Trumpism
PART X
President Donald Trump
February 17, 2026
This Week in Politics | Explainer
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To the Contrary With Charlie Sykes
February 17, 2026
Trump Did Something No President Has Tried Since 1798
Susan Glasser of The New Yorker joins Charlie to talk about Trump’s attempt to arrest and indict six sitting members of Congress, Marco Rubio in Munich, and DHS asking tech companies to expose the personal details of “anti-ICE” social media accounts.
Mehdi Unfiltered
Feb. 17, 2026
Trump is Trying to Tear Down the EU and NATO.
This Expert Explains What Happens Next
âWashington today is a kleptocracy⌠[America is] much closer to the end of democracy than most other Western democracies.”
In part two of this interview, Mehdi Hasan continues his conversation with Financial Timesâ editor and columnist Edward Luce to unpack foreign policy under Trump 2.0 and dive into whether or not Trump will actually use military force to annex Greenland.
Luce also explains the âTrump effectâ on countries like Canada and the UK, trade deals with China and if Britain can take a leadership role outside of the EU. They also discuss how American democracy is on the brink of collapse.
Watch part one: The Epstein Files Explained…
February 18, 2026
Adam James Weighs In On Trump’s Mental Decline
February 18, 2026
The President is Lying to the Public
February 19, 2026
Courts Have Ruled 4,400+ Times That ICE Jailed
People Illegally; Despite Rebukes, ICE Keeps Doing It
Following violent and indiscriminate sweeps of immigrant communities across the United States, the number of people in ICE detention has increased 75% since President Trump returned to the Oval Office.
Yet, as the number of lawsuits against the Trump administrationâs mass deportation campaign skyrockets, the federal government has continued to jail people indefinitely.
Although judges across the U.S. have handed down more than 4,400 rulings of illegal detentions of immigrants since October, very few of these rulings have been acted upon.
Reuters reporter Brad Heath says the unprecedented âpile-upâ of tens of thousands of cases is straining the capacity of the rapidly shrinking staff at the Department of Justice and further delaying the release of immigrants from ICE jails.
February 19, 2026
Ted Lieu reveals Pam Bondi and Kash Patel
lied under oath about Epstein
Feb. 19, 2026
Lemon LIVE at 5 | Will Former Prince Andrew’s Arrest Lead to Trouble for Donald Trump?
Weâre joined by Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari to break down whatâs happening globally, whatâs stalled domestically, and what could come next.
Tonight, weâre diving into the explosive new developments in the Epstein file saga. Prince Andrew was arrested over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and around the world, powerful figures connected to Epstein are beginning to face real consequences.
But the same cannot be said for those here in the United States? Donald Trumpâs name appears in the files more than 38,000 times, yet there is no accountability. Why does justice seem to move everywhere but here? Will Prince Andrew cooperate? Could more names be exposed? Will anyone in MAGA world ever face consequences? And most importantly, will the victims finally see justice?
February 19, 2026
Dr. David Benjamin explains the MAGA CULT (and why they don’t leave)
This is how Trump keeps his cult under his control and why they don’t care that their lives aren’t getting any better. We look at four psychological reasons why Trump followers don’t leave the MAGA cult.
We track major political events and give you clear context without sensationalism. If you follow political analysis from outlets like David Pakman, Brian Tyler Cohen, or MeidasTouch, this breakdown is for you.
Feb. 19, 2026
LIVE: President Trump’s Board of Peace convenes for its first meeting in Washington, D.C.
Feb. 19, 2026
Board of Peace holds first meeting,
but does it have any accountability/authority?
US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has held its first meeting in Washington DC – with members pledging a multi-billion aid package to rebuild Gaza.
Representatives from more that 40 countries attended the meeting, one month after the group was officially created. Trump said members have agreed to pledge $7 billion for a Gaza relief package, only a fraction of the estimated 70 billion needed to rebuild the devastated territory.
Trump also announced that five countries had agreed to deploy troops to the territory as part of an international stabilization force. Several key US allies were absent from the talks: But the president suggested more countries would soon join the board.
Feb. 19, 2026
Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ is vague, underfunded
and bypasses UN resolutions, analysts say
The US President says members of his Board of Peace have pledged seven billion dollars for Gaza’s reconstruction. Donald Trump made the announcement at the board’s first meeting in Washington, DC.
Joining on set is Sultan Barakat. He is a Professor of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University – and from Tel Aviv, Dan Perry. He is an Israeli politics analyst and former chief editor of the Associated Press in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The 11th Hour
Feb. 19, 2026
Are Republicans ‘cringing’ after Trump’s Georgia speech?
President Trump made a speech in Georgia as his administration and political allies zero in on the state’s elections. Meanwhile – a historic moment in the UK as police arrest former Prince Andrew after his name came up repeatedly in the newly-released Epstein files.
Peter Baker, Mark Leibovich, and Greg Bluestein join Stephanie Ruhle on The 11th Hour.
February 20, 2026
James Talarico and Lauren Boebert Debate
Church & State
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Texas State Rep. James Talarico join Bill Maher to discuss whether states should mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in schools.
-2- Overtime with Bill Maher: Lauren Boebert & James Talarico
Feb. 20, 2026
How did we get to ICE?
In the history section on ICEâs website, one line reads: âDespite U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s relatively young age, its functional history predates the modern birth of the agency by more than 200 years.â That phrasing of âfunctional historyâ stands out.
We know that ICE was created in 2003. So what exactly do they mean by that? To unpack this claim, Vox producer Nate Krieger examines the history of immigration enforcement in the US.
The story of American immigration is one of gradual change. Over time, the role of the immigration services slowly changed, morphing from an agency that managed labor and benefits to one that saw itself as law enforcement, with a focus on national security.
And with that shift came a growth in capacity. The first federal immigration agency was created in 1891 with a total staff of 4 people. Today, with ICE, that number is over 22,000.
So how did immigration restrictions and enforcement change over the span of American history? By examining the centuries of events that culminated in the creation of ICE, we can begin to understand the context that created this modern agency.
Feb. 20, 2026
Supreme Court rules Trump’s tariffs illegal
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that President Donald Trump violated federal law when he unilaterally imposed sweeping tariffs across the globe, a striking loss for the White House on an issue that has been central to the presidentâs foreign policy and economic agenda.
The decision is arguably the most important loss the second Trump administration has sustained at the conservative Supreme Court, which last year repeatedly sided with the president in a series of emergency rulings on immigration, the firing of the leaders of independent agencies and deep cuts to government spending.
Feb. 20, 2026
CEO behind lawsuit that took on Trump’s tariffs
Rick Woldenberg, the CEO of Learning Resources and hand2mind, responds to the Supreme Court’s decision against President Trump’s tariffs. Woldenberg was behind the lawsuit that reached the nation’s highest court on the matter.
Feb. 20, 2026
‘Supreme Court stood up for the rule of law’:
Lawyer who argued against tariffs
The Supreme Court has struck down most of President Trump’s tariffs. Former U.S. Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal, who argued against the tariffs in this case before the Supreme Court, and Chairman of the Liberty Justice Center Sara Albrecht shared their reaction to the decision.
Feb. 20, 2026
Trump imposes additional 10% global tariff
after reacting to tariff ruling
President Donald Trump said Friday heâs immediately going to enact a 10% global tariff under a trade law known as Section 122 following the Supreme Courtâs landmark ruling earlier in the day. In a 6-3 decision, the justices found Trump lacked the authority to impose sweeping tariffs citing emergency economic authority.
But unlike the prior tariffs Trump imposed, the new levies can only be in place for a maximum of 150 days, barring congressional approval for an extension. Trump also told reporters he will be initiating several new investigations that are necessary precursors to imposing tariffs under a separate trade law known as Section 301.
Feb. 20, 2026
Brooks and Capehart on the tariff ruling and
Trump’s attacks on Supreme Court justices
David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the Supreme Courtâs tariff ruling, President Trumpâs attacks on the justices, the first meeting of the Board of Peace, and reflections on Rev. Jesse Jackson after his passing.
Feb. 21, 2026
Justin Wolfers on Trump’s horrible economic policy
Ben Meiselas and economist Justin Wolfers discuss how Trump and his top aides, like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, made things much worse for themselves and the country after the Supreme Courtâs tariff ruling.
Check out more from Professor Wolfers: âŞ@JustinWolfersâŹ
February 20, 2026
Trump governs with ‘incoherence’ and ‘cruelty’ – writer George Saunders
âIt’s really a deep irony that this guy, who has really never set foot in a normal American street in a normal way, was mistaken as a man of the people,â writer George Saunders says of the US President, Donald Trump.
