Kristi Noem 'Dumped' by Alleged Lover Corey Lewandowski After Trump Axed Her — 'Without the Job and Access, He Isn't Interested'

Ice Barbie' has apparently lost her Ken.

RadarOnline.com has learned that not only has Kristi Noem been fired from her job as Homeland Security Secretary,but her "secret lover," Corey Lewandowski, has also reportedly left her as well.

Noem Left Powerless

After President Trump booted Noem last week, making her the first casualty of his second-term cabinet,there apparently was no longer a reason for Lewandowski to continue their affair.

"This was never a romance story," one D.C. insider told Rob Shuter, who writes on Substack. "It was a power story."

According to reports, Lewandowski is no longer a "senior adviser" at DHS, following Noem out the door. The 52-year-old had become one of the most powerful figures inside Noem's DHS, but after her firing,he allegedly walked away from their relationship.

"Corey loves proximity to power," the insider explained. "When Kristi had it, he was glued to her. Now that she doesn’t, he’s gone. Without the job and the access, Corey isn’t interested anymore."

The 'Worst-Kept Secret' in Washington.

As Radar reported, one source called Noem's relationship with Lewandowski the "worst-kept secret" in Washington.

Noem's actual husband, Byron, keeps a relatively private profile, but he's been pushed into the spotlight amid the rumors, which the former secretary was asked about point-blank during her recent testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.

"I think the ridiculousness of this – and the tabloids that you are quoting and referencing – are insane," Noem blasted. "And this has been something that I've refuted for years, and I continue to do that."

She further deemed the questions straight out of the "liberal playbook," attacking "conservative women"and calling them "stupid" or "sluts."

(https://radaronline.com/p/kristi-noem-dumped-by-alleged-lover-corey-lewandowski-trump-fired-dhs/

(The Power of DC is toxic and people with sex addictions don’t do well there, or they do.

Question:Why is Lewindoski being giving jobs in DC. He’s pretty toxic?

EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry 'Has Crazily Egotistical Two-Word Nickname For Him and Meghan Markle' As He's Convinced They Can 'Save' Royal Family

Aaron Tinney

RadarOnline.com can reveal Prince Harry is said to privately believe he and Meghan Markle represent the "antidote to Andrew" – a nickname insiders say the 41-year-old prince has given himself and his wife as he is convinced they could help rescue the royal family's reputation during one of the most turbulent periods in its modern history.

Harry, 41, and his ambitious wife, Markle, 44, stepped down as senior working members of the British royal family in 2020 before relocating to the United States.

Since leaving official royal duties, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have built an international public profile through charity initiatives, humanitarian work, and media projects.

Their latest overseas engagement saw them undertake a two-day visit to Jordan, where they met organizations supporting children evacuated from conflict zones in Gaza after being invited by World Health Organization director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, 61.

The trip included meetings with medical teams and organizations helping transport injured children from Gaza to hospitals in Jordan for urgent treatment.

'Antidote to Andrew'

According to sources familiar with the prince's thinking,Harry believes such international engagements demonstrate he and Mearkle could still play a vital role connected to the monarchy.

One insider said: "Harry has started referring to himself and Meghan in what some people describe as a crazily egotistical way, calling them the 'Antidote to Andrew' because he believes they represent the exact opposite of the scandal that has damaged the royal family's reputation."

The source added: "In Harry's mind, the monarchy is under enormous pressure right now and he genuinely believes he and Meghan are exactly what the royal family needs if it wants to repair its image and reconnect with audiences around the world."

Monarchy Needs Global Facing Figures

"From Harry's perspective, the royal family is going through a moment of real strain," the insider said. "There are fewer working royals, ongoing controversies, and increasing scrutiny from the public and the media.

"Because of that, he believes the monarchy needs figures who are comfortable operating on a global stage, people who can engage with international audiences and represent the institution beyond Britain."

Another source close to the Sussexes said Harry sees his and Meghan's international work as evidence that they could help stabilize the monarchy.

The insider added: "Harry genuinely believes the humanitarian work he and Meghan have been doing shows they are capable of representing something bigger than themselves.

"In his view, the global visibility they have built since leaving the UK proves they could help the royal family navigate a difficult moment."

'Harry Believes The Firm Needs a Reset'

The source added Harry believes the royal family currently lacks younger working members who are able to take on major international engagements.

They said: "Harry feels there are simply fewer active royals able to travel and connect with people around the world in the way the institution once relied on.

"When he looks at the projects and visits he and Meghan have undertaken internationally, he sees it as proof they have the experience and platform to step into that role."

