Monday, May 4, 2026 • 3 min read

Wake up with The Yodel

by Francis Whittaker with Jillian O'Brien

Good morning, all. For Stars Wars day, San Diego County fans can marry or renew their vows Jedi-style, in special space-themed ceremonies. BYO lightsaber? Now, the news.

Need to know

A Cargo boat navigates the Strait of Hormuz behind a mural depicting fishes at the shoreline on Qeshm Island, Iran | Asghar Besharati/Getty Images

In a new effort to open up the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump announced Sunday that the U.S. would “guide” stranded ships through the crucial waterway, which has remained under Iran’s control.

What to know: Trump said “Project Freedom” will see the U.S. military help vessels from “neutral and innocent” countries impacted by the war get “safely out” of the strait. U.S. Central Command added that some 15,000 service personnel, more than 100 aircraft, and guided-missile destroyers are involved. [AP; BBC]
Iran’s response: As a U.S.-led task force began rerouting ships Monday, Tehran said its forces would “respond harshly” to any threat, adding that commercial vessels should not move without coordination from Iran’s military. [AP; Reuters]
Peace talks: Meanwhile, Iran on Sunday said it had received the U.S. response to its latest proposal to end the war. President Trump had suggested Tehran’s plan might not be enough to satisfy him. [BBC, Bloomberg]

In case you missed it

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani attends the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Giuliani hospitalized

A spokesperson for Rudy Giuliani on Sunday said the former New York City mayor was in the hospital in a “critical but stable” condition. No reason for the hospitalization was given, and it came days after the 81-year-old said he was “under the weather” on his talk show. [AP]

Deadly outbreak

Three people died aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic amid a suspected outbreak of hantavirus, the World Health Organization said. The virus is relatively rare but has no vaccine, treatment or cure and is usually spread by rodents — particularly mice. [AFP; NBC News]

Spirit shutdown

Thousands of passengers were left stranded after Spirit Airlines suddenly ceased operations on Saturday after talks with the Trump administration over a bailout package failed. The low-cost carrier’s collapse prompted viral emotional moments and political blame-trading. [Daily Beast; CNN; New York Post; Yahoo News]

Kentucky Derby

Golden Tempo and jockey Jose Ortiz came from 18th position to win the iconic horse race at Churchill Downs on Saturday. A peak of 24 million viewers tuned in, making it the most-watched Kentucky Derby ever. See history-making trainer Cherie DeVaux’s wild celebrations here. [Yahoo Sports]

SNL surprise

Aziz Ansari made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live to skewer FBI Director Kash Patel during the weekend’s cold open. Colin Jost's Pete Hegseth welcomed Ansari’s Patel as someone who wanted to "say hello before he's almost certainly fired." Watch the sketch here. [USA Today]

What’s happening today

Lisa Tomasetti/Eleven/Sony Pictures Television

Now streaming

Lord of the Flies, the first TV adaptation of William Golding's dystopian classic about stranded children, drops on Netflix. The show opens with the boys screaming in terror as their plane goes down — but the real danger awaits them on the island. [Yahoo Entertainment]

On the court

The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers face off in a blockbuster Eastern Conference semifinal matchup, with Joel Embiid leading a 76ers side looking to defeat a tough Knicks team. Game 1 tips off Monday at Madison Square Garden. [NBC Sports]

On TV

Season 8 of The Rookie ends at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. Last week featured a shocking assassination, ending on a dramatic cliffhanger. Catch up on who met a sticky demise. (Warning: spoilers!) [USA Today]

On the diamond

The Houston Astros host the Los Angeles Dodgers to open a three-game set tonight. The main action will come Tuesday however, when Shohei Ohtani is expected to make his sixth start of the season on the mound while continuing to hit. [AP; Athlon Sports]

And don't forget to...

Read your daily horoscope. Play the crossword. Check the forecast in your area.

Today in history

Illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

In 1964, Congress officially recognized bourbon whiskey as a "distinctive product of the U.S.," creating legal protection that ensures only American-made spirits can carry the name. Try pairing it with prosecco for a sophisticated take on the iconic mint julep. [Delish]

Feel-good moment

A woman holds her art and vending machine.

Becci Stephens

Becci Stephens’s small print and card business in Liverpool, England, is taking off, and it’s all thanks to a vintage vending machine she found online. Becci stripped the machine down, repainted it and gave it a new lease of life to sell her mini prints. “More than anything, I hope it sparks joy,” she says. See how she did it. [People]

Your daily advice

Keep your brown sugar soft and ready to use by storing it in an airtight container. Read speedy shortcuts to separate clumps. [Simply Recipes]

The Yodel team

Today’s edition of The Yodel was written by Francis Whittaker with Natasha Frost, edited by Jillian O’Brien and copyedited by Chris Simpson and Kiran Duggal.