Sunday Talks – U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz vs Jake Tapper 1/4

March 15, 2026 | Sundance |

Perhaps the Ellison effect is actualizing inside CNN,but the insufferable furrowed brows of Jake Tapper were unusually non-combative todayas he interviewed U.N Ambassador Mike Waltz while discussing Iran. [Video and Transcript Below]

JUST IN: UN Ambassador Mike Waltz Holds Interview With CNN To Update Progress On Iran War

10:20

(https://youtu.be/O_9v491jE2A

[Transcript] – Joining us now to discuss, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret who served in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Ambassador Waltz, thank you so much for joining us.

The president just said that the U.S. has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both militarily, economically, and in every other way.Help us understand what that means, that Iran has been beaten. Does that mean that U.S. service members will soon be coming home?

MIKE WALTZ, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS:Well, Jake, let’s just unpack that for a moment.

Militarily, the U.S. military has decimated Iran’s air force, their air defenses, their missile capability, their missile production capability.This has been a dominant victory, the likes of which we haven’t seen in modern American military history, economically, the maximum pressure campaign that President Trump put in place his first term and reinstituted the second— as the second major item, executive order that he signed this term.

Their currency is tanking. Theirforeign reserves are completely depleted. And that’swhy you saw the most recent uprising. You saw the uprising based on economic terms.And then, diplomatically, we just saw this week at the U.N. Security Council 135 nations— Jake, it was a U.N. record — 135 nations side with the Gulf Arab countries and condemn the GCC — excuse me —with the Gulf Arab countries, the GCC countries, and condemn Iran for its atrocious attacks on civilian infrastructure, ports, airports, hotels, resorts. And, as I pointed out at the Security Council,I don’t see how the regime argues that those are military targets. They are clearly not, and they are clearly deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.

And I have got totell you, this shoot-in-all-directions strategy that Iran has taken on is backfiring. They have never been more diplomatically isolated.Just one more point. Russia and Iran had an opportunity to veto that measure, and they stood back and did not. They abstained.

So, with friends like those, I think Iran is going to stay incredibly isolated.i

TAPPER: You said Russia and Iran abstained. I assume you meant Russia and China abstained.

WALTZ:Excuse me, Russia and China. That’s right.

TAPPER: Yes. Yes.

So, is he willing, the president, to accept an end to the war that leaves whatever of the regime is left still in place, the new ayatollah as supreme leader? Because it sounds like — the way you describe it, it sounds like President Trump, with the exception of the stranglehold that the Iranians have of the Strait of Hormuz,it sounds like everything has been achieved pretty much, with the possible exception of a new regime, which was not one of the specific goals.

https://youtu.be/O_9v491jE2A

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/03/15/sunday-talks-u-n-ambassador-mike-waltz-vs-jake-tapper/

==Rest of transcript to follow, lot of notable info)

>>24387361

2/4

WALTZ: Well, the president has said he’s not happy with this new nominated Mojtaba Khamenei, who, by many accounts,is an incredibly hardline individual, a hardline cleric.

We will see if he’s actually really in charge. As Secretary Hegseth said, he was wounded during the initial strikes. Andit’s unclear that he really has control of the country, if he’s even alive at this point.

So, look, I will leave it to the president where he decides and when he decides and on what terms he decides as commander in chief to end hostilities. But I think the important point here is,the United States has never been in such a position of strength and the Iranian regime has never been in such a position of weaknesswhen it comes to its options.

TAPPER: Despite U.S. strikes on military targets on Iran’s key oil hub of a Kharg Island Friday night,Iran says that oil production on the island is proceeding normally.

If Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, is President Trump prepared to target those oil facilities,which, as you know, handle 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports? And, if so, are you worriedthat could risk even more of an escalationwhen it comes to the Strait of Hormuz?

WALTZ:Well, President Trump is not going to take any options off the table, Jake, and he pointed out in his TRUTH where he announced themilitary infrastructure strikeson Kharg, which, by the way, they use to project their fast boats, drones and other types of attacks on— into the Gulf, thathe deliberately hit the military infrastructure only for now.

And I would certainly think he would maintain that optionality if he wants to take down their energy infrastructure. But we have totake a step back, Jake. I mean,look at what they’re doing to global energy supplies. Look at what they’re trying to doin terms of constraining the world’s economy with drones and boats.

One could only imagine if they had a nuclear arsenal or if they had a nuclear weapon. That’s what many of these Gulf Arab countries have woken up to, that they now realize, and why they have been so supportive and are standing with us as we seek to ensure this regime can never have a nuclear weapon, which President Trump has been consistent about for 10 years.

