Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed

[phkrause]

Insiders Blast Trump’s DOJ for the ‘Worst Case’ Filed Yet

A former FBI official called the indictment of James Comey “preposterous.”

Insiders have labeled the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey as the “worst case” ever filed by the Department of Justice.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Tuesday that two charges had been filed against Comey, a fierce critic of Donald Trump, for allegedly “knowing and willfully making a threat to kill” the President of the United States in a social media post.

The case relates to a photograph posted by Comey on Instagram in May 2015 of seashells arranged in a pattern making the numbers “86 47,″ which the indictment said could be interpreted as a “serious expression of an intent to do harm” to Trump.

86 is sometimes used as a phrase to expel someone from a bar, or get rid of something, while Trump is the 47th president. Comey deleted the post and apologized. “It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down,” he wrote on Instagram.

Comey, 65, reacted to the indictment on Tuesday by saying, “Well, they’re back. This time about a picture of sea shells on a North Carolina beach a year ago. And this won’t be the end of it, but nothing has changed with me.”

He added: “I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary.”

The indictment marks Comey’s second since Trump’s DOJ first accused him of lying to Congress over press leaks last September. Comey was fired by the president in 2017 over the Russia election interference investigation.

CNN host Kaitlan Collins said on Tuesday that she had spoken to a former Department of Justice official who told her, “This might be the worst case DOJ has filed in my lifetime.”

Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Tom Dupree told Collins of the former DOJ official’s assessment, “Well, it’s not in the Top 10 of the best cases they’ve ever filed, I’ll put it that way.”

Dupree, who served in the administration of President George W. Bush, said he believed the indictment was a “direct result” of Blanche getting a message from Trump that he needs to “deliver results” after the failure of his predecessor, Pam Bondi.

“The timing of this, the fact that it happened after that horrific episode on Saturday night, I think probably gave the Justice Department maybe a little extra courage to move ahead with this,” Dupree said.

But he said the indictment was “skeletal” and that it would be a difficult case to win.

“They’re not dealing with a threat that was communicated in explicit language,” Dupree said. “This is not a case where a defendant says, ‘I’m going to kill you.’ Instead, Comey communicated through a code, through a slang, through a shorthand, that on its face doesn’t communicate a threat.”

Dupree noted it was “such a tall order” for prosecutors to move it could “very well get thrown out” before it reaches a jury.

Andrew McCabe, the former deputy director of the FBI, told Anderson Cooper he also questioned the strength of the case and said the bureau should be focused on the “real work” they have to do.

“It boggles my mind that they’re still able to find people inside the department and the FBI... who would actually spend their time working on this thing,” McCabe said, questioning whether staff had been “ordered” to investigate Comey.

“If there were even a legitimate argument that that statement was a threat, do you actually think the Secret Service, after having interviewed him the day after the threat was allegedly made, would have allowed Jim Comey to live his life walking around free, doing nothing for the last year?” McCabe added.

“So you think this guy is actually a legitimate threat to the President of the United States, and you waited a year to arrest him? It’s preposterous. This whole thing is an absolute fraud.”

MS NOW’s Chris Hayes aired Fox News’ analyst Jonathan Turley’s response to the indictment to show “just how ludicrous” it is.

“I have to say I must be in a parallel universe to be talking about the shell artwork of James Comey,” Turley, who is also a constitutional law attorney, said.

“I think that just showing the picture is going to be a weak case in terms of a threat. In my view, it would very likely be viewed as protected speech if it was the basis of a criminal indictment.”

CNN host Laura Coates opened her Tuesday night show by telling viewers, “How they’re able to keep a straight face while writing the indictment, I personally will never know.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/insiders-blast-donald-trumps-doj-for-the-worst-case-filed-yet-after-james-comey-indictment/?

[phkrause]

King Charles III highlights US-UK bond during busy day of diplomacy with Trump and Congress Speaking Tuesday to a joint session of Congress, King Charles III marked the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain with gratitude that the two countries united to build “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.” He also delivered a series of nuanced warnings encouraging leaders in the U.S. to remain collaborative and engaged in global affairs. Charles later joined Trump for a state dinner in the East Room of the White House. Read more.

What to know: Charles’ speech came amid tensions between President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the war in Iran. The king, who is expressly apolitical, never directly criticized Trump. He said the alliance between the U.S. and the U.K. “cannot rest on past achievements.” Charles urged “unyielding resolve” in backing Ukraine against Russia.    The king praised religious pluralism and interfaith dialogue in terms that are rare in Trump’s Washington. And acknowledging a scandal that has roiled politics in both the U.S. and U.K., Charles subtly alluded to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender with ties to British officials, including the king’s brother, Andrew.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Photos show King Charles III and Queen Camilla on a 4-day visit to the US    Royal couple visiting 9/11 Memorial and other NYC landmarks as part of US trip   WATCH: King Charles III says US-UK alliance ‘cannot rest on past achievements’    WATCH: The state dinner toast   WATCH: King Charles III presents Trump with bell from WWII UK submarine ‘HMS Trump’   Starmer averts ethics probe over Mandelson appointment but faces more pressure

[phkrause]

US will issue commemorative passports with Trump’s picture for America’s 250th birthday The concept for the special passport includes a rendering of President Donald Trump’s face, making him the first living president to be featured in the travel document. Read more.

Why this matters: It’s the latest instance of Trump having his name and likeness added to buildings, documents and other highly visible tributes. There are efforts to put Trump’s signature on all new U.S. paper currency, also a first for a sitting president, as well as to include his image on a gold commemorative coin to celebrate the country’s founding.   The commemorative passport will be the default document for people applying in person at the Washington, D.C., passport office. But those who want a standard passport will be able to get one by applying online or outside Washington.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Justice Department legal argument for the White House ballroom reads like a Trump social media post    Many Democrats are stressed out by the news. They still can’t turn away, a new poll finds    Hegseth will be grilled by Congress for the first time since the Iran war began    White House says funds to pay TSA and other Homeland Security workers will ‘soon run out’    Fired prosecutor Maurene Comey’s lawsuit belongs in federal court, judge rules    Fed likely to leave rates unchanged at what may be Powell’s last meeting   US soldier pleads not guilty to using intel on Maduro raid to win $400,000 on Polymarket   California candidates for governor tangle in messy TV debate with mail ballots about to go out    Supreme Court denies appeal of ex-Ohio House speaker’s and lobbyist’s convictions in $60M scheme    Judge questions Trump’s plan to close the Kennedy Center for 2 years

[phkrause]

Trump rejects Iran offer

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images President Trump will maintain his Iran blockade until the regime agrees to address U.S. concerns about its nuclear program, he told Axios' Barak Ravid in a phone interview today — Day 61 of the war. Trump is rejecting an Iranian proposal to first open the Strait of Hormuz, then talk nuclear later. 📱 Trump told Barak: "The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them. They can't have a nuclear weapon." "They want to settle. They don't want me to keep the blockade. I don't want to [lift the blockade], because I don't want them to have a nuclear weapon." 💥 The Pentagon has prepared a plan for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes in hopes of breaking the negotiating deadlock, three sources with knowledge said. For now, Trump still sees the blockade as his primary source of leverage. But he would consider military action if Iran doesn't cave, according to the sources. Go deeper. 💰 NEW: The Iran war has cost taxpayers an estimated $25 billion so far, the Pentagon's top financial official told lawmakers today. Get the latest.