His work has long centered on the very people who live with the consequences of decisions made far above them, ordinary and fallible individuals navigating increasingly hostile conditions.
In a world marked by political lies, climate denial and the erosion of shared reality, Saundersâ fiction interrogates moral ambiguity, human weakness and the forces that draw individuals toward destructive choices.
In this episode of Ways to Change the World, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks to Saunders about the collapse of truth in public life, why satire no longer pierces political leaders who feel no shame, and whether storytelling can still help us understand one another in an age of polarization.
Feb. 22, 2026
Mark Carney REFUSES to Delay $6B Bridge Opening
And Shuts Down Trumpâs Bridge Threat
With One Calm Response
Prime Minister Mark Carney firmly pushed back after President Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge. Trump claimed the United States deserves compensation and partial ownership, alleging the project lacked American contribution.
But Carney responded with clear facts: Canada financed the construction, ownership is shared with Michigan, and both Canadian and U.S. workers and materials were involved in building this critical trade corridor.
The dispute adds fresh tension to an already strained trade relationship, with CUSMA negotiations, tariff disputes, and cross-border economic pressures all in play.
As political rhetoric escalates, the economic stakes are massive for businesses, workers, and supply chains on both sides of the border. Carney maintains the bridge will open as planned in 2026, emphasizing cooperation and stability over confrontation.
The Weekend
Feb. 22, 2026
Trump said “forget about separation
of church and state.” He meant it.
From the White House Faith Office to a task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias,” Christian Nationalism isn’t fringe anymore, it’s federal policy.
We break down the players, the playbook, and what happens when the government decides whose God counts.
February 23, 2025
Trump Lashes Out & Attacks Justices After
Supreme Court Limits His Power to Impose Tariffs
The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trumpâs sweeping tariffs on Friday in a 6-3 vote. The justices ruled that the tariffs â which were imposed by a series of executive orders â exceeded presidential powers under a 1977 law that gives the president authority to regulate commerce only in the case of international emergencies.
Trump called the ruling a âdisgraceâ and responded Friday by announcing a new 10% global tariff â which he increased to 15% Saturday.
The Best People with Nicolle Wallace
February 23, 2026
Robert De Niro gets emotional on Trump’s division
and removing him from office when he “won’t leave”
In a rare, candid, and emotional conversation with Nicolle Wallace, legendary actor Robert De Niro steps out of character and speaks plainlyâas a citizen deeply concerned about the future of the country he loves.
De Niro reflects on courage, intimidation, and what it means to stand up when it matters most. Drawing on a lifetime of playing âtough guys,â he makes clear: this moment isnât about toughnessâitâs about responsibility.
From his blunt assessment of Donald Trump to his warning about complacency, De Niro doesnât mince words. He talks about fear, silence, and why intimidation only works if people allow it.
Despite the rough and tumble characters he often portrays, he tells Nicolle, âIâm not a tough guy. Iâm a concerned citizen.â He brings that inextricably human sensibility to this episode of “The Best People”, having been a consistent and passionate voice in the fight against President Trumpâs worst instincts.
De Niro and Nicolle drill down on the optics of business leaders turning a blind eye to the administrationâs behaviors, the need for mass mobilization to protect midterm election integrity, and the importance of kindness in an era defined by division. And the Hollywood titan has some sage advice for those who oppose Trump: âEverybody has to get out there every way possible… This is it. This is our country.â
Feb. 24, 2026
Adam Schiff on Democrats skipping ‘hate, cruelty,
indecency’ of Donald Trump’s SOTU speech
At least 30 representatives and senators will skip the State of the Union to attend a live streamed counter-State of the Union Feb. 24 at the other end of the National Mall.
The “Peopleâs State of the Union,” hosted by MeidasTouch, MoveOn Civic Action and other community organizing groups, begins at 8 p.m. ET, one hour before President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Capitol, and is expected to last several hours.
Speakers include members of Congress, Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors, families impacted by immigration enforcement, fired public health workers and Americans struggling with rising costs.
Feb. 24, 2026
LIVE: President Trump delivers State of the Union address
Watch live as President Trump delivers his 2026 State of the Union address, as well as the Democratic response that follows.
Feb. 24, 2024
LIVE: Mehdi and Team Zeteo Live-React to Trump’s State of the Union Address
Starting at 7pm, we’ll be streaming the State of the Swamp event, where you’ll hear speeches from Mehdi and other guests about Trump’s first year in office.
At 8:30 pm, Mehdi, Prem, and Francesca Fiorentini will provide pre-speech analysis and will live-react to Trump’s speech.
Swin and John Harwood will also join for post-speech analysis.
Feb. 25, 2026
Trump’s State of Delusion
Trump’s State of the Union was long, rambling, and filled with falsehoods.
Let’s break down some of his most egregious lies and insane claims from the nearly 2-hour-long speech.
Family member warns Trump’s cognitive decline ‘only going to worsen’ as US braces for war
Written by Adam Lynch | February 26, 2026 | 09:46PM ET
Trumpâs niece Mary Trump confessed on CNN that her uncleâs mental impairment is more obvious than ever, and the aging president does not need to be leading the nation to war with Iran or anybody.
âIt’s important to remember that [President] Donald Trump has never been fit in any capacity,â Mary said to CNN anchor Erin Burnett Thursday night.
Burnett began the interview with a reference to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll revealing that 61 percent of Americans agree that Trump has become erratic with age. Worse for Trump, 30 percent of Republicans now agreed with the same statement. That poll indicated doubt with Trumpâs mental capacity was only 2 points lower than the confidence respondents had in former president Joe Bidenâs cognitive health this same month during his administration â when Trump was raking Biden for being old and slow.
Full Episode, Feb. 27, 2026
Friday on the News Hour, with the two countries on the brink of war, there’s movement on a crucial sticking point in the nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S.
Former President Clinton testifies before a GOP-led committee, saying he did not know about Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.
Plus, with more people detained in the immigration crackdown, the Trump administration looks to house them in warehouses.
Feb. 27, 2026
Dangerous and Confused: Trump’s chaotic
Iran Stand-off | The Listening Post
As Washington escalates threats of military action against Iran, negotiations over Tehranâs nuclear program continue behind the scenes. But while the Trump administration insists that the standoff is about security, Iranâs state media are pushing a very different narrative: that the crisis is a deliberate distraction from the Epstein scandal that continues to implicate the US president.
Contributors:
Dina Esfandiary â Middle East Lead, Bloomberg Economics
Fereshteh Sadeghi â Iranian journalist
Jamal Abdi â President, National Iranian American Council
Sina Toossi â Senior Fellow, Centre for International Policy
On our radar:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Israel this past week in a carefully choreographed display of solidarity. While Modiâs trip was celebrated in the Israeli media, criticism by Indian journalists was blocked back home. Leaving the two leaders to sign arms deals that will boost an already significant military partnership.
The Rise of Digital Micro-Bolsonaros
Nearly two years after Jair Bolsonaroâs fall from power in Brazil, the movement he built is searching for a new figurehead. A rising generation of young, evangelical, and hyper-online politicians is stepping in.
They are leveraging a sophisticated, decades-old religious media machine that evolved from radio and television into a powerful force on social media. Brazilâs political right is being reshaped for the digital age.
Featuring:
Anna Virginia Balloussier â Journalist, Folha de Sao Paulo
Caro Evangelista â Executive Director, ISER
Magali Cunha â Editor-in-Chief, Berreia Project
This Is Not How Democracies Go to War. It’s How Dictators Do.
Donald Trump has said almost nothing to justify going to war against Iran. The real reason may be something he dare not speak of.
by Joe Cirincione / Feb. 27, 2026
Itâs not just that Donald Trump cannot explain why he is about to start a war with Iran; the worst part is that he is not even trying.
Trump has hardly said a word about Iran over the past week, even in his State of the Union address. Congress is a bystander. There are no hearings, no debate, no public support. Yet, whether America plunges into a dangerous, unpredictable major war appears to rest on the whims of one man.
Even King George needed the approval of the British Parliament before he could wage war against the rebellious American colonies. Trump has remained mum as he orders the largest military buildup in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Feb. 28, 2026
U.S. and Israel launch attack on Iran
The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran Saturday morning after what the Israeli military said was months of âclose and joint planning.â
Iran responded to the attacks by launching an unprecedented wave of strikes toward Israel and US targets across the Middle East. Explosions were reported in a number of countries including the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.
February 28, 2026
LIVE: President Trump confirms “major combat operations” in Iran
Feb. 28, 2026
Iran’s Assassins | 60 Minutes Archive
In 2023, 60 Minutes reported on Iran’s campaign to intimidate, abduct, and assassinate its critics and perceived enemies, including Americans. For this report, Lesley Stahl spoke with Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American activist who is now a CBS News contributor, about being one of Iran’s targets.