TAPPER:If not longer.(there it is, Tapper is agreeing with Walz, baby steps! KEK)

WALTZ: Yes.

TAPPER: President Trump said that the Navy,the U.S. Navy, is going to begin escorting tankersthrough the Strait of Hormuz and that will begin very soon. And he said — quote —“Many countries will be sending warships to keep the strait open and safe” — unquote.

The administration has beentalking about potential Navy escortsfor more than a week now. Shipping executives tell CNN that all their requests for escorts have, as of now, been rebuffed.President Trump said — quote — “Hopefully, China, France, Japan, South Korea, the U.K. and others will send ships to the area”— unquote.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/03/15/sunday-talks-u-n-ambassador-mike-waltz-vs-jake-tapper/

>>24387370

3/4

Tapper

Is he hoping that those countries are going to send shipsor have they committed to sending ships? Andhow soonwill those naval escorts be ready?

WALTZ:Well, I will leave those conversations to him. The conversations are ongoing.

I think there’san important point that’s getting kind of missed in the conversation, that80 percent of the oil coming out of the Gulf heads to Asia. Only about7, 8 percent heads to the Western Hemisphere. And thank God for President Trump’s energy dominance agenda, everything from opening up ANWR, new pipeline in Alaska, incentivizing fracking, what we’re going to see come out of Venezuela and Guyana in the coming months and years.

This is why we have to be energy-independent. And I have to just say it’s a little rich coming from the progressive left, who has literally been at war against oil, literally were putting policies in place to drive up the price of oil in order to force Americans to buy E.V.s and go to wind and solar, are now suddenly celebrating it or decrying the lack of it.

Like I said, it’s a little bit rich.We have the energy dominance in place. But, to your point on escorts, look, back, in the ’80s, under the tanker wars then,the last time Iran tried to constrain global energy supplies, you had French, United Kingdom, even Soviet Union forces in there escorting their tankers out that were heading to their markets.

And I think that’s what President Trump is calling upon the world,saying the entire world is affected. Iran can’t hold your economies hostage. And we certainly welcome, encourage, and even demand their participation to help their own economies.

And, meanwhile, the U.S. military will continue to pound the Iranian military, their missile, boat and drone forces to keep the straits open.

TAPPER: Sources tell CNN thatRussia has been providing Iran with intelligence to help Iran better target U.S. service members. You said in an interview last week that President Trump will — quote — “deal with it accordingly.”

>>24387379

4/4

Here’s what President Trump had to say about this on Friday.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

BRIAN KILMEADE, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Do you think Putin is helping them?

TRUMP:I think he might be helping him a little bit, yes, I guess. And he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, right? China would say the same thing. You know, it’s like, hey, they do it and we do it, in all fairness. They do it and we do it.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

TAPPER:Do you see an equivalencebetween the U.S. helping Ukraine defend itself and Russia helping Iran target U.S. service members?

WALTZ: Well, Jake,we have known that Russia and Iran have this symbiotic, have this strategic partnershipfor some time now.

I will tell you what Russia has lost out of this. They have lost their biggest manufacturer of the Shahed drones. Russia’s been licensing those drones for quite some time and hitting Ukraine with it, all the more reason why we need to defang this regime and all the more reason that they cannot have a nuclear weapon.

And I will just point out too,because a lot of critics out there are making hay of this, it was President Trump that put sanctions on Russia’s largest oil producer, Rosneft.He also put sanctions on Lukoil. The Biden administration did not do that for many years.

They (Trump Admin) only did a kind of a pinprick action at the very end of the administration. He also took tough action on India. And nowhe’s put a temporary pause on that in order to calm energy markets. I think these are all pragmatic, commonsense approach — approaches, while we deal with the Iranian regime.

TAPPER:=But, surely, surely Russia helping Iran target our service members is upsetting and distressing, andaction needs to be taken.(There it is, Tapper’s statement sounds like a Shakespeare dramatic quote, to make Russia the next target. Tapper forCNN and all others networks want’s war with Russia next, because for money and more views. The media’s goal is to promote bullshit and generate lies to attack Russia. The News media loves it when the U.S. is at war,especially they want a war because of their Russia, Russia, Russia lies to continue, reconstituted bullshit, to start another war!)

WALTZ:Well, I’m not going to get into leaked assessments of what intelligence is being provided or not. I just can’t and won’t do that. (Good, Sounds like Waltz recognized CNN was pushing US and EU war with Russia, so he spanked Tapper for bullshit!)

But I will tell you,if they are doing it, it certainly hasn’t been affected — or effective, excuse me, because the Iranian Air Force, air defenses, missile forces, and Navy have been completely decimated.

