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Today in Politics, Bulletin 334. 3/23/26

Ron Filipkowski Mar 23 ∙ Preview

… TACO Trump is back on the menu, as the incompetent bumbling flip-flopper-in-chief backed down from his pledge to bomb power plants in Iran beginning this evening unless Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz. Iran didn’t open the Straits, but they did threaten to retaliate by bombing desalination plants in Israel and throughout the Middle East.

… But Trump claimed that he is only surrendering because Iran contacted him begging and pleading to participate in “peace negotiations.” But Iran state media, as well as every relevant govt official, denied Trump’s claim. Trump was asked to name an Iranian official who was supposedly in negotiations with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, but he refused.

… Trump posted this morning shortly before markets opened: "I AM PLEASE TO REPORT THAT THE USA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS.”

… Yes, he spelled it “witch”. That is not a typo by me.

… Axios (as usual) cited an unnamed Israeli source who told them MB Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, was the official conducting the negotiations for Iran. Ghalibaf denied it: “Our people demand the complete and humiliating punishment of the aggressors. No negotiations with America have taken place. Fake news is intended to manipulate financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire in which America and Israel are trapped.”

… Trump took questions on the tarmac on his way to tour Elvis Presley’s former home Graceland in TN after another golf weekend in FL: "Tomorrow morning their time, we were supposed to blow up their largest power plants. That's why they called. I didn't call, they called. They want a deal. And we're very willing to make a deal. It has to be a good deal, and it has to mean: no more wars, no more nuclear weapons. They won't have any more nuclear weapons—they agreed to that.”

… Iranian state media: "There is no direct contact with Trump, not even through intermediaries. Trump retreated after hearing that our targets would be all power plants in West Asia."

… Journalist Aaron Rupar: “When I woke up this morning I was expecting Trump to possibly commit massive war crimes today, but not to spend a good chunk of the afternoon at Graceland fulfilling one of his make-a-wishes. He's definitely versatile.”

… Q: “Iran’s foreign ministry says you’re not telling the truth when it comes to productive conversations to end the war. Trump: Well, they’re gonna have to get themselves better public relations people. We’ve had very strong talks. Witkoff and Kushner had them. They went perfectly.”

… WSJ Editor Gerard Baker: “The unsettling reality is that with this president, Americans in wartime are in the unprecedented position of having to suspect that the enemy’s version of events is more likely to be true than our own. We have become Baghdad Bob.”

… Q: “Who is Steve Witkoff speaking with in Iran? Trump: A top person. Q: Who is it?
Trump: I can’t say. I don’t want them to be killed.”

… Gregg Carlsrom, Middle East correspondent for The Economist: “If he’s worried this person will be killed by other Iranians, fair to ask how much this person can actually negotiate on behalf of the regime. If he’s worried this person will be killed by Israel, well, that’s a whole other problem. And of course there’s also a chance this person doesn’t exist, or that a few messages were exchanged but it’s nothing more serious than that.”

… Q - “You said there’s many points of agreement with Iran. Can you give us a few?
Trump: Like 15 points. Q - That Iran has said yes to? Trump: They’re not gonna have a nuclear weapon. That’s number 1, 2, and 3. Q - They’ve said yes to that? Trump: They agreed to that.”

… Israeli official to Sky News host Yalda Hakim: “I’d approach this cautiously, with a grain of salt. It’s early Monday morning in the US, the start of the trading week. Markets opened higher, largely as expected following the weekend reports on the negotiations and the latest statement by Trump.”

… Q - “Who’s gonna be in control of the Strait of Hormuz? Trump: Uhhhh it’ll be jointly controlled. Q - By who? Trump: Maybe me. Maybe me. Me and the next ayatollah, whoever that is. There will also be a serious form of regime change. Look at Venezuela.”

… Energy Secretary Chris Wright on CNBC: Q - “Trump just suggested that the US and Iran could jointly control the Strait of Hormuz. I’m curious how that work and what the plan is? Wright: Well, look, we’re early in the negotiations. I certainly don’t want to get ahead of the president.”