February 28, 2026
Ali Khamenei – The West’s Greatest Rival for 40 Years – Documentary
This comprehensive biography of Ali Khamenei explores the life, power, and controversial legacy of the Islamic Republic of Iranâs Supreme Leader. From his humble beginnings in Mashhad and his early years as a revolutionary cleric to his pivotal role in the 1979 Islamic Revolution alongside Ayatollah Khomeini, we trace the definitive history of the man who has shaped the modern Middle East.
Discover the untold story of his rise to the Supreme Leadership in 1989, surviving the 1981 assassination attempt, and outlasting eight U.S. Presidents. We analyse his strategic control over the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), his influence on the Axis of Resistance, and the internal struggles of the Iranian regime.
As geopolitical tensions peak in 2026, understanding Khameneiâs ideology from the nuclear program to his stance on Israel and the West is more critical than ever. Whether you are looking for a deep dive into Iranian history, the mechanics of the theocratic government, or the future of Tehranâs leadership, this documentary provides the ultimate breakdown.
REPORTS
Feb. 28, 2026
Dem. Rep. and veteran on U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran
âApparently, weâve learned nothing after 20 years of war, trillions of dollars of taxpayer dollars, thousands of American lives, 3 and a half million combat deployments, 20 years of largely failed regime change and nation-building efforts. People have had it. Iâve had it.â
Democratic congressman Jason Crow, a member of the House Intelligence Committee and Armed Services Committee and a decorated Army combat veteran, joined Ari Melber to share his reaction and analysis after the U.S. and Israel conducted strikes on Iran.
Feb. 28, 2026
What Trump and Congress are saying
about the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran
PBS News correspondents Nick Schifrin, Liz Landers and Lisa Desjardins give the latest on fallout from the attack and how Iran is responding.
This Week with George Stephanopoulos
Full Broadcast – Sunday, March 1, 2026
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., joins âThis Weekâ in an exclusive interview to react to U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran.
Republican Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., responds.
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is interviewed live from Tehran in a Sunday exclusive.
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ABC News: President Trump released a new video statement on social media after Iran strikes.
ABC News: Now, Iran is responding to the operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and several Gulf nations.
March 2, 2026
FULL SPECIAL REPORT: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gives update on attacks in Iran
Hegseth laid out justifications Monday morning for the U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran over the weekend and the ongoing operation.
01:38 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks
12:20 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine speaks
30:19 Q&A begins
March 2, 2026
Jeffrey Sachs: ‘Psychopath’ Trump Makes
Bibi’s Fantasy Come True
Krystal and Saagar are joined by Jeff Sachs to discuss Israel, the US, and Iran war.
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March 2, 2026
Professor Jiang Predicts U.S. Will Lose War With Iran
Krystal and Saagar are joined by Professor Jiang to discuss the US war on Iran.
March 2, 2026
Heather Cox Richardson
March 2, 2026
Iran; Under Siege; Breaking the Cycle | Full Episodes
First, Reza Pahlavi on the future of Iran. Then, a look at threats against U.S. judges under Trump. And, breaking the cycle of school shootings.
March 2, 2026
The world’s rich and famous caught up in the Epstein Files
THE RECKONING | Full Documentary
Following the bombshell release of new damning evidence, Tara Brown investigates the powerful people in Jeffrey Epstein’s network, as those who knew him speak out for the first time.
March 6, 2026
From Prophetic Words to Political Violence:
MAGA’s Holy War
When a church that claims to be persecuted gains political power â who does it persecute first? That’s the question I explore with Tihomir Kukolja in this conversation.
#UNTRUTH: The Psychology of Trumpism
Full Documentary (2024)
This compelling documentary delves into the pervasive spread of disinformation and false narratives in American media and culture. Featuring insights from mental health experts, behaviorists, and political commentators, the film examines how profit-driven enablers and power-seeking politicians create divisions that threaten the very fabric of democracy.
By exploring the psychological underpinnings of Trumpism, #UNTRUTH offers a critical perspective on the challenges facing contemporary society.â
Director: Dan Partland
Contributors: Imran Ahmed, George Conway, John Gartner, Matthew MacWilliams, Anne Nelson, Anthony Scaramucci, Peter Strzok, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Brittany Friedman, Steven Hassan, Malcolm Nance, Denver Riggleman, Michael Steele, Joe Walsh, Catherine Sanderson, Ilan Stavens, Carol Tavris
March 9, 2026
Mary Trump: This Is Where Trump’s Entire Life
Has Been Trending
Donald Trump is clearly declining â mentally, physically, and at the polls â and he knows it. What does this mean for the rest of Trump 2.0? What does the dismissal of Kristi Noem and appointment of Markwayne Mullin tell us about loyalty and competence within the administration?
Mary Trump joins David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein to discuss our sunsetting presidentâs personal and political downfall.
March 10, 2026
The Road to War With Iran | Remaking the Middle East
(updated documentary)
What led up to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran? This updated version of our July 2025 documentary offers crucial context on the conflictâs roots and ramifications. (March 2026 update)
Amid U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranâs retaliation, FRONTLINE examines the path to the ongoing war in the Middle East, and what is at stake.
The original version of the documentary premiered in July 2025, one month after escalating tensions between Israel and Iran erupted into a 12-day war. Now, as the current war continues, âRemaking the Middle East: The U.S, Israel & Iranâ is a comprehensive look at what led up to this dramatic escalation, and the ramifications for the region.
War and Football? What Kind of Sick Mind
Thinks That Video Is Cool?
The White Houseâs videos mixing football hits with bombing footage tell us: We have some twisted people running this country.
The New Republic and Michael Tomasky / March 13, 2026
Youâve surely seen or read about the video the White House put out last week that interspersed bombing footage from Iran with punishing hits from NFL and college football games, over AC/DCâs âThunderstruck.â You can see it here. You will also see that it was posted on X from the official White House account, which added one word to the visuals: âTouchdown.â
Football can be an ugly business, but it does not as yet involve the bombing of schools and the killing of innocent schoolgirls. Fortunately, several of the players highlighted in the White House post have decried the use of their images in this way. Former Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis told HuffPost: âI did not approve my image or football highlights being used to compare football to war. The game I love is about discipline, brotherhood, and respect. War is something entirely different. Lives are at stake. God bless our troops and their families.â His old teammate Ed Reed, after being alerted to the use of his image by journalist and Ravens fan Ben Jacobs, wrote on X: âI do not approve this message.â And former Nebraska Cornhusker Kenny Bell told The Washington Post: âFor that play to be associated with bombing human beings makes me sick. I donât want anything to do with images like that.â The cowardly NFL has yet to speak.
March 15, 2026
Bernie Sanders Holds Discussion With 3 Policy Experts On Iran War
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders held a discussion questioning the origins of the ongoing war with Iran and the roles played by Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sanders has sharply criticized the conflict, arguing that the U.S. and Israelâs military actions risk escalating into a wider regional war and could undermine international law and stability.
He has also suggested that Netanyahu pushed the U.S. toward confrontation with Iran and warned that the human and financial costs of the war are mounting rapidly.
The discussion examines the geopolitical background of the conflict, the role of U.S.âIsrael coordination, and the potential consequences for global security and the Middle East.
DEADLINE | WHITE HOUSE
March 17, 2026
Report: Russia sharing satellite imagery, drone technology to support Iran in war with United States
John Brennan, Former CIA Director, Anne Applebaum, Columnist for The Atlantic and Tom Nichols, Staff Writer at The Atlantic, join Nicolle Wallace with reaction to explosive new reporting from the Wall Street Journal, which details that Russia is working to support Iran by sharing satellite imagery and drone technology, which marks an escalation in Moscow to put itself at odds with the United States and Donald Trump.
Grotesque Fallas Festival Effigies Give Donald Trump Yet Another Reason To Hate Spain
Several of this year’s creations have depicted the president in unflattering, grotesque ways, alongside Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.
Donald Trump isnât likely planning a trip to Spain anytime soon, given his current contempt for its governmentâs opposition to his Iran war and refusal to up its defense spending to NATOâs 5% target.
But if Trump does decide to hop across the Atlantic for paella or tapas, he might want to avoid the eastern, Mediterranean city of Valencia right now.
The president is among the political figures currently being mocked at the cityâs famous Fallas festival, where giant satirical papier-mâchĂŠ sculptures â known as ninots â are displayed across the streets before being dramatically burned on Thursday.