TAPPER: All right, Ambassador Mike Waltz, thank you so much. Appreciate your time today, sir.

WALTZ: All right, thank you.

https://youtu.be/O_9v491jE2A

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/03/15/sunday-talks-u-n-ambassador-mike-waltz-vs-jake-tapper/

>>24386645, >>24386652, >>24386662 It’s Not Our War’ Norway PM Warns Middle East Conflict Impacting EuropePN

I can’t wait until Trump and America notify Europe they are cowards and refusing to stand with the greatest ally and biggest creator and funder of NATO. If NATO countries are such cowards dissolve NATO, after all asTrump said “the NATO countries will never come to are aid if we needed it.They just proved they are spineless and weak NWO destroyers. All they do is complain about Trump and America, while they are flooded with criminal illegal marauders that will and are destroying their European countries. Obviously weak and feckless allies. Nothing that Rubio made clear to them, sunk in.

Donald Trump warns Nato faces ‘very bad future’ if allies fail to help US in Iran

US president tells the FT in an interview that China summit could be delayed.1/23/16/26

Donald Trump has warned that Nato faces a “very bad” future if US allies fail to assist in opening up the Strait of Hormuz,sending a blunt message to European nations to join his war effort in Iran.

The US president told the FT in an interview on Sunday that he could also delay his summit with China’s President Xi Jinpinglater this month as he presses Beijing to help unblock the crucial waterway.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said, arguing that EuropeandChina are heavily dependent on oil from the Gulf, unlike the US.

“If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response I think it will be very bad for the future of Nato,” he added.

Trump’s comments,made in an eight-minute phone call with the FT,came a day after he appealed to China, France, Japan, South Korea and the UK to join a “team effort” to open up the chokepoint through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes. (They are very proud of 8 minutes with Trump! kek)

Iran in effect shut the strait after the US and Israel launched their war more than two weeks ago, sparking fears of a new oil price shock for the global economy.US efforts to open the waterway have largely failed. International oil prices hit $106 a barrel on Sunday evening, up about 45 per cent since the start of the war.

Despite his warning, Trump was pessimistic that US allies would heed his pleas for help.

“We have a thing called Nato,” said Trump, who has often criticised the alliance. “We’ve been very sweet. We didn’t have to help them with Ukraine. Ukraine is thousands of miles away from us . . . But we helped them. Now we’ll see if they help us. Because I’ve long said that we’ll be there for them but they won’t be there for us. And I’m not sure that they’d be there.”

Asked to =specify the help he needed, Trump said “whatever it takes==”. He added that allies should send minesweepers, of which Europe possesses many more than the US.

Healso wanted “people who are going to knock out some bad actors that are along the [Iranian] shore”. Trumpimplied he wanted European commando teams or other military help to eliminate Iranians making “a nuisance” in the Gulfwith drones and naval mines.

“We’re hitting them very hard,” Trump said. “They’ve got nothing left but to make a little trouble in the Strait but these people are beneficiaries and they ought to help us police it.We’ll help them. But they should also be there. You sort of need a lot of people to watch over a few.”

Trump said he was also expecting China to help unblock the strait before he travels to Beijing at the end of this month for a summit with Xi Jinping, his first trip to China in his second term.

“I think China should help too because China gets 90 per cent of its oil from the Straits[sic],” Trump said. Waiting until the summit would be too late, he said.

“We’d like to know before that. It’s [two weeks is] a long time.”He added that his trip to China might also be put back. “We may delay,” Trump said. He did not say for how long.

https://archive.is/QCU9s#selection-2029.0-2069.187

>>24387585

2/2

The US president’s comments came as hisTreasury secretary Scott Bessent met his Chinese counterpartHe Lifeng in Paris for talks about the planned summit in Beijing in late March.

Xi invited Trump to visit China when the two leaders met in South Korea at the end of October and reached a truce in the US-China trade and technology war.Beijing has shown no sign of wanting to delay the summitdespite the war in Iran, which is a major oil supplier to China.

Having spoken earlier onSunday to Britain’s prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, Trump expressed particular frustration with Britain’s response so far.

“The UK might be considered the number one ally, the longest serving et cetera and when I asked for them to come, they didn’t want to come,” he said.

“And as soon as we basically wiped outthe danger capacity from Iran, they said, ‘oh well we’ll send two ships’, and I said, ‘we need these ships before we win,not after we win’.

I’ve long said that Nato is a one-way street.”

He claimed any danger toallies moving assets into the Gulf would be minimalsince the US and Israel had destroyed Iran’s military capacity in the past two weeks.