… Sky News report: “We saw a similar pattern last week. Oil prices have also declined, supporting the positive sentiment in the short term. For now, it appears he has bought a few more days roughly into week four, until the Marines arrive and complete their initial deployment and organization phase. The Iranians are already denying it.”

… Q: “Has Iran agreed to no enrichment whatsoever, even for civilian purposes? Trump: They have.”

… Iran’s Mizan News: Foreign Ministry Spokesman: We Have Not Held Negotiations with America. In the past few days, messages have arrived through some friendly countries regarding the US' request for negotiations to end the war, and responses have been given to them in accordance with the country's principled positions. Iran's stance on the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions for ending the war has not changed.”

… Q - “If you obliterated their nuclear sites last summer, then how can you argue it was an imminent threat now? Trump: Oh, we hit them so hard. We oblitted them-- obliterated them. But that doesn't mean with the right equipment you can't dig down and go get it. We don't want that.”

… Iranian Foreign Ministry: “No dialogue exists between Tehran and Washington. The US President's statements are part of efforts to lower energy prices and buy time for implementing his military plans.”

… Q - “Treasury lifted sanctions on Iranian oil. You criticized President Obama for giving Iran $1.7 billion. Trump: Well I just want to have as much oil in the system as possible. We don't even know that Iran gets that money. Any small amount of money Iran gets is not gonna make a difference in this war.”

… Ministry of Foreign Affairs source to Iran Now: “We deny what Trump said regarding any negotiations between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to its stance of rejecting any form of negotiations until Iran’s objectives in the war are achieved.”

… Q - “If the war is ending, do you still need $200 billion? Trump: It’s always nice to have. It’s a very inflamed world, and the Democrats inflame it.”

… Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Trump’s statements reflect a retreat from his previous threats, yet the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to uphold all its declared positions. Iran’s stance regarding the Strait of Hormuz has not changed; the strait will remain closed to any aggressors against the Islamic Republic and its people.”

… Trump: “We’re doing a 5 day period. We’ll see how that goes. If it goes well, we’re gonna end up with settling this, otherwise we just keep bombing our little hearts out.”

… Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT): “Trump isn't announcing a pause on strikes. He's saying he's postponing a possible war crime - strikes on Iran's civilian energy infrastructure. Also, this isn't a message to Iran. It's a panicky message to the markets: ‘No war escalation until markets close on Friday’.”

… Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting: “Trump, fearing Iran’s response, backed down from his 48-hour ultimatum.”

… Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission: “Trump and America have backed down again. The field is still charging forward. Another defeat for the devil.”

… Kobeissi Letter: This is absolutely insane. What is happening here?

• At 7:04 AM ET today, Trump said “the US and Iran have had productive discussions” to end the Iran War.

• By 7:10 AM ET, the S&P 500 surged +240 points adding +$2 TRILLION in market cap.

• 27 minutes later, Iran completely denied all of Trump’s claims and said there has been “no contact” with the US.

• By 8:00 AM ET. the S&P 500 had fallen -120 points erasing -$1 trillion in market cap.

• That’s a $3 TRILLION swing market cap in 56 minutes, just in the S&P 500.

… CNBC: “S&P 500 futures and oil futures flashed an unusual burst of activity early Monday minutes before a market-moving social media post from Trump. At around 6:50 AM, S&P 500 futures trading on the CME recorded a sharp and isolated jump in volume, breaking from an otherwise subdued premarket backdrop. With thin liquidity typical of early trading hours, the sudden burst stood out as one of the largest volume moments of the session up to that point.”

… “A similar pattern was observed in oil markets. West Texas Intermediate May futures also saw a noticeable pickup in trading activity at roughly the same time, with a distinct volume spike interrupting otherwise quiet conditions.”

… “15 minutes later, at 7:05 AM, Trump said on Truth Social that the US and Iran had held talks and that he was halting planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. That announcement prompted an instant rally in risk assets, with S&P 500 futures soaring more than 2.5% before the opening bell. West Texas Intermediate futures dropped nearly 6% following the announcement.”

