Marie: Sorry for missing whatever is going on. I just spent four hours at Xfinity; admittedly, what I needed them to do was a little complicated -- but not that complicated. Oh, and they're not done yet. I have to go back tomorrow -- and the next day! I didn't realize the most difficult part of "cutting the cable" was going to be sitting in an Xfinity store.
Here's the top New York Times headline Monday afternoon. The Times editors really are catching on to what a catastrophic U.S. presidency* the world is enduring: ~~~
~~~ “Trump’s War Becomes World’s Latest Economic Hazard.” Tony Romm, et al., of the New York Times: “Fuel prices could soar, and stay elevated for months. That could make groceries and other shipped goods more expensive. And consumers and businesses, stung by the rising costs, could choose to spend less, constraining economic growth. In the eyes of economists, that is the increasingly real and dire picture from the U.S.-led war with Iran, now in its second week. It may be a conflict of President Trump’s making, but it is becoming the world’s latest economic headache, one that has sent foreign leaders scrambling for ways to contain the possible fallout.... In response, world leaders convened an emergency meeting of the Group of 7 countries on Monday, when finance ministers considered, yet decided against, tapping their national stores of oil to increase available supply. The gathering occurred on a day when Mr. Trump asserted in an interview with CBS News that the war was nearing its conclusion.” ~~~
~~~ Joe Rennison, et al., of the New York Times: “Global markets came under renewed pressure at the start of the week, but U.S. stocks ended the day on Monday slightly higher and oil prices fell after ... [Donald] Trump signaled that the war in Iran may be coming closer to an end. In an interview with CBS News on Monday afternoon, Mr. Trump said that the war was 'very far ahead of schedule,' an unexpected assessment that eased investors concerns about the long-term economic impact of the conflict. 'I think the war is very complete, pretty much,' Mr. Trump told CBS News.” ~~~
~~~ Marie: Somebody please explain to me the meaning of “very complete, pretty much.” Thank you, very pretty slightly ever so much.
White House to Be Rebranded as Museum of the Narcissist. Doug Mills & Larry Buchanan of the New York Times: “Over the last year, The New York Times has captured at least nine paintings, posters, memes, and even a mugshot outside the Oval Office,-[- all of Donald Trump --] that Mr. Trump added throughout the [White House]. Many of the selections are gifts from his supporters that highlight his political stature and reinforce the idea that Mr. Trump is invincible.... Never before has a sitting president displayed so much of his own image on the White House walls.” MB: I'm going to assume that you are a person who appreciates excellent portraiture, so I'm making this a gift link. Thanks to Akhilleus for the original link. See also his commentary in Monday's thread.
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| Oops! Forgot this yesterday. |
Vivian Nereim of the New York Times: “Water desalination plants have come under attack in Iran and on the Persian Gulf island of Bahrain over the weekend, threatening a resource vital to life in the harsh desert climates of the region. On Saturday, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, accused the United States of attacking a desalination plant on Qeshm Island, affecting the water supply for 30 villages. 'The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran,' he said on social media, calling the attack 'a dangerous move with grave consequences.' Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, said that U.S. forces were not responsible for that attack. A day later, Bahrain’s interior ministry said that an Iranian drone had 'caused material damage' to a desalination plant there, accusing Iran of 'indiscriminately' attacking civilian targets.”
Jacob Magid of the Times of Israel: “... Donald Trump told The Times of Israel on Sunday that a decision on when to end the war with Iran will be a 'mutual' one that he’ll make together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.... 'I think it’s mutual… a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything’s going to be taken into account,' he [said], indicating that while Netanyahu will have input, the US president will have the final say.... Trump also asserted in the brief telephone interview that the Islamic Republic would have destroyed Israel if he and Netanyahu had not been around. 'Iran was going to destroy Israel and everything else around it… We’ve worked together. We’ve destroyed a country that wanted to destroy Israel.'”
