Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz, diplomacy collapses, and Trump holds a press conference with Joe Rogan instead of answering questions about any of it.
President Trump on Saturday signed an executive order seeking to hasten research into the therapeutic benefits of LSD, Ecstasy, psilocybin and other mind-altering drugs by ordering federal agencies to ease restrictions that have long limited the ability of scientists to study them. “Can I have some, please?” Trump joked at the event. Drawing laughter, the president added: “I’ll take whatever it takes. I don’t have time to be depressed.”
I'm sure the Silicon Valley set approves, as do many others, which no doubt is why he's desperate enough to do this. The EO will not improve my opinion of either Rogan or Donnie one bit, but I approve and hope the Dems codify it beyond an EO. Many vets suffering from PTSD, cancer patients, tobacco addicts, and more have benefited tremendously from psilocybin therapy after other "approved" therapies and drugs have failed.
And why isn't he wearing a SUIT???? I thought this was disrespectful of the president. Or does that only apply to those like Zelenskyy who left his kneepads at home? The hypocrisy, as always is nauseating, but never surprising.
Spot on. One Iranian official put it in writing on social media correcting the liar in chief, tRump, saying in reference to the Strait being open that "it will be open per Ayatollah Khomeini, not by tweets of some idiot". It is not hard to imagine what "idiot" he is referring to. Personally, I am of the opinion that he is a criminally insane idiot who has dragged the United States into the mud, which will take decades, if not a generation, to restore us back to a govt we can be proud of.
Malignant narcissist in terms of delusional megalomania, insufferable arrogance and deep seated ignorance that drives him to idiotic and dangerous decisions.
I think trump and repubs believe if you don't speak English, in other words speak in your country's native tongue, you can't possibly be intelligent. Yes, he and they are that arrogant.
The Iranians are far more intelligent, well educated, and strategically wise than our Demented Donnie, and he is getting desperate.
Timothy Snyder recently warned us in a discussion with Preet Bharara to be alert for a domestic terrorist attack, which Trump will blame on the Left or a Democrat. He said the best way to prepare for this is to warn the public in advance, as Magyar did during his campaign.
Can you address the 10B windfall the Treasury seems poised to award Diaper Donnie from our flattened wallets? Is there nothing to be done to block this?
He has never donated a penny to charity in his life. Remember when he didn't show up for a Republican primary debate in 2015, holding his own competing event and saying he was going to donate the money to veterans organizations? And no veterans organization ever saw any money?
Lots of interesting points about that whole debacle. No wonder he dislikes L James. lol Sons were required to get training in how to run a charity. trump admitted to wrong doing -- never heard that accusation before. lol
According to the article some money went to the vets.
Qualifying organizations under IRC § 501(c)(3) are charitable organizations. Form 990 (2024) filed by Donors Trust Inc. lists on Schedule I (pdf pp. 44-502/519) how many conservative “charitable organizations” were funded under this umbrella. Page 1(G) shows gross receipts for 2024 to be $345,528,988 and Page 1(13) shows that it granted $284,123,648. Dark money always hides and never sleeps. https://tinyurl.com/42yr7svs
The Iran Embassy in South Africa wrote: “Know that our finger is on the trigger. If they betray the negotiations for the third time, the U.S. and the Israeli regimes, and the facilitators of their military aggression will suffer a blow they cannot imagine.”
The challenge for me with this statement is that while I know this to be a valid threat, the reality is that it is the citizens of the United States and Israel that will suffer, not Trump and Netanyahu. Doesn't anyone remember September 11, 2001?
“In a Nov. 11, 2001, diary entry uncovered by [investigative journalist Isabel] Vincent, [RFK, Jr.] describes driving down the highway with his wife and kids in a minivan like a typical suburban father when he spotted a dead raccoon and pulled over his car. I was standing in front of my parked car on I-684 [removing part of a] road killed raccoon, thinking about how weird some of my family members have turned out to be.” People Magazine; 14-Apr-26; https://tinyurl.com/49amd9ry [THEY turned out to be weird?]
Can't deny it. A clear moral choice stood before the American electorate in Nov 2024, and it chose the immoral. Assuming nothing hinky was going on. I still remember Trump saying "we were losing in PA until Elon worked his computer magic." What did he mean? And now even MAGA thinks that Butler assassination attempt was a scam. Remember, it was win or prison for Trump. Given the stakes, wouldn't he have cheated/conspired to ensure his victory? Absolutely.