Several of this yearâs creations have depicted Trump in unflattering, grotesque ways, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Scroll down to see them:
March 17, 2026
Trump’s fatal error exposed by pilot who flew over Hormuz
Ken Harbaugh, a former Navy recon pilot who flew missions over the Strait of Hormuz, breaks down the Trump administration’s failure to plan for Iran’s most predictable move â and what happened to the minesweepers that should have been there. Combat veteran and Missouri congressional candidate Fred Wellman joins to respond.
MADDOWBLOG
From the Rachel Maddow Show
Trump clings to self-defeating argument about Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran
That the president averted a ânuclear holocaustâ by rejecting an international plan that was working as intended is utterly insane.
By Steve Benen
March 17, 2026
Clearly on the defensive as the war in Iran continues, Donald Trump turned his attention Tuesday to one of his favorite rhetorical targets: the 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. To hear the incumbent American president tell it, he has no regrets about his decision in 2017 to abandon the deal.
âIf I didnât terminate Obamaâs horrible deal, the Iran nuclear deal, you wouldâve had nuclear holocaust,â the Republican said at a recent Oval Office event.
The rhetoric was familiar, but still wrong. A couple of weeks ago, the incumbent president similarly insisted that if he hadnât abandoned the international agreement, Iran would have used a nuclear weapon against Israel. A day earlier, on his social media platform, Trump wrote, âIf I didnât terminate Obamaâs horrendous Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA), Iran would have had a Nuclear Weapon three years ago.â
March 18, 2026
America First vs Israel First:
American troops, Israeli war? | This is America
In this episode of This is America, hosted by Anna Burns-Francis, Al Jazeera’s special coverage from Washington DC examines whether the war on Iran serves “America First” or “Israel First” interests.
With President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking almost daily, analysts question whose objectives are driving the conflictâparticularly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the US acted knowing Israel would attack first.
The program features former Israeli negotiator Daniel Levy, who argues Netanyahu sees a “golden opportunity” to drag the US into his broader regional war, aiming for “greater Israel domination” and regime collapse in Iran, indifferent to consequences for Gulf states or America. Levy notes this strategy has broad Israeli establishment support, transcending Netanyahu’s personal political needs.
A panel with former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense David Sedney and Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen debates US-Israel dynamics. Sedney contends Netanyahu has “huge influence” over Trump, who he calls “irrational” and “subject to manipulation.”
Cohen counters that the US remains the senior partner, with Trump focused on China and using the war to defang Iranâdegrading its nuclear and missile programsâwhile acknowledging midterm election pressures may push Trump to end it sooner than Israel wants.
The episode highlights the resignation of top counterterrorism official Joe Kent, who wrote Iran posed “no imminent threat” and that the US started the war “due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
Media coverage from Axios to the Wall Street Journal reflects growing questions about divergent US-Israel endgames, with conservative commentators like Megyn Kelly and Candace Owens amplifying the “Israel First” critique online.
March 18, 2026
The Iran War, Nuclear Red Lines, and
Trump’s Messaging Disaster
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the Iran war and the Trump administrationâs shambolic messaging, antisemitism and moral confusion on the left and right, the spread of conspiracism, finding contentment in uncertain times, AIâs looming disruption of white-collar work, wealth inequality and the ultra-richâs failures of philanthropy, Louis Therouxâs documentary on the manosphere, and other topics.
PBS News Hour full episode,
March 18, 2026
Israel kills another top Iranian official as lawmakers on Capitol Hill question intelligence officials about the reasons for starting the war. The nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, testifies in his confirmation hearing. Plus, migrants in Lebanon are once again caught in limbo as the regional war escalates.
The 11th Hour
March 18, 2026
‘Profoundly boxed in’: Trump STUCK
without any good options in Iran?
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told Congress that despite Trump’s war, the Iranian regime seems to be intact. Plus – now that we’re almost three weeks into the war, what happens when the administration asks Congress for more money to pay for it?
David Rhode, Ali Velshi, Abby Livington, and Tim OâBrien join Stephanie Ruhle for The 11th Hour Nightcap.
March 18, 2026
DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s Opening Statement
In Worldwide Threats Hearing
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday as senators examined global threats from China, Russia, Iran, transnational criminal organizations, and global instability.
March 18, 2026
Sen. Warner makes opening statement
in worldwide threats hearing
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, made an opening statement Wednesday in an open hearing on worldwide threats. Warner criticized intelligence agencies for failing to focus on foreign influence threats to U.S. democracy.
Itâs the first of two days of hearings on Capitol Hill surrounding the intelligence communityâs release of its annual assessment of threats to national security.
The Senate hearing comes a day after National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent resigned over President Donald Trumpâs war in Iran. Kent, a former Green Beret and CIA official known for his past ties to right-wing extremists, said in a statement Tuesday that Iran âposed no imminent threatâ to the U.S. and he could not âin good conscienceâ support the war.
March 18, 2026
Warner presses Gabbard on omitting mention
of Iran’s nuclear enrichment from testimony
Sen. Mark Warner questioned Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about her involvement with the FBI search at a Georgia elections office, foreign interference and why she omitted a portion of her prepared opening statement that said, “As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated.”
March 18, 2026
Gabbard Refuses to Say Whether Iran
Posed ‘Imminent’ Nuclear Threat
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard sidestepped a pointed question about whether or not, as the White House suggested, there was an âimminent nuclear threatâ from Iran. âThe intelligence community assessed that Iran maintained the intention to rebuild and to continue to grow their nuclear enrichment capability,â Gabbard told Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.)
March 18, 2026
‘Trump offering national security briefings for cash?’:
Shocking email leaves DNI Gabbard off guard
A dramatic moment unfolds during the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing as Senator Mark Kelly confronts Tulsi Gabbard with a controversial fundraising email attributed to Donald Trump. The email appears to suggest that supporters could receive ‘private national security briefings’ in exchange for donations â triggering serious questions about access to sensitive intelligence.
March 19, 2026
LIVE: House hearing on worldwide threats
Following yesterdayâs intense Senate testimony, the nationâs top intelligence officials return to Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers on the most pressing national security challenges facing the United States. Todayâs session is expected to focus heavily on the ongoing conflict with Iran, border security, and the evolution of global missile threats.
March 19, 2026
‘Where’s the evidence?’: Rep Himes, Gabbard clash
in heated showdown over Georgia election raid
Representative Jim Himes confronted DNI Tulsi Gabbard in a heated exchange over the Georgia 2020 election raid and the Iran war.
March 19, 2026
Rep. Gomez: “Why Do You Even Have a Job?”
U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez confronts Director Tulsi Gabbard in a fiery House Intelligence hearing, pressing her on past claims that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon. Gomez demands a clear answer on whether Iran was âweeks away,â exposing contradictions as Gabbard refuses to give a direct response.
March 19, 2026
James Talarico joins Tim Miller before a live Bulwark audience.
For Talarico, it doesn’t really matter whether Cornyn or Paxton wins their runoff battle. Either way, the Texas Democratic Senate candidate says he is running against the billionaire mega-donors and their corrupt system.
To flip the Senate seat, he says he is speaking to the hearts of voters, avoiding media echo chambers, and campaigning on being both pro-immigrant and pro-border security.
Plus, Trump’s broken promises, Cornyn may be more corrupt than Paxton, Apostle Paul’s thoughts on God’s sausage, and a Shermanesque denial of the vegan accusations.
March 19, 2026
URGENT: Trump Will Try to Steal the Election
George Conway â former Republican lawyer, Trump critic, and congressional candidate in NY-12 â sits down with Marc Elias to discuss the state of American democracy, Trump’s authoritarian tactics, and what we can do to stop him.
Conway argues that everything we warned about in 2024 is now coming to fruition: a president intent on holding onto power, unconstrained by the rule of law, and willing to undermine free and fair elections. He doesn’t mince words â impeachment isn’t just an option, it’s a constitutional obligation.
There Will be No Post-Presidential Peace for Donald Trump
The president and his allies will face impeachments, lawsuits, and maybe even The Hague.
The similarities do not end there. The declaration describes the king âcutting off our trade with all parts of the worldâ and âimposing taxes on us without our consent.â Sound familiar? Since last spring, Trump has used a Cold Warâera sanctions law to unilaterally impose trillions of dollars in tariffs upon American customers and businesses. The law makes no mention of tariffs, and in February the Supreme Court accordingly struck them down.
Foremost among the Foundersâ fears of threats to liberty was the potential misuse of the military. Trump, to borrow their phrasing, âhas kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislatures.â In a show of propagandistic force, he has stationed thousands of National Guard troops from around the country within the District of Columbia despite the opposition of local government. The president frequently threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act to send military forces into Democratic-led states and cities.
