Iran War ceasefire; Trump and Vance feud with Pope — Searched - April 15, 2026

[0:04] Hey, what's going on? I'm Gio Benitez. It's Wednesday, April 15th. You've got questions, [0:08] we've got answers. This is Search, where we're breaking down what you're asking right now [0:13] in real time. So let's get right to it. We've got our Maya Ephraim right here. She oversees [0:17] our online search trends. So Maya, what are people searching for right now? [0:21] Hi, Gio. How are you? The Iran work continues to be top of mind today. It had another bump [0:25] in search today after President Trump posted that he's reopening the Strait of Hormuz permanently. [0:30] More broadly, people are keeping tabs on the ceasefire and searching, [0:33] when does the ceasefire end? They clearly want to know if that April 22nd deadline is still the [0:38] date to watch. But beyond that, they also want to know what happens once it does end. [0:43] We're also seeing a massive surge in searches about the escalating feud between the Trump [0:47] administration and Pope Leo. Vice President J.D. Vance is telling the Pope to be more careful [0:51] when talking about theology. There was also that second photo of Trump with Jesus that the [0:55] president reposted this morning. And people just want to know what is going on and why the [1:00] administration is lashing out against the Pope. And finally, there's quieter but very steady [1:05] interest regarding a major legal win for Trump. An appeals court just stopped a contempt inquiry [1:10] into those controversial deportation flights from last year. The search intent right now [1:14] is very clear. People want to know who the judge is and why his investigation was just shut down. [1:19] Okay, three big stories. Maya, thank you so much for that. We're going to check back in with [1:23] you very soon. But first, let's dive a little deeper now into the story that you guys can't stop [1:27] asking about. Of course, that's the war with Ron. We've got Marcus Moore. He has been reporting from [1:32] the Middle East all week. He is right there in Beirut. Marcus, it is good to see you. So let's [1:36] start with this because Trump is saying that he will reopen the Strait of Hormuz. And a lot of people [1:41] are searching right now if he actually opened it. Yeah, it's a good question. Let me just tell you [1:48] what we know right now. We know that three tankers have crossed into or out of the Persian Gulf on April 14th. [1:54] That's according to tracking data from marine traffic. And since April 13th, a total of nine [2:00] tankers and boat carriers have crossed into or out of the Gulf, according to that data. And what we [2:06] have heard from experts, the picture that they're painting, is that since the launch of the U.S. [2:12] blockade, that there's been a reduced amount of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and through [2:18] that area. But it would seem that some ships are getting through. But it's nothing like what you would [2:24] see on any regular day. And so there's still been an impact to traffic, marine traffic there. [2:30] So I guess it depends on what you consider as being open. And Gio, as you know, both Iran and [2:38] the U.S. are claiming authority over the Strait of Hormuz. So it remains a flashpoint. [2:42] Yeah, absolutely. Also a flashpoint here is people are searching to see if there are threats of [2:47] retaliation, right? Because we're also looking at Tehran blocking the Red Sea. That's another search [2:52] coming up. Yeah. So Iran has said that the blockade that the U.S. has has been implementing [3:01] is illegal and that it's a violation of the ceasefire in the war in Iran. Now, without saying [3:06] what, Iran has said that it will retaliate if the blockade continues and that they will exploit [3:13] vulnerabilities. Now, some fear that that response could indeed include the Houthis in blocking the [3:19] Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is another critical supply route for energy and other goods around [3:24] the world. Gio, if that were to happen, it would no doubt have a significant impact and add to the [3:30] complexity of an already developing crisis in terms of energy and the global economy. [3:35] And Marcus, as you're seeing right there in the region, people obviously want this war to end. [3:41] And that's exactly what the search trends are also showing as well, because people are asking [3:44] if the war with Iran is over. So where do things stand right now? [3:48] Okay. No one has said, at least that I have seen, that this war is over. I mean, [3:55] there's a two-week ceasefire. There's a pause in place in the war in Iran and that it is holding, [4:01] but it remains a fragile ceasefire. And the Strait of Ramallah situation, just going back to that, [4:06] that's adding to concern that it could lead to an outbreak of new fighting. And then you also have [4:12] the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel here in Lebanon. Iran has said that there can be no [4:18] agreement on the war in Iran until there's a ceasefire here in Lebanon, Gio. [4:23] All right. Marcus Moore there in Beirut. Thank you for all of your reporting all week long. [4:27] All right. Let's get to our Melissa Adhan right now in Cameroon, because she's following Pope Leo [4:31] during his first papal trip to Africa. The Trump administration is really doubling down on its [4:36] criticism of Pope Leo and his comments on the war with Iran. And