[phkrause]

JFK’s Grandson Enlists Trump Enemy for First Campaign Ad

Jack Schlossberg gets influential support as he tries to win a crowded Democratic primary.

Political newcomer Jack Schlossberg has roped in top Donald Trump nemesis Nancy Pelosi to help boost his congressional credentials.

The grandson of John F. Kennedy has been endorsed by the former House speaker in his first paid ad campaign for his bid for New York’s 12th Congressional District ahead of the busy Democratic primary in June.

As noted by The New York Times, which first reported on the 30-second ad, the 33-year-old descendant of the Kennedy family dynasty using the 86-year-old California Democrat marks a shift in tactics for Schlossberg. Until now, he has painted himself as a fresh-faced alternative to older, more establishment figures in the crowded primary.

However, receiving backing from the still-influential Pelosi may go some way toward suggesting Schlossberg has political clout beyond his family heritage, despite his lack of experience.

“We are living in a time of great consequence. This moment calls for leaders who understand the stakes and how to deliver for the people they serve,” Pelosi said in the ad, set to be broadcast from Wednesday. “Jack Schlossberg is that kind of leader.”

“Jack Schlossberg is giving people something to believe in again. He gives people hope, and because of that, his candidacy will help Democrats across the country.”

Schlossberg is among several candidates hoping to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler in the June primary. Other candidates include New York state assemblymembers Alex Bores and Micah Lasher, former Republican lawyer and prominent Trump critic George Conway, and public health expert Nina Schwalbe.Private polling suggests that Schlossberg—who has reported inherited assets ranging from $10 million to $32 million—holds a narrow lead in the crowded field.

Speaking to the Times, Schlossberg said he turned to Pelosi for support because he still considers her “the backbone of our party.”

“She most importantly understands better than anyone how the House of Representatives works and what the Democratic Party needs right now,” he said.

Schlossberg added that his criticism that the Democratic Party is becoming too old does not apply to the 86-year-old Pelosi, and hopes voters see it that way, too.

“I put her in a category of her own,” he said. “She has magic that doesn’t age. It wins.”

Pelosi and the president have frequently clashed and exchanged insults over the years. This includes Trump calling her an “evil woman” when reacting to news that she would be retiring at the end of her current term in Congress.

Last November, Pelosi also called Trump a “vile creature” and the “worst thing on the face of the Earth” during an interview with CNN.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/jfks-grandson-jack-schlossberg-enlists-donald-trump-enemy-nancy-pelosi-for-first-campaign-ad/?

ps:Never have we had a POTUS that calls his political opponents enemies and has his administration doing the same!!

[phkrause]

Plans to Buy Homes Hit Record Low Under Trump

A grim Gallup poll lays bare America’s collapsing dreams of home ownership under the 47th president.

President Donald Trump’s vow to fix America’s housing crunch is in tatters, with the share of non-owners who expect to buy a home falling to a record low. Just one in four non-owners thinks they’ll get on the property ladder within five years, according to a Gallup poll reported by Semafor—the worst figure logged in more than a decade. 28 percent think it could happen within 10 years, while 45 percent see no path to ownership at all. The early-April survey piles pressure on Trump, 79, with voters fretting over the price of fuel, groceries and a shaky jobs market. Although the White House had hailed cheaper mortgages in the spring, the war with Iran has since rattled any sense of stability. Now 67 percent of those polled say bricks-and-mortar is a poor bet—including 55 percent of Republicans and right-leaning independents, alongside 76 percent of Democrats.

The full poll that should concern Trump. Gallup

https://www.thedailybeast.com/plans-to-buy-homes-hit-record-low-under-donald-trump/?

[phkrause]

Round Two

View in browser

In September, FCC Chair Brendan Carr dangled a simple threat: Either ABC would “take action” against Jimmy Kimmel, or there would be consequences. The network promptly gave in—“Great News,” President Trump wrote at the time—suspending Kimmel’s late-night show only to reinstate it a few days later amid public backlash. Yesterday, just 24 hours after the president and the first lady publicly demanded that Kimmel be fired, the FCC went after the network once again, ordering an early review of all broadcast licenses owned by ABC’s parent company, Disney.

In some ways, the situations rhyme. Both involve direct threats to ABC after a Kimmel joke, and both reveal how the FCC has been reconfigured to act on Trump’s personal grievances. But having failed in its previous attempt to oust Kimmel, the White House has now lost much of its leverage; this time, Disney has less of a reason to cave.

Carr’s threat this past fall was a direct response to a joke the comedian delivered during a monologue, which erroneously implied that Charlie Kirk’s killer had been a member of the MAGA movement. At the time, Republicans were seizing on posthumous criticism of Kirk to try to censor liberal groups, and Elon Musk and other prominent conservatives soon piled on Kimmel. The FCC told me that its latest challenge stems from an ongoing investigation into the network’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, “not any speech.” But the timeline is revealing: The agency ordered the early review a day after the president and first lady expressed their displeasure with a joke Kimmel made on Thursday. (In a riff on the president’s age, the late-night host had said that Melania had “a glow like an expectant widow”; the comment sparked condemnation from MAGA figures after the attempted assassination of top government officials at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night.)

Perhaps the biggest difference between the September fracas and yesterday’s challenge is that now the FCC is actually taking action, exerting regulatory power against Disney in a way it had only threatened to in the past. In the fall, not doing anything turned out to be an advantage for the agency, legally speaking. “A court can’t review an action you don’t take,” my colleague Gilad Edelman, who profiled Carr in November, told me. But if Disney’s lawyers think the company is being illegally targeted this time, they could sue the administration over it.

The FCC says that it has a reason to review all eight of ABC’s broadcast licenses, which were not scheduled to be renewed until 2028 at the earliest. In a filing, David Brown, the head of the agency’s video division, wrote that the early review was essential to the FCC’s ongoing investigation into Disney’s “possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and the FCC’s rules, including the agency’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination.” Discrimination in this context refers to Disney’s DEI policies, which the FCC has suggested might be illegal. It’s unclear what evidence the FCC has for this claim. (Disney denied the allegations and told me that it is prepared to prove its qualifications for the licenses “through the appropriate legal channels.”)

Carr has long criticized legacy media: He’s made repeated comments about what he sees as a “two-tier” media system in this country, in which liberals hold the power and right-wingers are, at least in the case of Kimmel and his peers, often the butt of the joke. Yesterday, Katie Miller, a former White House official and the wife of the Trump adviser Stephen Miller, had Carr on her podcast; the episode’s title—“FCC Chair Brendan Carr DESTROYS Wokeness in Legacy Media & Disney”—sums up his mission.

This mission seems to align with the president’s. During his first term, Trump tweeted that it might be “appropriate to challenge” the licenses of the major news networks, which he saw as peddling “Fake News.” (Critics at the time noticed an echo of President Richard Nixon’s threats to challenge TV licenses during Watergate.) Trump is already used to suing major networks in a personal capacity—he received a $15 million settlement in his lawsuit against ABC News in 2024, and a $16 million settlement in his lawsuit against CBS’s owner, Paramount, last year—but in marshaling regulatory power against ABC and Disney, Carr has given the White House another way to exert control over the media.