More Evidence the U.S. Attacked Girl's Primary School, Contradicting Trump's Disingenuous Denial. Malachy Browne & John Ismay of the New York Times: “A newly released video adds to the evidence that an American missile likely hit an Iranian elementary school where 175 people, many of them children, were reported killed. The video, uploaded on Sunday by Iran’s semiofficial Mehr News Agency and verified by The New York Times, shows a Tomahawk cruise missile striking a naval base beside the school in the town of Minab on Feb. 28. The U.S. military is the only force involved in the conflict that uses Tomahawk missiles. A body of evidence assembled by The Times — including satellite imagery, social media posts and other verified videos — indicates that the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school building was severely damaged by a precision strike that occurred at the same time as attacks on the naval base.... Asked by a reporter from The Times on Saturday if the United States had bombed the school..., [Donald] Trump said: 'No. In my opinion and based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran.' He said, 'They’re very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions.' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was standing beside Mr. Trump, said the Pentagon was investigating, 'but the only side that targets civilians is Iran.'” The link appears to be a gift link.
Eric Schmitt & Helene Cooper of the New York Times: “Another American service member has died in the war with Iran, the Pentagon said on Sunday, bringing the number
of American troops killed in the conflict to seven. The
service member, who was not publicly identified while the military
notifies relatives, was seriously injured on March 1 when Iran struck a Saudi military base
where American troops were stationed, U.S. Central Command said in a
statement. The service member died on Saturday night from those injuries
while military health officials were preparing a transfer for more
advanced medical care at a U.S. military hospital in Germany, officials
said.” MB: I just turned on MS NOW & heard the hosts speaking of eight service members killed in the war, but I can't find a reliable print story about that at 7:40 pm ET Sunday 3:20 am ET Monday. (Also linked yesterday.)
The Undignified Transfer. When Trump Can't Behave, State Teevee Covers It Up. David McAfee of the Raw Story: "Fox News over the weekend apologized and admitted to an 'error' after failing to air footage of Donald Trump wearing what some deemed a controversial choice of attire to the dignified transfer of deceased soldiers. On Saturday, Trump came under fire for his behavior during a solemn moment in which six fallen soldiers killed in the president's onslaught against Iran were honored. The president was seen during the event standing upright while others bowed their heads. He was also wearing a white baseball cap during the typically solemn event. Instead of playing that video for its audience, Fox News said it played an old video from a different dignified transfer. A host later apologized." Update: I see RAS picked up this story earlier. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Oh, and it turns out the white cap is available for sale at Trump's campaign store. The audacity of advertising his merch at an event meant to honor recently killed soldiers -- soldiers who lost their lives because of his own war of choice -- is as repugnant as anything Trump has done. ~~~
~~~ Here's the POTUS* fiddling with his jacket during the ceremony or looking at for his penis, as others stand in solemn attention (thanks to Akhilleus for the correction; see his comment at the end of yesterday's thread): ~~~
~~~ That's the trees. Here's the forest: ~~~
~~~ ⭐David Rothkopf on Substack: "Not since Adolf Hitler blew his brains out in a bunker beneath the garden of the German Reich Chancellery on April 30, 1945, have the lives of so many people around the world been so buffeted by the psychosis of a single man. It is not that there have not been mad men in power since.... But, at this moment in history, the fate of virtually everyone on the planet is being impacted by the toxic cocktail of character flaws, insecurities, and pathologies that are shaping the actions of the President of the United States.... Why? Why? Why? Because he’s insane. Because he’s venal. Because he’s a malignant narcissist. Because he’s a sociopath. Because he has a fragile ego. Because those around him exacerbate and play to those traits to advance their own interests. Because CEOs and investors do likewise to fill their coffers. Because to some people, whether he is insane or malevolent or repugnant or not matters less than whether his actions will feather their nests, increase their power." Thank you to akaWendy for the link. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Heather Cox Richardson: “The official social media account of the White House has portrayed its military adventures in Iran as a movie, or a game, splicing images from what appear to be footage of U.S. military strikes with clips from adventure movies and video games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto.... Last Thursday, March 5, Trump talked to ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl about the war. 'I hope you are impressed,' he said. 'How do you like the performance? I mean, Venezuela is obvious. This might be even better. How do you like the performance?'... But if Trump’s Iran adventure began with the strutting and posturing of a military performance, it is running hard into reality. It appears that Trump saw the strikes themselves as the culmination of his performance and did not have a plan for what would happen after them. He has said he was surprised that the conflict has included neighboring states.” Read on. ~~~
A few hours after NYT reported that the U.S. bombed an elementary school in Iran, killing many children, the White House last night posted this video mixing airstrike footage with Top Gun, Iron Man, Gladiator, Halo, Breaking Bad, Star Wars, John Wick, Superman, Transformers and Dragon Ball Z
— Drew Harwell (@drewharwell.com) March 6, 2026 at 9:32 AM
[image or embed]
~~~ Via Gary Legum of Wonkette, who channels gamer Pete Hegseth.
