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Hi all, Ben here. It’s Sunday, and there is a lot to get into today as we head into another week. We are also about to go live on the MeidasTouch Network with a new Sunday morning show called On Sunday. Jack Cocchiarella is hosting. His guests today are Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna, and independent journalist Joy Reid. It starts in just moments, at 1:30pm ET, so click here to watch live or after it airs.
Here’s what we’re tracking in today’s midday update:
Iran shot down another U.S. drone, the fifth American aircraft lost this week alone
Trump “toughened” his Iran deal terms, a move that analysts say makes zero strategic sense when Iran refused his last demands
Iran’s parliament speaker made clear: no deal until Iran’s rights are fully secured
Iran’s IRGC launched attacks on armed groups in northern Iraq
Netanyahu ordered the IDF to expand operations in Lebanon, seizing the Beaufort Ridge
Trump is threatening a federal judge over a drone port he wants built in the White House ballroom
Treasury Secretary Bessent and economic advisor Kevin Hassett spent the morning telling Americans the economy is actually great
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum refused to say who’s funding “Freedom 250”
Mike Pence called Trump’s anti-weaponization slush fund “deeply offensive”
Before I go any further, if you haven’t yet joined as a paid subscriber, consider doing so now by clicking here to support our work. This is how we grow. And if you’re already a Meidas+ paid Substack subscriber, thank you for supporting pro-democracy media. We’re making this update free for everyone to read.
Let’s get into it.
Iran Strikes Iraq – And Another U.S. Aircraft
This week, Iran has shot down five U.S. aircraft. The latest is an MQ-1 drone, which the Air Force officially retired in 2018 but which still sees limited use in upgraded form. Before that, four MQ-9 Reapers were knocked out of the sky.
And on top of that, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has now launched attacks on bases used by armed separatist groups in northern Iraq, which Iran says are being used in coordination with the United States against it.
This is the reality on the ground. And yet the Trump administration’s messaging operation, which has found a reliable mouthpiece in Barak Ravid of Axios and his parade of siren emojis, wants you to believe that negotiations are slow because the Iranians are “literally in caves” and “not using email.” That’s the line a senior U.S. official fed to Ravid, which was published without scrutiny.
Here’s what’s actually happening: Iran’s parliament just convened a session with over 200 representatives. Their parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also Iran’s lead negotiator, addressed the nation. He said no agreement will be accepted until the Iranian people’s rights are secured. He said Iran’s negotiators have no trust in the words and promises of the “enemy,” and that their standard is tangible achievements, not vague assurances. He said Iran will emerge from this war victorious.
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These are not the words of people cowering in caves waiting for Trump to rescue them. These are people who have held the same negotiating position since March and watched Trump flail around it for months.
Here’s a compilation of the many stories from Axios over the past few months telling us that a deal is just around the corner. Disclaimer: It’s a long list, so keep scrolling.
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Trump Contradicts Himself on Iran in the Same Interview
Speaking of flailing, let’s talk about Trump’s interview on state regime media Fox with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump. Yes, that is an actual sentence I just wrote.
At one point, Trump explained that he intentionally left Iran’s military intact because, in his view, the IRGC represents the “moderate” faction in Iran. He wanted to preserve them as a negotiating partner. Then, within moments, he declared that Iran has no military. Both of these things cannot be true. And he has said countless times that he has completely “destroyed” Iran’s military.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked on Fox whether Trump would “finish the job” on Iran. His response: “What does ‘finish the job’ mean?”
And then there’s Mark Dubowitz of the right wing thing tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who laid out his vision for finishing the job: two and a half more years of war. Two and a half years.
HUH?
Dubowitz: “If the goal is to cripple the Iranian regime, we are closer today than at any point in 47 years. The opportunity is real, but so is the risk of squandering it. President Trump will need the strategic patience and staying power to finish the job over the next two and a half years.”