Still, Disney and its new CEO, Josh D’Amaro, have some advantages. Last time, local TV affiliates essentially forced its hand. Almost immediately after Carr’s initial comments about Kimmel in the fall, the conservative broadcasters Nexstar and Sinclair said they’d begin replacing Kimmel’s show with other programming. The groups reportedly control more than 25 percent of ABC affiliates across the country and represent 23 percent of all American households. This week, neither Nexstar nor Sinclair nor any other ABC partners have announced plans to replace Kimmel’s show—giving ABC the freedom, at least for now, to push back without the same kind of immediate pressure to acquiesce to the administration.  

Disney emerged stronger from its last tangle with the FCC. The first attack on Kimmel was ultimately good for ratings: The show’s total viewership rose 22 percent this year, and viewers in the coveted 18-to-49-year-old demographic spiked by 45 percent. The institution of late-night comedy has been in decline for decades; ironically, the president may have something to do with keeping Kimmel on the air. But whether Disney comes out on top again may not matter to the White House. Even if this challenge to the company’s licenses doesn’t succeed in the long run, it will create a legal and logistical headache for a longtime enemy of the Trump administration. That may be precisely the point.

ps:Isn't that interesting? So who's actually telling everyone to do what he says or else?? Would that be crime bosses?????

Related:

• Jimmy Kimmel ran right at his critics.
• David Letterman’s reaction to Jimmy Kimmel: “We all see where this is going, correct?”

[phkrause]

Astronauts honored

Fresh off their trip around the moon, the Artemis II astronauts arrived at the Oval Office on Wednesday, where President Donald Trump honored the crew and said there's a "good shot" another person will walk on the moon during his presidency. Trump also highlighted his broader space agenda, touting the creation of the Space Force branch of the military and reiterating plans to release classified material related to UFOs. Read more.

WATCH: Artemis II astronauts welcomed in the Oval Office   Gun control Days after a gunman charged security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in what investigators say was an attempt to kill President Trump using legally owned firearms, his Justice Department is moving to roll back gun control measures. The administration is proposing 34 new rules it says will make it easier for gun sellers to comply with the law, including by adopting a narrower definition of who must be a licensed seller. Read more.   Visa applicants Visa applicants to the US will now be required to affirm they do not fear persecution in their home countries as the Trump administration moves to further limit potential asylum seekers from entering the country. The rule, detailed in a diplomatic cable sent to embassies and consulates this week, comes amid a shift in policies that have upended and restricted immigration to the US. Read more.

[phkrause]

Trump Trolled After Slapping Name on His Biggest Failure

The president has an unwise pick for the next project he wants to name after himself.

Donald Trump has been ridiculed by California Governor Gavin Newsom for suggesting the Strait of Hormuz be renamed after himself, despite it severely hindering his war in Iran.

The 79-year-old president reshared an AI-generated map on Truth Social showing the narrow shipping route between Iran and Oman being renamed the “Strait of Trump.”

The route, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, has been largely closed off by Tehran amid Trump’s war in Iran, triggering a global oil crisis and soaring gas prices in the U.S.

Newsom’s press office, which frequently trolls Trump online, was among those to mock the idea of the president slapping his name on something central to the spiraling Middle East conflict.

“Crude oil is now at $120/barrel and climbing. Americans are paying higher and higher prices,” Newsom’s press office posted on X. “Why won’t President Trump open the Strait of Trump!?”

This is not the first time Trump has appeared eager to rename the Strait of Hormuz after himself. While speaking at a summit in Miami in March, Trump seemed to deliberately mix up the name.

“But they have to open it up. They have to open up the Strait of Trump. I mean, Hormuz,” he said unconvincingly. “Excuse me, I’m so sorry. Such a terrible mistake. Fake News will say ‘he accidentally said.’ No. There’s no accidents with me.”

The former real estate mogul has a long-standing tendency to put his name on properties and business ventures, including hotels, golf resorts, and steaks.

The 79-year-old has continued that habit in office, renaming institutions such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the United States Institute of Peace after himself during his second term.

Trump is also planning to issue new U.S. passports featuring his face as part of the America 250 celebrations and is set to become the first sitting U.S. president to have his signature on banknotes.

Trump’s war in Iran shows little sign of ending, with negotiations largely stalled. Tehran has floated a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade on Iranian imports and delays talks over the country’s nuclear program.

The Trump administration is unwilling to engage in any talks without guarantees that Iran will not pursue a nuclear weapon.

The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-brutally-trolled-after-slapping-name-on-his-biggest-failure-the-strait-of-hormuz/?

[phkrause]

Trump Melts Down at Foe on Truth Social With Bonkers Theory

The announcement did nothing but fuel Trump’s anger.

Donald Trump proposed a wild theory about why Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell chose to stay on as a governor.

Trump, 79, posted on Truth Social about Powell after the 73-year-old confirmed that he would remain a governor on the central bank’s board after his term as chairman expires on May 15.

Powell’s announcement surely irked Trump, who has continually called for his exit, citing his refusal to lower interest rates, which Powell did again on Wednesday. But now Powell is set to be on the board until January 2028, denying Trump a vacancy to fill.

“Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell wants to stay at the Fed because he can’t get a job anywhere else — Nobody wants him," Trump claimed.

Powell, 73, has been chairman of the Federal Reserve since 2018, after Trump nominated him to replace Janet Yellen. He has been on the Board of Governors since 2012, having been nominated by Barack Obama. An attorney and registered Republican, Powell previously worked in the Treasury Department during the George H. W. Bush administration.

On Wednesday, Powell explained that his decision to remain on the board—an untraditional move for a chairman—was due to the Trump administration’s legal attacks on the Federal Reserve Bank.

“I worry that these attacks are battering the institution and putting at risk the thing that really matters to the public, which is the ability to conduct monetary policy without taking into consideration political factors,” Powell said at a news conference. “I plan to keep a low profile as a governor.”

The Justice Department said last Friday that it would drop its investigation into renovations of the Federal Reserve building in downtown Washington, as well as Powell’s testimony about it. A federal judge had previously thrown out DOJ subpoenas related to the probe for lack of merit.

Powell had said weeks ago, according to the New York Times, that he would leave the board of governors once that investigation was “well and truly over, with transparency and finality.”

But Powell said on Wednesday that he wasn’t convinced that this was the end of it.

“I’m waiting for that,” he said, the Times reported. “And I will leave when I think it’s appropriate to do so.”

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a top Trump ally, has said she would “not hesitate” to resume the investigation after hearing back from the Federal Reserve’s internal watchdog.

In the meantime, the Justice Department has tried to push out board governor Lisa Cook, citing allegations of mortgage fraud, which she disputes. Governors can only be removed by the president for “cause.” Cook has sued Trump, and the Supreme Court has yet to decide the matter.

The Federal Reserve Board declined to comment to the Daily Beast.

Trump has frequently called the fed chair “Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell,” on his Truth Social account. In March, he labeled Powell a “moron” who is “hurting our Country, and its National Security” by refusing to cut interest rates.