… Rep. James Comer went on Fox and blamed Obama and Biden for the war: “I don’t like where we are with having to fight this battle in Iran, but remember - this is cleaning up Joe Biden and Barack Obama’s mess. Unfortunately it landed in Trump’s lap.”

… Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA): “A straight up lie. Obama’s JCPOA halted Iran's nuclear weapons program, making America and the world safer. We argued then, correctly, that the likeliest alternative to the deal was war. Trump tore up that deal anyway, failed to negotiate a new diplomatic agreement, and then decided to wage a reckless war that continues to have devastating consequences for the American people.”

… Q - “Iran state TV says that Trump capitulated. There are no direct or indirect talks taking place with the Trump regime. This is from a spokesperson for the IRGC and it is being run on Iran state TV. They say it’s a ploy to buy time for military preparations. Comer: “I don’t know how trustworthy Iranian state TV is. It’s probably like a couple liberals networks that come to mind.”

… Podcaster Colin McEnroe responded to Comer: “If you’re keeping track at home, Obama’s JCPOA, which preserved order and allowed inspections, was the mess. This flaming, smoking inferno, with dead school children and dead and wounded US service members, plus a blooming energy and financial crisis - that’s the clean-up.”

… Trump was asked about Tulsi Gabbard’s deputy Joe Kent, who resigned to protest his Iran War: “I’m not a fan of the guy. His wife was killed. He remarried fairly quickly.”

… Just a reminder that Trump hooked up with Stormy Daniels 4 months after Melania gave birth.

… US State Dept statement: “Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest US embassy or consulate. Periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions. US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or locations associated with the US and/or Americans throughout the world.”

… We were all thrilled today to announce that former CBS News correspondent Scott MacFarlane has joined Meidas after leaving the network 9 days ago. He will serve as our Chief Washington Correspondent, and will anchor a daily program called Scott MacFarlane Reports.

… MacFarlane: “I’m not an opinionist, not an editorialist. I’m far from a politician. I’m an enterprise reporter. Have been for a quarter century. What I’ll do is bring this enterprise reporting to all the components of the MeidasTouch network, all the contributors of the MeidasTouch Network.”

… “It’s important when we underscore how significant this moment is, this moment of unique political toxicity and unique political danger. MeidasTouch and I have long shared this same philosophy - you don’t platform lies. You don’t platform conspiracy theories. And you don’t allow for the whitewashing of history.”

… Will Steakin, ABC’s chief political reporter: “Big move by MeidasTouch - one of the most under talked about new media outlets (that has over 9 billion views on YouTube).”

… WH Communications Director Steven Cheung: “Every reporter who ‘leaves’ (more like fired from) their outlet always comes out as a deranged liberal. Every. Single. Damn. Time. Just goes to show how biased news media has become.”

If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin, you can find it here.

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… Trump has now deployed ICE agents in US airports around the country, with travelers and media posting videos of them milling around in tactical gear mostly doing absolutely nothing other than getting in people’s way.

… Trump was asked about it today: Q - “Will we see ICE arresting illegal migrants at airports? Trump: Yeah. That’s why the Democrats are going crazy. ICE loves it because they’re able to now arrest illegals as they come into the country. It’s very fertile territory. I want to thank ICE because they stepped in so strongly. They’ll do great. And if that’s not enough, we’ll bring in the the National Guard.”

… Gavin Newsom: “Trump has one playbook, no matter the issue or problem: SEND IN ICE! Trump owns the govt shutdown. He’s incompetent - pathetic.”

… Journalist Rachael Bade: “If Trump thought dispatching ICE agents to airports would force Dems to blink in the never-ending DHS shutdown standoff, he’s in for a rude awakening. I checked in with a bunch of Democratic lawmakers and top staffers yesterday. Their response wasn’t just unfazed; at times, it was downright giddy.
The way they see it, Trump’s move screams desperation and that the WH fears ...