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Trump’s Terms Keep Shifting
The latest development out of the negotiations is that Trump sent Iran a revised framework with toughened terms. Analyst Aaron Astor cut right to the bone on this one: Iran doesn’t need a deal right now. Tougher terms don’t impress a country that has been absorbing U.S. strikes and shooting down American drones all week. The only real options are either meeting Iran’s terms or attacking again militarily. Everything else is performance. Iran already rejected Trump’s “less tough” terms. Why would they agree to a more maximalist approach?
Trump’s been telling us a deal was imminent since March. Days away. Hours away. On his desk. Not on his desk. Ceasefire. No ceasefire. Iran rejecting, Trump spinning. The tougher terms announcement is for his base. It lets him claim he was being strong, that he’s the one driving the outcome, even as Iran holds precisely the same position it has held for months and keeps shooting down our aircraft.
Netanyahu Keeps the Fires Burning
Israel is actively working to keep this war going. Netanyahu announced this morning that he ordered the IDF to expand its maneuver in Lebanon, with Israeli forces seizing the Beaufort Ridge and deepening their hold on areas previously controlled by Hezbollah. He said they are operating simultaneously in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon, and that it will take time but they will complete the mission, without ever saying what the mission actually is.
Iran has made clear that any durable deal with the United States requires a real, lasting ceasefire guarantee in Lebanon. Israel knows that. Every escalation in Lebanon is another wrench in the negotiations. The UN Security Council is holding an emergency session on Monday to address Lebanon. This situation is not winding down.
Trump Officials Want You to Know the Actually Is Great, Actually
On the home front, the White House dispatched its economic messengers this morning to explain that everything is going great and anyone who thinks otherwise is either a Democrat or anti-American.
Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, appeared on Fox News Sunday and argued that consumer sentiment data showing economic pessimism doesn’t reflect reality. It just reflects Democrats being sad. Republicans, he said, have stayed around 80% positive throughout. He then addressed the Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing inflation outpacing wage growth by calling it “a technical matter” related to reductions in transfers and food stamps. And on the question of Americans spending more on gas and groceries, he offered the creative reframe that people spending more money is actually a sign of optimism.
Bessent told Maria Bartiromo that bad economic coverage is just anti-Americanism. On inflation, he called the spike “very limited.”
If they can’t even acknowledge the problem, how can they fix it?
Trump Turns America’s 250th Into His Party – Then Complains When Nobody Wants to Show
Doug Burgum went on CNN this morning to discuss “Freedom 250,” the administration’s planned celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, and was asked the very basic question of who is funding it. He declined to answer, called the administration “the most transparent ever,” and compared the White House to a corporate boardroom where proprietary decisions don’t need to be shared publicly.
The boardroom analogy is instructive, actually, just not in the way he intended. You work for us. This is not proprietary business information. The question of who is privately funding a White House event is a legitimate matter of public concern. Trump, meanwhile, is saying he wants to cancel the whole thing and replace it with a MAGA rally after several artists backed out, while simultaneously attacking the federal judge who blocked his Kennedy Center renovations.
Also this morning, former Vice President Mike Pence went on Meet the Press and said Trump’s slush fund, the one used to compensate allies and January 6th participants, is “deeply offensive” to him. Pence said it should not be possible for such a fund to compensate people who assaulted police officers or vandalized the Capitol.
That’s where things stand right now. Ron Filipkowski will be back later will the full weekend bulletin, so stay tuned.
