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… The Reflecting Pool fiasco continues with Trump now blaming all the issues on “vandalism” and threatening to imprison people for 10 years. He started the day with this deranged post on Truth Social:
“Of the MANY Statues and Fountains that we rebuilt, renovated, cleaned, and fixed, the only one that was Vandalized was the Reflecting Pool, which is being taken care of, ASAP! It has been given a 300 foot long gash, chemicals have been illegally placed in the water, and the beautiful new grass field has been destroyed with a gigantic 86 47 chemically carved into it (Probably inspired by Dirty Cop, James Comey!). Please remember that there is a 10 year prison sentence for the destruction, or even the attempted destruction, of such things - Which will be fully enforced!”
… Civil engineer Larry Boorstein says vandalism isn’t the issue: “Trump’s handpicked contractor’s experience was a 25 meter lap pool at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, VA. Trump picked his pool guy to apply American flag blue coating to the 2,030 ft x 166 ft pool. They applied Rhino Pipeliner 5000 polyurea over concrete already treated with Sika waterproofing admixture.”
… “The coating could not adhere properly over treated concrete. The coating began delaminating days after the pool was filled. There may have been contributing factors, like not allowing time for the coating to cure between coats or refilling the pool before the coating had fully cured. The pool has to be drained and the coating stripped.”
… James Henry: “As a DC9 union painter with 30+ years in coatings, I’m looking at the failure not a conspiracy theory. When a coating is lifting off in large sheets like this, that points to an adhesion failure: improper surface preparation, contamination left behind, the wrong coating system, poor recoat timing, or water introduced before the system fully cured.”
… “A quality 2-part epoxy system can perform well but the product is only as good as the prep and application. The substrate has to be properly profiled/cleaned, the specified primer or first coat applied correctly, recoat windows followed, and the full system allowed to cure before being put back into service. That is not ‘vandals.’ That is a coating failure that deserves a real independent inspection and an explanation of exactly what system was specified and how it was applied.”
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… Fox commentator Tomi Lahren: “I’m not a scientist—the algae thing, I believe that’s what happens in bodies of water such as this so I don’t believe this is Trump’s fault. He’s trying to make a reflecting pool nicer. And they go out of their way to damage and vandalize it. It’s like the BLM Summer of Love. You have to be pretty stupid to do that.”
… Trump spoke to reporters about it today:
“It was vandalism. We had a 300’ slit of some kind. Probably a box cutter or knife. 5 people are under investigation. They also put letters on the grass that said 86 47. That’s a big thing.”
“Who would think that someone would go into a pool with a knife and do that! Reporter - What proof do you have, is there video of that? Trump: “There’s a 350’ cut - that’s my proof.”
“If you go to the reflecting pool right now, it looks very good. The vandals put fertilizer in the water. They did something to create the algae.”
“We’re going to have to let the water out to fix it.”
… DC reporter Jamie Dupree posted this photo he took today.
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… Before leaving talks in Switzerland this morning, JD Vance had a brief press conference where he said the US was going to lift all sanctions on Iranian oil since he was able to secure their assurance that they would allow international inspectors back into their country. As usual, it had no specifics and was quickly followed by Iranian denials:
“What we told the Iranians yesterday is that when you guys engage in what us millennials might call trash talk, you can’t expect the president of the US not to respond and not to correct the record.”
Q: “There was a moment yesterday when Araghchi did not shake your hand, then he walked out. Did you feel snubbed by that? Vance: No. Sometimes I find the Iranians extremely confusing as negotiators.”
“It’s funny - we were trying to call some of the nuclear inspectors last night around 2 in the morning. As you can expect, not many people were answering their phone at 2 in the morning.”
… One of the criticisms of the US delegation was that it did not include a single expert on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Obviously that became an issue for them. Go figure.
… Iran state media Fars: “An informed source in a conversation with a Fars News Agency reporter: The US VP’s claim regarding the return of IAEA inspectors to Iran is false. In the Swiss negotiations, there was no discussion about the presence of inspectors in the country.”
… Iranian national security journalist Mohammed Ghaderi: “US VP‘s claim about the return of IAEA inspectors to Iran is false. There was no discussion about this in the Swiss talks.”
… National security author Michael Weiss: “IAEA inspectors were there until July 4, 2025, following the Twelve Day War, which went after… the nuclear program.”
