IRAN

“In the case of President Trump, you know, you and I have talked before about his negotiating style. He likes to carry a big stick. He weighs it initially. He then uses it. And then, of course, he very quickly pivots to, you know, you can have peace if you'll just make the right deal. Everything is about the art of the deal, isn't it?”

“I think we would have to assume that they're non-negotiable or it's going to be anything about regime change or human rights within Iran. They're going to want to be absolutely sure that they can maintain control in Iran. The other three files—nuclear, missiles, and proxies—are different, but regime survival is hardline.”

“The nuclear file, I think it's entirely possible that the Iranians will be willing to agree to most of what the United States is asking for on the nuclear file because, you know, this is the one area where it's obvious that the US will not be willing to compromise. So we might look to see whether they've actually moved towards the idea that they would have to accept an end to their nuclear program.”

“The newly appointed Iranian ambassador in Lebanon, the Lebanese have withdrawn their agreement to his appointment, and he is to stay even though he's not being given credentials by the government of Lebanon. Now it's an extraordinary statement that Lebanon is not a sovereign country and that the sovereignty in Lebanon is possessed by the Iranians.”

“I think that we saw a very strong statement from Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, saying that the coalition would always come together and it would support the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. And in a way, the Iranians have helped us in this respect, because closing international waters is obviously against international law.”

“And then over the weekend, it turns out some of us were right and some people were wrong because he didn't cave in. And now he has Iran's feet to the fire, and they have really, really serious problems. So all this began with negotiations in Islamabad where the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, arrived along with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.”

“The reality is that the Iranian government—people see the attempt to control the Strait of Hormuz as a sign of strength, but that is not the case. Their navy is at the bottom of the sea. Their air force cannot fly. Their government is so discombobulated that you have factions within the Iranian government legitimately arguing with each other fairly publicly.”

“Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the world, are heading right now to the United States to load up with the best and sweetest oil and gas anywhere in the world. We have more oil than the next two largest oil economies combined and in higher quality. We’re waiting for you. Quick turnaround.”

“Iran's inability to locate its own mines is one reason Iran has not been able to quickly comply with the Trump administration's admonitions to let more traffic pass through the strait. Safe routes are limited in large part because Iran mined the strait haphazardly. It's not even clear that Iran recorded where it put every mine, and even when they recorded the location, they let them drift.”

“If the Straits of Hormuz were to be, let us say, permanently closed or harmed, the chief problem would lie with the people who get their oil from the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the United States. That is jet fuel in Europe. That is most of the oil that is going into places like Japan and China from that region.”

“The US military is blocking ships from entering or exiting Iranian ports absent a peace agreement. The blockade was due to take effect two hours ago. US central command says the action will not, quote, impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait Of Hormuz to and from non Iranian ports.”

“The Hungarian government under Orban has not been using the veto to protect Hungarian interest. It was using the veto to protect Russian interest. So that very clearly will need to stop.”

“Within hours of those reports, nearly all of his major endorsers abandoned him. On x, Swalwell apologized for mistakes in judgment but denies the allegations. He's now facing calls from fellow Democrats in California to resign his house seat.”

“So far, the average refund is about 11% higher than this time last year, about $350 more according to data from the IRS. Michael Pierce with Oxford Economics expects that average will go up. That's because higher income filers typically procrastinate on filing and seem to be benefiting more from the new tax changes.”

“World Cup tickets are getting even pricier. FIFA, the international governing body for professional soccer, is adding a more expensive tier. A ticket for a front category one seat at the US opener against Argentina in Los Angeles will cost as much as $5,470 according to the Associated Press.”

“In the case of President Trump, you know, you and I have talked before about his negotiating style. He likes to carry a big stick. He weighs it initially. He then uses it. And then, of course, he very quickly pivots to, you know, you can have peace if you'll just make the right deal. Everything is about the art of the deal, isn't it?”

“I think we would have to assume that they're non-negotiable or it's going to be anything about regime change or human rights within Iran. They're going to want to be absolutely sure that they can maintain control in Iran. The other three files—nuclear, missiles, and proxies—are different, but regime survival is hardline.”