The Theater…Russia’s Defining Atrocity | |||||||||||||||
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I’m writing this from Ukraine, where I’m currently embedded and working on a number of stories. Before I left, I sat down with one of the most important voices covering this war, and I’m proud to share that conversation now as a special feature for the Meidas+ Substack. | |||||||||||||||
JUST A FEW COMMENTS: Let me just reiterate: you can't have war profits without a war. Nobody in charge of this fiasco wants it to end. The scum that has floated to the top is making a fortune, much of it drained from citizen's bank accounts in higher prices, the rest from plundering the US Treasury. True. As long as there's an ongoing war, they're making billions. Disgusting. Never forget it is an illegal war. Congress could stop it in less than 5 minutes. Excellent string of headlines from Axios! What a joke. I haven’t been on Twitter today, but that oughtta be a meme!!! If Americans weren't so ignorant and if our regime wasn't so violently stupid, they'd know Iranians aren't living in caves. The Iranian regime is awful too, but these are HIGHLY educated and sophisticated people. They aren't from Dixie. But Americans, esp. MAGA, don't know this. They think everyone outside the US is an illiterate goat farmer who lives in a mud hut. They don't realize that most Iranians speak English, Persian, and a third language; around 20% of the population has a college degree or higher; around 70% of STEM college graduates/workers in Iran are women; and that the World Bank classifies Iran as an upper-middle-income country. The country has universal healthcare and free college. In many ways, it is more developed than the US. The fatal flaw is the fact that the government is a theocracy. And the people have been making spirited efforts to overthrow their government, but now that Trump has attacked, the theocrats are going to consolidate their control. Very nice snap at the end. Thanks! Turning the people’s house into a pay-per-view theater to promote sponsorship opportunities and choreographed violence more befits a Roman emperor than an American president, Yes, the days of the colosseum...........bloodbath to portray some kind of strength. Is this diplomacy and leadership???? Hopefully the people are able to vote.......... I have seen many posts now that refer to this as a Hunger Games type event and it does really fit that scenario. We are all trying to pay for gas, food, shelter, utilities, health care, in every part of the country while one place (DC) and it's leader (trump) watch, bet and play. I have seen many posts now that refer to this as a Hunger Games type event and it does really fit that scenario. We are all trying to pay for gas, food, shelter, utilities, health care, in every part of the country while one place (DC) and it's leader (trump) watch, bet and play. Trump is blowing up any agreement with Iran because one. His ego won’t let him and two, he and his family and buddies are making tons of money from it lasting. They’re manipulating the stock markets and his kids are invested in companies that get government contracts. Israel isn’t interested in peace and keeps the flames burning. Time for Congress to step in and take the keys and the codes from grandpa before things escalate out if control. This says it ALL: Israel isn’t interested in peace and keeps the flames burning. NETANYAHU was undergoing a TRIAL for his corruption and ignored warnings of the OCTOBER attack....was this NETANYAHU's calculation to postpone his TRIAL? IDF identified but ignored 5 warning signs of Hamas attack on eve of Oct. 7, its probe shows Before 4 a.m., Southern Command chief spoke with senior intelligence officers and Shin Bet officials about unusual activity, but they all determined no attack was imminent https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-identified-but-ignored-5-warning-signs-of-hamas-attack-on-eve-of-oct-7-its-probe-shows/ SEPTEMBER 2025: Maps: Israel has attacked six countries in the past 72 hours In just three days, Israel has carried out strikes in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and Yemen. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-identified-but-ignored-5-warning-signs-of-hamas-attack-on-eve-of-oct-7-its-probe-shows/ NETANYAHU and ISRAEL have told so many lives, we will never know. Pretty sure Iran knows they're dealing with and imbecile whose brain left the building years ago. In spite of the ghoul stephen miller thinking he himself is a stable genius, I doubt he knows anything about what he is doing. 