“We’ve essentially decimated Iran,” Trump said. “They have no navy, no anti-aircraft, no air force, everything is gone. The only thing they can do is make a little trouble by putting a mine in the water — a nuisance, but the nuisance can cause problems.”

However, European allies have already been harmed in the war. A French soldier was killedon Thursday in an Iranian drone strike in Iraq. AnItalian aircraft was destroyedon Sunday at a base in Kuwait. (Bizarre FT’s only response, wasone French soldier and one plane, that’s how France was harmed in the war???)

Trump also warned that the US was prepared to launch new strikes on Kharg Island, Iran’s oil export hub, and could target its oil infrastructure.

“You saw we hit Kharg Island, everything but the pipes yesterday,” he said, referring to a bombing raid he announced on Friday. “We can hit that in five minutes. And there’s not a thing they can do about it.”

Asked =whether Russia was helping Iran with satellite data to target US and Israeli anti-missile shields, Trump said: “I don’t know one way or the other. But you could also make the case that we helped Ukraine to an extent. It’s hard to say: ‘you’re targeting us, but we’ve been helping Ukraine’.”==

Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden had given Ukraine $350bn in cash and equipment, the president claimed. “So it’s hard to say: ‘Gee what are you doing?’ when we’ve been doing the same thing.”

(Worst but true take on this article. All of are Allies are absolute cowards. No wonder their countries are crumbling!)

https://archive.is/QCU9s#selection-2029.0-2069.187

Banking Disruptions Hit Iran as Customers Gather Outside Branches(sounds like Iran are stealing citizens money, probably for war…are they dead broke?)

MARCH 16, 2026

With only a few days remaining until the start of Nowruz (the Persian New Year), widespread disruptions in thebanking services of two of the country’s largest banks, Bank Melli Iran and Bank Sepah, have caused significant confusion and dissatisfaction among customers. Field reports indicate that while some services have faced issues for about a week, the disruptions escalated seriously yesterday, impacting mobile systems, networks, and in-person services.

According to reports, mobile banking systems and online services forBank Melli, including the “BAM” app, as well as Bank Sepah’s “Omid” system, are effectively offline. Users report that accessing account balances, transferring funds, and performing most online services are either disrupted or completely cut off.

Simultaneously, in cities such as Tehran, Karaj, and Fardis, citizens have gathered in front of Bank Melli brancheshoping to use in-person services. However, according to visitors,many routine services inside the branches are also unavailable. For instance, cashing checks and performing SATNA or PAYA (interbank) transfers have been suspended in many locations.

Customers claim that contacting bank support centers has been fruitless, as the provided numbers.remain unresponsive. Furthermore, the official websites of thesebanks have not issued any clear statements regarding the causeor the estimated time for a resolution as of this report.

The disruptions at Bank Sepah are reported to be even more extensive.ATMs for this bank are malfunctioning in many areas, and it is impossible to withdraw cash via cards or at the branches. In some branches,customers were told that any deposit or withdrawal operations connected to Bank Sepah accounts are currently impossible.

Meanwhile, Bank Melli cardholders can still make purchases at some stores via Point of Sale (POS) terminals, but this option has failed for Bank Sepah customers in many cases, making both in-person and online payments impossible.

Additionally, the “Sadad” electronic payment gateway is also facing disruptions. Field inspections of someBank Melli branches show that even the card slots on some ATMs have been blocked, making the machines unusable.

OneBank Sepah employee, responding to customers, confirmed thateven his own salary, which was deposited into his Sepah account ,cannot be withdrawn, and he is currently relying on remaining funds in another bank account.

According to several visitors, thecommon response from bank staffduring this period has been: “They have promised the problem will be resolved by tomorrow or the day after.”

https://iranwire.com/en/news/150519-banking-disruptions-hit-iran-as-customers-gather-outside-branches/

>>24387695

2/2

In the midst of this, theTasnim News Agency has characterized the disruptions as an “enemy conspiracy” and a sign of a cyberattack. This mediaoutlet previously claimed that these problems followed a missile strikeon a Bank Sepah branch on the Haghani Highway during the recent conflict.

This situation is unfolding just days before the New Year, a time when many citizens require cash for holiday expenses. Some visitors to bank branches say that ATMs have been unable to dispense cash in recent days, forcing those who came to withdraw money to leave empty-handed.

Customers whose salaries or deposits are held in these banks are angry and worried, stating that they have no access to their money on the eve of the New Year.

Despite nearly a week passing since the onset of the disruptions, no specific timeline for a full resolution has been announced. The public relations department of Bank Melli Iran told the Mehr News Agency, regarding the status of the “BAM” system, that the majority of the problems have been resolved and that only minor instabilities remain. According to the bank, technical teams are working on a full fix, which is expected soon.