According to the same insider, Harry believes the ongoing fallout from the controversy surrounding Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, 66, could ruin the monarchy.

They noted: "Harry believes the Andrew scandal has dragged the royal family back into an extremely damaging spotlight and exposed weaknesses in how the institution deals with crises.

"In Harry's view, the situation has made the monarchy look outdated and unprepared for modern scrutiny, which is why he thinks a new approach is needed."

Windsor has faced mounting criticism over his past association with Jeffrey Epstein. He has denied wrongdoing, but the controversy has continued to overshadow the royal family.

A source said Harry believes the moment marks the need for a major change in the monarchy as a brand.

"Harry believes that The Firm needs a reset, and he thinks he and Meghan represent exactly the kind of modern global figures who could help deliver it," the insider explained.

https://radaronline.com/p/prince-harry-two-word-nickname-meghan-save-royals/

>>24378568. They don’t understand none of them are notable

Michigan synagogue attack suspect lost family members in Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, official says. 1/2

BY Associated Press Michigan

PUBLISHED 9:49 AM ET Mar. 13

A man with a rifle who crashed into a large Michigan synagogue in whatfederal officials are saying was an attack had lost four family members in an Israeli airstrike in his native Lebanon last week, an official said Friday.

What You Need To Know

• The suspect in an attack on a synagogue in West Bloomfield Township lost four family members in an Israeli airstrike in his native Lebanon last week, an official said

• Mohamad Ghazali, 41, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, was killed by security

• Ghazali came to the U.S. in 2011 on an immediate relative visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen and was granted U.S. citizenship in 2016

• An Israeli airstrike killed four people in the eastern Lebanon town of Mashgharah on March 5

Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, 41, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, was killed by security after ramming into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township near Detroit and driving down a hallway in a vehicle that then caught fire, according to authorities.

The FBI, which is leading the investigation, described the attack on one of the nation’s largest Reform synagogues as an act of violence targeting the Jewish community.

The synagogue’s staff, teachers and 140 children at its early childhood center were not injured, according to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

Ghazali came to the U.S. in 2011 on an immediate relative visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen and was granted U.S. citizenship in 2016,according to the Department of Homeland Security.

An Israeli airstrike killed four people in the eastern Lebanon town of Mashgharah on March 5, Lebanon's state agency and the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. A woman was also wounded.

The ripple effects of the Iran war have spread across the Middle East. Israel has stepped up its attacks on Lebanon following renewed strikes with the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

A local official in Mashgharah told The Associated Pressthat Ghazali's two brothers and a niece and nephew were killed at their home in the airstrike just after sunsetas they were having their fast-breaking meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The official, who requested anonymity because he could not publicly discuss details of the airstrike, told the APthat Kassim and Ibrahim Ghazali were killed, along with Ibrahim Ghazali's children, Ali and Fatima. Ibrahim Ghazali's wife was seriously wounded and remains in the hospital, the official said.

The official said that Kassim Ghazali was a well-known soccer coach and personal trainer while Ibrahim was a school bus driver in the village.

The official said that Ayman Ghazali's father was in the U.S. and returned to Lebanon recently.

In the minutes after the attack, smoke billowed from the synagogue. One security officer was hit by the vehicle and knocked unconscious but did not suffer life-threatening injuries, Bouchard said. And 30 law enforcement officers were treated for smoke inhalation.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2026/03/13/michigan-synagogue-attack-suspect-lost-family-members-in-israeli-airstrike-in-lebanon–official-

>>24378619

2/2

Cassi Cohen, director of strategic development at Temple Israel, was in the hallway where the crash happened. She described hearing a loud bang and said she grabbed a few staff members, ran into her office and locked the door.

“When I heard the crash, I knew it was bad,” Cohen said.

She said the crash happened near a classroom and, in addition to the children, there were also more than 30 staff members in the synagogue.

Rabbi Arianna Gordon, from Temple Israel, thanked the security team, law enforcement and early childhood teachers for getting the children out safely and reunited with their parents.

About a dozen parents sprinted to get their children soon after authorities cleared the building. Other families were reunited at a nearby Jewish Community Center.

Allison Jacobs, whose 18-month-old daughter is enrolled in Temple Israel’s day care, said she got a message from a teacher saying the children were OK even before she knew what happened.

“There are no words. I was in complete and utter shock,” she said.

Synagogues around the world have been on edge and ramping up security since the U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran with missile strikes on Feb. 28.

The FBI has warned that Iranian operatives may be planning drone attacks on targets in California. Two men brought explosives to a far-right protest outside the New York mayoral mansion on Saturday. Investigators allege they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group.