Other insults have included calling Powell a “numbskull,” a “major loser,” “very dumb,” “incompetent” and a “stubborn moron,” all while calling for him to lose his job.

The pair had an awkward exchange last July when Powell called out Trump’s claims about the cost of the Federal Reserve renovations to his face.

“It looks like it’s about $3.1 billion, it went up a little bit or a lot,” Trump claimed. “So the $2.7 [billion] is now $3.1.”

As the president spoke, Powell shook his head to show he disagreed with the president’s remarks.

“I’m not aware of that, Mr. President,” Powell said.

Powell examined Trump’s paperwork and realized the president was adding in the renovation of the Martin building, which opened in 2021.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-melts-down-at-foe-on-truth-social-with-bonkers-theory/?

[phkrause]

Pentagon Pete Blows Up at Hearing Before Being Shut Up by Republican

The embattled defense secretary couldn’t handle the heat.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth melted down so badly during his congressional hearing on Wednesday that even the committee’s Republican chairman had to calm him down.

As the self-styled “Secretary of War,” 45, was grilled by Democratic members on the House Armed Services Committee about his and President Donald Trump’s highly unpopular war on Iran, one question prompted the hawkish former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host to fly off the handle.

Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio pressed the defense secretary about the U.S. Army service members who survived the March 1 drone strike in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, and told CBS News earlier this month that their unit was “unprepared to provide any defense for itself.”

New York Rep. Pat Ryan, a former Army intelligence officer, had brought up the wounded soldiers a few minutes before Deluzio and had questioned why Hegseth’s public addresses since then had contradicted their reports.

“We all just heard pretty powerful reporting, courtesy of Mr. [Pat] Ryan, from many of our wounded troops who were injured in the attack in Kuwait,” Deluzio, 41, said. “Your spokesperson, Sean Parnell, in response to that reporting, said it was ‘not true.’ Do you agree with that? That he was calling these guys liars?”

The congressman referred to Parnell’s March 3 post on X, where he claimed an initial report from the outlet about the “makeshift office space” where the troops were killed was “not true.”

“I’m not calling our troops liars, and I don’t know if what you’re representing is correct or not,” Hegseth replied. “I’ll take you at your word on that.”The Pentagon chief then rambled on about how his military had made “every effort possible” to “ensure the defense of our troops” before the congressman tried to get him back on track to answer his initial question.

“I’m gonna pause you there,” the former U.S. Navy officer told Hegseth as he tried to get a word in.

“Was our concern that something could get through? Absolutely,” Hegseth interrupted. “But no. You’re disparaging me that I don’t care about the passing of—"

“I’m asking you whether you think they’re liars or not,” Deluzio interjected. “That’s what I asked you.”

“No. You and you are disparaging me, saying that I don’t care about the passing of our troops,” Hegseth replied, pointing at Deluzio and Ryan, two Democratic veterans on the committee.

“Nope. I asked if you thought they were liars,” Deluzio said.

“That’s disparaging and smearing in every way. Nobody cares more about the fate of our troops. Nobody cares about the health of our troops. Nobody wants to bring them more than I do,” Hegseth said, pointing at himself.

The committee’s Republican chairman, Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers, tried to calm Hegseth’s mounting anger with multiple interjections of “Mr. Secretary.”

“I understand, but he controls the time. He controls the time. You get to control your answer,” Rogers, 67, told Hegseth.

Reached for comment on Hegseth’s remarks about the Port Shuaiba strike, the Pentagon said that “the incident is under investigation,” and referred the Daily Beast to Parnell’s March 3 post.In the 60 days since the U.S.-Israeli joint offensive against Iran began on Feb. 28, 13 American service members have been killed and hundreds more have been wounded as a result of the conflict, according to the Pentagon.As the conflict that the president initially estimated to take “four to six weeks” stretches into its ninth, and U.S. ships’ blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as an indefinite ceasefire continues, it’s unclear when Trump’s war will finally be put to rest.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pete-hegseth-blows-up-at-hearing-before-being-shut-up-by-republican-committee-chair/?

[phkrause]

Republican Gov Will Cancel Votes in Insane Racial Power Grab

The governor of Louisiana reportedly plans to cancel the state’s upcoming primary elections.

The Republican governor of Louisiana is jumping on the Supreme Court’s evisceration of voting rights to cancel the state’s upcoming primary elections to help avert a humiliating defeat for Donald Trump at the midterms.

The high court ruled 6-3 along partisan lines on Wednesday to strike down Louisiana’s voting map, with the conservative majority finding that lawmakers had unlawfully factored in race when creating a new majority-Black district in the state.

The decision prompted a quick response from Gov. Jeff Landry, who is determined to redraw the voting maps to grab his party another seat in Congress.

The court’s conservative justices insisted that the ruling still preserved a central tenet of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson at the height of the civil rights movement to end racial discrimination in elections.

But the three liberal justices disagreed, arguing that the court had eliminated one of the last meaningful protections established by the landmark law.

In her dissen

Justice Elena Kagan wrote, “I dissent because the court’s decision will set back the foundational right Congress granted of racial equality in electoral opportunity. I dissent.”

Republicans in Louisiana jumped into action, ready to seize the opportunity presented by the ruling, according to the Washington Post.

It said Landry, a MAGA favorite who also serves as Trump’s envoy to Greenland, told House Republican candidates he is planning to suspend next month’s primary elections in order to give state lawmakers enough time to pass a new congressional map, according to two people with knowledge of the calls.

The primaries are currently scheduled for May 16. People familiar with the plans said that Landry’s announcement could come as early as Friday, one day before early voting was set to begin.

The Daily Beast has contacted the governor’s office for comment. A spokesperson for Landry declined to comment when contacted by the Washington Post.

Earlier on Wednesday, Landry said that the Supreme Court’s ruling had “affirmed what we have said for years: drawing districts for political reasons is the States’ prerogative, not a federal civil rights violation.”

As a result of the ruling, the Republican Party is expected to gain one or two House seats in the upcoming midterm elections.

Landry’s efforts mirror those of his fellow Republicans around the country, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

Shortly after the verdict was announced on Wednesday, Blackburn shared a message for her state legislature on X.

“I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis. It’s essential to cement @realDonaldTrump’s agenda and the Golden Age of America,” Blackburn wrote.

“I’ve vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I’ll do everything I can to make this map a reality‚” she added. Blackburn is running for governor in November’s gubernatorial election.

UCLA law professor Richard Hasen, who is director of the school’s Safeguarding Democracy Project, told the Washington Post that Landry’s plan did not appear to violate any federal voting laws.

“It’s naked partisanship, but under the Supreme Court’s approach to voting now, naked partisanship is more of a defense than an indictment,” Hasen said.

The Supreme Court’s ruling, and Landry’s subsequent push, come as gerrymandering fights across the country ramp up ahead of the midterm elections in November, where the GOP hopes to hold onto its slim majority.

Responding to the ruling, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “Voter suppression is a way of life for Donald Trump and far right extremists on the Supreme Court. Republicans know they cannot win a free and fair election in November and so they are desperate to rig it. We will never let them succeed.”