… Laurence Norman who covers Iran for WSJ: “A reminder folks that IAEA inspectors have been back to Iran since last fall. To visit Bushehr, TRR and other sites. So the detail is what matters. Can they visit Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan? And to do what? And the new enrichment site they never got to?”
… Eric Brewer, former NSC Director for Nuclear Non-proliferation: “And which sites will they be allowed to visit? Also, is this a one-off? Or full restoration of Iran’s compliance with its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement? The answers matter for determining whether this is show or substance.”
… Middle East analyst Matthew Brodsky: “Vance is parroting Trump in claiming there are ‘Weapons Inspectors’ headed to Iran. Again there is no such thing. We have IAEA inspectors returning to look at the enrichment sites we destroyed. This should tell you that they understand finally that not including ballistic missiles or drones in the deal is a mistake. But they’re not going to include them now. They’re just going to lie and gaslight their way through.”
… Scott Bessent: “In line with the ongoing productive talks in Switzerland, Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and to permit IAEA inspectors into their country. As part of the framework, Treasury has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian oil.”
… Javier Blas, Bloomberg energy market reporter: “Treasury issues a general license waiving key Iran oil sanctions until Aug 21. It’s a rather wide ranging license, covering exports, shipping and ancillary services, and includes crude, refined products and petrochemicals. It may only last 60 days (I doubt it; likely would become permanent), but the Treasury’s waiver is effectively rolling back 40-year plus of American oil sanctions against Iran.”
… “Even US refiners are allowed to import Iranian oil and pay for it in greenback!!! Crucially, the general license not only allows importers of Iranian oil to pay Tehran (including via previously sanctioned entities), but also do so in U.S. dollars! For 60 days at least, Washington is allowing Tehran back in the dollar club to repatriate its petrodollars.”
… Open Source Intel: “Due to the sanctions waiver, Iran can quickly monetize an estimated $8–9 billion worth of oil already floating at sea. That comes on top of ongoing oil sales, access to USD transactions, and the release of frozen assets. (Which we don’t have too much info on). Ultimately, much, if not most, of the money will flow to the IRGC. Some fear that at least part of those funds could continue supporting Iran’s network of terror proxies.”
… House Oversight chair James Comer on Newsmax: “If we have inspectors going in there and that strait is open for business and oil is flowing, then I think it’s very clear the US will have won this conflict.”
… Economist Steven Rattner: “Treasury just waived oil sanctions on Iran for 60 days - citing ‘progress.’ Iran could rake in up to $10 billion off that decision alone. In contrast, the Obama admin didn’t lift sanctions until a deal was signed and the IAEA independently verified Iran’s nuclear compliance.”
… Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi: “Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction and development plan launched for Iran. 1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell.”
… Middle East expert Marc Polymeropolous: “A US-Iran deconfliction cell, re Lebanon - and no Israeli involvement. Good lord, what are we doing. The US has made a catastrophic diplomatic error. Gave Iran a prime seat at the table re Lebanon (thought we were trying to reduce Iranian influence), limits Israeli required freedom of action, gives Hezballah breathing room as pressure is on Israel to not take action, and overall unwisely links Iran nuke talks to the Lebanon war. Dumb diplomacy.”
… Foreign policy expert Rachel Brandenburg: “It continues to amaze me that Iran received waivers in selling oil and petrochemicals up front, at the beginning of negotiations - rather than as reward for a change in behavior, or even for whatever concessions they will (hopefully) need to make for a final deal.”
… Hiba Nasr with Asharq News (Saudi): “The Lebanese and Israelis were supposed to discuss deconfliction mechanisms this week at the State Dept. Instead, a new coordination cell has been announced that includes Lebanon, Iran, the US, and the mediators - but not Israel. Whether this was coordinated with Rubio remains unclear. But it raises an obvious question: if these issues are now being handled through this new mechanism, what exactly are the Lebanese and Israeli negotiators supposed to discuss this week?”
… Nadav Pollack, former Israeli intelligence officer: “This is truly new peak stupidity.
You already made progress between Israel and Lebanon in a way that strengthened Lebanon and weakened Hezbollah, and now you throw it all away for Iran?! What a terrible mistake.”
… One Belgian World Cup fan posted on X about his team’s tie with Iran last night: “We didn’t win against Iran but at least it didn’t cost us 300 billion USD.”
