The Berkeley Carroll Blotter is proud to present its 19th weekly newsletter of the 2025-2026 school year! This edition features the standard “5 in news” and a Q&A with a BC parent on the current war in Iran, by Rory O’Connor (‘26). Later, Genevieve Eisner (‘26) provides us with a sneak peak into her summer dining guide coming in the print edition! Photos from BC photographers are throughout. As always, we thank you for interacting with The Blotter. Happy reading!
Genevieve Eisner and Cleo Logan, co-editors.
Rory O’Connor (‘26)
On April 1st, NASA’s Artemis II, a new, innovative rocket that took humans “farther away from Earth than our species have ever been,” carried 4 astronauts around the moon and back. The mission included the most diverse group of astronauts ever, with Victor Glover becoming the first ever Black person to journey to the moon and Christina Koch becoming the first woman to do so as well.
Right now, the 2026 midterm elections are heating up with numerous contested primary races foreshadowing a contentious and controversial electoral cycle in November. . Recent races and polls show Democrats gaining some momentum especially as concerns about the economy, war with Iran, ICE violence and public health debates influence voters. According to NBC News, Democrats need to gain four seats in the Senate and three seats in the House to regain control.
Right now, tensions with Iran are a big topic in the news. The current situation in Iran is dominated by a fragile and frequently violated ceasefire. Despite ongoing negotiations, tensions remain high as both sides remain far from a definitive peace agreement.This is severely impacting oil prices and the global economy.
Last week, President Trump released a video showing the design and location of his new presidential library, which would be located in downtown Miami, Florida. The 50-story skyscraper on a 2.6-acre downtown waterfront site will become “the tallest building in Miami.” Reactions to this development have been mixed. Many Americans are angry with Trump’s focus on the library when they believe there are other, much more pressing issues to focus on.
On April 8th, Jasveen Sangha, the woman who illegally sold Ketamine to Matthew Perry--American and Canadian actor, comedian, and producer--was prosecuted and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Rory O’Connor (‘26)
I spoke with Mike Eisner, who is the parent of a BC senior and BC alumni. Mike is the General Counsel at the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), where he facilitates legal and financial issues. He is also an expert on conflicts in the Middle East, as he previously worked in the US State Department, focusing on issues in the Middle East and the peace process. I asked him questions about Iran’s leadership, the U.S.’s involvement, and long-term effects.
1. What is the situation of the Iranian people?
In January, the Iranian regime slaughtered an estimated 5,000 to 30,000 peaceful protesters. It’s hard to believe it, but conditions for the people have gotten worse since the war began. It’s a measure of popular desperation that many people inside Iran supported the military strikes as a means to topple the regime. Thus far, the opposite has happened. The regime has used the conflict as a pretext to go after its perceived enemies, detaining thousands, including students, journalists, doctors, and one woman for dancing in the street to celebrate the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.
2. How do you see Iran’s leadership changing as the war progresses?
From bad to worse is the headline for changes to Iran’s leadership as a result of the current war. Israeli and United States forces have decimated Iran’s leadership ranks, killing the first and second tier of leaders, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The former leaders directed terrorist attacks by proxy forces across the region and carried out brutal human abuses of its own people. Incredibly, the new younger crop of leaders is more hardline and ruthless, starting with Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly dabbles in an apocalyptic, messianic ideology that envisions a final struggle between believers and infidels. Negotiating with this group is going to be a tough slog.
3. What’s the strategy of the Iranian regime?
Stall for time, and hope that President Trump loses interest in the conflict, or settles for token concessions on key issues so that he can declare victory and go home. There’s a possibility that the Iranian regime will be overconfident and make untenable demands, for example, creating a toll booth in the Strait of Hormuz, which would be unacceptable to the world community and might well lead to renewed hostilities.
4. What does a fake victory look like for the Trump Administration?
The War has gone sideways as far as the Administration is concerned, which doesn’t seem to have anticipated Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Increases in gas prices and other goods carry a political cost for all Republicans, who were already pessimistic about their chances in the Midterms. At this point, the Trump Administration might settle for a return to the status quo from before the war, which would mean freedom of navigation in the Strait, and nominal concessions on the nuclear front, for example, a promise by Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons for a certain duration of time. Unfortunately, what the Trump Administration might tout as a success could well be a far-reaching loss for the American and the Iranian people.
5. What does failure look like for the United States?
Unfortunately, it can come in many forms, involving one or more of the following scenarios. After the smoke lifts, the Iranian regime escalates its campaign of repression against its own people with wholesale detentions, torture and disappearances of perceived enemies; a race by Iran to build a nuclear weapon as a deterrent to another attack and/or to build back its arsenal of ballistic missiles; increased support for proxy forces abroad, in particular, Hezbollah in Lebanon.