However, as of the publication of this report,officials have not provided a formal or detailed explanation regarding the root cause of these disruptions or the exact time services will be fully restored.

https://iranwire.com/en/news/150519-banking-disruptions-hit-iran-as-customers-gather-outside-branches/

Exclusive: IRGC Has No Post-War Plan, Pezeshkian Warns

MARCH 16, 2026

IRANWIRE

According to an informed source, the ruling establishment, particularly the IRGC, has no clear strategy for what will happen after the war between Iran, the United States, and Israel.Instead, it appears that the priority for the force is to continue the conflict.

A source close to the Pezeshkian administrationtold IranWire that during an informal meeting between government officialsand IRGC representatives,Masoud Pezeshkian raised concerns about the country’s economic situation once the war ends. He warned that when relative calm returns,the government will again face severe economic pressures and rising public dissatisfaction.

Pezeshkianasked the IRGC to begin working with the governmentnow to help manage the economic problems that are likely to emerge after the war.

During the discussion, anIRGC representativedescribed as a young man responded bysaying that the attacks by the United States and Israel had united people behind the regime, similar to what happened during the “Imposed War” (the Iran-Iraq War).

He argued that becausethreats from the United States and Israel would continue even after the war, the country would remain in a state of emergency and “no one will dare to voice dissatisfaction.”

According to the IranWire source, Pezeshkian rejected this response. He told the IRGC representative: “That is no answer! Does it mean that once the war is over, we must kill another round of protesters? Is this what you call planning?”

He continued: “You are the age of my son and do not remember the war years. In those days, we had the Imam (Khomeini), and the people listened to his commands with all their hearts and souls;furthermore, the economic situation even at the height of the war was not as dire as last year. The situation is different now, and your answer is not convincing.”

The source addedthat Pezeshkian has repeatedly expressed criticism in various meetings over the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as Leader.

According to him,the country currently needs either a charismatic Leader or a Leadership Council capable of boosting the morale of the public, the government, and the military.

He also argued that “leadership in absentia” cannot effectively guide a nation of 90 million people.

According to the source, the meeting ended in a tense atmosphere. Before leaving, theIRGC representative told Pezeshkian that the only thing the IRGC currently expects from the government is to maintain public morale, promising that the force would not withhold support after the war.

Pezeshkian responded with a laugh and quoted a phrase from the Nahj al-Balagha: “May God have mercy on the person who knows where they came from, where they are, and where they are going.”

These remarks appear to match other information obtained by IranWire aboutgrowing internal disagreements within the government.

The source, whose identity IranWire has chosen not to reveal, said the decision to disclose these details was driven by deepconcerns about Iran’s future and the IRGC’s widespread influence across the country’s political and economic institutions.

https://iranwire.com/en/news/150515-exclusive-irgc-has-no-post-war-plan-pezeshkian-warns/

New York Post: U.S. Intelligence Says Mojtaba Khamenei Likely Gay(or fake and ghey.)

MARCH 16, 2026 IRANWIRE

The American newspaper The New York Post has published a report detailing U.S. intelligence assessments about Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Leader of the Islamic Republic. According to theassessment cited in the report, Mojtaba Khamenei is likely gay.

In its March 2 report, The New York Post wrote:“When Trump was informed of this data, he could not hide his surprise and laughed out loud.”

According to informed sources, others present in the roomalso laughed, and one senior intelligence official “has been unable to stop laughing about it for several days.”

CBS News also reported yesterday, without sharing specific details, that sources inside the U.S. government, the intelligence community, and people close to thePresident say the information gathered suggests that Ali Khamenei was also aware of certain issues related to his son’s personal life.

Three separate sources within the intelligence community told The New York Post that this unusual claim is “considered credible by American spy agencies” and is not simply misinformation meant to damage Mojtaba Khamenei’s reputation. Two of those sources said the available information indicates that Mojtaba Khamenei “had a long-term sexual relationship with his childhood teacher.”

Another section of the report states that after being wounded in the airstrikes that killed his father and other family members,Mojtaba Khamenei, while recovering, “made aggressive sexual advances toward the men caring for him,” which sources suggest may have been influenced by heavy medication.

Although intelligence agenciesreportedly do not have photographic evidence, they stress that theinformation “was obtained from one of the most protected government sources.” (If that’s true and the guy has been hidden for years, why didn’t they leak it out much earlier before the war?)

The New York Post also wrote thatrumors about this issue have circulated inside Iran since the helicopter crash that killed Ebrahim Raisi in May 2024.