… Dan Shapiro, former US Amb to Israel: “The incoherence of the admin’s Iran policy is something to behold. Start a war to crush the regime. When outmaneuvered at Hormuz, sign an MOU offering massive sanctions relief and conceding Iran’s say over Lebanon. Vance talks about ending 47 years of conflict and turning over a new leaf in relations. Trump threatens to resume strikes, kill negotiators, and take over the Strait. There is no logic to any of this. Just different Trump impulses and plenty of flailing.”
Thank you again for your excellent questions submitted for this week’s Ask the Editor show. I answered 5 of them today and that video should be posted tonight. If you missed yesterday’s long crazy Bulletin, you can find it here.
Iran has dominated the news for the past couple of days with Congress out of session, but they are back tomorrow so we will see what happens. I did include several important items in the rest of this Bulletin that are not Iran or the Reflecting Pool!
… Fox host Brian Kilmeade expressed a frustration you hear from many Republicans where is Marco Rubio? To Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): “How much better would you feel if Marco Rubio was in that room or with the VP? Sheehy: It’s great to have Marco in reserve. I think the VP and his team are a fantastic team. There’s no question they know how to get deals done.”
… Rubio has not made a single post about Iran, the negotiations, or the MOU in the past week. He made one post today - abut Colombia.
… Gas market analyst Patrick DeHaan: “US SPR drops 9 million barrels to 331.2 million, 208.2 million barrels of sour, 123.0 million barrels of sweet crude, lowest level since July, 1983.”
… Trump said the NYT’s coverage of the deal is treason: “The way the Corrupt and Failing New York Times is covering stories on a very battered and beat up Iran, through FAKE & MADE UP ‘FACTS’ is, in my opinion, ‘TREASONOUS.’ I will be adding all of their false and ridiculous reporting to my multi Billion Dollar lawsuit against them. They are Criminals!”
… Fox host Mark Levin: “This MOU is intentionally silent about ballistic missiles. Iran is a free to manufacture thousands more of them. There is no limit on its ability to produce them. Despite all of the denials, the MOU is a massive cash cow to the Iranian regime. We will give the regime $24 billion that we have been withholding from them. The regime will now control the Strait—nothing stops it from controlling it—and will be able charge whatever it wishes after 60 days.”
… Sen. Rick Scott was grumbling about the talks: “It should be clear to everybody by now who our friends really are. Qatar and Pakistan have long histories of harboring terrorists, and right now they seem far more invested in propping up Iran’s decades-long terror campaign than achieving a meaningful peace. There is still room for a workable agreement that benefits everyone.”
… Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) wasn’t thrilled either. To Punchbowl: “I’ll wait and see what’s negotiated over the next 60 days. It wouldn’t hurt, frankly, to tell us what’s going on, because mostly what I hear is what I hear in the news.”
… Trump then posted this nonsense: “Everybody is fully aware that Iran will agree to have Major Weapons Inspections in order to ensure ‘Nuclear Honesty’ long into the future.”
… Fox host Trey Gowdy told guest Mike Pence that Iran better not try to cross Trump on the Iran deal: “I’ve seen President Trump’s patience run out with me on the golf course. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen his patience run out. That is not something the Iranians want to see.”
… Political commentator Hemant Mehta: “Did Trump’s supporters put a noose out on the 18th green?”
… I think there may have been a time when Pence saw Trump display a lack of patience. Maybe it wasn’t a heated moment on the golf course like the one with Trey, who really just wanted to clout-chase by letting the Fox audience know he played golf with their hero.
… Meidas reporter Scott Macfarlane: Another challenge to Trump’s sweetheart deal that immunizes him from IRS reviews. Group of former federal tax officials (who’ve served in Admins. of both parties) have filed a brief challenging the deal in federal court in FL. From the brief:
“An unprecedented and breathtakingly improper attempt by the President and the Acting AG to bestow broad civil and criminal immunity upon Trump. This sends the regrettable and dangerous message that powerful people can wield their influence not only to avoid having their tax returns reviewed at all, but to place themselves above the laws.”
“The Immunity Order violates the Domestic Emoluments Clause.”
“Blanche settled a weak, time-barred unauthorized disclosure claim to give Trump a vastly disproportionate gift of total immunity.”
… Punchbowl: “For several weeks, Trump has been warring with Senate Republicans from the confines of the WH, using his Truth Social account to berate them over the filibuster, the SAVE America Act and much more. On Wed, Trump will come face-to-face with these Republican senators at his weakest point yet.”