“The nuclear file, I think it's entirely possible that the Iranians will be willing to agree to most of what the United States is asking for on the nuclear file because, you know, this is the one area where it's obvious that the US will not be willing to compromise. So we might look to see whether they've actually moved towards the idea that they would have to accept an end to their nuclear program.”

“The newly appointed Iranian ambassador in Lebanon, the Lebanese have withdrawn their agreement to his appointment, and he is to stay even though he's not being given credentials by the government of Lebanon. Now it's an extraordinary statement that Lebanon is not a sovereign country and that the sovereignty in Lebanon is possessed by the Iranians.”

“I think that we saw a very strong statement from Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, saying that the coalition would always come together and it would support the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. And in a way, the Iranians have helped us in this respect, because closing international waters is obviously against international law.”

“Their nuclear program such as it is, the enrichment facilities that they've that they had before, they've been destroyed. But the simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon, not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long term? We haven't seen that yet. We hope that we will.”

“A three judge panel for the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled two to one to allow construction to proceed through next Friday, while the district court further reviews the case. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to stop construction last December. It argued the president lacked the statutory authority to undertake the project.”

“57 of 77 forest surface labs nationwide are on a list to shutter. Scientists at these labs study everything from pollinators to wildfires. The agency said this week the closures don't mean an end to research, It's just relocating small teams to other spaces.”

“Victor, Christina, and Jeremy, we are we are bonded forever, and no one down here is ever gonna know what the four of us just went through. And it was the most special thing that will ever happen in my life.”

“Inmates pledged to give up drugs and to undergo frequent drug tests. In return, they're moved to special drug free wings where access to gardens, music lessons, and other perks are on offer. The Ministry of Justice says reoffending rates are down by forty four percent, and acts of violence and self harm down thirty percent inside those prisons participating.”

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again... Have you ever seen anything like this?”

“The actual threats that have been articulated as they have, he's not going through with those. I would stake my reputation on that.”

“He has suspended sanctions on Iranian oil... he doesn't hate them so much that he's willing to take even higher costs for his own gas prices.”

“Every day this war goes on... it could cause unheard of economic damage comparable to or worse than the damage that we experienced during the pandemic.”

“There are still restraining mechanisms. There is Congress. There is a media... there are polls, there are markets. There are all these things that don't exist in North Korea.”

“Less than six weeks ago, more than 50,000 of America's sons and daughters in uniform launched Operation Epic Fury and embarked on a mission of profound consequence. We set out to dismantle the Iranian regime's ability to project power beyond its own borders, and we clearly accomplished this task. Iran has suffered a generational military defeat.”

“Based on conversations with prime minister Shabaz Sharif and field marshal Asin Munir of Pakistan, they requested that I hold off the destruction force being sent tonight to Iran. I agreed to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided ceasefire because we have already met and exceeded our military objectives.”

“I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, if attacks against Iran are halted, our powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait Of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's armed forces and with the consideration of technical limitations.”

“They aren't just wrong, they're undermining what it would mean for America to actually be great again. America has to be strong; that's been President Trump's message the entire time he's been running for office, and it will be strong. It is about people who are actively rooting for America to lose and openly say so.”

“CENTCOM forces destroyed approximately 80% of Iran's air defense systems, striking more than 1,500 air defense targets, more than 450 ballistic missile storage facilities, and 800 one-way attack drone storage facilities. All of these systems are gone. We've devastated Iran's command and control and logistical networks, destroying more than 2,000 command and control nodes.”

“The straight as they call it, and I think it's gonna go pretty quickly. And if it doesn't, we'll be able to finish it off one way or the other. It's going well. They've been talking for forty seven years with other presidents, and we're not doing much talking.”

“NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, who went to space twice as a private astronaut, was on the ship with workers from the US Navy and NASA. And what do you guys think? We just brought some astronauts back from the moon. It was the first time that the US Navy and NASA had teamed up for a spacecraft recovery since the end of the Apollo lunar program in 1972.”