Republicans have thus far managed to redraw 13 districts across five states in their favor, while Democrats have done so in nine districts across three states.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/louisianas-republican-governor-jeff-landry-will-cancel-votes-in-insane-racial-power-grab/?

[phkrause]

Hegseth faces a second day of Democrats grilling him over the Iran war Making his first appearance before Congress since the Trump administration went to war against Iran, Hegseth battled with Democrats — and some Republicans — on Wednesday in a nearly six-hour House Armed Services Committee hearing probing him over the war. Hegseth will face questioning in the Senate on Thursday. Read more.

Why this matters: While Republicans focused on the details of military budgeting and voiced support for the Iran operation, Democrats grilled Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about the ballooning costs of the war, which has cost $25 billion so far, according to Pentagon numbers. Democratic lawmakers also focused on the huge drawdown of critical U.S. munitions and the bombing of a school that killed children.   Hegseth dismissed the criticism as political and rebuked lawmakers who pushed him for answers. Hegseth refused to answer questions about how much longer the war would last or how much more it could cost.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Skeptical Democrats confront Hegseth   Trump says he is weighing reducing American troop presence in Germany after Iran feud    USS Ford aircraft carrier will be heading home after record-breaking deployment    Supreme Court ruling will reshape American politics. The only question is when   Correspondents dinner shooter case raises concerns about security on trains    Defying protocol, Trump relays details of private conversation with King Charles III   Full federal appeals court won’t rehear $83 million defamation verdict against Trump    Do you prefer to pay income taxes or sales taxes? Missouri voters will get to choose   3 family members assaulted Turning Point USA journalist at Minnesota protest, indictment says    Supreme Court mulls Trump administration push to end protections for migrants from Haiti and Syria    Florida legislature approves new congressional map intended to boost Republicans in midterms    Cultural groups urge federal judge to block Kennedy Center renovations   WATCH: Mamdani says he would encourage King Charles to ‘return the Koh-i-Noor diamond’

[phkrause]

US blockade is squeezing Iran’s all-important oil industry With no way to export the oil it is pumping out and diminishing room to store it at home, Iran may be forced to dramatically reduce or cease production from some of its wells, perhaps beginning in as little as two weeks, experts say. Read more.

Why this matters: Already Iran appears to have begun dialing back production, analysts say. According to Miad Maleki, a former sanctions expert at the U.S. Treasury, Iran’s leaders “are really resisting” shutting down oil wells because of how painful that would be long-term. Once shut down, production from the aging wells may not be restarted so easily, if at all.   With its oil trade constrained, Iran is seeing less hard currency flow back into an economy mauled by weeks of war, months of unrest and decades of international sanctions. The pressure is building as the U.S. Treasury Department ratchets up sanctions on Iranian oil shipments already at sea. The U.S. military has seized at least two tankers off Asia believed to be carrying Iranian oil.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Brent crude surges over $120 a barrel on Iran war worries   Iran’s rial currency hits record low   WATCH: Trump cheers UAE’s plan to exit OPEC

[phkrause]

Top Trump Aide Is Mysteriously Sidelined as White House Splits

The former DOGE official has been banished far from the White House.

A top aide whose portfolio included some of President Donald Trump’s most high-profile foreign policy work has suddenly been sidelined, cutting short his meteoric rise in the administration. Josh Gruenbaum, a 40-year-old former Wall Street executive, was among billionaire Elon Musk’s allies placed with the General Services Administration as part of DOGE, the nebulous cost-cutting task force. He used that position to forge a close relationship with Trump’s special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, originally helping them negotiate a ceasefire deal in Gaza, Politico reported.

Gruenbaum then leveraged that assignment into a broader portfolio working alongside Kushner and Witkoff—both real estate developers with no prior foreign policy experience, but with close personal ties to Trump—during failed peace talks involving Russia and Iran.

In January, he joined Kushner and Witkoff for a meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

He began seeking an office in the White House and was under consideration for a more formal role, only to be quietly taken off most of his foreign policy assignments sometime in the past week or so, according to Politico.

Now, he’ll be at Trump’s United Nations knock-off, the Board of Peace, working only on Gaza issues and physically removed from the center of power, sources told the outlet.

The move comes after Gruenbaum’s relentless self-promotion and abrasive work style alienated some of Trump’s other senior advisers in the West Wing and beyond, according to Politico.

“This is a guy that a couple of months ago, Steve and Jared brought to meet Putin, and now he’s gonna be sharing an office with Kristi Noem, basically,” one source said, referring to Trump’s disgraced former secretary of Homeland Security.

The president fired Noem from her Cabinet position last month following a series of scandals.

He named her the U.S. envoy to the Shield of the Americas in a role that supposedly has her combating drug cartels, but that sources previously told the Daily Beast was designed to keep her from running for the Senate in her native South Dakota.

Both the Board of Peace and Noem’s office are in the Institute of Peace building a mile from the West Wing.

Trump launched the board earlier this year, soliciting members and naming himself as chairman—which in turn gives him significant power over the group’s charter, membership, finances, and decision-making—to oversee reconstruction of Gaza, where the president has vowed to create a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

Most of the U.S.’s allies have refused to join the group, whose executive board includes both Witkoff and Kushner.

The two envoys reportedly remain Gruenbaum’s allies, but didn’t try to interfere with his demotion, according to Politico.

In a statement, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told the outlet that Gruenbaum “will continue to advance the President’s agenda of enhancing stability in his role at the Board of Peace.”

Board of Peace spokesperson Brad Klapper said the organization was “very grateful to have Josh helping us advance one of the president’s signature foreign policy objectives: peace and prosperity in the Middle East.”

The Daily Beast has also reached out for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/top-donald-trump-aide-josh-gruenbaum-is-mysteriously-sidelined-as-white-house-splits/?

[phkrause]

MAGA’s Voting Rights Power Grab Blows Up in Their Faces

Republicans think the Supreme Court handed them a big win but the math says something different.

Republicans are overselling a Supreme Court ruling that hands the party a redistricting victory in Louisiana, analysts have warned.

President Donald Trump crowed that the case was a “BIG WIN,” after a 6-3 majority ruled that Louisiana relied too heavily on race when it redrew its congressional map in 2024.

But while the court agreed that the state’s newly drawn Black-majority congressional district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, analysts are warning the GOP not to pop the champagne just yet.“The math is not jiving with that kind of attitude,” Cook Political Report analyst Matthew Klein told Playbook. “I mean, it’s helpful for Republicans. But is it some seismic, permanent majority that will hand them the House for 40 years, like the Dems had in the latter half of the 1900s? No. It will move a few seats to the right.”

With the midterms six months away and the ruling less than 24 hours old, the frantic calculations in Washington are focused on raw seat counts. But, even in the most optimistic scenario for Republicans, none of the experts Playbook consulted believed the ruling would net the GOP more than a handful of House seats in November.

“The median outcome is probably one to two,” Klein said. “Possibly zero. Possibly, I suppose, as many as three to four in the very best-case scenario.” J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, agreed, saying that “if Republicans are maximally aggressive in Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina, they could gain up to four more seats this fall.”