And an assailant drove a car into people outside an Orthodox synagogue in Manchester, England, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. He stabbed two people to death before officers shot and killed him.

President Donald Trump said he had been fully briefed on the attack, calling it a “terrible thing.”

Steven Ingber, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit, said Thursday: “I’d love to say that I’m shocked, that I’m surprised, but I’m not."

The attack was the second at a house of worship in Michigan within the past year. Last September, a former Marine fatally shot four people at a church north of Detroit and set it ablaze. The FBI later said he was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Oakland County is Michigan’s second-largest county with roughly 1.3 million people.The majority of Detroit-area Jewish residents live there. Temple Israel has 12,000 members, according to its website.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2026/03/13/michigan-synagogue-attack-suspect-lost-family-members-in-israeli-airstrike-in-lebanon–official-says

CBS News We visited “ground zero” for hospice fraud: Los Angeles, California A CBS News analysis of records forevery hospice operating in Los Angeles County finds indications of fraud are growing. By Rachel Gold, Laura Geller, Adam Yamaguchi and Graham Kates

At age 69, Lynn Ianni is a pickleball whiz, zipping from dinks to drives energetically. When she suffered an injury on the court two years ago, she sought physical therapy, and was surprised to learn her Medicare insurance wouldn’t cover it.

She was, according to Medicare records, dying and in hospice.

“They said, ‘you're in hospice.’ And I said, ‘what? What are you talking about?” Ianni said. “‘Are you kidding me? Do I look like I’m in hospice?’”

Ianni’s Medicare number had been stolen, and used by a company to fraudulently enroll her in hospice – specialized, compassionate care for terminal patients nearing the end of their lives. It was another example of fraud in the hospice industry, long a nationwide problem. But her case arose well after officials had promised to stamp it out in California, where the problem has been especially acute.

Medicare is federally administered, and hospices must be certified for reimbursements. But the state issues the licenses for hospices to operate.

Three years ago, California’s state auditor sounded the alarm that Los Angeles County had seen a 1,500% increase in hospice companies since 2010 – more than six times the national average relative to its elderly population.

Auditors estimated LA County hospices overbilled Medicare by $105 million in a single year. The report called out notable red flags – key warning signs of fraud:

• Multiple hospices in one building

• Geographic clustering

• Low patient counts

• High rates of terminally ill patients later discharged alive

• Excessive billing

• Staff shared across multiple companies

The state says it proceeded to investigate and revoke the licenses of 280 hospices.

But since then, the problem has continued to fester. CBS News examined the business and financial records of every hospice currently operating in LA County, applying the same indicators identified by the state.Indications of fraud have not stopped. In fact, they’ve grown.

The CBS News analysis reveals that over 700 of the roughly 1,800 hospices in LA County, trigger multiple red flags for fraud as defined by the state.

California is confronting this problem as Gavin Newsom, its Democratic governor, eyes a potential presidential run.Fraud in public services has become a thorny political issue. Republicans and an army of social media influencers have seized on the issue as politically potent – accusing Democratic state executives of failing to prevent costly schemes, most notably in Minnesota, where the Feeding our Future pandemic relief scam cost taxpayers hundreds of millions. Minnesota’s Democratic governor, Tim Walz, announced in January that he would no longer seek reelection amid fallout from that scandal.

CBS News reached out to Governor Newsom’s office. A spokesperson sent us a January 2026 statement, which reads in part, “Under Governor Newsom’s administration, California has cracked down on hospice fraud, launched partnerships across state agencies, and the California Department of Justice has arrested criminals to hold them accountable.”

Hospice fraud is a nationwide problem. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of theInspector General reported in 2023 that suspected hospice fraud amounts totaled an estimated $198.1 million.

https://www.cbsnews.com/projects/2026/hospice-fraud/

Russia says no radiation changes detected after strikes on Iran nuclear sites

13 hours ago

Russia’s top nuclear official said on Friday thatno changes in radiation levels had been detected following strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilitiesduring the conflict with the United States and Israel.

Alexei Likhachev, head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said monitoring had not recorded any radiation changes, according to the state news agency RIA.

It was not immediately clear which strikes he was referring to.Iran said last week that its Natanz nuclear facility had been hit during US and Israeli military operations but reported no radioactive leakage.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603133841

How Russia’s crisis diplomacy lifted sanctions and infuriated Zelensky. KEK

What have we learned from Kirill Dmitriev’s latest round of talks in Miami, and where does Ukraine stand now?1/2

Published 13 Mar, 2026 20:03 |

Two weeks of war in the Persian Gulf have forced the US to admit the obvious: that Russia is an indispensable oil supplier.After some lightning-fast diplomacyfrom Moscow, Russian oil is reaching its old markets again,and nobody is angrier than Vladimir Zelensky.

The impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran on global energy markets has been brutal.Around 40% of the world’s oil comes from the Middle East, where Iranian attacks have forced the shutdown of refineries in US-allied countries, and a third of the world’s seaborne crude oil transits the Strait of Hormuz, which has been de facto closed for nearly two weeks.

As a result, the Brent oil benchmark has soared to more than $103 per barrel, a figure last seen in June 2022, when oil markets grappled with the escalating conflict in Ukraine.

That Moscow would benefit from this situation was inevitable. Russia is theworld’s largest oil producer, is not participating in the war in the Gulf, and does not depend on the Strait of Hormuz to bring its oil to buyers.The only impediment to Russian oil flows are Western sanctions, which the US proved this week it is willing to wave away with the stroke of a pen.

Did Dmitriev’s diplomacy lift sanctions on Russian oil?

It took only four days for US sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to start to fade.The process began with a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. The Kremlin described the call as “frank and businesslike,” noting that the two leaders discussed the effect of the war on “global energy markets.”

Earlier that day, Putin publicly declared that Russia is a “reliable energy supplier,” willing to work with “countries that themselves are reliable partners.”

Two days later, Russianspecial envoy Kirill Dmitriev was on a plane to Miami, where he met with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as well as White House adviser ⁠Josh Gruenbaum.Neither side revealed much about the meeting, with Witkoff stating that “the teams discussed a variety of topics and agreed to stay in touch,” with Dmitriev thanking the Americans “for a productive meeting.”

Less than 24 hours later, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the temporary lifting of sanctionson Russian oil currently at sea.The waiver relates to exports of Russian oil loaded onto vessels prior to March 12 and is set to last 30 days. Neither side has suggested that the decision to waive sanctions was made in Miami, but it is unlikely that the issue was not discussed.

Is the US sanctions waiver a big deal?

Bessent described the waiver as a “narrowly tailored, short-term measure” that would “not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, which derives the majority of its energy revenue from taxes assessed at the point of extraction.”

However, Dmitriev believes that further easing of sanctions will follow. In a post on Telegram on Thursday, he said “many countries, particularly the USA, are beginning to better understand the key, systemically important role of Russian oil and gas in ensuring the stability of the global economy, as well as the ineffectiveness and destructive nature of sanctions against Russia.”

A Harvard-educated former investment banker, Dmitriev is a long-time proponent of increasing economic ties between the US and Russia. Throughout repeated rounds of talks aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, Dmitriev has accompanied Moscow’s negotiators to the US and held separate economic-focused talks with the Americans.

https://www.rt.com/russia/634872-dmitriev-russia-sanctions-waiver/

>>24378855

2/2

$100 oil is “just the beginning of the largest energy crisis ever,” Dmitriev wrote on X, adding that “even $200+ is a possibility in a prolonged conflict.”

“Amid the growing energy crisis, further easing of restrictions on Russian energy sources appears increasingly inevitable,despite resistance from some in the Brussels bureaucracy,” he predicted.

Did someone forget to ask Zelensky?

With Witkoff, Kushner, and the entire Trump administration consumed with Iran, trilateral talks between Moscow, Kiev, and Washington have been postponed until next week at the earliest.For now, Zelensky – the spurned mistress in this story – can only complain to the Europeans.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenhave all condemned Trump’s sanctions waiver. “We believe that easing sanctions now, for whatever reason, is the wrong thing to do,” Merz told reporters on Friday. “Russia,” von der Leyen said, should absolutely not benefit from the war on Iran.”

However, Russia will continue to benefit as long as oil prices remain high, and Dmitriev has warned European “warmongers” that “energy markets will punish them” as long as they maintain their embargo on Russian oil and gas.

The war on Iran has been an unmitigated nightmare for Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. Not only has the conflict denied him the constant press coverage that he enjoyed since 2022, he has also been forced to watch as American weapons – particularly the PAC-3 Patriot anti-air missiles he has spent years demanding from the West – are burned up in the Middle East.

In less than two weeks of fighting in the Persian Gulf, the US, Israel, and their Arab partnershave used more PAC-3 interceptors than Ukraine has received in the last four years. In talks with his European backers earlier this week, Ukraine managed to secure a meager 35 of these missiles. The US and its partners have fired this many interceptors every five hours since the war on Iran began.

Zelensky’s attempts to insert Ukraine into the war have also proven fruitless. Despite offering to deploy anti-drone “experts” to the Middle East, the Ukrainian leader was told on Friday by Trump that “we don’t need Ukraine’s help with drone defense.”