it's still a top trend [4:42] right now. Melissa, what do you say? Hey, Gio. Hello from Cameroon. This is the second stop [4:49] for Pope Leo's historic papal visit. And let me tell you, it was incredible to see all of the [4:55] people that lined up the streets here. It was filled with thousands of people. They were cheering on as [5:00] they waved. They saw our journalist van. And then when they got just a little glimpse of the Pope as [5:05] he's made his way here into the capital city of Cameroon. Look, a third of the population here, [5:11] they are Catholics and they are very excited to have Pope Leo here. But I do want to share that [5:18] on our way here, we were able to listen and hear from Pope Leo himself. This is when he talked about [5:24] his trip to Algeria. And it was really interesting, Gio, because while he did not, of course, bring up [5:29] President Trump or VP Vance, despite their comments that they have made, Pope Leo did make it a point to [5:36] stress that why he's here. His trip to Algeria, in fact, is so key to help bring together different [5:43] religions, bridging together Christians and Muslims. Gio. All right, Melissa, Don there in Cameroon, [5:49] thank you. Let's bring in our Stephen Portnoy now for more on this because he covers politics. He [5:54] covers all things White House for us. And boy, oh boy, you have a lot to cover here because Stephen, [5:59] we're looking at what Vice President J.D. Vance said at this event. He was basically talking [6:04] at this Turning Point event. He was talking about Pope Leo, and people are searching for what he [6:09] said. He was down in Athens, Georgia, Gio, at an event put on by the group founded by the late [6:14] Charlie Kirk. It was last night. J.D. Vance, who became a Catholic in 2019, said the Pope needs to [6:20] be careful when he talks about matters of theology. The way J.D. Vance explained it as Vice President of [6:28] the United States, he, Vance, has to be careful when he talks about matters of public policy. [6:33] He says the Pope was wrong to say in recent days that anyone who is a disciple of Christ [6:38] is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. Now, J.D. Vance says [6:46] God was on the side of the Americans who liberated Europe from the Nazis. So he says the Pope has to [6:52] be careful and be sure that his comments on theology are anchored in the truth. There's been a pretty clear [6:59] response today from Catholic leaders, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, [7:02] which issued a statement today that referred to Pope Leo as the supreme pastor of the church. [7:08] And responding to something that Vance specifically said last night about Catholic teachings on just [7:13] wars, the statement says that the long tradition of just wars is what the Pope has carefully [7:19] referenced in his comments on war. So the official position of American bishops is the Pope is already [7:24] being careful. Well, and Stephen, obviously this all started because President Trump was sending out [7:31] this truth social post about Pope Leo, and that's what got everything going here. So what is the [7:36] Trump administration saying right now about all of this? The president's continuing this back and [7:41] forth. He notes the Pope's criticism of the Iran war. Just before midnight last night, the president [7:45] posted on social media, will someone tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed 42,000 innocent, completely [7:52] unarmed protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a nuclear bomb is completely [7:57] unacceptable. Trump also last night posted an image of himself being embraced by Jesus. Of course, [8:03] there was that AI generated picture he posted the other night that had him himself seeming very [8:07] Jesus-like. The president said he thought that image had him looking like a doctor. [8:13] All right, Stephen Portnoy, thank you so much for following all the details here. All right, [8:18] so let's go to our third search story here, and it's an appeals court blocking a federal judge [8:23] from conducting a contempt investigation into the Trump administration's Alien Enemies Act [8:28] deportations. Armando Garcia is with me here, and he covers immigration for us, and he knows all about [8:33] those deportation flights. So a lot of searches on this today, Armando. What do we know? [8:41] Well, Judge Bozberg currently serves as the chief judge of the D.C. District Court. He has presided over [8:46] several high-profile cases involving the Trump administration, including this one. This case [8:51] stems from March 2025, when the Trump administration invoked the rarely used Wartime Authority Alien [8:56] Enemies Act to essentially send 200 men, over 200 men, to the notorious prison in El Salvador known [9:03] as Secot, declaring that they were members of Trenderagua with little to no due process. [9:08] Bozberg wanted to investigate why the Trump administration defied his order to literally [9:12] turn the planes around and to pause the investigation, pardon, to pause the deportation, rather. [9:18] The court here said that, well, he couldn't do that. [9:22] Armando, why did the appeals court say that he must end his contempt investigation? [9:29] Well, two out of three judges said that it would have been an encroachment of the autonomy of the [9:33] executive branch. However, this might not be over yet. The ACLU says that they're now going to be [9:38] seeking what's