'Capitulating' Trump just handed Iran another 'huge win': expert

05/07/26 1:42 PM

According to MS NOW national security analyst David Rohde, what is known about the rumored one-page memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran to halt the war is less than being advertised and the advantages still lie with the war-torn country.Appearing on “Morning Joe,” Rohde praised the work of the negotiators but also claimed that the increasingly desperate American president is backing off many of his earlier demands which plays into the hands of Iran’s leadership.Addressing questions from co-host Jonathan Lemire, Rohde explained, “I just think flat out this: I just want to call it a 30-day, one page agreement is a win for Iran. It's a huge win. They have stood up to the United States. And we can talk about that in more detail.”“I keep getting told that the Iranian and Israeli officials are saying there's deep divides inside the Iranian government, but American officials are telling me that that's not true, that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is in firm control, firmer control than they were before the war. And one congressional official just called it a military dictatorship. And I fear that this pursuit of somehow moderates or other people is not really there, that they're being told these things [and] the administration, they believe it.”“And lastly, this one-page agreement is not a peace deal,” he asserted and then repeated, “This is not a peace deal. This is an extension of a ceasefire that several weeks ago, the president said there was no end of the ceasefire. The president keeps capitulating. He said before, you know, this is like several weeks ago, he's like, ‘You know, we're going to have a ceasefire for two weeks.’ And when that ends, he's like, ‘Actually, the ceasefire will continue with no end date.’ And then the pinnacle, pivotal thing was this: this Project Freedom to open the Strait of Hormuz by force. That was the most aggressive, I think, and the most effective move by the U.S. military; it worked. And then he calls it off after 24 hours. And so that's again, a huge win for Iran.” - YouTube youtu.be

'Get the children away': Outrage breaks out over Trump's startling remarks around kids

05/05/26 8:13 PM

People were stunned on Tuesday after President Donald Trump started touting his unpopular Iran war and discussing it in front of a group of children in the Oval Office. The kids were at the White House to celebrate Trump's signing of a proclamation to restore the Presidential Fitness Test award, and in the press briefing, the president ranted about trans athletes in youth sports, then attempted to make his case for the Middle East conflict.Media experts were astounded by Trump's comments, with some calling out the president for his misinformation and decision to talk with children about adult topics. "He’s the LeBron James of being weird around kids," political commentator Evan loves Worf wrote on X."These are lies. And children are being exposed," Scott MacFarlane, MeidasTouch chief Washington correspondent, wrote on X."T***p's third term can be Santa Claus at the mall where unsuspecting children could sit on his lap all day long," author Joyce Carol Oates wrote on X. "He needs an R rating," Heather Thomas, actor and activist, wrote on X."I thought the whole ~*thing*~ the right was mad about for years was kids being made aware that some people transition," media strategist Ari Drennen wrote on X."Get the children away from him," Juliet Jeske, journalist and writer of the Substack Decoding Fox News, wrote on X.

'Grotesque': Trump sons' dubious mining deal triggers accusations of 'vast corruption'

04/30/26 10:50 PM

Political analysts and observers were aghast on Thursday after a new report suggested President Donald Trump's family had engaged in a dubious deal. The Financial Times reported that Trump's sons, Don Jr. and Eric, had taken a stake in a Kazakh mining company that had recently been awarded a $1.6 billion loan from the U.S. government. The brothers reportedly bought into the company last August for an undisclosed amount. The report added that there is "no indication" that the Trumps knew the company was in talks with their father's administration, or that they influenced the decision to grant the loan. Even so, analysts and observers expressed their outrage on social media. "Not surprising. This family is beyond anything in the history of the U.S. Outright shameful," Martin Pelletier, portfolio manager at TriVest Wealth, posted on X. "Trump Cartel’s corruption is so vast and grotesque and shamelessly out in the open that it has an almost paralyzing effect on the senses, made worse by the fact that there’s no systemic pushback, no 'opposition party' or elite resistance or even the hint of accountability," Marm Ames, a radio host, posted on X. "A serious country would put these scoundrels in prison for life," podcaster Kyle Kulinski posted on X. "Just a coincidence," Martina Navratilova, a former professional tennis champion, posted on X.