Before Bessent announced the waiving of sanctions, Zelensky took to social media to vent his frustrations. “Europe, the United States, and the entire civilized world imposed sanctions on Russia for its aggression,” he wrote on X on Wednesday. “In my view, if these sanctions are lifted, it means we are recognizing the legitimacy of this aggression… I consider this absolutely unjust.”

The bottom line

Zelensky is learning the hard way that Trump is far more interested in reassuring markets than reassuring Kiev, and that when push comes to shove,the US president will always prioritize his interests and those of Israel over Ukraine’s.As small a breakthrough as a sanctions waiver is, thehostile reaction from the EU shows that the bloc is still willing to commit economic seppuku for the sake of ideology.

Under Trump, the US does not care about ideology, and will work with Russia if doing so is in its interest. Zelensky, meanwhile, can only join the Europeans in impotent rage.

https://www.rt.com/russia/634872-dmitriev-russia-sanctions-waiver/

Germany would be top destination for Iranians fleeing war – report

The continued US-Israeli attack on the country with a population of 90 million could lead to a mass exodus, a research study has warned

Published 13 Mar, 2026 19:53 |

Most Iranians fleeing the war, should the US and Israel choose to continue their aggression, would likely head for Germany, a Berlin-based research institute has predicted.

The continued unrest in the country with a population of over 90 million has sparked concerns of mass migration flows to the EU.

On Friday, the newspaper Munchner Merkur cited a recent study by the Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF)concluding that 28% of potential Iranian war refugees would view Germany as their top destination. Additionally, 14% of Lebanese migrants would also likely seek protection in the EU nation. The report draws on the findings of a 2024 Gallup representative survey.

The publication quoted RF Berlin director and report co-author Christian Dustmann as pointing out thatGermany already has numerous Iranian and Lebanese diasporas, which could make the country more attractive to potential newcomers.

Moreover, with countries like Canada and the US being geographically harder to reach, it islikely that “Europe – and Germany in particular – will become the primary destination for potential refugee movements,”the researcher said, as quoted by Merkur.

Also on Friday, Politico reported that theEuropean Union is bracing itself for a wave of refugees fleeing the war in Iran.

Nicholas Ioannides, the deputy migration minister ofCyprus, told the outlet that the bloc “cannot overlook the possibility of a new refugee crisis.”

A report penned by the bloc’s Agency for Asylum before the start of thewar warned that “even partial destabilization [in Iran]could generate refugee movements of an unprecedented magnitude,” Politico said.

In 2015, at the height of the Syrian civil war, the bloc took in more than a million refugees.The migrant influx has caused internal frictions in many member states, including Germany, with critics of the open-door policy citing a rise in crime, terrorist threats, and migrants’ failure to integrate.

Politico quoted Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell assaying that “we are still seeing the consequences of what happened 10 years ago,” with a repeat “not an option”for the EU.

https://www.rt.com/news/634887-germany-top-destination-iranian-refugees-report/

Moscow summons British and French envoys over deadly Ukrainian missile strike

The Foreign Ministry has sent for the diplomats to submit a “strong protest” following an attack on Bryansk

Published 13 Mar, 2026 16:06 |

The Foreign Ministry in Moscow has summoned the envoys of France and Britain to submit a “strong protest” over the deadly strike on the Russian city of Bryansk.

The Ukrainian military launched the attack on Tuesday, striking the city with long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles manufactured by the Franco-British corporation MBDA. The assault left at least eight people dead and dozens more wounded.

The ministry said it told the envoys thatLondon and Paris “bear direct responsibility for this terrorist attack” and emphasized thatthe strike on Bryansk “would have been impossible without the participation of British and French specialists” in its staging.

“It was underscored that if London and Paris continue to be complicit in the war crimes of the Kiev regime, responsibilityfor the destructive consequences of the armed conflictand the escalation of tensions will fall on Britain and France,” the ministry stressed.

Ukraine has acknowledged responsibility for the strike, claiming it was targeting a local microelectronics factory. The attack reportedly came during ashift change at the facility, when some employees were heading to the exit. Some of the missiles used apparently missed the plant and landed in the city’s streets, damaging shopping stands, civilian vehicles and residential buildings.

Kiev has seemingly ramped up strikes on Russia in recent dayswhile global attention remains diverted from the Ukraine conflict amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Ukrainian forces have staged several large-scale attacks on civilian sites in Russia, as well as repeatedly targeted the country’s energy infrastructure.

