18 March 2026
18:14 GMT
A huge blast has been reported in Riyadh, with videos circulating online showing black smoke over the Saudi capital amid claims that Iranian missiles struck multiple locations. Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry says its air defenses intercepted and destroyed four ballistic missiles fired at the city, adding that debris fell in scattered areas of the capital and that initial assessments indicate no damage or casualties.
https://x.com/i/status/2034313678640578994
Summary
Iran FM Discusses Strait of Hormuz with EU's Kallas, oil dumps, amid reports of Iran launches on KSA.
Some Gulf states want to ensure Iran's missile arsenal destroyed for good, as EU, Russia, China demand ceasefire; Beijing ignores Trump's Hormuz plea
Israel says Iran's intelligence chief Esmail Khatib was eliminated overnight as pace of top leadership killings accelerates.
Iran says upstream oil and gas assets are under attack for first time since war began, readies retaliatory action against oil/gas assets in Gulf area, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, & UAE; Iraq reroutes some flows through Ceyhan Pipeline to Turkey
Iran reiterates new rules in place for Hormuz transit as traffic remains de-minimus, sparking reports that "the blockade is now the worst disruption to oil flows ever…"
Trump Waives Jones Act to "mitigate the short-term disruptions to the oil market"; VP Vance will meet with Big Oil Execs on Thursday to discuss plan to combat surging gas prices at the pump
Gabbard Showdown: DNI Scrubs "Obliterated" Iran Nuke Line from Testimony, Dodges Imminent Threat Question
Update 1250ET: Things are getting spicy on Capitol Hill - as DNI Tulsi Gabbard faced intense scrutiny from Democrats during a Senate hearing on worldwide threats, while Sen. Markwayne Mullin endured a fiery intra-GOP confrontation during his DHS confirmation, and the SAVE America Act debate dragged into its second day amid Republican divisions.
Gabbard Fireworks
Gabbard, joined by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, and others, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on global threats. The session was dominated by fallout from the Iran war and yesterday's resignation of National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who protested that Iran posed "no imminent threat" and accused the conflict of Israeli-driven pressure.
Gabbard notably deviated from her prepared written testimony, which included a strong line: Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was "obliterated" by prior 2025 strikes (Operation Midnight Hammer), with "no efforts" to rebuild since, and underground facilities "buried and shuttered with cement." She completely omitted this in her oral delivery, instead stating Iran was "trying to recover from severe damage" to its nuclear infrastructure pre-current operations.
This shift drew immediate fire from Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), who accused her of skipping parts that "contradict the president" on imminent threats and rebuilding claims. Gabbard cited time constraints; Warner pressed on briefing Trump about escalation risks like closing the Strait of Hormuz or Gulf strikes - Gabbard refused to divulge internal conversations, calling aspects of the questioning inappropriate.
Warner: "In your printed testimony: as a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated. There's been no efforts to try to rebuild their enrichment capability… You omitted that paragraph from your oral opening. Was that because the president said there was an imminent threat?"
Gabbard: "I recognized that time was running long, and I skipped through some of the portions."
Warner (pressing): "You chose to omit the parts that contradict the president."
https://twitter.com/i/status/2034284590576366027
More vids
https://twitter.com/i/status/2034306591864811796
https://twitter.com/i/status/2034273478350622872
https://youtu.be/wKi1eEalG6s
https://youtu.be/ZMVLSm1Eh64
US Carrier Pulling Back From Iran Operations To Crete Port After Suffering Fire
America's largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is pulling away from the Middle East region as it nears a record-long deployment and after it suffered a major fire which damaged living quarters and other areas.
Bloomberg reports in a fresh update Wednesday, "The US Navy's most advanced aircraft carrier is retreating from the Red Sea after a fire broke out in its laundry room, scuttling plans for the 100,000-ton nuclear-powered vessel to project power in the war with Iran."
It is planning to temporarily pull back into Crete in the southern Mediterranean, and hopefully outside the reach of Iran's feared long-range ballistic missiles. The Ford had already docked there in late February after being called from Caribbean operations into the CENTCOM region of responsibility.
"Following the incident, which left at least two of the ship's 4,000 crew members with non-life-threatening injuries, the USS Gerald R. Ford will travel to the Greek island of Crete, according to a US official familiar with the matter," Bloomberg continues.
Bloomberg concludes, "The incident underscores how even the Navy’s most advanced assets are under strain as the US expands its military endeavors. The Ford — the most expensive warship ever built — has spent months beyond a standard deployment at sea."
The fire occurred last week, raising immediate questions of whether it was hit by an Iranian drone or missile attack, as Tehran has claimed, amid Pentagon insistence that it was none of these - but just an accidental fire.
There are also widespread rumors, speculation and claims that sailors actually set the fire themselves, in order to sabotage and derail the much longer than expected deployment.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-carrier-pulling-back-iran-operations-crete-port-after-suffering-fire
Russia Evacuates Hundreds Of Its Specialists From Iran's Nuclear Bushehr Complex After Missile Strike
Russia has lodged formal protest with Israel following its reported strikes near Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility, angrily warning that the attacks directly endangered Russian personnel on the ground.