called an en banc review of this decision. That essentially means that instead of a [9:43] panel of three judges, it's going to be the entire court that's going to review this decision. So we're [9:48] going to have to wait to see if that happens and what happens with that decision. [9:51] All right. Armando Garcia, thank you so much. We appreciate it. All right. So it is time to go [9:56] look at the other top searches because there's more happening on your timeline. Let's get back to [10:00] Maya. So Maya, what other stories are we looking at here? [10:03] Gio, it's the day so many people dread. Tax day is officially here. And search data is pure and absolute [10:09] chaos from people who waited until the very last day to file. We're seeing breakout questions like how to do [10:15] my taxes for free and a spike in people literally asking how many hours does it take to file as they [10:20] try to figure out if they can still do it, finish it by midnight tonight. But the good news is a ton of [10:26] restaurants and fast food chains are offering tax day food deals. So you can grab free nuggets from [10:32] Wendy's, followed up with a free foot lug from some way, and then wash it all down with a free donut from [10:37] Krispy Kreme as you finish filing. I don't know. Krispy Kreme sounds really good. What about you, Gio? Which one would you [10:42] pick? I mean, we need a little sugar after all that stress with tax day. All right. Thank you, Maya. We [10:47] appreciate it. All right. Coming up here, one search always leads to another. You know that. We've got a trending [10:51] topic, but that's just the surface. And this one is about peptides and the social media craze behind it. It's a [10:58] spiral and it's next. All right. Welcome back to search. Today's top searches are only part of the story. A simple [11:12] scroll can sometimes take you down that deep rabbit hole. It's time now for the spiral. All right. So you guys can stop [11:25] asking questions about peptides. It is a huge health trend that's going crazy online right now. So we're [11:30] following your clicks and your curiosity. And it looks like you guys also want to know about what [11:35] those peptides actually are and what they're used for and what to know about influencers using and [11:41] talking about it online. I know you're all seeing that. So let's break it down. We've got Dr. Darian [11:45] Sutton up first. Then we're going to chat with fitness influencer and trainer Joel Friedman, also here. [11:50] Guys, thank you for joining us. All right. So Darian, let's start with you because we're seeing this rise [11:55] and popularity of peptides being pushed online. And Darian, you've been following this craze for [12:00] quite a while for us now. So you're a board certified emergency medicine physician. You guys also love [12:06] him on social media with his TikTok. So what are peptides? Break it down for us. You're right, [12:12] Gio. These peptides are incredibly popular. You know, they're marketed for anything, including [12:17] weight loss, muscle building, anti-aging, and even recovery. So Gio, at its core, peptides are small [12:22] pieces of protein that act as messages in the body. They have the opportunity to tell cells what [12:28] to do and they can signal systems. The problem is, is that they're often marketed as quick and [12:33] targeted. But unfortunately, these systems are often complex and nuanced. And Gio, that is where [12:38] risk comes into play here. That is right, of course. And why is the FDA weighing, easing these [12:44] regulations? That's a big headline that people are saying that they're easing regulations. [12:48] Well, the FDA is looking at providing access to these peptides through compounding pharmacies. [12:54] We learned a lot about compounding through the GLP-1 phase and craze of many people going to [12:59] pharmacies to get GLP-1s at cheaper options and to improve access. But important to note here, [13:05] compounding pharmacies are meant to provide access to those patients with specific needs. [13:09] And in order to do that, they often go around certain FDA regulations and processes. [13:14] So even with allowing products like peptides through compounding pharmacies, [13:18] it still provides option, excuse me, it still provides opportunity for increased risk because [13:22] they haven't done that robust long-term studies. And that, of course, it increases the risk to the [13:27] patient when you don't for sure know exactly what type of peptide you're getting. And unfortunately, [13:32] that can lead to inappropriately activating a system in your body. And that can lead to outcomes [13:36] that increases risk, side effects, and adverse outcomes. Which ones might doctors recommend? [13:43] You know, peptide-based medications, there's over 100 different types of them. Some of them [13:48] are quite common, including things like insulin and the entire GLP-1 market. Those are peptide-based [13:53] options. But when you see a lot of these options that are marketed for fat burning or weight loss, [13:58] there are no current FDA-approved peptides in that space. And so doctors, you will not see doctors [14:03] recommending or providing these peptides through prescription-based formats unless they are peptide-based [14:08] medications that have already been FDA-approved. And again, those are for common conditions or specific [14:14] diagnosis that a patient is suffering from. You mentioned risks a little earlier. What