Jeffrey Feltman & Mara Karlin in a New York Times op-ed: “'The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens'..., [Donald] Trump said in his State of the Union address last month, daring Democrats to remain seated (which they did) when he asked them to stand to show concurrence.... But when it comes to life-or-death reality — the actual safety of American citizens — Mr. Trump’s cavalier approach to the war with Iran is recklessly endangering hundreds of thousands of Americans in the Middle East. The lack of preparedness on the U.S. government’s part is bewildering.... The argument that the administration did not anticipate the scale of Iran’s military response displays willful, perhaps intentional, ignorance.... So much of this was avoidable.”
Jon Gambrell, et al., of the AP: “Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran’s late supreme leader, has been named his successor, Iranian state TV announced early Monday.... The younger Khamenei, who had not been seen or heard from publicly since the war started, had long been considered a contender for the post, even before an Israeli strike killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. The announcement came after signs of a rift among Iranian officials as the country awaited a decision by the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, a group of clerics that selects the supreme leader. State TV ... broadcast scenes of people celebrating in parts of Tehran....
“A secretive figure, the 56-year-old Khamenei now stands at the heart of Iran’s theocracy and will have final say over all matters of state. He will serve as commander-in-chief of the military and powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He also has authority over a stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon.... 'Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,' ... Donald Trump has said. 'We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.'.... Trump told ABC News on Sunday he wants a say in who comes to power once the war is over; a new leader 'is not going to last long' without his approval.” The Washington Post's report is here. (Also linked yesterday.)
Kim Barker of the New York Times: “Ukraine has sent interceptor drones and a team of drone experts to protect U.S. military bases in Jordan, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with The New York Times. The United States made the request for help on Thursday, and the Ukrainian team left the next day, Mr. Zelensky said. It was expected to arrive in the Middle East soon. 'We reacted immediately,' Mr. Zelensky said on Friday evening during a train ride I took with him from eastern Ukraine to the capital, Kyiv. 'I said, yes, of course, we will send our experts.' The White House did not respond to a question about whether the United States had asked for Ukraine’s help.... [Ukraine] has eagerly offered to help U.S. forces and their Middle Eastern allies defend against the sorts of Iranian-designed attack drones that Russia has been using in Ukraine for years.”
Rebecca Elliott & Joe Rennison of the New York Times: “Oil prices surged on Monday well above $110 a barrel, in a sign of growing concern that the war in the Middle East will continue to take a toll on energy supplies. It was the first time in almost four years that the global oil benchmark, known as Brent, cost more than $100 a barrel. Oil is now about 50 percent more expensive than it was before the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on Feb. 28. In Asia, where economies are heavily dependent on imported oil from the Middle East, stocks tumbled broadly, falling 6 percent in South Korea and 4 to 5 percent in Japan.” ~~~
~~~ Spencer Kimball, et al., of CNBC: “Oil prices eased Monday on reports that the G7 countries, including the U.S., planned to discuss a coordinated release of crude from their strategic reserves, following a sharp surge earlier in the day as the widening war in the Middle East rattled global energy markets.... Shortly after oil blasted past $100 at the open of trading Sunday evening..., Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that a gain in 'short term oil prices' was a 'very small price to pay' for destroying Iran’s nuclear threat. 'Only fools would think differently!' Trump added.” ~~~
~~~ Marie: That's Trump knocking everyone who has an independent thought. One definition of a fool in the Trump Dictionary (available for the low, low price of $99) is "person who disagrees with Trump."