Israeli and Russian media have confirmed that Moscow issued a sharp condemnation and warnings of a red line after Israeli forces reportedly hit the grounds of the nuclear power plant where Russian specialists are stationed.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had also earlier provided independent verification that a missile struck the Bushehr complex on Tuesday evening, although no damage to the plant or injuries to staff were reported.
The Kremlin made clear to Israel that Russian nationals working in and around the facility were put at risk. Russian state media described the communication delivered to Israel via the Russian embassy "official demands" - which indicates a formal escalation in diplomatic pressure.
Even more provocative is that reports indicate Israeli strikes may have directly targeted residential quarters housing a Russian nuclear expert.
According to TASS: "Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev specified that the strike had hit the area near the office of the facility’s meteorological service, in close proximity to an operating power unit, at 3:11 p.m. GMT on March 17." It was the first such known strike on an Iranian nuclear plant since Trump's Operation Epic Fury began.
The Rosatom chief has indicated that several rounds of personnel evaluation from the Bushehr NPP are underway. There were many hundreds of Russian scientists, personnel, and technicians at the site. He indicated about 480 Russian nationals remain at the site.
"Attacks on nuclear facilities blatantly violate the key rules and principles of international security," Likhachev emphasized.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-evacuates-hundreds-its-specialists-irans-nuclear-bushehr-complex-after-missile
Principal Who Celebrated Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Convicted of Pedophilia Offenses.
Jeremy P. Williams, the former principal of Rainier Junior/Senior High School in Oregon, has been sentenced to five years and one month in prison after being convicted of possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material. Investigators identified Williams, who lives in Longview, Washington, after social media companies flagged explicit content tied to him.
Before his arrest, Williams had been placed on paid administrative leave over remarks he made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who had been assassinated in Utah about a week earlier. Williams had led the school since 2022 and retired in November, earning $99,500 annually.
Cowlitz County Chief Criminal Deputy Troy Brightbill said authorities found no evidence that any students from Williams’ school were involved in the material. The case was heard in Cowlitz County Superior Court, where Judge Thad Scudder issued the sentence and ordered Williams to register as a sex offender. In addition to his prison term, he must pay $3,000 in fees and complete three years of probation after release.
Williams’s earlier comments about Charlie Kirk came amid wider national controversy after the organizer’s assassination. Many educators faced consequences for celebrating or justifying the killing, with more than 100 teachers suspended in Texas. Elsewhere, teachers were fired, although some filed lawsuits challenging their dismissals.
One activist claimed to have collected more than 51,000 tips identifying individuals who allegedly expressed support for the assassination online.
https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/03/18/principal-who-celebrated-charlie-kirks-assassination-convicted-of-pedophilia-offenses/
Leftist Wire 'RAW STORY' Attacks TPUSA for Opposing RINO Warmonger Lindsey Graham
TPUSA's public break with Senator Lindsey Graham highlights a growing divide between the America First base and the GOP’s interventionist wing
Left-wing outlet Raw Story attacked TPUSA for hosting a segment dedicated to unseating Senator Lindsey Graham, a move that confirms Graham's status as a preferred establishment figure who prioritizes "bipartisan" warmongering over conservative principles.
During the broadcast, hosts Blake Neff and Andrew Kolvet featured Graham's primary challengers, Paul Dans and Mark Lynch.
Polling data suggests Graham faces a significant uphill battle for reelection in South Carolina. Candidate Mark Lynch stated that a May poll showed 57% of South Carolinians would not vote for Graham again. Paul Dans noted Graham is currently polling "way below 50%" in a state where a runoff is required if no candidate secures a majority.
Graham's consistent advocacy for Israeli interests and the defense industry has intensified criticisms that he serves these entities at the expense of his own voters.
Mark Lynch explicitly criticized Graham for "pledging to send South Carolinians to fight in the Middle East," a move Lynch characterized as a betrayal of the people he was elected to represent. If the GOP fails to replace warmongers like Graham, it risks a permanent fracture with the grassroots voters who demand an "America First" foreign policy.
https://www.nationalfile.com/article/leftist-wire-raw-story-attacks-tpusa-for-opposing-rino-warmonger-lindsey-graham
I posted videos from one of these organ harvest places 5 years ago it was quickly scrubbed. It was an abattoir for people.
‘Killed To Order’: Shining Light On CCP’s Forced Organ Harvesting
https://rumble.com/embed/v753qgo/?pub=4
“Massive Outage”: Many Sites Are Down; X, Microsoft, Google and Cloudflare Services Are Affected
https://youtu.be/H4sQV5-m7xA
We have reports coming in of a massive outage on many different websites.
X Seems to be experiencing the most issues. Users are stating they can not connect or get anything to load.
Other sites affected by this outage are connected to Microsoft, Google and even Cloudflare.
Cloudflare seems to be involved with many of the recent outage we have seen this year. Downdector users are also report major issues with the site and its services.
Youtube has also seen some issues, with videos not playing or stopping.
If you are experiencing any of these issues, please let me know in the comment section below!