6. Is there a settlement that would benefit both sides?
Trump has recently floated a deal that would be a win for both countries. The Trump Administration’s chief goal has been ending the nuclear program. It would effectively achieve that goal if the nearly 1000 pounds of enriched uranium currently buried under rubble in Iran was removed from Iran, and Iran made a verifiable (to the extent possible) commitment not to enrich uranium for 20 years. In return, Iran would get sanctions relief. The nuclear program has been a bane for Iran – causing untold economic and now military pain for the country. They would be better off without it. For the United States, such a deal would be superior to the Obama-era 2015 agreement between Iran and the United States plus other countries, in which Iran agreed to less stringent restrictions on its nuclear program for a shorter period of time. Along with these provisions, Iran’s closure and the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would be lifted. This is a longshot deal. Iran probably won’t agree to it, but you never know.
7. What is the best-case long-term scenario?
The War with Iran seems right now like a failure. But the outcome of the war will play out over years, not over weeks or even months. However ill-advised the decision to go to war, it is still possible that the Iranian regime will crack under the economic strain of the war and its aftermath. With no forethought or planning, Trump might yet stumble into what would be one of the most significant U.S. foreign policy achievements in decades.
Genevieve Eisner (‘26)
Every New Yorker needs a quintessential bagel place. Yes, Apollo Bagels is great, but it’s also extremely popular on social media. No one wants to wait in a line that long every morning to get their bagel and cream cheese. Personally, the bagel place that never fails me is Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe on Vanderbilt Avenue (right near Berkeley Carroll!). Its name is fitting, as when you walk in you will see the chaotic energy of the workers behind the counters greeting their usual guests, carrying giant baskets of fresh just-out-the-oven bagels over their heads, and efficiently ringing up their customers. No matter your bagel order, whether it’s just a bagel and cream cheese, a bacon egg and cheese or a bialy with a schmear, you will be more than satisfied. Your bagel will be fresh and warm, and you will definitely get your money’s worth of toppings. Besides bagels, I would also recommend their meatball parm sandwich. You can go to Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert (although they do close later in the afternoon!). When it’s nice out, you can enjoy your meal at outdoor tables on Vanderbilt and people watch.
Besides bagels, every New Yorker needs a breakfast spot. Yes, Bubby’s and Golden Diner are great, but you will also have to wait in line for a long time and probably won’t get in until lunch time. Instead, go to Cheryl’s Global Soul on Underhill Avenue (also nearby school). Cheryl’s is a Prospect Heights neighborhood joint where locals go often. It’s another cozy restaurant with great staff. Even though they specialize in breakfast foods, they have great options for lunch and dinner as well. You can get the classic eggs or omelettes, delicious pancakes, waffles, or french toast, but I also love their wings, sandwiches, and bowls. If it’s your first time going, you are obligated to get the pancakes (they really are incredible). And if it’s nice out, there is a great, quiet backyard where you can enjoy your food. The vibe, people, and cuisine make a great combination.
Stay tuned for my comprehensive summer dining guide coming soon in the summer print issue of The Blotter.
Monday:
Baseball (JV) vs. Trevor Day (Home)
4:00 PM, Prospect Park #2
Baseball (Varsity) vs. Friends Seminary (Home)
4:00 PM, Red Hook #2
Tennis (Varsity) vs. Friends Seminary (Away)
4:30 PM, USTA
Volleyball (Varsity) vs. Friends Seminary (Away)
4:15 PM, Friends Seminary
Wednesday:
Baseball (JV) vs. Columbia Prep (Away)
4:15 PM, Randall’s Island #21
Baseball (Varsity) vs. Staten Island Academy (Away)
4:00 PM, Staten Island Academy
Softball (Varsity) vs. Staten Island Academy (Away)
4:00 PM, Staten Island Academy
Tennis (Varsity) vs. Staten Island Academy (Away)
4:15 PM, Staten Island Academy
Volleyball (Varsity) vs. Staten Island Academy (Away)
4:15 PM, Staten Island Academy
Thursday:
Baseball (Varsity) vs. Packer (Home)
4:00 PM, Red Hook #2
Softball (Varsity) vs. Bay Ridge Prep (Away)
4:00 PM, Red Hook #8
Track (Varsity) vs. ACIS (Away)
4:00 PM, Queens College
Volleyball (Varsity) vs. Dwight (Away)
4:00 PM, Dwight Athletic Center
Friday:
Baseball (JV) vs. Packer (Home)
4:00 PM, TBD
Softball (Varsity) vs. Packer (Away)
4:00 PM, Red Hook #5
Monday: Co-curriculars
Tuesday: Affinity Groups
Wednesday: G Block
Thursday: Morning Meeting
Friday: Senior Speakers
Julian Mailhot
Jaylen Hilario-Peralta
Lucas Kwon
Jada Sanon
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