'Hegseth’s testimony cast doubt on his fitness' for job: ex-dean of U.S. Army War College

05/04/26 12:52 PM

A retired Army colonel and former dean of the U.S. Army War College is calling for the removal of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, arguing that his combative and factually questionable performance before congressional committees has raised serious doubts about his fitness to lead the Pentagon during a period of unprecedented global instability.In a column for MS NOW, Jeff McCausland, now a visiting professor at Dickinson College, laid out a damning case against Hegseth, noting that the nation faces an escalating conflict with Iran, an ongoing war in Ukraine, rising Chinese threats, and a potential energy crisis — none of which can be effectively managed by an unprepared secretary of defense."The American people are threatened by an ongoing conflict that could easily escalate and is already having a dramatic effect on the global economy. The nation is potentially facing its greatest energy crisis in history, and Hegseth's testimony cast doubt on his fitness for the position of secretary of defense," McCausland wrote.According to McCausland, Hegseth's testimony was "disturbing from the onset" for his "combative and argumentative style," as he immediately lashed out at lawmakers from both parties rather than engaging seriously with their concerns about a proposed 45% increase in the Pentagon budget — a massive jump that would worsen the nation's already dire fiscal crisis with national debt exceeding $39 trillion.Hegseth's strategic analysis of the Iran war revealed even deeper problems. Last June, he claimed that Operation Midnight Hammer strikes against Iran had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities. When questioned about conflicting media reports during his testimony, Hegseth attempted to have it both ways, stating that facilities had been destroyed but that Iran still possessed "nuclear ambitions."During his testimony, Hegseth claimed the United States is "winning" the war with Iran, apparently failing to grasp that successful military strategy requires far more than "a target list," noted McCausland.McCausland also cited Hegseth's troubling record since taking office, including his role in the "Signalgate" scandal, where his use of unclassified communications risked placing American military personnel in harm's way. He has also fired more than two dozen senior officers without justification — actions questioned by both Democratic and Republican members of Congress."Even the most loyal supporter of President Donald Trump must look at Hegseth's record and agree that he is in over his head," McCausland wrote. "He was selected for this critical post not for his expertise but, rather, for his fealty to Trump."McCausland concluded that at a moment of unprecedented global danger, the nation cannot afford incompetence in Pentagon leadership.

'Is this the market calling?' Trump faces new market manipulation claims over war idea

05/03/26 10:02 PM

President Donald Trump faced fresh market manipulation accusations on Sunday after he said the U.S. would guide "neutral and innocent" ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wrote on Truth Social that "countries from all over the world" have asked him to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that accounts for 20% of the world's energy trade. The waterway has been shut down since late February, when the war in Iran began, and the Iranian regime has reportedly attacked merchant ships from the U.K. and other countries for trying to pass through. "I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use [our] best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else. This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time."Political analysts and observers reacted to Trump's post on social media. "So, the blockade is bad again, or is this the market calling?" Tricia Hope, a self-described former January 6 participant, posted on X. "Big bet on oil was no doubt placed an hour before announcement," radio host Charlie Thompson posted on X. "It's Sunday evening again, so Trump is coming out with another 'breakthrough,'" political writer Maarten Verheyen posted on X.

'It's actually seditious': Trump unloads on NYT and CNN over unflattering reporting

04/30/26 8:18 PM

President Donald Trump took a jab at The New York Times and CNN during a press conference at the White House on Thursday. The president had a meltdown over some of the important reporting around the Iran war and his administration when he pointed to The Times, a news organization Trump has had a contentious relationship throughout his political career. He has frequently attacked the newspaper on social media, called it "fake news" and referred to the publication as an "enemy of the American people.""And yet in I read in The New York Times, I see it on the stupid CNN, which I only watch because you have to watch a little bit of the enemy, so I watch it for a very short period," Trump said. "But you have to, you have to be smart. And if you see CNN, you'd think they're winning the war," he added. "If you read The New York Times, it's actually seditious, in my opinion. You read The New York Times you actually think they're winning the war. I read some of these columnists and — but it all starts at the top. It's a terrible thing." The Times has extensively investigated Trump's business dealings, finances and conduct both during his first and second term as president, publishing numerous investigative reports that Trump has disputed and denied. He filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the publication in September 2025, which a judge later dismissed. Trump: "If you read the New York Times -- it's actually seditious, in my opinion -- you'd think they're winning the war" pic.twitter.com/Fkg1QFPkFJ— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2026