Eric Schmitt of the New York Times: “The Defense Department said on Sunday
that it had blown up a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean earlier in the
day, killing six people. The strike raised the death toll in the
campaign by the United States against people it accuses of smuggling
drugs at sea to at least 156. The U.S. Southern Command announced the strike on social media with an 11-second video clip that showed a stationary boat, with two or three outboard engines, floating in the water and then suddenly exploding. Legal specialists on the use of lethal force have said the strikes are illegal, extrajudicial killings
because the military cannot deliberately target civilians who do not
pose an imminent threat of violence, even if suspected of engaging in
criminal acts. The Trump administration has not provided evidence of
drug smuggling.”
We Know This. Nick Corasaniti & Richard Fausset of the New York Times: “Facing the possibility of big losses for
Republicans in the midterm elections..., [Donald] Trump has reiterated his unfounded assertions
of electoral fraud. He has also begun speaking of
the need to 'nationalize' elections, and for Republican officials to
'take over' voting procedures in parts of the country. This rhetoric is
often vague.... But a map of potential targets may be
coming into focus and includes the swing states Michigan, Georgia, North
Carolina and Arizona. Voting experts, government officials and others
have identified a host of conditions that could make those places ripe
for meddling from the Trump administration or its allies....
“Most significant, in Georgia, the F.B.I., acting on a search warrant that relied on debunked claims about the 2020 race, seized hundreds of boxes of ballots from a government warehouse in late January, an extraordinary intrusion into the American electoral process. The fear is that pro-Trump forces in these states could begin pushing dubious pretexts to try to change election rules, take over local voting systems or otherwise find ways to give Republicans unfair advantages....” (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ The Plot Thickens. Yesterday, RAS linked this story: ~~~
~~~ Shawn Cohen & Phillip Nieto of the Daily Mail: "Donald Trump’s White House is blocking top US intelligence agencies from warning law enforcement across the country about rising threats to the homeland tied to his war with Iran.... The FBI, Homeland Security, and the National Counterterrorism Center were preparing to put out a joint intelligence statement on Friday to state and local authorities alerting them of a heightened threat due to the ongoing war in Iran, a senior DHS official said. The bulletin, which was reviewed by the Daily Mail, details 'elevated threats by the government of Iran to US military and government personnel and facilities, Jewish and Israeli institutions and their perceived supporters, and Iranian dissidents and other anti-regime activists in the United States.'... Top Trump officials ordered [the bulletin] placed on 'hold'." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Marie: Why would the "White House" (Stephen Miller) do this? It can't be that they are concerned about frightening the peeps, because the bulletin was to go to local law enforcement agencies, not to the general public. Perhaps this essay by Timothy Snyder answers my question: ~~~
~~~ Timothy Snyder on Substack: “A purpose of the war on Iran might well be to provoke a terrorist attack inside the United States. This would provide Donald Trump with a pretext to try to cancel or 'federalize' the coming Congressional elections. Self-terrorism might not have been the initial aim; but as time goes by, and failures and atrocities mount, its appeal will grow. Trump could think that he has much to gain; the war itself makes terrorism more likely; there are plausible vectors of terror; and the United States has let down its defenses.... The Department of Homeland Security has deprioritized domestic terrorism and is no longer keeping up its database. An unqualified but right-wing recent college graduate is in charge of its program designed to prevent domestic terrorism.... Tulsi Gabbard, who is in charge of the agency that coordinates intelligence, has no qualifications. She was last observed taking part in the federal seizure of ballots in Georgia: this has nothing to do with her job description, and strongly suggests an intention to 'federalize' the coming election.... Kash Patel..., also lacking in qualifications...., treats his job as the infrastructure of celebrity. There is currently no director of Homeland Security. The last one was fired for a scandal of titanic self-absorption. The presumptive successor, Markwayne Mullin, has no relevant experience.” (Also linked yesterday.)
The Peace President*. Isaac Arnsdorf & Rael Ombuor of the Washington Post: “As ... Donald Trump started a spiraling war in the Middle East, his administration has acknowledged that another war he claimed to have ended is still going on. Trump has repeatedly counted decades of fighting between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as one of eight wars he settled as he openly sought a Nobel Peace Prize. In December, he brought the leaders of both Central African countries to the U.S. Institute of Peace to sign an agreement called the Washington Accords.... But on Monday the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Rwandan military and four senior officers, saying they are supporting militants in eastern Congo who resumed fighting within days of the December pact. The State Department followed on Friday with visa restrictions for unspecified senior Rwandan officials.”
