The war in Iran is dominating the headlines, but it's not the only issue percolating in Washington that investors need to be paying attention to. In this episode of WashingtonWise, host Mike Townsend focuses on how the war contributed to the negative returns for equity investors in the first quarter of 2026 and looks ahead to how the war and other issues may play out in Q2. He discusses the human and financial toll of the war in Iran and notes how the impact on the global oil supply could take months to sort out even if the war ends soon. He then turns his eye back to Washington to discuss the looming fight in Congress over funding the war, the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, and the uncertainty surrounding when and whether the Federal Reserve will get new leadership. Mike also highlights upcoming regulatory changes, including the potential shift away from quarterly earnings reports, a proposal to allow alternative assets in retirement plans, and the latest on the launch of "Trump Accounts" for children. Finally, he provides his latest thinking on the midterm elections and the near-record number of members of Congress choosing to retire rather than run for re-election.

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