Hey, good morning, everyone. I'm Kate Baldwin. It's Thursday. April 23rd. Here are the five things you need to know to start your day.

Number one, the Navy Secretary. Just as the President has tasked the U.S. Navy to enforce a massive blockade on Iranian ports, the Secretary of the Navy is being pushed out.

John Phelan, now fired after months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth.

Sources tell CNN Hexseth was apparently frustrated the Navy's shipbuilding program wasn't going fast enough.

Other reporting suggests the simmering tension with Phelan also had to do with his close relationship with President Trump

and that Phelan was seen as going around or bypassing the Secretary of Defense.

And U.S. Central Command says U.S. forces have now redirected 31 vessels and boarded two ships as part of the Iran blockade.

All of this happening as the Navy Secretary is now out. And a third

U.S. aircraft carrier is apparently on its way to the region. Now, the Navy Secretary does not have a

role overseeing deployed forces, but does play a role in working to replenish weapons stockpiles

that have, as we know, been heavily depleted in the course of this war.

Iran, meanwhile, released a video claiming that it shows its forces seizing ships in the

Strait of Hormuz, though experts saw this and flagged that they believe it may be staged.

The White House says recent incidents in and around the strait, though are not violations of the ceasefire.

No, because these were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships.

These were two international vessels. These two ships were taken by speedy gunboats.

Iran has gone from having the most lethal navy in the Middle East to now acting

like a bunch of pirates.

But still able to shut down that massive straight.

Number two, the wildfires. More than 50 homes have burned and another thousand homes are

in danger right now. Wildfires exploding in size in southeast Georgia. These are some of the

first images of the damage coming in as fire officials say it's been a miracle that no one's been

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