… “They’re openly dismissing Trump’s legislative demands, expressing rare public anger over the Iran MOU, bucking his repeated calls to get rid of the filibuster and furious about his abrupt halting of the confirmation process for Jay Clayton, the nominee to be DNI.”
… “This session has the potential to become a disaster for Senate Republican leaders. They see Trump’s fixation on the SAVE America Act as a strategic misstep that could cost them their majority by turning the MAGA base against GOP candidates and incumbents.”
… CBS: “Companies hired by the state to operate the FL migrant detention center known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ were notified Monday morning to begin ‘full demobilization’ of the facility, quietly bringing an ignominious close a $1.2 billion experiment that was once hailed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Trump as a model other states should pursue.”
… “The decision to close Alligator Alcatraz was due primarily to the escalating cost of operating the facility. The total cost for the detention center is now estimated to be $1.2 billion. Opened on July 3, 2025, the detention center was the brainchild of DeSantis and AG James Uthmeier and built using state tax money. At the time, DeSantis maintained that the state would be reimbursed by the federal govt for all of its expenses. However, that funding has yet to come through.”
… CNBC: “Bank of America expects three Fed hikes this year, says inflation is getting 'unambiguously worse'.”
… If even one rate hike happens Trump will explode. New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh better make sure he didn’t misrepresent anything on a mortgage application.
… NYT: “In case you missed it over the weekend: Miriam Adelson gave $25 million to Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC, which now has $382 million cash on hand.”
… WaPo: “The Supreme Court is about to end their 2025-26 term, as the justices prepare to rule on 3 signature Trump initiatives: limiting birthright citizenship, firing the heads of independent agencies and reshaping the Fed Reserve. Many legal experts believe that the justices have signaled they will rule against Trump on 2 out of the 3, blocking his bid to deny citizenship to those who were born to parents here illegally or lacking permanent residency, as well as his effort to remove a governor of the Fed board.”
… Right-wing lawyer Mike Davis, who has been close with Gorsuch over the years, thinks the court’s birthright citizenship ruling is going to infuriate Trump and the MAGA base: “When the Supreme Court gives Chinese birth tourists birthright citizenship, it’s going to destroy its legitimacy with a broad swath of the American public.”
… “In another major case on Trump policies, the court will decide whether the president can remove without cause the heads of roughly two dozen independent agencies, such as the FTC and the FCC, that Congress set up to be insulated from political influence. In addition, the justices will rule on whether Trump can fire Fed governor Lisa Cook while a lawsuit over her removal plays out in the courts. A ruling for Trump would give the president far greater control over the powerful central bank.”
… “These rulings, and other major decisions, are likely to come in the next week or so as the justices sprint toward the end of the term in late June or early July.”
… CNBC: “Thousands protested in Albania’s capital over the weekend for one of the largest rallies yet against a proposed luxury development project linked to Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Protesters in Tirana were seen carrying Albanian flags and banners saying ‘Albania is not for sale’ as they marched toward the office of PM Edil Rama, calling for his resignation and reportedly chanting against the Socialist Party govt.”
… “Further protests took place in the western city of Vlora as demonstrations continued into their 22nd consecutive day. The primary focus of the demonstrations is a proposed Kushner-linked tourism project on Albania’s Adriatic coast. The protests have since fused with wider public anger over opaque real estate deals and alleged govt corruption.”
… Albania’s PM, who has defended the multi-billion-euro development, has rejected calls to resign. Rama has reportedly said Kushner’s involvement, rather than environmental concerns about the project itself, seemed to be fueling the protests.”
… Sam Karas, reporter for Big Bend Sentinel: “Hadn’t thought to trawl USA Jobs for border wall stuff yet – the DOJ is hiring AUSAs specifically to help with condemnation proceedings. $78k to sue people out of their property to build the wall, with openings in San Antonio, Laredo and McAllen.”
… Immigration lawyer Aaron Reichlin-Melnick: “Wow. DOJ is indeed hiring attorneys whose primary job will be filing eminent domain and condemnation cases to seize private land (mostly in Texas) on which to build border wall.”
… We will soon be seeing south Texas MAGA voters on CNN complaining about Trump because he seized their land for the wall. That’s what they voted for!
… Alan (Captain Underpants) Dershowitz’s interview with the House Oversight Committee on Epstein has been set. It will take place on July 20.
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