Learn More:
https://downdetector.com/
https://citizenwatchreport.com/massive-outage-many-sites-are-down-x-microsoft-google-and-cloudflare-services-are-affected/
This Is What It Looks Like When You Give Zionists Everything They Want
https://youtu.be/UY4SBIIkVgs
https://www.antiwar.com/
top investors in Truth Social
The Vanguard Group, Inc. and State Street are identified as institutional investors holding shares in Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT)
BlackRock, Vanguard big purchasers of Trump Media shares in Q2, filings show
https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/blackrock-vanguard-big-purchasers-trump-media-shares-q2-filings-show-2024-08-14/
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. (DJT)
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/quote/DJT/holders/
Truth Social won't let me sign in I wonder why????!!!!
Central bankers own it!
Dubai expats with massive fortunes are fleeing to Switzerland as Middle East war fears intensify. Dubai real estate down 35%!
The ultra-rich are growing increasingly anxious about protecting their fortunes as war in the Middle East fuels fears of wider instability, with expats fleeing Dubai and turning to Switzerland to shield their wealth and dodge tax bills.
Wealth managers say the more money clients have, the more urgently they are trying to move it out of the Gulf following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, amid concern the conflict could spread across the region.
Reputation expert Bernhard Bauhofer said anxiety among the world’s wealthiest is intensifying.
https://citizenwatchreport.com/dubai-expats-with-massive-fortunes-are-fleeing-to-switzerland-as-middle-east-war-fears-intensify-dubai-real-estate-down-35/
Iran, Hezbollah target Israel with missiles and rockets, causing injuries, damage to home
Rocket sirens sound in central Israel following long-range rocket fire from Lebanon.
The alerts are activated in Tayibe, Qalansawe, Kfar Saba and other nearby towns northeast of Tel Aviv.
Alerts also sound in the Galilee.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-18-2026/
Ramat Gan couple in their 70s killed by Iranian cluster missile
Yaron and Ilana Moshe die while trying to reach their apartment’s safe room; Iran fires four barrages overnight, claims revenge for killing of Larijani
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ramat-gan-couple-in-their-70s-killed-by-iranian-cluster-missile/
Lindsey Graham 'FRIGHTENED' of EPSTEIN?
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qg5eeFIyXkc
Nicolas Hulscher, MPH
@NicHulscher
🚨BREAKING: ALL major artificial intelligence systems — SuperGrok, ChatGPT-5, and Google Gemini — independently concluded that VACCINES CAUSE AUTISM after analyzing our landmark 82-page study.
The 30-year lie that “vaccines don’t cause autism” has officially been TERMINATED.
https://twitter.com/i/status/2034026350177079480
Dr Oz says Florida is next target in Medicaid fraud crackdown
"Florida has been a hotspot for health care fraud for years," CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said
Article
Dig Deeper
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said that Florida will be the next target in the Trump administration's crackdown on Medicaid fraud.
"Florida has been a hotspot for health care fraud for years," Oz posted on X on Tuesday. "Taxpayers and vulnerable patients deserve better—and it’s time for state leadership to step up and work with us to stop it. We’re exposing the abuse, pursuing the fraudsters, and cleaning up these programs."
Oz sent a letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and other state leaders, requesting that they share information on how they identify, prevent, and address bad actors in their state Medicaid program, The Associated Press reported. He previously sent similar letters to New York, Minnesota, Maine, and California.
The announcement came a day after President Trump signed an executive order to create an anti-fraud task force across federal benefit programs led by Vice President JD Vance.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) shared Oz's post on X on Tuesday, writing, "Just recently, our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrested a man who was stealing Medicaid money meant to provide transportation services for disabled children. The Medicaid system is overwhelmed with fraud and abuse, and we look forward to working with Dr. Oz on these issues!"
DeSantis’s chief of staff, Jason Weida, also shared Oz's post, saying, "Florida has been working closely with @DrOzCMS and the @CMSGov team to address this issue. We have zero tolerance for waste, fraud, and abuse — and we will aggressively deploy every resource necessary to root it out at any level in our state. Stay tuned."
DeSantis' office and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration didn’t immediately respond to the AP's requests for comment.
https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/dr-oz-says-florida-next-target-medicaid-fraud-crackdown
Benjamin Netanyahu has now released a second "proof of life" video showing him still in control of the Israeli government.
The video shows him interacting with small crowds of Israelis outdoors.
Netanyahu says, "We're following the instructions and guidelines exactly, and together we're winning."
https://twitter.com/i/status/2033520943931306185
Just in: Iran's new Supreme Leader seen alive, visiting the same cafe as Netanyahu
Also proving he has 5 fingers
https://twitter.com/i/status/2033517306555597170
Aussies told to brace for 'Covid 2.0' price shock as Iran war batters supply chains
https://x.com/DailyMail/status/2033316070094704916
🚨Study involving 1.7 million children has found that Myocarditis & Pericarditis only appeared in children who had received COVID mRNA vaccines.
Not a single unvaccinated child in the group suffered from these heart-related problems.
https://x.com/ValerieAnne1970/status/2033951503816527905
Watch Joe Kent's wide-ranging interview with The Grayzone
https://thegrayzone.substack.com/p/watch-joe-kents-wide-ranging-interview