Trump, like his royal predecessor, âhas abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.â Trumpâs immigration raids against Democratic-led cities and statesâLos Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolisâappear to be at least partially punitive for their not voting for him in the presidential elections. On multiple occasions, out of apparent spite, Trump has also frozen congressionally appropriated programs and blocked infrastructure funding to blue states. He apparently intends to treat half of the country not as fellow citizens, but as conquered subjects.
âIn every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury,â Thomas Jefferson wrote after laying out the charges against George III. âA prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.â
March 20, 2026
‘Worms and mold in food’: Mothers reveal the
torment inside Trump’s ICE detention centers
Youâve seen the ICE raids. Now see what happens after families disappear from their communities. MS NOW National Reporter Rosa Flores takes you to the middle of nowhere in Texas, to the only camp where ICE detains families arrested across the country â and almost no one knows what happens inside.
Mothers who were quietly released from the Dilley detention center report worms in their food, children and women crying, psychological torment, and even repeated arrests. Detainee releases are being handled under wraps, even catching Trump ally Governor Greg Abbott by surprise.
These womenâs accounts challenge the Trump Administrationâs claim that itâs arresting and deporting the worst of the worst undocumented criminals â and reveal a detention pipeline operating far from public view.
March 20, 2026
Prof. David Cay Johnston Reacts to
Bizarre Trump Video
March 20, 2026
Joe Kent: Why Trump went to war
UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers speaks with Joe Kent, the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, in his first international interview since his resignation from the Trump administration.
A highly decorated Green Beret and CIA veteran, Kent became the most senior official to step down in protest of the ongoing war in Iran, which he describes as a âquagmireâ driven by external pressure rather than national interest.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Kent alleges that the U.S. was misled into the conflict by the Israel lobby, shares personal reflections on the death of his wife in a âmanufacturedâ war, and raises questions about the investigation into the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
GLOBAL DOCUMENTARY – Discovery Travel
March 20, 2026
The IRAN You Aren’t Allowed to See
Why is Iran gaining attention as a travel destination in the Middle East? In this 4K travel documentary, we explore a land that few travelers truly experience that takes you on a journey from ancient Persia to modern Iran, uncovering landscapes, Persian culture, and hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Often seen through a limited lens, Iran offers far more than expected. Whether youâre drawn to breathtaking scenery, unique cultural experiences, or destinations off the beaten path, this documentary presents an immersive perspective that goes beyond headlines.
From towering mountains and historic cities to timeless architecture and vibrant traditions, Iran reveals a rich reality shaped by over 2,500 years of Persian heritage. Explore its ancient sites, local festivals, and everyday life to see how geography, history, and tradition continue to influence the people and their culture today.
GLOBAL DOCUMENTARY – Discovery Travel: Journey through the world in cinematic 4K, uncovering landscapes, cultures, and destinations few have seen.
March 20, 2026
Iran is running out of water | If You’re Listening
Water is the lifeblood of all civilisations. In Iran, the water is drying up. That disappearance is becoming impossible to ignore, and after decades of mismanagement, the countryâs water system is approaching a breaking point. Rivers that once crossed the Iranian plateau are drying to threads; aquifers are collapsing; lakes have retreated into salt flats.
The roots of the crisis stretch from the modernisation projects of the Shah to the Islamic Republicâs own industrial ambitions: dams, steel plants, and the cultivation of water-thirsty crops, all of which arenât ideal pursuits for a country that is largely arid. The result is a slow-moving environmental emergency now pressing into politics, daily life, and the stability of the regime itself.
March 21, 2026
Trump’s Strategy of Obedience Exposed
Sidney Blumenthal and Sean Wilentz discuss how and why people are docile under a totalitarian regime, the collaborators, the compromisers, and the resisters, with Ian Buruma, author of Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939-1945.
March 21, 2026
SAVE America Act? More like the
“Steal Our Next Election Act.”
Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) takes to the Senate Floor to speak against the so-called SAVE America Act.
March 21, 2026
Trump Sparks Outrage After Saying ‘I’m Glad He’s Dead’
Donald Trump faces backlash after a shocking statement about Robert Muellerâs death. Adam Kinzinger breaks down what was said, why itâs drawing outrage, and what it reveals about todayâs political climate and why we donât have to follow that example.
March 22, 2026
BREAKING NEWS: White House announces
ICE will be deployed at US airports
The Weekend
March 22, 2026
Rep. Garcia slams Trump’s push for ICE deployment
at airports: “He wants his own military force”
Tomorrow, ICE agents will be deployed to airports across the country. Donald Trump claims the agents will be used to assist understaffed TSA employees amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.
But it comes on the wave of threatening language from the president. And concern that it’s masking an ulterior motive of ramped immigration enforcement at airports.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) joins âThe Weekend: Primetimeâ to discuss his concerns surrounding ICE at airports, the Pentagonâs push for $200 Billion in funding toward the war with Iran, and what he wants from Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the Epstein files case.
Velshi
March 22, 2026
‘No Kings’ protest movement
‘matters in the biggest possible way’
The upcoming âNo Kingsâ rallies on March 28 are expected to draw millions nationwide. Third Act co-founder Bill McKibben insists mass gatherings expressing public dissent against President Trumpâs policies empower Americans.
âIt matters in the biggest possible way,â he told Ali Velshi. âThe craziness of this moment is whatâs driving people to act in these ways.â
The Weekend
March 22, 2026
Trump’s deplorable moment? Hear what he
just called every Democrat in America
Organizers for the next No Kings protest think it could be the biggest one yet as Donald Trump faces widespread backlash for his war with Iran, extreme immigration crackdown, and handling of the economy.
Ezra Levin, Co-executive director of Indivisible, which is one of the organizers for No Kings Day, joins âThe Weekend: Primetimeâ with a preview.
The Weekend
March 22, 2026
Christian nationalists are terrified of
James Talarico’s faith. This is why.
Christian nationalists and MAGA allies are in a tail spin over James Talarico, the Texas Democratic nominee for Senate, over the rising starâs faith and progressive politics. Christopher Mathias, a journalist covering the far-right, joins The Weekend: Primetime to discuss why the far-right seems to be so scared of him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
The democrat running in Texas, James Talarico, turns out to be a FRAUD! It showed after the Election when he beat Low IQ Candidate Jasmine Crockett (No relation to Davy Crockett!). He’s got six Genders, insults to Jesus, only vegan food, was wearing a mask in 2023 and 2024, and is a weak, ineffective guy who we “allowed” to win prior to releasing the avalanche of information we had on him because, as bad as Crockett was as a Candidate, this guy is worse! I believe that any human being running against him, sick, incompetent, close to death or, even a child, would win. He may be the Worst Candidate I have ever seen, other than, of course Gavin Newscum who admitted that he suffers from mental incapacity, is unable to read a speech, and is dumb but, in saying “the dumb comment,” referred to his audience, and therefore became, in the eyes of African Americans, A TOTAL RACIST — which is probably true! Gavin admits that he’s a Low IQ individual, which typically is not good for winning the Presidency. His interview may have been the worst ever given by a “professional” politician. I believe, it takes him OUT OF THE RACE. Kamala is back! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Mar 22, 2026, 10:40 AM
January 13, 2026
James Talarico’s Beautiful Answer to
Christian Nationalism
State Representative James Talarico of Texas might have been our most requested guest last year. And he seemed to come out of nowhere.
Talarico started breaking through with viral videos on TikTok and Instagram. And in those videos, he didnât sound like your typical Democrat. Heâs forthrightly Christian, quoting Scripture to defend progressive positions and challenging Christian nationalism on Christian grounds. And he is now running for Senate in Texas â in a primary field that includes U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett â in what will be one of the most important Senate races this year.
So I wanted to have Talarico on the show to talk about his faith, his politics and the way those two have come together in this attentional moment. Because heâs clearly saying things that people are hungry to hear.
March 22, 2026
Narcissism Expert Breaks Down
What Goes On Inside Trump’s Mind
Why do societies sometimes elect narcissistic, authoritarian leaders, and high-conflict personalities? In this episode of Cults, Culture, and Coercion, Dr. Steven Hassan speaks with therapist, attorney, and High Conflict Institute co-founder Bill Eddy about narcissistic leaders, emotional manipulation in politics, personality disorders in leadership, and the psychology behind our modern political landscape.
Drawing on decades of experience as a therapist, mediator, and family lawyer, Eddy explains why about 10% of the population may exhibit personality disorder traits and how these individuals can rise to power by exploiting emotional messaging, media dynamics, and fear-based narratives.