The report further refers to a confidentialdiplomatic cable from 2008, later published by WikiLeaks, which discussed Mojtaba Khamenei’s medical treatments in hospitals in London related to certain personal matters. According to that document,he “married relatively late,” reportedly because of issues that required long trips to Britain for treatment.

These claims come at a time when Iranian law imposes severe punishment for such behavior. One source told The New York Post:“If there was ever a time to reveal someone’s secret, it’s when they are the leader of an oppressive regime that hangs such individuals from cranes.”

At present, the health condition and exact location of Iran’s new Leader remain unclear following Israeli attacks on multiple facilities and bases. DonaldTrump had earlier described Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable” choice to lead Iran, saying he would not comply with U.S. demands regarding nuclear and missile programs.

(Don’t they kill gays in Iran?)

https://iranwire.com/en/news/150521-new-york-post-us-intelligence-says-mojtaba-khamenei-likely-gay/

Israeli Army Announces Destruction of a Military Space Center in Tehran

MARCH 16, 2026

IRANWIRE

The Israeli military said its air force carried out a strike in Tehran targeting a facility that itclaims was involved in developing technology to attack satellites.

In a statement released on Monday, March 16, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)said the site was used to build offensive capabilities designed to damage satellites.

According to the statement, such capabilities posed a threat not only to Israel’s satellites but also to space assets belonging to other countries.

The Israeli military added that thefacility was operating as part of the Islamic Republic’s military space program.

It also claimed that the center had been involved inprojects related to military space technology, including the “Chamran-1” satellite.

According to the announcement, the “Chamran-1” satellite was developed by the IranianMinistry of Defense’s electronics industries and was launched into space by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in September 2024.

https://iranwire.com/en/news/150520-israeli-army-announces-destruction-of-a-military-space-center-in-tehran/

Tehran Mayor: “14,000 Points” Targeted but Situation “Normal”

MARCH 16, 2026 IRANWIRE

Tehran’s mayor, Alireza Zakani, told the ISNA news agency that since thewar between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic began, “14,000 points” across the capital have been targeted. At the same time, he insisted that “The situation in Tehran is completely normal.”

ISNA also reported Zakani saying that government and administrative offices in the city are continuing to operate and provide services to residents.

The mayor added thathe does not have exact figures on military or civilian casualties in Tehran, but said he is aware that a “large number” of people have been killed or injured.

Zakani further statedthat the Islamic Republic has already prepared itself for a “long-term war” and said authorities are not concerned about the situation in the coming days.

https://iranwire.com/en/news/150517-tehran-mayor-14000-points-targeted-but-situation-normal/

What is true is Iran leaders have mastered the craft of lying and propaganda even on their own people!

Israeli Army: We Destroyed the Government’s Leadership Aircraft

MARCH 16, 2026

IRANWIRE

The official account of the “Israel Defense Forces” (IDF) on X (formerly Twitter) confirmed that Israeli forces carried out widespread strikes early Monday morning on Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport,claiming that the “aircraft of the Leader of the Islamic Republic” had been destroyed.

In its message, the Israeli military said: “This aircraft was used by Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Iranian terrorist regime, and other senior officials of this regime, as well as elements of the Iranian Armed Forces,to facilitate military procurement and manage communications with ‘Axis’ countries through both domestic and international flights.”

According to the IDF, destroying the aircraft would weaken “the Iranian regime leadership’s ability to coordinate with the countries of the Axis of Resistance.”

The statement concluded: “Another strategic asset has been stripped from the Iranian regime. The IDF will continue to act to target any means used by the military forces of the Iranian terrorist regime throughout Iran.”

https://iranwire.com/en/news/150508-israeli-army-we-destroyed-the-governments-leadership-aircraft/

Israeli Military: We Still Have Thousands of Targets Left to Strike in IranMARCH 16, 2026

As explosions were heard across Tehran and air defense systems were activated, Effie Defrin, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said the Israeli military still has thousands of targets left to strike across Iran, with new targets being identified every day.

On March 15, the sixteenth day of the war with Iran, Effie Defrin said during a televised press briefing: “We have a precise plan. We still have thousands of targets in Iran, and we are identifying new ones every day.”

The fact that the war has reached its “sixteenth day” highlights the length of this high-intensity aerial conflict. The continuedexplosions in Tehransuggest that despite Iran’s extensive air defense network,Israeli and U.S. aircraft or long-range missiles are still able to reach targets in the capital. The reference to identifying “new targets every day” also suggests that Western intelligence is closely tracking the movement of Iranian mobile missile launchers and command facilities.