are the [14:18] risks? So there's a couple of risks when you're injecting a substance that doesn't have robust human [14:24] studies and long-term trials. Number one, you're running the risk of infection and contamination. [14:29] And that contamination can include bacterial incontamination or contamination of foreign bodies [14:33] or foreign products. It's also simply the uncertainty of knowing exactly what's in the product. [14:38] When you're using a product that doesn't have robust human studies or long-term trials, [14:42] you're essentially participating in a large uncontrolled experiment. And that, of course, [14:46] is where risk comes into play. And in terms of the outcomes, many people will talk about [14:50] anecdotal experiences of possible benefits with peptides. But important to note here, [14:54] that's where data comes into play because anecdotal experiences are great. They provide interest, [14:59] but the science hasn't caught up in that gap. That gap, GEO, is where risk lies. [15:03] Okay. All right, Dr. Jerrion Sutton, stand by here just a moment because I have another question for you [15:07] coming up. But let's go to health and fitness trainer, Joel Freeman, who's joining us now for [15:11] more on his personal experience using peptides. Joel, it's good to see you. So what drew you to [15:16] using these non-FDA approved experimental peptides? Did you do your own research here? [15:23] Well, obviously I did my research, but then I also worked with an actual team, a medical doctor and [15:29] a hormonal optimization team that we went over all the options to decide what would most benefit me [15:36] based on what I was already doing in my health and fitness on the daily. [15:41] Was it easy to get your hands on these peptides? [15:45] It's very easy to get your hands on peptides now. For me, everything that I take is prescriptive [15:51] in terms of it actually has my name on it. I can't order it offline. I just can't go to a website on [15:56] the anything and just order it. And that was important to me. I don't want to take anything. [16:01] And especially as an influencer now and doing this for over 20 years, I want to make sure that [16:05] anybody that's following me sees what I do and I'm able to talk about it and let them know my [16:09] journey, but also in a safe way. As we know, you know, the big thing with FDA is the doctor just [16:15] was talking about. It's still very new and very uncharted, but the trend is not waiting for that. [16:21] Do you see or feel a difference with them? [16:24] I do. I do. I've been on, my journey has been about three years since I've started and also came [16:29] with hormone replacement therapy, testosterone replacement therapy as I hit 40. And it was one of those [16:36] things where, yes, I started feeling great, but it was in hand with the fundamentals, with sleep, [16:43] with exercise, with the nutrition aspect of it. And that's what is most important is that you can't [16:48] just take one peptide and you're like, hey, I'm going to wake up and I'm going to be skinny tomorrow [16:51] or I'm going to sleep better tonight. That's not how it works. You still have to nail the fundamentals. [16:55] So they are enhancers and they are amazing when done correctly and safely. [17:00] Joel, obviously, as we just reported here, we have not seen these human trials that show that they are safe [17:05] right now. Does that make you anxious? Because unlike FDA approved drugs, there's really nobody [17:10] checking what's in that vial or the package. It doesn't make me anxious because I work with [17:16] people that I trust in terms of my medical team, the hormonal team. These are licensed medical doctor [17:22] and people who are experts in their fields when it comes to these amino branch chains, [17:27] amino acids and everything like that. So I trust them. And that's the biggest thing. Now, [17:31] I would not be taking something that I could just go ahead and get online. I wouldn't be taking [17:36] something that I could just buy from anybody. But it is one of those things where, yeah, it's still [17:41] very, very new. And I think the research is going to show, as it already has in a lot of ways, [17:45] how some of these peptides can be beneficial. And I hope the messaging gets out that it's not that [17:49] magic pill. It's not the one-stop shop. It's just, it's a whole, it just, it works together with [17:55] everything else. That's such an important message that it's not a magic pill. What conversations are you [17:59] seeing right now surrounding peptides online? Where can I get them? That's pretty much where [18:05] everybody wants. They want to know where can they get them and how fast can they get them and how [18:08] cheap can they get them, right? So that is obviously what's trending right now. And companies have been [18:13] popping up all over the market and, you know, they're white labeling peptides. It's easier than [18:17] ever to get them. And, you know, I tell people, I look, you know, I'm not getting, my advice is just [18:21] be careful. Know who you're talking to. I tell everybody if they really want my opinion is to make sure [18:27] that you talk to a medical professional, someone who is licensed to have these conversations that [18:33] knows your body because every single person is different in terms of your age and your hormones. [18:37] And they all do work together, but you've got to be careful in doing that. And that's why I [18:42] wouldn't take anything without the opinions of the people that I trust. But yeah, they're very easy [18:47] to get. And that's what everybody asks me. And then, you know, people are impatient. They want the [18:51] results fast. They do. They do. All right. Joel Freeman, thank you so much. We appreciate it. [18:55] All right. So we just heard from Joel what you would do. So Dr. Darian Sutton, tell us, [19:01] what would you advise people who have an interest in peptides? [19:05] You know, I think that interest is valid. I can completely understand that. I'm also online. I [19:09] see the advertisements. I see the content. And I know that it's very engaging. Joel made up a great [19:14] point. He's got a specific medical team that is following him. When you're injecting these [19:18] substances like peptides, you hope that they target specific pathways. But because they're not FDA [19:23] approved, and because we don't have robust studies, there's a chance that they may unintentionally [19:28] target other pathways. That is what leads to adverse outcomes. That can lead to hormone imbalances, [19:33] functional dysfunction, or excuse me, dysfunction with your normal functions in your body. And [19:38] unfortunately, that can also lead to the development of abnormal cells. And that is the basis for [19:42] cancer. So it is so important that when you're using any therapy, especially if it's not FDA [19:47] approved, that you have the guidance of someone who understands how to treat the risks and also the [19:52] complications. It's about communication and trust. All right, Dr. Darian Sutton, thank you so much. We [19:57] appreciate it. All right, still ahead. It might be the top of your feed, but what's the vibe? We've got your top [20:02] pop culture and entertainment searches with Roxy Diaz, including the Material Girl blessing us with [20:07] another album. Of course, we're talking about Madonna. It's the vibe next. All right, it's time now for our vibe [20:28] check. Look at what's buzzing in entertainment and pop culture. Roxy Diaz joins me now with more on what's [20:33] trending on your feed. So Roxy, what's the vibe? I got it for you, Gio. And unfortunately, I gotta [20:38] start off with some not so good vibes. Actress Ruby Rose is accusing Katy Perry of sexual assault. [20:43] Rose says she filed an official police report against Perry, claiming that the assault happened [20:48] at an Australian nightclub in 2010. Katy Perry is denying the claims. A representative for the [20:53] pop star saying, Ruby Rose's allegations are not only categorically false, they're dangerous, [20:59] reckless lies, adding, quote, Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public [21:04] allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have been repeatedly [21:09] denied by those names. Now, Ruby Rose has not responded to those claims by Perry's reps. And Gio, you know, [21:16] leaks happen all the time, but it's rare for an entire movie to surface early. And that's what [21:23] reportedly happened to Paramount's The Legend of Aang, The Last Airbender. The film was scheduled to be [21:28] released later this year, introducing fans to an older version of Aang and his friends. But earlier [21:34] this month, a user on X claimed Nickelodeon accidentally emailed them the full movie soon [21:40] after what appeared to be the complete film began spreading across social media online. Now, fans are [21:46] wondering whether The Legend of Aang will still be available to stream as planned. Paramount has not [21:52] responded to the alleged leak. And in other music news, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is facing [21:58] backlash over his anti-Semitic past. The rapper taking to social media to say that he takes full [22:04] responsibility for his actions, but added that he doesn't want to put his fans in the middle of it. [22:09] The comments come after French officials warn that they would block Ye from performing at a planned [22:14] concert in Marseille, saying that they would not allow him to, they would not allow the city to become [22:20] a showcase for those who promote hatred. Now, West ultimately chose to postpone the show himself. [22:25] The decision comes one week after London's Wireless Festival was canceled after Ye was announced as [22:31] the headliner. And in brighter news, one that you're going to love, Gio, pop icon Madonna is hitting the [22:37] dance floor once again, announcing her album Confession 2 is set to release on July 2nd. It's the long-awaited [22:44] sequel to her 2005 album Confession on the Dance Floor. She shared a snippet of the potential song [22:50] on the album, where she whispers, honestly, I wish I could be like other people and just not care, [22:56] but out here on the dance floor, I feel so free. So here's the question, Gio. [23:02] What do your dance floor moves look like? I know you got them. [23:06] I'm not going to fall for that. I'm not going to show you the moves, but I'm telling you, [23:09] I was at a Madonna concert, the most recent one. So, so, so good. So good. So congratulations to [23:14] her. Definitely. All right, Roxy. Thank you so much. I'm Gio Benitez. This is Searched on ABC News [23:19] Live, where your questions meet real answers. We're going to leave you with what's trending right now [23:23] on abcnews.com. And you see that QR code, you can scan that and you can catch up. We will catch you [23:28] back here tomorrow. See you then. Bye.