Together, Hassan and Eddy explore the psychological framework behind narcissistic leadership, cult dynamics, and political manipulation, including Eddyâs concept of the âfantasy crisis triad,” a narrative structure where leaders create a perceived crisis, identify a villain, present themselves as the hero, and promise a dramatic solution.
Bill Eddyâs book: Why We Elect Narcissists and Sociopathsâand How We Can Stop! amazon.com/Why-Elect-Narcissists…
March 22, 2026
Epstein roundup: Trump allegations,
perjury claims & key testimony
A transparency law passed by Congress has forced the release of more Epstein files than ever before, but some lawmakers and victims are exploring ways to push the Justice Department to disclose even more information from the voluminous trove thatâs being withheld.
Some 2.5 million documents in the Justice Departmentâs investigative files on late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have not been publicly released, and many of the 3.5 million pages that have been published are heavily redacted, prompting questions about whatâs being kept from the public.
March 23, 2026
MAGA Theology’s Darkest Prayer Against James Talarico:
‘Stop Him By Any Means Necessary’
Pete Hegseth didn’t just bring his politics to the Pentagon. He brought his pastor.
In this video, I analyze a recent clip featuring Brooks Potteiger â Pete Hegseth’s personal pastor from a CREC (Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches) congregation â and Joshua Haymes, calling for divine action against Texas State Representative James Talarico. As a pastor myself, I’m naming this for what it is: not prayer, not Christianity, and not faith. This is MAGA theology operating as a political weapon.
This is the theological framework behind Christian nationalism â and it is now inside the U.S. Department of Defense.
In this analysis:
â Who is Brooks Potteiger, and why is he at the Pentagon?
â What does the CREC network actually believe about political opponents?
â How does Doug Wilson’s theology justify this kind of rhetoric?
â Why James Talarico was targeted â and what it tells us about where this movement is heading
â What the Bible actually says about praying against your enemies
This is not a partisan attack. This is a theological autopsy.
I was an evangelical pastor for 20 years. I planted a church in the inner city of St. Paul. I know this world from the inside â and what I’m seeing from Pete Hegseth, Brooks Potteiger, and the Christian nationalist movement is a corruption of the Gospel that demands a response.
This video contains brief clips used under fair use for the purpose of critical commentary, theological analysis, and news reporting.
March 23, 2026
Maddow on Trump’s unbridled chaos:
‘We are having some drama at the moment’
Rachel Maddow looks at the news stories we would have trouble believing if we weren’t living through them in real time, including Denmark, a U.S. ally, making preparations to defend itself and Greenland against the U.S., Donald Trump staggering around war crime-level threats against Iran, a MAGA sheriff seizing hundreds of thousands of ballots, and ICE agents being sent to airports with no real job to do.
March 23, 2026
Trump DHS Pick Instantly Torched by Furious Vets
Ken Harbaugh takes aim at Markwayne Mullin â the chest-pounding, stolen valor bully who is about to become America’s next Secretary of Homeland Security â and makes the case that veterans can spot this kind of fraud from a mile away.
Then Ken sits down in Boston with Capitol defender Mike Fanone, Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey, and Senate candidate Seth Moulton to expose ICE’s expanding brutality and why every Democrat needs to get behind a simple demand: Prosecute ICE.
March 23, 2026
NO on Trump’s New DHS Secretary:
Schiff Explains His Vote
March 23, 2026
Trump turns briefing into ‘loyalty test’
and challenges FBI chief
When it comes to heaping praise on President Donald Trump in public, Stephen Miller is a tough act to follow. FBI Director Kash Patel found that out the hard way on Monday, after Miller sang the presidentâs praises for nearly three minutes during a roundtable discussion on crime in Memphis, Tennessee.
âThank you, Stephen. So Kash, see if you can top that!â Trump quipped, drawing a few chuckles from the panel. âI donât know, thatâs a tough one, Kash.â âThatâs tough,â Patel admitted, before starting his own speech about how great of a job Trump has done in his second term.
Miller had just lauded the president for his âvision, courage, and determinationâ that led to the âlowest national murder rateâ and the âlargest reduction in illegal immigration in American history,â among several other examples he pointed to.
Comedy icon John Cleese compares new Trump video to a Monty Python sketch
Written by Nick Hilden | March 24, 2026 | 02:41PM ET
A new video has renowned humorist John Cleese poking fun at the Trump Administration.
In it, while speaking at a Memphis roundtable discussion on crime, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller praised President Donald Trump at great length, going on for several minutes about how his purported accomplishments are âa national miracle that will be studied not only for generations, but for centuries to come.â Even Trump seemed to recognize the egregious flattery, turning to FBI Director Kash Patel and saying, âKash, see if you can top that!â
Patel, in turn, went on to hail the chief for just shy of two minutes, prompting Trump to acknowledge that the podcaster-turned-government official âdid pretty goodâ with his exorbitant extolment.
After that, it was Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sextonâs turn to lay it on thick, thanking Trump for âdelivering freedom.â
Cleese thought there was something funny about all this soaring sycophancy.
âHard to believe this isnât a Monty Python sketch,â he tweeted with a clip of the video.
The Monty Python comedy troupe â of which Cleese was a founding member â released a sketch comedy series and string of movies between 1969 and the 1980s, and became renowned for highlighting the absurdity of wide-ranging political leaders and movements. One of their most effective methods involved exaggerating the behaviors of their comedic targets. The fawning words of Trumpâs cronies, Cleeseâs post suggested, is a comedy sketch unto itself.
It is no secret that President Donald Trump enjoys flattery. There was, for example, the August 2025 cabinet meeting where officials took turns praising Trump at length, saying he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, had kept 258 million Americans from dying of fentanyl, and saved college football.
And such events are not solely a second-term affair, as they featured in the first Trump Administration as well. During a similar meeting in 2017, then-Vice President Mike Pence â who Trump would later say deserved to be hanged â told him, âIt is the greatest privilege of my life to serve as vice president.â
If these flattery sessions are not new for Trump, neither are his jibes from Cleese, who has frequently criticized the president.
In the past, he has called Trump a âshort fingered vulgarianâ who has âlost his mind.â This Sunday, following Trumpâs statement that he was âgladâ about James Comeyâs death, Cleese posted that the president âshould be aware that when he dies, the glorious outburst of happiness and celebration will be heard on the outer moons of Jupiter.â
Status Coup News and MeidasTouch
March 23, 2026
“THEY’RE KIDNAPPING HER!”:
Trump’s ICE Begins Abducting People at Airports
Status Coup reporter Jordan Chariton reports on breaking news of ICE agents abducting passengers at airports in America under the guise of “assisting” with long security delays due to the ongoing partial government shutdown due to lack of continued funding for the Department of Homeland Security (causing TSA agents to call out sick).
Status Coup has been reporting ON THE GROUND covering ICE TERROR for nearly a year in LA, NYC, Alligator Alcatraz, Chicago, Charlotte, & Minneapolis.
March 24, 2026
As Trump Deploys ICE Agents to Airports,
TSA Agents Continue to Go Without Pay:
AFGE Union Steward
The partial government shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security has caused major staffing shortages within the Transportation Security Administration, an agency under DHS that handles airport security procedures created in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.
TSA officers have not been paid for over a month, leading to hundreds of resignations and leaves of absence. As airports are hit with significant delays, Cameron Cochems, the vice president of a union representing thousands of fellow TSA workers, urges travelers to use their time waiting to call their elected representatives “to fund the TSA so we can get our paychecks and we can get back to work.”
To fill staffing shortages, DHS has deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to U.S. airports. This comes as ICE is under fire for a hiring surge with minimal vetting and training for new officers.
“It really feels like they’re a Band-Aid over a gaping wound. Our officers, they’re not getting paid, and having people that come in that are getting paid just feels like an insult,” says Cochems, who adds that the ultimate goal of the Republican Party is to eliminate union protections and privatize the TSA.
March 24, 2026
FULL IN: Trump on Iran War, Ceasefire & U.S. Achievements
Watch the full speech delivered by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, addressing the ongoing Iran conflict, ceasefire negotiations, and recent U.S. military achievements.
In this speech, Trump highlights:
Updates on U.S. military and Israeli operations in Iran
Progress and challenges in ceasefire negotiations
Diplomatic and strategic efforts to stabilize the Middle East
U.S. achievements and next steps in regional security
Impact on American citizens and global partners
This full speech provides real-time insight into the administrationâs strategy during one of the most significant global crises in 2026.
March 24, 2026
Prof. David Cay Johnston:
Trump Doesn’t Have A Way Out Of This
LBC and LBC America
March 24, 2026
James O’Brien reacts as Iran accuses
Trump of spreading ‘fake news’
James O’Brien reacts to ‘obvious lies’ told by Trump as the President claims that ‘good’ talks are ongoing with Iran.