The account attributed to the Israel Defense Forces on the social media platform “X” also said:“So far, we have targeted more than 700 targets from the missile system in real-time. We have disabled 70% of the ballistic missiles and 70% of the launch platforms, and we have targeted more than 250 drones.”

The report added: “Simultaneously, we have attacked the second system,namely the air defenses, and targeted 80% of the defense systems, including surface-to-air missiles, radars, and other systems.”

If these figures are accurate, they would indicate that the Islamic Republic’s main deterrent,its large missile arsenal, has been seriously weakened.

The claim that “80% of defense systems” have been hit is particularly significant, asit suggests that Iran’s airspace may now be far more exposed, allowing Israeli and American aircraft to operate withmuch lower risk than they faced at the start of the conflict on February 28.

Speaking to CNN, the IDF spokesperson also said that Israel expects tocontinue its military campaign against Iran for at least another three weeks.

He said: “We have thousands more targets ahead of us. We are ready in coordination with our American allies, andwe have plans at least until the Jewish holiday of Passover, which is about three weeks away. We even have deeper plans prepared for the three weeks after that.” (so 6 weeks)

https://iranwire.com/en/news/150504-israeli-military-we-still-have-thousands-of-targets-left-to-strike-in-iran/

7 MINUTES AGO

Trump Says Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Has Breast Cancer.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Susie Wiles, Chief of Staff, has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Susie Wiles and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made via Truth Social; Wiles to spend treatment period at the White House.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Her Strength and her Commitment to continue doing the job she loves, and does so well, while undergoing treatment, tells you everything you need to know about her.” – Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT:Wiles will continue her duties during treatment, maintaining her role as a key advisor.

IN FULL

Susie Wiles, a prominent figure in the White House, has beendiagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

She has chosen to tackle the challenge immediately, according to a post by President Donald J. Trump on Truth Social.

President Trump praised Wiles as an “incredible Chief of Staff” and highlighted her decision to continue her work during the treatment period, spending virtually full time at the White House.“Her Strength and her Commitment to continue doing the job she loves, and does so well,while undergoing treatment, tells you everything you need to know about her,”

Trump stated, emphasizing her dedication to serving the American people.

Wiles, described as one of Trump’s closest advisors,has a strong medical team and an excellent prognosis. Her decision to remain active in her role underscores her commitment to her duties.

President Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, expressed their support for Wiles, looking forward to working with her on future initiatives for the country.

“She will soon be better than ever,”Trump assured.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/03/16/trump-says-chief-of-staff-susie-wiles-has-breast-cancer/

Trump Admin Imports Migrants to Take Agricultural Jobs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has turned to migrant workerson temporary visas to address a farm labor shortage.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Trump administration officials, farmers, migrant workers, and agricultural labor unions.

📍WHEN & WHERE: United States, changes announced in recent months.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The farm economy is in a difficult situation, and President Trump is utilizing all the tools available to ensure farmers have what they need to be successful.” – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins

🎯IMPACT:The changes have sparked debate over foreign labor, with potential wage reductions for both migrant and domestic farmworkers.

IN FULL

Facing a labor shortage in the agricultural sector, the Trump administration has turned to the H-2A visa program to allow farmers to hire cheap immigrant workers on temporary visas.The move comes after extensive lobbying from farmers who blame immigration raids and border crackdowns for exacerbating the U.S. agricultural labor shortage.

Notably, thetension lies primarily between immigration hawks who argue the farm labor shortagewill improve over time as wages rise, and large-scale farmers who say they’ve had difficulty hiring American workers.

Immigration hawks warnthat the Trump administration’s decision to reverse course by increasing the share of foreign workers will harm native workers and suppress wages.

“The farm economy is in a difficult situation, and President Trump is utilizing all the tools availableto ensure farmers have what they need to be successful,” Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins contends, while arguing that the administration is pursuing “real reforms to ease regulatory burdens and lower labor costs.

”The Department of Labor echoed these concerns in a filing announcing changes to the H-2A program. “The near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens combined with the lack of an available legal work force results in significant disruptions to production costs and threatening the stability of domestic food production and prices for U.S. consumers,” the department said.

Allowing the agriculture sector access to cheap foreign migrant laboris already drawing the ire of a unique coalition. The United Farm Workers of America (UFWA) is suing the Trump administration, arguing that the lower compensation proposal—which would allow for housing to be included in the compensation package and effectively lower hourly wages by between $1 and $7—will directly harm native-born American workers.