“I do not suggest to you in any way that I'm perfect or that I'm a mistake. I've certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.”

“Saturday night will mark his first major concert since the cancellation of his Justice tour in 2022. There are other big names in store too. Rock star Jack White was a last minute addition to the lineup. The English indie band, the XX, is reuniting this year for the first time since 2018.”

“The law is set to take effect on January 1 targeting platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The prime minister announced the plan directly to young people online saying it's meant to protect them from rising anxiety, stress, and sleep problems linked to screen time.”

“He's got a big thing. I will find out what's going on. They're militarily defeated, and now, we're gonna open up the Gulf with them with or without them, but that'll be open. We're gonna be, or the straight as they call it. And I think it's gonna go pretty quickly. And if it doesn't, we'll be able to finish it off one way or the other.”

“Hugs, tears, and plenty of cheers at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Hundreds of families from all over Southern California witnessed the Artemis two crew return to Earth safely. Diego Chaparro drove from Los Angeles. He says it was important for his children to witness history.”

“The submitted plans from the Harrison Design Firm show structure very similar to the model that Trump showed off at a fundraising dinner at the White House last October. The proposed arch bears a striking resemblance to the Arc De Triomphe in Paris and is topped with two eagles and a winged crowned figure reminiscent of the Statue Of Liberty.”

“The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the allegations from a former staff member who said Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to give consent. Swalwell is a leading candidate in the June 2 primary for governor. In a statement, he called the allegations false, but some of his top supporters, including California senator Adam Schiff and congressman Jimmy Gomez, are dropping their endorsements.”

“The FAA says anti drone lasers can now be used along The US Southern border. Earlier this year, the agency shut down airspace in parts of Texas after the Pentagon deployed the systems. Now the FAA and the Pentagon have signed an agreement outlining safety precautions for their use.”

“A big goal is to make sure the Strait Of Hormuz is open, but that Strait doesn't appear to be fully open right now even after the ceasefire. And where things stand there has been really unclear. Trump this week even floated the idea of The US and Iran together, charging fees for ships to pass through, though he didn't explain any further how that would work.”

“US judge Paul Friedman started and ended his opinion by stressing the importance of the first amendment and of a free press. The rest of it was just as heavy sledding for the defense department. The judge knocked down new rules requiring reporters to work from a remote annex and to be accompanied by an official escort at all times.”

“The bill, which still needs the green light from the Supreme Court, would increase legal guarantees for investors and allow disputes to be arbitrated independently. It also bans the president, vice president, ministers, and governors from holding mining titles. Two decades ago, Venezuelan authorities seized the assets of many foreign mining firms.”

“The three Americans and one Canadian set a new distance record during Monday's lunar flyby, traveling more than 253,000 miles from Earth. They're aiming for splashdown in the Pacific Ocean tonight off the coast of San Diego.”

“The agency received temporary approval to raise prices for priority mail deliveries later this month by 8% to offset the cost of fuel. It's also pausing contributions to employees' pension fund.”

“First of all, we were correct. We talked about this and we said that the tariffs and we said at the beginning of the year they would be tactics, not taxes. And guess what? All the economists come out and so surprised. Oh, wow, you know, it really hasn't gone up and hasn't been as inflationary as we thought.”

“Trump just came out and said, Look, Venezuela is going to give up 50 million barrels of oil to the US. And China comes out and says, Wait a minute, what are you talking about? That's ours. So there's this fight going on. Remember the key word that Rubio used, Western Hemisphere.”

“Trump administration is freezing $10 billion in child and family aid to five states over fraud concerns. And by the way, you know what they said? Fraud investigation of California has begun. What do you mean, fraud investigation? It just began.”

“Iran on the brink, as protestors move to take two cities, appeal to Trump, you should see they have Trump's name stickers all over streets. They're renaming streets after Trump in Farsi. Just a very interesting spectacle. Reza Pahlavi came out and gave a message to the Iranian people.”

“Rubio tells lawmakers Trump wants to buy Greenland. We don't know if it's on sale or not. I went on eBay the other day. I didn't see Greenland for sale. I went on realtor.com. Zillow couldn't find it, but maybe they're on a different website we don't have access to.”