Earlier on Monday, Trump posted a typo-ridden update on TruthSocial where he stated his pause will last for five days, but added that it depends on “the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions”.
Over the weekend, the President laid down a 48-hour ultimatum which demanded Iran reopen the Strait or face new strikes on key energy sites.
Asked who would be in charge of the passage following any deal to end the conflict, Trump said: “Maybe me, me and whoever the next ayatollah (is).”
However, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, also called the Trump administration’s claims of talks as “fake news”.
March 25, 2026
“Many Will Die”: Military Expert Warns
of Iran Escalation Trap
Is America’s war in Iran headed toward an escalation trap? Robert Pape, a professor of political science and an expert on global security, argues that the decapitation of Iran’s leadership failed to break the regime, while upping the pressure for more force — including raising the specter of a ground war.
Pape joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the difference between initial tactical success and long-term strategic success.
March 25, 2026
Trump DOJ & California headed
for Supreme Court showdown
Attorneys Brian Kabateck and Shant Karnikian break down the Trump administration’s lawsuit against California’s vehicle emission standards and EV mandates. The DOJ argues the state’s rules â requiring 35% zero-emission car sales by 2026, rising to 100% by 2035 â amount to an illegal state fuel economy standard.
The timing is brutal: gas prices have spiked 20% since the Iran war, hitting $5.37 a gallon in California, and the administration is suing the state trying to give consumers a cheaper alternative. California has set stricter emissions standards for decades, and 17 other states plus D.C. follow them â together representing one-third of the U.S. car market.
The Bush administration tried a similar challenge and lost. The hosts predict the real play is to get the case to the Supreme Court and establish broad federal preemption over any state environmental regulation â making this as much about states’ rights as it is about EVs.
The Briefing
March 27, 2026
‘We can save the future’: Jane Fonda
speaks out on activism in the Trump era
Jane Fonda, actor, activist and founder of the modern Committee for the First Amendment, who is scheduled to attend the flagship protest in St. Paul on No Kings Day, talks with Jen Psaki about what’s at stake in standing up to the Trump administration and the importance of “neighboring” to keep communities resilient.
March 27, 2026
“Quagmire”: Jeremy Scahill on Iran War,
Strait of Hormuz, Market Manipulation & More
Drop Site News’s Jeremy Scahill joins Democracy Now! to discuss the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, including President Donald Trump’s lies about U.S. strategy and negotiations with Iran, possible avenues of U.S. escalation and what Scahill has learned about Iranian strategy in conversations with Iranian officials.
“They want to cause enough pain to the world economy ⌠[so] that any nation that thinks of attacking Iran again is going to do so knowing that these are the consequences,” he explains.
March 28, 2026
Iran latest: Trump faces MAGA backlash | The Listening Post
Four weeks into the war on Iran, the White House continues to confuse the public and the press with constant pivots and contradictions.
Now the administration faces even more pressure as many of its own supporters have started to turn against it. This war has split up the MAGA movement, with an intriguing debate currently happening outside the mainstream and in the midst of their own media sphere.
Contributors:
Jamal Abdi – President, National Iranian American Council
Jude Russo – Managing editor, The American Conservative
Ben Lorber – Senior research analyst, Political Research Associates
On our radar:
This week, the Israeli parliament approved the first vote on a bill that introduces a mandatory death penalty by hanging. This applies to any Palestinian convicted of killing Israelis in attacks defined as âterrorismâ or motivated by âhatredâ. Ryan Kohls reports on how this bill has been promoted in the media.
Memes, trash talk and AI – the online war between Washington and Tehran.
The propaganda war in the ongoing war on Iran has taken a new form.
Beyond the traditional tactics, both the US and Iran are increasingly using memes and trash-talk mockery of the adversary through AI-driven animations, designed with virality in mind. We look at the strategies behind the different messaging coming out of Washington, Tel Aviv and Tehran.
Featuring:
Meredith Clark – Professor, University of North Carolina
Roger Stahl – Documentarian and author, Militainment, Inc.
Marc Owen Jones – Associate professor, Northwestern University in Qatar
The Weekend
March 29, 2026
Palestinian protester shares HORRIFIC details from year in ICE custody: “I was chained”
Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman who was detained by ICE last March after participating in pro-Palestinian protests near Columbia University, was released this month after more than a year in custody. She joins The Weekend: Primetime for her first TV interview since her release to discuss her treatment and conditions inside a Texas ICE detention center.
March 29, 2026
WATCH: ‘No Kings’ protesters Take to the Streets Across the US | People Protest Against Trump
Large crowds took to the streets across the United States and internationally on Saturday as part of the latest round of âNo Kings” protests opposing Donald Trumpâs policies, including the war in Iran and intensified immigration enforcement.
Organizers said demonstrations were held across all 50 states, with thousands of registered events spanning major cities as well as smaller towns.
March 28, 2026
‘He’s not well’: Robert De Niro slams Trump as No Kings protests take place
Thousands rallied in over 3,000 locations nationwide for the latest âNo Kingsâ protests. In New York City, Robert De Niro shares what he saw on the ground, how this protest compares to past rallies, and why heâs speaking out during Donald Trumpâs second term.
March 29, 2026
Hundreds of thousands participate in ‘No Kings’ protests across Bay Area
The Weekend
March 28, 2026
Trump admin. responds to nationwide “No Kings” rallies: “We don’t think about the protests at all…”
March 29, 2026
“No Kings” Protests Spread Across US, Europe as Millions Rally Against Trump’s Policies and Iran War
Millions have taken to the streets across the United States in the third wave of âNo Kingsâ protests, targeting President Donald Trumpâs policies on the war in Iran, immigration enforcement and the rising cost of living.
Demonstrations were reported in all 50 states, with major rallies in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Minnesota, where public figures joined protesters in calling for political change. The movement has also spread beyond the United States, with protests reported in London and other European cities, signaling growing international opposition.
March 29, 2026
Behind the scenes with the Trump admin. during a month of war
A day-by-day look behind the scenes as Kaitlan Collins covered the White House for CNN in March.
Katy Tur Reports
March 30, 2026
Hegseth’s religious rhetoric raises alarm
among military leaders, veterans
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Christian nationalist rhetoric on the war with Iran is receiving criticism from military leaders, legal experts and veterans. Critics say Hegseth is undermining troop cohesion by blending religion and war.
Retired U.S. Army Major General Randy Manner and President of Elevation Global Strategies Kevin Baron join Katy Tur with their analysis of Hegseth’s speeches.
March 31, 2026
Marines turn on Trump as war spirals out of control
As deployment orders continue to spread amongst the military, objector complaints have risen higher to anything seen in recent times. Francis Maxwell reacts.
The Briefing
March 31, 2026
U.S. allies turn their backs on Trump as he
tries to dump a broken Middle East on them
Donald Trump has no idea how to fix the mess he has made with his attack on Iran, and now it seems he may not even try and may instead dump the challenge of re-opening the Strait of Hormuz on them. At the same time, several European allies are not allowing the U.S. to use their facilities or even cross their airspace in connection with Trump’s war.
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (ret.), former commanding general of the U.S. Army, Europe, and Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia discuss.
March 31, 2026
“A SHAME On Judaism”: Former Israeli President vs Iran War Hawk + Yanis Varoufakis
A clear majority of American voters opposed the Iran War from its outset, making it uniquely unpopular in a country which typically rallies behind military action.
The situation in Israel could not be more different, with polls repeatedly showing that 80 per cent of Israelis back the war.
A lot of energy and debate is expended on the extent to which Netanyahu and Israel cajoled Trump to join the war. Not so much attention is paid to how – and why – Americaâs closest ally in the region now exists in a state of permanent zeal for conflict.
Joining Piers Morgan to debate is former interim Israeli president, Avraham Burg, and senior editor-at-large for Newsweek and host of âThe Josh Hammer Showâ, Josh Hammer.
Piers also speaks to economics professor and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and Samritanâs Purse President, Reverend Franklin Graham.
April 1, 2026
Trump Dementia Hits Mainstream Media
— Television hosts and commentators increasingly question Donald Trumpâs mental sharpness as polls show a growing share of Americans saying he appears more erratic with age.
April 1, 2026
President Trump Holds Easter Lunch At The White House
With Hours Until His Iran Address
April 1, 2026
WATCH LIVE: President Trump’s address to the nation
April 2, 2026
The 19 Minutes of Lies from Trump’s Iran War Address
The Briefing
April 2, 2026
White House accidentally releases video of
Trump saying the truth about war’s priority
In a closed door speech, the White House apparently accidently published and then deleted (but not before it was downloaded and reshared), Donald Trump declared the inability of the federal government to provide for things like daycare when his priority is military strength, not the welfare of the American public.
