consistent with its practice of moving the Supreme Court to vacate convictions in cases where the government has decided, in its prosecutorial discretion, that dismissal of a criminal case is in the interests of justice—motions that the Supreme Court routinely grants,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro wrote in a court filing.
If granted, the ruling would also drop the convictions from their records.
Stonewall and Lawsuit
Following a previous Introspective report detailing the Trump administration removing a Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument, the administration agreed to restore the flag in a settlement.
“This is a victory for the LGBTQ+ community and for our entire city. It’s a reminder that New Yorkers won’t let our history be rewritten,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X, celebrating the decision.
“Our administration will keep working to ensure LGBTQ+ New Yorkers can live safely and with dignity in our city.”
In a statement obtained by The Introspective, the Gilbert Baker Foundation—named after who created the pride flag in 1978—acknowledged the decision.
“The Rainbow Flag is more than a symbol—it is a global emblem of hope, visibility, and the ongoing struggle for equality,” President Charles Beal said.
“Its presence at Stonewall, the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, is both historically and culturally indispensable. Restoring the flag affirms the truth of our history and the legitimacy of our continued fight for dignity and inclusion.”
At the same time, U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed a prior lawsuit by Trump against The Wall Street Journal over its coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
“Because President Trump has not plausibly alleged that Defendants published the Article with actual malice, both Counts must be dismissed,” the court filing read.
“To establish actual malice, ‘a plaintiff must show the defendant deliberately avoided investigating the veracity of the statement in order to evade learning the truth,’” it continued.
“The Complaint comes nowhere close to this standard. Quite the opposite.”
The ruling also said that Trump could refile the case by April 27.
The Introspective 
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