The Dictator Decrees: My Way or the Highway. Ashleigh Fields of the Hill: Donald “Trump on Sunday threatened to not sign any bills into law until the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act is approved by the Senate, doubling down on his push to change voting requirements ahead of the midterm elections. 'I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION – GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY – ILLNESS, DISABILITY…,' the president wrote in his Sunday morning Truth Social post.” (Also linked yesterday.)
The Mar-a-Lardo Address. Twelve score and ten years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that the anniversary of this glorious undertaking would become a fantastic merch opportunity for me, your favorite president*. -- Donald J. Trump ~~~
~~~ Trump Trademarks the 250th. of NOTUS: “The Trump Organization filed several previously unreported trademark applications last week in connection with America’s 250th anniversary celebration, all featuring the president’s name as a centerpiece of the highly-anticipated festivities. The trademarks were filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by DTTM Operations LLC, which manages several other trademarks used by Trump and his businesses.... In one filing submitted on Friday, a 'Trump 250' image was trademarked to be used on a variety of merchandise — including bumper stickers, tote bags, drinkware, clothing items and golf balls. A wordmark application was also submitted for the name 'Trump 250' on Friday. The same merchandise items were also listed as potential uses for a number of variations of an image that features Trump’s name along with 'a design of five aircrafts followed by converging contrails.' A trademark application for that image was also submitted Friday.”
Mitchell Black & Marilyn Thompson of the (Charleston, S.C.) Post & Courier: “A woman who claims she was abused as a minor by both Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump has given the FBI vivid accounts that include aspects of her life corroborated by the The Post and Courier through public records. Her alleged encounter with Trump sometime around 1984 remains unproven, and the White House March 7 said there is 'zero credible evidence' that the woman’s account is true. Using archived government records and news accounts, The Post and Courier found that the woman provided verifiable details to agents about her family background and its legal entanglements. She offered the name of an Epstein business associate on Hilton Head Island who became a central figure in the drama, with specifics that are reflected in public records. The accounts describe an early phase in the mid-1980s of potential criminal conduct by Epstein that involved sexual activities with minors on Hilton Head.
“The alleged victim told the FBI she was under constant pressure from him to recruit more girls there to 'come party' with him and his 'disgusting' older friends. The incidents almost always involved drugs and alcohol and turned violent with hair-pulling and beatings, according to the woman.... A friend of hers also reported the allegations about Trump to the FBI in 2019.... Of the details that The Post and Courier found supported by public records, none related directly to the alleged victim’s claims about Trump.”
Karoun Demirjian of the New York Times: “J. Todd Inman, a National Transportation Safety Board member who was prominent in the investigation of a fatal midair collision in Washington last year, has been fired by the White House, the second member of the five-seat panel to have been removed in the last year. 'To date, I have not received any reason for this termination,' Mr. Inman said in a statement confirming his termination on Friday. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. selected Mr. Inman to fill one of the N.T.S.B. seats reserved for Republican members, and the Senate confirmed him to the board in 2024. No more than three of its five members can belong to the same political party. His term was not set to expire until the end of next year.... Mr. Inman had previously served as chief of staff at the Transportation Department during ... [Donald] Trump’s first term.... As the investigation [into the D.C. midair collision] progressed, Mr. Inman emerged as a forceful interrogator, sharply questioning Federal Aviation Administration officials about missed warnings. He also occasionally challenged the N.T.S.B. chairwoman, Jennifer L. Homendy, about the causes and lessons of the accident.”
Billy Witz & Shannon Sims of the New York Times: “Travelers at airports in Houston and New Orleans were greeted with hours of long waits early Sunday as the airports struggled to adequately staff security lines. The lengthy delays come as spring break travel is ramping up and as Transportation Security Administration workers are going without pay for the second time in six months because of the partial shutdown of the federal government, which primarily affects the Department of Homeland Security.”
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