100% sure he's like piggy and believes POC are low IQ. So I anticipate this will NOT end well for piggy or AMERICA. Stupid jr. high mentality hench men aren't doing shit but mucking this "war" up. And to reiterate one of your salient points -- government is NOT a private corporation with a Board of Directors and proprietary information. They're a public entity spending our public funds. Their decision are "our" decisions. Everyone needs to understand this basic point! What would our country be like, right now, if those insurrectionists had caught Pence his family and some other politicians that day and murdered them in public? That could have been a real possibility, and what would we do about that, I wonder? Axios pollutes the airwaves it travels through before its shit even lands on any screen. Just like Faux News, Truth Social, or Newsmax. These entities are little better than legacy media, which have proven themselves better at profit-taking than properly informing Americans (or anyone else) about the politicians/neo-fascists eager to wreck America. Obsessed with 'balance' and 'whataboutism,' legacy media fails to see that fascism meets NOBODY in the middle. I indict the NY Times, America's flagship publication, and the WAPO, where democracy has died in darkness. I cannot believe that the fate of this country appears to lie completely in the hands of that incompetent, boorish, ignorant, self serving ass. Barak Ravid with Axios is nothing more than a mouthpiece for this regime. It's almost as bad as Fox. He better hope he has his pardon secured. AXIOS has, sadly, become the internet Fox, and Barack Ravid, Trump's mouthpiece. As regards Iraq, some of the artillery fired fired into Kuwait and the UAE come from Iraq and the Popular Mobilization Force. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF/Hashd al-Shaabi) are a massive, dominant power in Iraq, fielding approximately 238,000 fighters and receiving a multibillion-dollar annual state budget. While formally integrated into the Iraqi Armed Forces, they operate largely as an autonomous political, economic, and military empire with allegiance and loyalty to the Supreme Shia leader, Moijtaba Khameini. his fatwa's are religious commands to the MBF. The MQ-1 Drone that was shot down, most likely was launched by the UAE, the gulf states have received quite a few of the obsolete MQ-1's. People are going to have to adjust their thinking, when they heear of planes being shot down, aske if they were manned or unmanned, because the Drones, be they MQ 1, MQQ9, Shaheed or LUCAS are unmanned aircraft. Shout out to New Jersey where the folks are calling out ICE and trying to bring down one of the concentration camps there. I hope everyone got to see the official government website claiming that we're under siege by extra-terrestrials. "They walk among us." Mind-blowing. Forget about the lies---concentrate on the violence done with our tax dollars and in our name. Resist! The decrepit draft-dodging donnie is fond of calling democrats dumbocrats. I think a fitting term for the republicans would be 'reptilians'. Reptilians are described in literature as "humanoids with snake heads capable of shape-shifting and mind control, living in underground passages and infiltrating human society". That description seems to pretty much fit them. Let's all start referring to Republicans as 'Reptilians' when old rotting t-RUMP calls democrats names. The decrepit draft-dodging donnie is fond of calling democrats dumbocrats. I think a fitting term for the republicans would be 'reptilians'. Reptilians are described in literature as "humanoids with snake heads capable of shape-shifting and mind control, living in underground passages and infiltrating human society". That description seems to pretty much fit them. Let's all start referring to Republicans as 'Reptilians' when old rotting t-RUMP calls democrats names. Too little too late but at least Mike Pence said something not flattering to the president which is more than the vast majority of the GOP Congress. Just watched Jack Cocchiarella’s interviews on YouTube… it was fabulous! Jack’s a natural and I’d love to see him continue picking the brains of many politicians. more on the fall of rome - a quote “It is no use trying to escape their arrogance by submission or good behaviour. They have pillaged the world: when the land has nothing left for men who ravage everything, they scour the sea. If an enemy is rich, they are greedy, if he is poor, they crave glory. Neither East nor West can sate their appetite. They are the only people on earth to covet wealth and poverty with equal craving. They plunder, they butcher, they ravish, and call it by the lying name of “empire”. They make a desert and call it “peace”.” ― Tacitus Looks clear to me, the 250 Fair is in reality an office party for Trump, Inc. Those photographed at the event will be on the top of the subpoena list when the Dems step in. Hi Ben, You folk up for it? Sure hope so …. btw your credibility as an ‘independent news platform’ will be impacted by your decision. Thank you and hope you’re finding a few minutes of fun this weekend! Also this: https://substack.com/@bfjr7/note/c-267820548?r=1j82d8&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web Yup Trump Rubio Hegseth and the Republican Party have given all the cards to Iran making Iran more powerful than ever before because of this regimes arrogant inept planning! Iran has the world by the throat by controlling the Strait of Hormuz. Bet more countries wish they had considerably invested in alternative forms of energy! Meanwhile Trump cancelled funding for ours because, well, the fossil fuel industry has him in their pockets! Sigh He's never going to stop this war. It's too profitable for him HassBent (sic) believe they are exceptional gaslighters. Has beens are the last to learn that “gaslighting” was Word of the Year in 2022. “FAFO” is very 2026, boys
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