'It's nuts': Joe Rogan blames Trump if 'Iran nukes New York City'

04/30/26 6:05 PM

Podcaster Joe Rogan expressed the view that President Donald Trump's war with Iran would be to blame if a nuclear weapon were used on New York City.During a discussion with comedian Ari Shaffir on Thursday, Rogan lamented Israel's bombardment of Gaza following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack."They've destroyed Gaza," he explained. "Gaza's just a wasteland now. I mean, someone posted a recent video of Gaza, like what it looked like now.""It's crazy. It looks like they dropped a nuke. They just did it slowly instead of dropping one nuke," he continued. "But guess what? Those kids that live in Gaza, they didn't do October 7th. They didn't do it."Rogan speculated that a similar scenario could take place in New York City."It's like what we did to Iran. What if Iran nukes New York City?" he asked. "Those kids that live in the Bronx, they had nothing to do with what happened in Iran, and so, like, is that okay?""Like what are we talking about, this is it's [expletive] nuts," he added. "We gotta start figuring out a peace thing, and then that's all that's all gone now," Shaffir remarked. "It's all gone," Rogan agreed.

'Kamikaze dolphin' question throws off Pentagon officials during briefing on war

05/05/26 1:10 PM

During a relatively subdued Pentagon briefing on the Iran War on Tuesday morning, both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine were caught by surprise by a question about “kamikaze dolphins” being deployed in the Strait of Hormuz.During the question and answer segment following the opening statements, a reporter identifying herself as Mary Margaret Olohan from the far-right Daily Wire addressed her question to both of the Pentagon officials.“My first question is for General Caine," she began. "You said that the attacks by Iran so far are below the threshold of restarting major combat operations. What is that threshold? And then for Secretary Hegseth, are there still concerns about mines in the strait? And can you kind of clarify these reports of kamikaze dolphins that we've heard about?”That led Caine to smile and glance over at his counterpart and then joke, “I haven't heard the kamikaze dolphin thing. It's like sharks with laser beams, right?” to laughter from the assembled reporters.After Caine added, “The threshold of restarting is a political decision above my pay grade,” Hegseth contributed, “And I can't confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins, but I can confirm they don't. Ultimately, the any follow-on effort, if there are mines identified, would be something that some of our units could undertake or the world could undertake. But right now we know we have a lane of safe passage.” - YouTube youtu.be

'No Symptomatic Individuals' Left On Hantavirus Cruise Ship: Operator

05/07/26 3:50 PM

All passengers showing symptoms of the hantavirus have now been removed from the MV Hondius, its operator said in...

'That entire story is false!' Irate Pete Hegseth shouts down Elizabeth Warren

04/30/26 6:55 PM

Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s ability to grill Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during her five minutes of questioning during a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing was hampered by his raising his voice and loudly talking over her on Thursday afternoon.The Massachusetts Democrat got under Hegseth’s skin when she cited a Financial Times report that the Pentagon chief’s stockbroker attempted to make a “multimillion-dollar investment” in defense stocks before the invasion of Iran.After pressing him about growing concerns about insiders at the Pentagon possibly being involved in massive purchases on the stock market related to the war, which he dismissed out of hand, she brought up his personal finances.“I'm also concerned about recent reporting on your own financial dealings with regard to profiting from the war in Iran,” she began. “The Financial Times reported that your broker tried to buy hundreds of shares in a BlackRock fund invested in defense companies just before the war began. The law clearly prohibits the secretary —.”"That entire story is false!” Hegseth shouted. “[It] has been from the beginning and was made up out of whole cloth. And anybody that looks at it sees how it was worded from the beginning to make it look like I was involved in something I had nothing to do and never have.”As Warren tried to speak, he continued to talk over her, insisting, “So any insinuation that I've ever profited other than serving this nation, what I give, what you give, what others give. I'm not looking for money. I don't do it for money. I don't do it for profit. I don't do it for stocks. And that's part of the reason why I'm able to be effective in this job, because no one owns me.”“No one owns this department, no one owns this president. And we can execute for the American people. And we do,” he added.“So, I'd like to hear you say, did you, through your broker at Morgan Stanley or otherwise, seek to invest in any defense-related funds right before Trump started the Iran war?” she finally asked.“I'll give it to you as a big fat negative,” Hegseth shot back. - YouTube youtu.be