Senator Chris Van Hollen joins to discuss.
April 2, 2026
28 minutes of Fareed’s Takes on the Iran war: Month 1
PBS News Hour full episode, April 2, 2026
Thursday on the News Hour, President Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi following her turbulent tenure at the Justice Department.
Republicans announce a plan to end the partial government shutdown and fund most of Homeland Security, but the political battles continue. Plus, Russian soldiers face torture and extortion from their own superiors as the invasion of Ukraine grinds on.
The Briefing
April 3, 2026
Trump struck dumb as realities of war
make a mockery of his bluster
Donald Trump has put a lot of energy into boasting about U.S. military dominance over Iran, including eliminating Iran’s ability to shoot down planes. As is the case with so much of Trump’s talk, reality has shown him to be ill-informed, lying, or both.
April 4, 2026
Iran latest: Israel’s unchecked war machine | The Listening Post
Inside Israel, as the gap between rhetoric and reality widens, a promised quick victory over Iran has given way to a more perilous and prolonged war – one that Israelis are experiencing through an increasingly controlled lens with tight censorship and an intensifying crackdown on dissent.
Velshi
April 4, 2026
Sources: Bondi fired for failed prosecutions of Trump foes
Former officials say Pam Bondiâs firing reflects a fundamental limit: as Mary McCord notes, prosecutions require real evidence and grand juries that wonât simply deliver politically driven indictments. âThat’s not going to change because somebody else is then in the position of the Attorney General,â she says.
George Conway adds that working for Trump presents its own challenge: âItâs very difficult to be evil enough, and depraved enough, and corrupt enough, and grifting enough for Donald Trump.â
July 31, 2019
Updated May 21, 2024
Pathocracy
When people with personality disorders gain power.
The Polish psychologist Andrew Lobaczewski spent his early life suffering under the Nazi occupation of Poland, closely followed by the brutality of Soviet occupation after the war. His experience of these horrors led Lobaczewski to develop the concept of âpathocracy.â This is when individuals with personality disorders (particularly psychopathy) occupy positions of power. (1)
Lobaczewski devoted his life to studying human evil, a field which he called âponerology.â He wanted to understand why âevilâ people seem to prosper, while so many good and moral people struggle to succeed. He wanted to understand why people with psychological disorders so easily rise to positions of power and take over the governments of countries. Since he was living under a âpathocraticâ regime himself, he took great risks studying this topic. He was arrested and tortured by the Polish authorities, and was unable to publish his lifeâs work, the book Political Ponerology, until he escaped to the United States during the 1980s.
Pathocracy is arguably one of the biggest problems in the history of the human race. History has been a saga of constant conflict and brutality, with groups of people fighting against one another over territory and power and possessions, and conquering and killing one another. Surveying the course of human history from ancient times to the 20th century, the historian Arnold Toynbee spoke about the âhorrifying sense of sin manifest in human affairs.â
But there is an argument that this is not because all human beings are inherently brutal and cruel, but because a small number of peopleâthat is, those with personality disordersâare brutal and cruel, intensely self-centered, and lacking in empathy. This small minority has always held power and managed to order or influence the majority to commit atrocities on their behalf.
Power and Pathology
A small minority of humans suffer from personality disorders such as narcissism and psychopathy. People with these disorders feel an insatiable lust for power. People with narcissistic personality disorder desire constant attention and affirmation. They feel that they are superior to others and have the right to dominate them. They also lack empathy, which means that they are able to ruthlessly exploit and abuse others in their lust for power. Psychopaths feel a similar sense of superiority and lack of empathy, but the main difference between them and narcissists is that they donât feel the same impulse for attention and adoration. To an extent, the impulse to be adored acts as a check on the behavior of narcissists. They are reluctant to do anything that might make them too unpopular. But psychopaths have no such qualms.
At the other end of the scale, people with a high level of empathy and compassion usually arenât interested in power. They prefer to be âon the ground,â interacting and connecting with others. They may even refuse the offer of a high-status position because theyâre aware that higher status will disconnect them (although for a non-empathic person, that is part of its appeal). So this leaves positions of power open for people with psychological disorders (or at least with a high level of ambition and ruthlessness, even if not a fully fledged psychological disorder).
Throughout history, these pathological individuals have always risen to the top. In some ways, pre-industrial feudal societies restricted them, since power was often bequeathed by birth rather than attained by individual efforts. The demise of the feudal system was certainly a positive step towards greater equality and democracy, but a negative side effect was that it gave psychopaths and narcissists greater opportunity to attain positions of power.
As Ian Hughes points out in his important book Disordered Minds, the whole point of democracy is to try to protect the mass of people from this pathological minority. This was the central idea of the American Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Democratic principles and institutions were established to limit the power of pathological individuals.
This is why, as Hughes also points out, pathological leaders hate democracy. (2) Once they attain power, they do their utmost to dismantle or discredit democratic institutions, including the freedom and legitimacy of the press. (This is the first thing which Hitler did when he became German chancellor, and it is what autocrats like Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban of Hungary and President ErdoÄan of Turkey have done. It is also what President Trump has been attempting to do.)
Moreover, pathological leaders are completely unable to comprehend the principles of democracy, since they regard themselves as superior, and see life as a competitive struggle in which the most ruthless deserve to dominate others.
Collective Pathocracy
But pathocracy isnât just about individuals. As Lobaczewski pointed out, pathological leaders always attract other people with personality disorders, who seize the opportunity to gain influence. At the same time, individuals who are moral, empathic and fair-minded gradually fall away. They are either ostracized or step aside voluntarily, appalled by the growing pathology around them. As a result, over time pathocracies tend to become entrenched and extreme.
This isnât to say that everyone who becomes part of a pathocratic government suffers from a personality disorder. Some people may simply have a high level of ambition and a lack of empathy without actually having a diagnosable condition, while others may simply ride the coattails of a pathological leader whose goals happen to coincide with theirs.
A significant part of the problem is the attraction that many people feel to charismatic demagogues. You can see this in the appeal of President Trump, despite the obvious flaws â his extreme narcissism, lack of empathy and his distorted, delusory view of reality â of his personality disorder. Psychologically, this is very similar to the attraction of spiritual gurus, who often attract the blind devotion of disciples, despite unethical and exploitative behavior. The attraction of gurus and demagogues is a deep-rooted impulse to return to the childhood state of worshipping parents who seem omnipotent and infallible and could take complete responsibility for our lives, and magically solve our problems. At the same time, the paranoia of pathological leaders leads them to demonize other groups and creates an intoxicating sense of group identity with a common purpose.
Protection Against Pathocracy
Is the United States in danger of being taken over by a pathocracy? Unfortunately, I believe it has already happened. Despite a convention that psychologists shouldnât unofficially diagnose public figures, many American psychologists and psychiatrists have publicly stated that Donald Trump displays all the â¨signs of narcissistic personality disorder. This would certainly explain his grandiosity, his lack of empathy and moral principles, his excessive need for admiration and his sensitivity to criticism (all of which are traits of narcissistic personality disorder). Similar cases have been made by psychologists for other âstrongmanâ politicians around the world, such as Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. Trump has certainly attracted politicians and advisors with a similar lack of empathy and conscience to his inner circle, while principled and responsible individuals have either been ejected or have removed themselves, so that the pathocracy has become more entrenched.
But we should remember that pathocracy only flourishes because we donât take sufficient measures to protect ourselves from pathological leaders. We need to preserve and strengthen our democratic institutions and processes to ensure that the great mass of people is protected from the minority of psychopaths and narcissists with an insatiable lust for power. We need to make sure that our democracy does not transmute into a pathocracy.
In the long term, as I have argued in a previous post, we need stringent measures to restrict the attainment of power. Put simply, the kind of people who desire power the mostâthe most ruthless and non-empathicâshould not be allowed to attain positions of authority. All potential leaders (or members of a government) should be rigorously assessed by psychologists to determine their levels of empathy, narcissism or psychopathyâand hence determine their suitability for power.
References
Ĺobaczewski, A. (2006). Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes. Grande Prairie: Red Pill Press.
Hughes, I. (2018). Disordered Minds: How Dangerous Personalities Are Destroying Democracy. Winchester, UK: Zero Books.
Steve Taylor, Ph.D., is senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University, UK and a member of the British Psychological Society. He is the author of many best-selling books, including The Leap and Spiritual Science.
A Science on the Nature of Evil
Adjusted for Political Purposes