A swing of four seats could matter. The past three House elections have all delivered single-digit majorities. But even that best-case ceiling would put the ruling roughly on par with the Democratic redistricting plan for Virginia, or the GOP redraw that cleared Florida’s state senate.

Louisiana will now enter another round of map-drawing, with the outcome far from certain—and the courts likely to remain deeply involved. Indeed, Trump thanked Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito for helping to deliver the win.

“Thank you to brilliant Justice Samuel Alito for authoring this important and appropriate Opinion. Congratulations!” he wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.

Some analysts see it as the eroding of democracy, spearheaded by conservative judges Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.

“This is the culmination of Roberts’ and Alito’s hostility toward the landmark Voting Rights Act that they have harbored since early on in their careers. They have been fully aligned and headed toward the same destination for years, eroding and ultimately destroying these vital protections,” Lisa Graves, founder of True North Research, told The Guardian.

The result in Louisiana v. Callais weakens a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, potentially allowing Republicans to dismantle majority-minority congressional districts across the South. Justice Elena Kagan, in a dissent joined by justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, wrote that the decision effectively kills the law.

Terri Sewell, who represents one of Alabama’s two Black congressional districts, is at risk of losing her seat as a result.

“People in my hometown fought, braved, died, marched for the right of all Americans to vote,” Sewell, who represents Alabama’s seventh congressional district, said just before the decision was finalized. “And I know I wouldn’t be here, were it not for the Voting Rights Act. I mean, actually, all Black elected officials. It’s pretty frightening to think that on our collective watch, we’re going backwards and not forwards.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/magas-voting-rights-power-grab-blows-up-in-their-faces/?

[phkrause]

Desperate Trump Is Now Begging Allies Who Snubbed Him for Help

The president has been forced into a humiliating U-turn after his threats and boasts failed to work.

Donald Trump is desperately calling on other countries to help end the Strait of Hormuz crisis sparked by the president’s war with Iran.

The Trump administration is issuing a request for allies to join an international coalition, called the “Maritime Freedom Construct,” to help reopen the vital shipping route and end the global oil crisis.

The allies he is now begging for help are the same ones he has frequently attacked and threatened for refusing to get sucked into his war. A month ago, in his address to the nation, Trump declared that the Strait of Hormuz was not his problem and U.S. allies would need to resolve it themselves.

Since then, oil prices have spiked to a four-year high and Trump’s approval rating has hit record lows.

The new plans were outlined in an internal State Department cable sent to U.S. embassies, along with a plea for diplomats to try to convince foreign governments to sign up, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“Your participation will strengthen our collective ability to restore freedom of navigation and protect the global economy,” the cable said. “Collective action is essential to demonstrate unified resolve and impose meaningful costs on Iranian obstruction of transit through the Strait.”

Trump is becoming increasingly isolated as some of the top U.S. allies, such as Canada, France, the U.K., and Germany, refuse to be dragged into the war in Iran or assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Last month, Trump told U.S. allies who are suffering an oil shortage because of the Iran war that they should “just TAKE IT” themselves.

“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” Trump posted in a typically deranged Truth Social post.

Trump has also threatened to remove U.S. troops from Germany after the country’s chancellor said America was being “humiliated” by Iran. “The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Trump posted Tuesday. “I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago.”

The erratic 79-year-old president has even threatened to pull the U.S. out of the NATO military alliance unless other countries join his deeply unpopular conflict.

The administration is now renewing its calls for help to allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz—through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally flows—as part of its Maritime Freedom Construct plans.

The MFC will be a joint venture between the State Department and U.S. Central Command. The State Department will serve as the diplomatic hub, while CENTCOM will provide “real-time maritime domain awareness” for commercial shipping, as well as share information with partner militaries.

While the Maritime Freedom Construct isn’t strictly a military coalition, the cable urges U.S. officials to ask potential partners whether they would like to be a “diplomatic and/or military partner,” the Journal reported.

A White House spokesperson later confirmed to the Daily Beast: “While the United States leverages its military might to continue its successful blockade on Iranian ports, the Maritime Freedom Construct will simultaneously engage with partner nations to share information and socialize diplomatic and economic actions to impose costs on Iran’s attempts to subvert the free flow of energy.

“This is one of many diplomatic and policy resources at the president’s disposal to ensure that Iran cannot hold the world’s energy hostage.”

Talks between Washington and Tehran to end the now two-month-long conflict have largely stalled.

Iran has proposed a deal that would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen if the U.S. ends its naval blockade of Iranian ports and delays negotiations over the country’s nuclear program.

The Trump administration says it is not interested in ending the war or reopening the Strait without guarantees that Iran will not attempt to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Trump has also warned officials he is prepared to keep the naval blockade in place for an “extended” period as part of his pressure campaign against Iran, the Journal previously reported.

The president believes maintaining the blockade will be more effective than escalating the conflict or simply walking away from the conflict while the Strait remains closed.

When asked by reporters on Wednesday whether he would be prepared to keep the blockade in place for “several months,” Trump replied: “Well, the blockade is genius, OK, the blockade has been 100 percent foolproof. It shows how good our Navy is. I can tell you that nobody’s going to play games.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/snubbed-donald-trump-makes-desperate-call-for-help-fixing-iran-war-mess/?

[phkrause]

Trump pulls Casey Means’ stalled surgeon general nomination. New pick is radiologist Nicole Saphier

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he’s nominating radiologist and former Fox News Channel contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier for surgeon general after Dr. Casey Means’ path forward stalled in the Senate over questions about her experience and her stance on vaccines.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-surgeon-general-means-saphier-cebadfb452fb577b6cd5254e2e55d86b?

Trump signs bill funding the Department of Homeland Security, ending record shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump swiftly signed a bipartisan legislation Thursday to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, but not its immigration enforcement operations, shortly after the package won final approval in the House, ending the longest agency shutdown in history.

https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-funding-trump-republicans-d377a15c40ad0f430983b6d918b24bb6?

[phkrause]

Caught in a Vice Grip

View in browser

Staying in Donald Trump’s good graces while also protecting your own political future requires supreme political agility, and most people who try end up failing at both. Just ask Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Paul Ryan, and any number of other faded GOP stars—if you can find them. Vice President Vance hasn’t mastered this balance either.

Earlier this week, The Atlantic reported that during private meetings, Vance “has repeatedly questioned the Defense Department’s depiction of the war in Iran and whether the Pentagon has understated what appears to be the drastic depletion of U.S. missile stockpiles.” Vance’s inquiries echo concerns from some others inside the administration, as well as voices in Congress and elsewhere, who warn about American military readiness.

Public figures occasionally deliver what’s known as a “non-denial denial,” in which they try to throw cold water on a claim without actually saying it’s false, but yesterday on Will Cain’s Fox News show, the vice president delivered something that might be entirely new: a confirmation-denial. Vance called The Atlantic’s reporting false and then pivoted instantly to verifying that it was true.

“Most of these reports I ignore. This one I actually read because it ascribed views to me and things that I had allegedly said that I am just 100 percent certain that I have never said,” Vance stated. “Now to answer your question, Will, of course I am concerned about our readiness, because that is my job to be concerned.” He added: “It’s of course my job to ask these questions.”