The Tuesday attack on a hospital in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republicbecame the deadliest incident in the ongoing string of strikes. It left ten medical personnel dead, while ten other people, including nine staff, were injured.

https://www.rt.com/russia/634870-moscow-summons-british-french-envoys/

Less than 10% of Ukraine’s troops enlist voluntarily – MP

Chronic manpower shortages have pushed Kiev into forced mobilization,which is growing increasingly brutal

Published 12 Mar, 2026 18:13

Fewer than one in ten Ukrainians joining the country’s armed forces are doing so voluntarily,making it impossible to abandon forced mobilization, a senior Kiev lawmaker has acknowledged.

The general call‑up of able‑bodied men aged 25 to 60has not been enough to cover chronic manpower shortages in light of the heavy battlefield losses. Most new soldiers have been pressed into service through harsh compulsory conscription, with hundreds of documented cases of draft officers using force to seize men on the streets, breaking into vehicles and homes, and brawling with onlookers.The practice of violently packing unwilling recruits into the minibuses commonly used by press gangs has become colloquially known in Ukraine as ‘busification.’

Speaking to the Telegraf Ukraine outlet on Thursday, Verkhovna Radalawmaker Vadim Ivchenko said current recruiting “gives approximately 8-10%” of the personnel needed by the army. To change that, he argued, Kiev must both raise financial incentives and tighten penalties for those who flee their units or dodge service.The aim is to “double recruitment to 16-20%.”

The lawmakerinsisted that harsher measuresare needed to deal with soldiers who flee their units or avoid service, including restrictions such as blocked bank accounts and access to loans.

Conscription in Ukraine has been plagued by widespread evasion, protests, and corruption allegations,and remains one of the most divisive issues. In January, Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov told lawmakers thataround two million potential recruits were on a wanted list for draft evasion, while some 200,000 troops had deserted. He has also announcedplans to recruit more foreign fightersas the armed forces struggle to find reinforcements.

In February, Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree permitting men over the age of 60 to enlist in the military under one-year contracts.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev of fighting “to the last Ukrainian” to serve Western interests. Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov estimated that Ukraine had lost nearly 500,000 servicemen in 2025 alone, depriving Kiev of the ability to replenish its ranks through compulsory mobilization. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has suggested that total Ukrainian military casualties, including killed, wounded, missing, and captured, have already exceeded one million.

https://www.rt.com/russia/634694-ukraine-forced-mobilization-recruits/

Collin Rugg

@CollinRugg

NEW: Jasmine Crockett's security guard has been killed after a standoff with Dallas police SWAT officers, according to CBS News.

"Mike King" was recently seen at campaign events with Crockett.

According to police, King was wanted for impersonating a law enforcement officer. He reportedly fled into a hospital parking garage and barricaded himself inside a vehicle.

King was then forced out of the car with tear gas and pulled his gun on officers.

"Multiple law enforcement sources tell CBS News Texas the man, known publicly as Mike King, had been using aliases while running a business that placed officers in off‑duty jobs," CBS reported.

King reportedly drove a replica undercover police vehicle and used stolen license plates from cars at a military recruiting office.

(Isn’t it time to investigate Crockett?)

8:54 PM · Mar 13, 2026

472.1K

Views

https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/2032621347978068016?s=20

Ahead of Paris Meeting with Chinese Trade Officials, USTR Jamieson Greer Discusses Goals and Objectives

March 13, 2026 | Sundance |

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are traveling to Paris this weekend to meet with the Chinese trade officials.This meeting is in advance of President Trump’s visit to Chinafor direct face-to-face discussions with Chairman Xi Jinping.

Given the recent events in Venezuela and Iran a lot of groundwork must be taking place for the Trump-Xi meeting. Multiple Chinese interests have been impacted directly.USTR Jamieson Greer discusses those preparatory issues as well as the recent announcement for Section 301 investigations and tariffs. WATCH:

U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer on U.S.-China trade relations, Iran war impact and tariffs agenda

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the upcoming meeting with Chinese officials, state of U.S.-China trade relations, impact of the Iran war, President Trump's tariff agenda, and more.

8:37

https://youtu.be/fKs2xg5gtr0

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/03/13/ahead-of-paris-meeting-with-chinese-trade-officials-ustr-jamieson-greer-discusses-goals-and-objectives/

Indicted John Bolton Beclowns Himself and Showcases Why His Neocon Mindset is Useless

March 13, 2026 | Sundance |

While under federal indictment for improper retention, holding and releasing classified intelligence, John Bolton appears on NBC News to complain about how President Trump is conducting the war against Iran.