“If Iran does not fully open without threat, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first. So he wrote that on Saturday night, which means that 48 hour clock expires tonight.”

“Oil prices at the $100 mark now for a while. There's concern that could go up to $150, $170 a barrel. Over the weekend, United Airlines CEO says they're preparing for that scenario and you see a lot of companies adapting to a scenario where we could have high oil prices for a while.”

“Now to those massive, sometimes 6-hour TSA lines at some US airports over the weekend. As this partial DHS shutdown nears its 40-day mark, ICE agents are set to arrive to help speed things up at some airports today.”

“To the AI economy, where real estate developers are now spending more on data centers than office space. And is it time to call a boomer? Public phones in Boston and Nevada are connecting generations. We'll explain.”

“Helium plays a very important role in a number of industrial processes. Also, fertilizer, that's raising prices for farmers around the world, including here in the US. The fertilizer price goes up because there's a lack of fertilizer. Well, the prices for farmers go up and then food prices go up for consumers.”

“The officials are leading the crowd in a chant of, Death to America, Death to Israel, and the responding chant is, Death to Palestine. This is happening in Iran right now, which is just crazy. I think the Iranian people are finally waking up to the fact that their leaders and their governments focusing so specifically for so many years on destruction of Israel and America has now led to the Iranian people's demise.”

“We have Russia now evacuating their embassy, reportedly evacuating their embassy from Israel, including all their families. There's reports that the Russian army is evacuating the staff of the Russian embassy along with their families in Israel and returning them to Russia. They've taken multiple flights out of Israel to Russia in the past couple of days here.”

“Bibi and Trump came out from that on a very united front, telling the media we're aligned 100%. And then within what, two days, the operation in Venezuela happened and the US goes in and take them out. So there could be very good speculation that Israel and the United States did this in coordination with each other, for sure.”

“The number one funder of American universities from outside the country is Qatar. That, by definition, is a long game. They've been funding universities, they've been buying off influencers, they've been bribing politicians, because they realize that it's a war of ideas. They realize it's a spiritual battle. It's like, no, I have to influence the culture, I have to influence the ideology, I have to really get into the hearts and minds of people.”

“Iran is literally falling apart. Its military has been devastated by Israel. Its nuclear sites are destroyed. The scientists have all been assassinated... and now Venezuela has been captured. So Iran's stronghold over like everything, their entire axis is falling apart, and people are saying, what is this about? This was all to destroy Israel, and Israel is emerging like a lion.”

“The officials are leading the crowd in a chant of, Death to America, Death to Israel, and the responding chant is, Death to Palestine. This is happening in Iran right now, which is just crazy. I think the Iranian people are finally waking up to the fact that their leaders and their governments focusing so specifically for so many years on destruction of Israel and America has now led to the Iranian people's demise.”

“We have Russia now evacuating their embassy, reportedly evacuating their embassy from Israel, including all their families. There's reports that the Russian army is evacuating the staff of the Russian embassy along with their families in Israel and returning them to Russia. They've taken multiple flights out of Israel to Russia in the past couple of days here.”

“Bibi and Trump came out from that on a very united front, telling the media we're aligned 100%. And then within what, two days, the operation in Venezuela happened and the US goes in and take them out. So there could be very good speculation that Israel and the United States did this in coordination with each other, for sure.”

“The number one funder of American universities from outside the country is Qatar. That, by definition, is a long game. They've been funding universities, they've been buying off influencers, they've been bribing politicians, because they realize that it's a war of ideas. They realize it's a spiritual battle. It's like, no, I have to influence the culture, I have to influence the ideology, I have to really get into the hearts and minds of people.”

“Iran is literally falling apart. Its military has been devastated by Israel. Its nuclear sites are destroyed. The scientists have all been assassinated... and now Venezuela has been captured. So Iran's stronghold over like everything, their entire axis is falling apart, and people are saying, what is this about? This was all to destroy Israel, and Israel is emerging like a lion.”