(Vance has a hot-and-cold relationship with The Atlantic. On Fox News he said, “Don’t believe everything you read, especially in papers like The Atlantic.” But he knows full well that this is a magazine, not a newspaper. After all, he pitched an article here in July 2016. In the essay, he portrayed himself as a thinker who could stand up to Trump’s demagoguery—so perhaps he has a point about not believing everything you read in The Atlantic.)

This is Vance’s latest attempt to stake out a sustainable position on the war in Iran. He hasn’t succeeded yet. Although the vice president has displayed a great deal of ideological flexibility during his career, one of the few consistencies has been his opposition to foreign military interventions. At the start of the campaign against Iran two months ago, Vance made himself scarce, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared often with Trump. When the vice president eventually emerged, it was to give tepid defenses of the war. Trump even acknowledged that Vance was “maybe less enthusiastic” about it than other advisers. That’s one reason that Iran specifically requested Vance as an interlocutor for negotiations, in which Tehran has so far obtained a cease-fire without relinquishing control of the Strait of Hormuz or giving up its nuclear program.

In asking questions about munitions, Vance is trying to quietly shape the war. (He’s right to say that a prudent vice president should be raising issues such as the adequacy of missile stores.) And if he wants to have a future in politics after Trump leaves office, he needs to maintain his long-held political identity as an anti-war politician, and would be wise to keep some distance from this deeply unpopular war, which threatens to torpedo the global economy, leave Iran’s regime in a stronger strategic position, and set back American interests in the region for years or decades. But Vance has to do those things in a way that maintains his publicly sycophantic stance toward Trump and echoes the president’s bombastic attacks on the press.

This would challenge even a skilled communicator, and Vance—as he demonstrated once more yesterday—is not one of those.

Related:

• The Pentagon may not be giving Trump the full picture of the war.
• J. D. Vance learns what Mike Pence already knows.

ps:How sad! But they never seem to learn!! He throws everybody under the bus, he cares for no one but himself!!!!

[phkrause]

💵 Trump expands retirement plan access

President Trump issued an executive order yesterday that expands access to retirement accounts for workers who don't get 401(k)s, Axios' Emily Peck reports.

• Why it matters: The order could be a game-changer for millions of lower-income Americans. It has a surprising amount of bipartisan support.

It's the kind of thing that many salaried types get from their employers.

• But about 54 million Americans lack access to an employer-based retirement plan, according to data from the centrist Economic Innovation Group, which floated the idea in 2021 and had worked behind the scenes with the White House.

Catch up quick: A law passed under former President Biden set up a small amount of matching funds for low-earning workers who put money into a retirement plan.

• The "saver's match" was set to take effect next year, and would give up to $1,000 in matching funds to certain workers who contribute $2,000 a year to an IRA.
• Trump is building off that to create a system where people can more easily sign up for retirement accounts, via a coming web portal, TrumpIRA.gov.
• The plans on offer will be vetted by the Treasury Department, and modeled on the well-regarded Thrift Savings Plan used by more than 6 million federal employees — typically low-fee index funds.

Yes, but: Advocates say the real game-changer for these workers would be a more robust match and automatic enrollment. But that requires legislation.

• White House fact sheet ... Executive order ...

[phkrause]

🥃 Whiskey diplomacy

President Trump announced yesterday on Truth Social that he'd drop all tariffs and restrictions on whiskey imports after the D.C. visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla:

• "The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking! A wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A."
• Cheers! Buckingham Palace said Charles "will be raising a dram to the President's thoughtfulness," per the BBC.

🏇 Another winner: Kentucky's bourbon industry, which had suffered from both retaliatory tariffs and a disruption of its supply of used barrels to Scotland for aging whiskey.

• Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), the chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, called it an "important victory for our signature Kentucky bourbon industry."

[phkrause]

Trump administration says its war in Iran has been ‘terminated’ before 60-day deadline The administration is arguing that the war has already ended because of the ceasefire that began in early April. This interpretation would allow the White House to avoid seeking congressional approval of military action. Read more.

Why this matters: Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the law that sought to constrain a president’s military powers, President Donald Trump had until Friday to seek congressional authorization or cease fighting.   The Trump administration’s statement furthers an argument laid out by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during testimony in the Senate earlier Thursday, when he said the ceasefire effectively paused the war. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who had asked Hegseth about the timeline, later told reporters that the argument “certainly has no legal support.”

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Republicans say they will defer to Trump on Iran war despite arrival of 60-day deadline    Takeaways from Hegseth’s first hearings in Congress since the start of Iran war    Trump gives go-ahead to major new Canada-US oil pipeline    Senate bans its own members and staff from betting in prediction markets    Florida Republicans slice and dice congressional districts: How a new map could cost Democrats seats    Trump administration defers $91M more in Minnesota Medicaid funding citing fraud vulnerabilities    Unorthodox leadership change at the Fed: Warsh on deck while Powell remains    Trump says he’s lifting certain tariffs on Scotch whisky after royal visit

[phkrause]

Trump Goons Try New Word to Hide His Biggest Catastrophe

The administration is getting creative with its language.

The White House has backed Pete Hegseth after the self-styled “Secretary of War” clashed with senators about the status of Donald Trump’s war on Iran.

The Trump administration has been at pains to suggest that Operation Epic Fury, which kicked off 62 days ago on Feb. 28, is not a war, because that would require congressional approval. However, any military action that extends beyond 60 days is subject to approval regardless.

To bypass this requirement, the administration has gotten creative. It is now arguing that the war-not-war is over because no fire has been exchanged since a two-week ceasefire began on April 7. For purposes of that law, “the hostilities that began on Saturday, Feb. 28 have terminated,” a senior administration official told Associated Press.

However, the official was contradicted by Trump, who, on Thursday, told reporters that soaring gas prices would “drop like ⁠a rock” as soon as the conflict ended—implying the war is not yet over.

The spike has been driven by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a channel that links Gulf oil to the rest of the world.

The Daily Beast asked the White House whether Operation Epic Fury has indeed been “terminated,” and whether the administration intends to seek congressional approval for any future missions.

A senior administration official did not answer specific questions, instead recycling the same points that were given to AP.

The line from the official is a response to the War Powers Resolution, a law designed to limit a president’s military powers. Under this legislation, President Donald Trump had until Friday to seek congressional authorization or stop the fighting.

The War Powers Resolution contains a process for extending the deadline by 30 days.

Defense Secretary Hegseth took a slightly different tack, saying on Thursday it was his “understanding” that the ceasefire paused the 60-day countdown.

He said this during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday after he was pressed on a timeline by the Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine. Kaine later called the argument “very novel” with no legal grounds.

But it wasn’t just Democrats rankled by the Machiavellian approach from the administration. “That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement,” said Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican.

Collins voted in favor of a measure that would end military action in Iran, because Congress hadn’t given its approval. She added that “further military action against Iran must have a clear mission, achievable goals, and a defined strategy for bringing the conflict to a close.”

A former Trump official said he has suggested a workaround to current officials. Richard Goldberg served as director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destruction for the National Security Council during Trump’s first term. He said he has advised the current administration to simply transition from Epic Fury to a new operation.