It is hilarious to see Bolton pontificate, with all the customary arrogant self-assurances, that President Trump did not plan for a scenariowhere the oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz would be disrupted, while simultaneously proclaiming President Trump is giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a gift with the lifting of oil/gas sanctions to support the global market.

His insufferable ignorance is laughable. John Bolton just cannot hear himself. Trump didn’t plan for the oil shortage, but Trump lifted Russian oil sanctions. Say that again slowly John, while looking in the mirror. Trump didn’t plan for an oil shortage, but Trump planned to lift Russian oil sanctions. Slow it down and repeat as needed, until the ah-ha moment-sinks in.

Consider that President Trump did actually plan for the Strait of Hormuz to be closed;perhaps even planned for a long time for the issue{GO DEEP}. And planned, well in advance, for an offset to deliver massive amounts of oil even with the Strait of Hormuz closed.

Give his narrow and stale globalist mind a little longer than normal to see the strategy; give him quiet time in a room with no windows to contemplate the outcomes he is witnessing; and we might even sell tickets to see the moment his ancient neocon brain explodes.

(If I was Bolton, I’d STFU and stay that way. They never learn.)

John Bolton calls war in Iran ‘Trump’s self-inflicted wound’ amid economic concerns

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton tells Meet the Press NOW he believes President Trump has “not nearly enough” made the case for America’s conflict with Iran. NBC News’ Julie Tsirkin, Brian Cheung, Keir Simmons and Courney Kube report on the war’s impact on rising oil and gas prices as the president touts his economic agenda on the road.

25:27

https://youtu.be/wXq2WKDZj_Q

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/03/13/indicted-john-bolton-beclowns-himself-and-showcases-why-his-neocon-mindset-is-useless/

Nolte: CNN-IRGC Spreads Hoax Trump Surprised by Iran Threatening Strait of Hormuz

John Nolte13 Mar 2026

(Nolte is pretty funny)

Using the same unnamed sources that always tell CNN-IRGC what CNN-IRGC wants to hear, the fake news outlet (and Iran’s apparent partner) is now spreading the hoax(I don’t link fake news) that “The Pentagon and National Security Council significantly underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait of Hormuzin response to US military strikes while planning the ongoing operation[.]”

Naturally, this is “according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.”

The report ludicrously adds that “Top Trump officials acknowledged to lawmakersduring recent classified briefingsthat they did not plan for the possibility of Iran closing the strait in response to strikes, according to three sources familiar with the closed-door session.”

Again, this is according to those anonymous sourceswho always tell CNN what CNN wants to hear, so CNN has cover to publish fake news. That’s how CNN published hundreds of stories pushing what it knew was a hoax about Trump colluding with Russia to steal the 2016 election.

And just like Russia Collusion,this is fake news, and CNN knows it, but CNN seems to have a partnership going with Iran it must honor.

Already, the Trump administration, in the form of no less than Secretary of War PeteHegseth and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, has ripped CNN for publishing this lie, but they did not have to say anything because anyone with half a brain already knew it was a lie.

How do we already know this?

Because if you’re at all familiar with Iran, the very first thing you understand when contemplating an attack on Iran is that Iran will retaliate by trying to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Forrest Gump would understand this.

Sling Blade would understand this.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would understand this.

Claiming the Trump Administration was caught off guard by the importance of the Strait of Hormuzis no different than claiming the government had no idea the Pacific would be important during World War IIor that Eisenhower had no idea we would have to invade Europe to stop Nazi Germany.

This is one of those absolutely ridiculous lies CNN constantly tells to troll President Trump andsignal to their partners in Iran that they are good dogs.

“CNN decided to run this garbage based on three anonymous ‘sources familiar with discussions,’” Leavitt wrote in a statement released on X Friday. “This is despite the fact that myself, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of State, and multiple lawmakers (who were actually present for the recent classified briefing) have directly disputed this false reporting.”

Here’s Hegseth, who still looks pretty trim for a guy who ate $40 million in steak and lobster last month:

“Or more fake news from CNN,” announced Hegseth at a Friday morning press briefing. Then, after mentioning the Strait of Hormuz hoax,he declares it “patently ridiculous, of course,” and goes on: “For decades, Iran has threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.This is always what they do — hold the Strait hostage. CNN doesn’t think we thought of that. It’s a fundamentally unserious report. The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.”

You might say, Why take the Trump administration’s word on this issue?

Because I’m not stupid.

No one with even a glancing familiarity with Iran could possibly be caught off guard by the IRGC using the Strait as leverage. As Hegseth points out, “It’s what they always do.”