Meanwhile, Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies has concurred with the farm union, stating that the H-2A changes run counter to the Trump administration’s own stated goals of reducing reliance on foreign labor and increasing automation in the agricultural sector.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/03/16/trump-admin-imports-migrants-to-take-agricultural-jobs/

‘I Don’t Know That to be a Fact,’ Trump Says of Cornyn’s Claim to be the Best Texas Senate Candidate.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald Trump has cast doubt on Senator John Cornyn’s campaign claim that he is better positioned to defend the Republican Senate seat against far-left Democrat candidate James Talarico.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Democratic nominee James Talarico.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made the comments during a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday. The Senate runoff is scheduled for May 26.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’ll let you know that over the next week or so,” Trump said about a potential endorsement.

🎯IMPACT: Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton are vying for Trump’s endorsement, which may influence the outcome of the runoff and the passage of the SAVE America Act.

IN FULL

President Donald Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he is still deciding who to endorse in the competitive Republican primary for a Senate seat in Texas. Sen. John Cornyn is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a May 26 runoff after a close contest in the first round.

“I’ll let you know that over the next week or so,” Trump said when asked if he would endorse Cornyn. “A lot has to do with the SAVE America Act. A lot is going to determine — Republicans have to get that passed, because that will secure voting in this country,” Trump explained.

The news has caused another shock inside the Cornyn campaign, led by former Trump advisor Chris LaCivita, who recently had to perform a humiliating climbdown from a lawsuit he filed against a left-wing publication, over how much money he had extracted from the Trump 2024 campaign.

Both Cornyn and Paxton have sought Trump’s endorsement, with Paxton backing the abolition of the legislative filibuster to pass the Trump-supported election bill.

Cornyn – who has vehemently opposed Trump and his MAGA agenda for a decade – recently reversed his stance on the Senate filibuster, now supporting changes to Senate rules to ensure the SAVE America Act’s passage.

Trump acknowledged Cornyn’s shift, saying, “I very much appreciate that he is” in favor of ending the filibuster, though he did not confirm if this had secured his endorsement.

“I don’t know, but we have to get it passed,” Trump stated.

Trump expressed uncertainty about whether Cornyn is the GOP’s strongest candidate to hold the Senate seat, saying, “I’ve heard that. I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know. I don’t know that to be a fact… I like both candidates very much.

”He also dismissed concerns about Paxton’s electability, stating, “No, I think they both win,” while calling Democratic nominee James Talarico “so weak.”

In fact, recent polling shows Paxton could win even if Trump endorses Cornyn, which presents the possibility of a rebuke against Trump from his own MAGA base.

The SAVE America Act, which has passed the House, is set for Senate consideration next week. The legislation faces significant hurdles, as Republicans lack sufficient votes to eliminate the filibuster or bypass the 60-vote threshold. The bill would overhaul election laws nationwide, requiring proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote.

“In addition to that, it’s no men playing in women’s sports, which is very important. No mail-in voting. You have to have ID for voting, a picture ID for voting,” Trump added.

(Cornyn is dead in the 1st time in Senate, everyone knows it. He a corrupt leftist pretending to be Republican liar!Trump is only playing nice because it’s required if Cornyn ever wins.)

https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/03/15/i-dont-know-that-to-be-a-fact-trump-says-of-cornyns-claim-to-be-the-best-texas-senate-candidate/

Joseph Hernandez

@hernandezforny

==New York City says there’s no money, yet @ZohranKMamdani

just signed a $1.86 BILLION no bid contract to house people in hotels.==

That’s about $330 per night per room, nearly $10,000 per month or $120,000 per year.

Meanwhile taxes keep rising and services are cut. Many being housed have contributed little or nothing to New York’s tax base, yet taxpayers are footing the bill.

When I am New York State Comptroller, I will audit every penny of these hotel shelter contracts.

New Yorkers deserve answers. A real watchdog is coming.

3:37 PM · Mar 14, 2026

·

729.2K

Views

https://x.com/hernandezforny/status/2032903972260847739?s=20

https://x.com/the_amish_txtr/status/2033051397889962487?s=20

Iran’s Chaos Strategy EXPLAINED | Victor Davis Hanson

Iran’s “chaos strategy” consists of threatening the Strait of Hormuz and striking regional targets, weighing U.S. and Israeli escalation options amid Donald Trump’s political constraints before the midterms and concerns over oil markets, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”

The episode also addresses controversy over a girls’ school allegedly struck near a military base, noting uncertainty over responsibility and the likelihood of collateral damage from dispersed Iranian military sites.

Hanson then turns to Cuba as a sophisticated exporter of revolutionary influence and suggests pressure without invasion.He analyzes Trump’s use of Rubio versus Vance as “good cop” dynamics and criticizes California efforts to revive racial preferences, gerrymandering, and a high school transgender track controversy.

1:07:11

https://youtu.be/cJoLwcUpwvc