He suggested the name “Epic Passage,” and said it could be a self-defense mission focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while “reserving the right to offensive action in support of restoring freedom of navigation.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-goon-rolls-out-new-word-to-break-war-rule/?

[phkrause]

Dem Star, 23, Takes Victory Lap for Jennings’ F-Bomb Meltdown

Adam Mockler said the MAGA pundit “loves to dish it but can’t take it.”

The young Democratic star who provoked Scott Jennings into an F-bomb tirade live on air clapped back at the right-wing pundit with a social media victory lap.

Trump ally Jennings, 48, was seated next to progressive commentator Adam Mockler, 23, on CNN’s NewsNight with Abby Phillip on Thursday.

The mismatched pair got off to a bumpy start when Mockler asked Jennings to “name a single political concession” the U.S. had got from Iran since Donald Trump ordered air strikes on the Middle Eastern country on Feb. 28.

Jennings addressed Mockler—who is half his age—in a patronizing tone: “When you get up past your bedtime, you get hyper.”

The pair then argued about the length of the war, with Jennings following up on his “bedtime” insult by claiming Mockler had “the attention span of a gnat.”

Mockler, who has 2 million subscribers on YouTube, called Jennings “homie” and pointed out his “condescending remarks.” Using his hands to gesticulate, Mockler again asked Jennings, “Name me one political concession...”

A furious Jennings snapped at Mockler, “Get your f---ing hand out of my face, first of all!”

Host Phillip intervened: “Hey, hey, whoa, whoa, whoa guys, excuse me!”

Jennings retorted, “I’m not going to have this guy’s hand in my face.”

Phillip again interjected, “Alright, Scott, let’s not...”

After NewsNight aired, Mockler posted about Jennings’ TV tirade on social media.

“Scott Jennings claimed I got in his face,” Mockler wrote, posting the full segment for his followers to see “what actually happened.”

He added that Jennings “throws a personal jab... then folds the second he gets pressed. Scott loves to dish it but can’t take it.”

He also posted on X in reference to Jennings, “Grown man on the verge of tears because he can’t answer a question.” Mockler also commented on an Instagram story covering the feud, insisting, “My hand wasn’t even in his face.”

Mockler also reposted a supportive tweet that read, “SCOTT JENNINGS GOT RAGE BAITED SO HARD ON CNN TONIGHT LMFAO!”

Gavin Newsom’s Press Office X account shared a picture of the exchange, with a snowflake replacing Jennings’ face and added a caption in mocking case, “gEt YoUr hANd oUt oF mY FaCE.”

Progressive media company MeidasTouch posted on X, “Scott Jennings absolutely LOSES IT on air while getting shut down by Adam Mockler over the Iran war—then starts cursing him out when he realizes he has no good response.“

They added it was “Absolutely UNHINGED behavior!”

Mockler and Jennings have a history of getting personal on NewsNight.

During a discussion in April, Mockler said the war could turn into a “military treadmill” in an attempt to retrieve uranium, with National Security Analyst Alex Plitsas pointing out Iran are still a threat due to their use of drones.

“This is the funniest clip you’ll see all day,” Mockler posted on X. “Scott Jennings tries to use a military analyst to fact check me... and the analyst ends up backing me up on everything. WHOOPS!”

A YouTube video Mockler posted in March titled “I Made a MAGA Stooge SNAP on LIVE TV...” has had over 1.3 million views.

The Daily Beast has contacted CNN for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/dem-star-adam-mockler-23-takes-victory-lap-for-scott-jennings-tirade/?

[phkrause]

‘60 Minutes’ Star Spills on MAGA-Coded CBS Plot to Censor Truth

“Some executives are asking not, ‘Is the story true?’ But, ‘Is it good for business?’” Sharyn Alfonsi said.

The 60 Minutes correspondent responsible for a shelved report about a notorious jail used to house Trump deportees has blamed the decision on a culture of “corporate meddling and editorial fear” in the CBS newsroom.

Sharyn Alfonsi’s report on El Salvador’s CECOT megaprison was originally due to air in December but was abruptly pulled by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, who said the segment needed input from Trump administration officials.

In a leaked memo to her colleagues at the time, Alfonsi defended the segment. “Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices,” she wrote. “It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now—after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.”

The report was eventually aired in January, with Alfonsi telling viewers, “Since November, 60 Minutes has made several attempts to interview key Trump administration officials on camera about our story,” she said. “They declined our requests.”

Appearing at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night to accept the Ridenhour Courage Prize, Alfonsi spoke publicly about the saga for the first time.

“I will not linger on the internal mechanics of the dust-up at CBS that led to our CECOT story being pulled, but we have to be honest about what it represents,” Alfonsi said, according to the Guardian.

“It wasn’t an isolated editorial argument. In my view, it was the result of a more aggressive contagion: the spread of corporate meddling and editorial fear. It’s hard to watch.”

Alfonsi then relayed some advice she was given to “never talk down to the audience. They’re smart. They get it.”

“Well, they are smart. I believe they can tell the difference between a sanitized story and an unflinching report,” Alfonsi said.

“After our CECOT was told, our team at 60 Minutes was huddled together trying to figure out: what do we do next? We were arguing as we often do, and we were plotting, as we often do. And then, somehow, the story leaked and it aired in Canada. I swear we had nothing to do with it,” she added while laughing.

She also discussed “corporate calculations” taking place at media companies, observing, “Some executives are asking not, ‘Is the story true?’ But, ‘Is it good for business?’”

Explaining why she refused to make any changes to her report, Alfonsi said it was factually correct and she felt “any change to it might reflect poorly on CBS and 60 Minutes.”

“Because our audience is smart, they would view any change to the story as capitulation or censorship.”

“My stance did not make my new bosses very happy … I believe I was doing my job, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared.”

Alfonsi also argued that the media industry is worried about the wrong things, including offending those in power, losing access, or lawsuits.

“What we should all be afraid of is silence,” she countered, explaining that, as she learned at her first job, as a waitress, “there is a fine line between being a team player and being an accomplice.”

The Daily Beast has contacted CBS News for comment.

Alfonsi joked about her future at the network, expressing gratitude for her award and hope that she will still have a job.

“Thank you for this award,” she said. “I didn’t know that the theme was hope. My hope recently has been that I still have a job. And every morning I wake up to another headline that says I’ve been fired.”

“If I am fired, it will not be the first time,” she added, referring to her short-lived waitressing career.

Alfonsi is not the first 60 Minutes star to speak publicly about the crisis at the network since the MAGA-friendly Weiss was installed by nepo-billionaire David Ellison.

Correspondent Norah O’Donnell said in a February interview that CBS has seen a lot of leadership changes, which have been “challenging.”

“I think with so many leadership changes, people are fearful about what the future means.”

Veteran reporter Scott Pelley criticized the former owners of CBS News for caving in the face of significant pressure from President Donald Trump and settling his lawsuit over the editing of a Kamala Harris interview for $16 million.

“Our previous owners at CBS faced political pressure and crumbled‚” he said at the National Press Foundation’s annual journalism awards in March.

The show lost its biggest star when Anderson Cooper declined to renew his contract with the program in February, instead opting to focus on his work with CNN, and his family.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/60-minutes-star-spills-maga-coded-cbs-plot-to-censor-truth/?