And lying is what CNN always does.

https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2026/03/13/nolte-cnn-irgc-spreads-hoax-trump-surprised-iran-threatening-strait-hormuz/

‘Depressed’ Neil Young Working on Anti-Trump Protest Album

Warner Todd Huston13 Mar 2026 (the sad thing is these idiots have millions of people that loved their music and quite a few of them, have ruined our memories)

Rocker Neil Young says he’s “sad” and “depressed” by the news of the day under President Donald Trumpand he needs to put out a new, Anti-Trump album to express his feeling about what he called the “worst president in the history of our country.”

The Canadian citizen who only became a U.S. citizen in 2020so he could vote against Trump, claims he is “hurt for this country.”

“Folks, I am so hurt for this country,” Young wrote on his website.“Politics today is sad and depressing for me. I can’t do it anymore. I can go out and demonstrate my feelings about it. We have the worst president in the history of our country. Every day a bad TV show produced by DJT is what we get.”

“Now, thankfully, once again, I’m in the studio recording a new album with the Chrome Hearts,” he added. “I love the songs and the feelings of life and love. Music is. So far we have eight new songs. They make me feel.”

Young, whose biggest hit was “Heart of Gold” from 1972,has been railing about President Trump since the New York business man ran for president the first time.

In January, for instance, he demanded that Americans “rise up” to fight Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which he claims is “destroying America,” despite that ICE is not in any way affect the lives of most Americans.

“Wake up people! Today The USA is a disaster” the Canadian citizen wrote at the time.

He also attempted to make a strike against Trump by gifting his music catalog to Greenland, making his public declaration in response to Trump’s pressure on Greenland to work with his administration as it seeks to secure the vital geo-political asset from threats – now and in the future.

Despite Young’s claim to want peaceful resistance, though, last May he suggestedthat Trump should be assassinated by adding the line “86/47” in his overheated blog.

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/03/13/depressed-neil-young-working-on-anti-trump-protest-album/

Trump Administration Set to Receive $10 Billion Fee for Brokering TikTok Deal

Investors in social-media platform’s U.S. business, including Oracle and Silver Lake, agreed to give the government several multibillion-dollar payments, sources say

The Trump administration is set to receive a roughly $10 billion fee from investors in the recently completed deal to take control of TikTok’s U.S. business, delivering it a windfall for keeping the popular social-media app alive in America.

The payment is part of the agreement through which investors friendly with the administration gained control of TikTok’s U.S. operations from Chinese parent ByteDance, people familiar with the matter said. It comes in addition to the investments made to create a new entity to run the app in the U.S.

The investors include cloud-computing company Oracle ORCL -2.54%decrease; red down pointing triangle, private-equity firm Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi investor MGX. They and other backers paid the Treasury Department about $2.5 billion when the deal closed in January and are set to make several additional payments until hitting the $10 billion total, the people said.

When announcing the framework for the TikTok deal in September, Trump said, “It hasn’t been fully negotiated, but we’ll get something,” adding that the size of the deal and money and effort put in by the government justify compensation. He had previously said, “The United States is getting a tremendous fee-plus—I call it a fee-plus—just for making the deal and I don’t want to throw that out the window.”

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the administration was expected to get a multibillion-dollar fee.

The $10 billion payment would be nearly unprecedented for a government helping arrange a transaction, historians have said. Vice President JD Vance previously said the new TikTok entity running the U.S. operations is valued at about $14 billion in the deal, which some tech analysts have said dramatically undervalues the company.

As part of the agreement, the U.S. entity has to share profits with ByteDance, which licensed its popular algorithm to the new venture so it could be fully trained on Americans and still owns nearly 20%.

Investment bankers advising on a typical deal receive fees of less than 1% of the transaction value, and the percentage generally gets smaller as the deal size increases. Bank of America is in line to make some $130 million for advising railroad operator Norfolk Southern on its $71.5 billion sale to Union Pacific, one of the largest fees on record for a single bank on a deal.

Administration officials have said the fee is justified given Trump’s role in saving TikTok in the U.S. and navigating negotiations with China to get the deal done while addressing the security concerns of lawmakers…

https://archive.is/fxAsK

Jesse Watters

@JesseBWatters

BREAKING: U.S. Central Command just “OBLITERATED” targets on KHARG ISLAND

“The MOST POWERFUL RAID” in Middle East HISTORY 💣

Trump is WARNING IRAN— MESS WITH THE STRAIT… and WE BOMB THE OIL NEXT 🔥 🔥

NOW, we’re STRIKING Iran’s “MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX” in the HEAVIEST NIGHT OF FIREPOWER OF THE WAR 🚨

9:01 PM · Mar 13, 2026

361.8K

https://x.com/JesseBWatters/status/2032623077524152717?s=20