I couldn’t agree more regarding the moral choice America made. As far as the 2020 election goes, I’m, now, suspect myself, something “hokey” went on in the state of Pa. Knowing nothing will ever be done about it keeps me from wanting to know anymore. At this point, it’s just political rage porn.
Yes, that woman (Harris) would have been worse than.... No, I came to my senses. That woman, working 1/4 time, would have accomplished more than Trump ever ha inall his near 80 years. .
And thank you for writing, ‘I can’t believe this is America’, instead of the more common: ‘this isn’t America’ or ‘this isn’t who we are’, both of which gall me because, at the moment, it (insert atrocity) is who we are.
What is happening now in Strait of Hormuz is very dangerous for the region and the whole world. As an Afghan veteran, I know what war and conflict really means for normal people. When leaders make wrong decisions, it is always civilians who suffer the most. I hope all sides stop escalation and choose dialogue, because more tension will only bring more pain and instability.
Our military is going to board and seize tankers and commercial ships in the strait... wow, what could go wrong with that strategy?! Sadly, our troops are just pawns and patsies in this senseless conflict.
I hardly think they will readily want to do this except possibly to look for food and supplies which they are sorely lacking. The pictures released of what they are being fed is a crime in itself. This should be given more reporting time than it is getting.
Did you see the screen shots that service people sent to relatives/friends of their food trays. It was despicable what they showed for their consumption. Bring our service people home.
Meanwhile, Trump gets McDonald's Door Dashed to the White House. Not that I think McDonald's is actual food (I'm a vegetarian who avoids processed foods) but I'll bet the service people would be glad to have it. I am so tired of his flaunting his personal benefits in our faces, while everyone else struggles. Payback is needed.
What about the parties he throws. The golfing he does. The sporting events he flaunts. Secret service gets paid. Fed. His family has protection. Healthcare. Grift money to burn. A real POS is what he is.
And his constant boasting about his ballroom and gaudy arches. I'll bet those service people are not happy to hear about those while their stomachs rumble.
The service members are not even being fed properly. They should refuse. According to Vote Vets their national hotline is swamped with calls from those who will not re-enlist.
The service members are not even being fed properly. They should refuse. This would be suicidal for them. According to the Vote Vets Substack their national hotline is swamped with calls from those who will not re-enlist.
Without any payment!I appreciate those, but I think most of them are asking too much. It became a business. Nobody can have more than 3-5 very serious/ short stories to the point.
Can’t wait for Amanda Ugaro’s evidence to be made public. That political betting app should let us bet on who throws who under the bus first - Trump throws Melania or she throws him under 🤔
No surprise here Ben. Your true reporting is always a day or two ahead of the lies that the regime and their propaganda machines push. Thanks for the constant heads up.
USS Ford has been at sea for 296 days. US carriers in WW2 didn't stay out that long. So what this tells me is that the Ford can't be relieved; the Navy doesn't have enough serviceable aircraft carriers. What other ships aren't there enough of? And planes, and rockets, and ammunition? Hegseth has spent more than a year purging admirals and generals, and killing "DEI", and misquoting movies, and apparently ignoring basic replenishment and logistics. And Graham thinks it's a great idea to give this dude another $1.5 trillion?
Graham needs to take a truck load of food over to the troops to replenish the food and basic necessities needed and then ask him what he thinks of the “war” that his buddy started-let stay on the ship while they are in “attack mode/response mode!” Then we will see what he says! He will probably keel over when the bombs and billets start flying!
The ppl who were and are against trump along with his regime, the war and EVERYTHING the TRUMP REGIME STANDS FOR is GOING to, in the end, just walk away, with lots of money, then, leaving us, the ppl, to suffer the shrapnel of trumps actions. At this moment, or in one hour we have no control of what trump will be allowed to do, nor can we stop, what his actions, will cause to happen to us and our country, and actually the world. How many times do ppl have to say stop to trump NOW, because it’s just compounding, while trumps getting more desperate in every minute?
Well thank fuck we have Joe Rogan on the scene.
Just what we needed /s
President Trump on Saturday signed an executive order seeking to hasten research into the therapeutic benefits of LSD, Ecstasy, psilocybin and other mind-altering drugs by ordering federal agencies to ease restrictions that have long limited the ability of scientists to study them. “Can I have some, please?” Trump joked at the event. Drawing laughter, the president added: “I’ll take whatever it takes. I don’t have time to be depressed.”
Trump Loosens Restrictions on Psychedelic Drugs; NYT; 17-Apr-26; https://tinyurl.com/y2t9tu6e
The Guardian; Trump announces reforms to accelerate access to psychedelic drug treatments;18-Apr-26; https://tinyurl.com/2s9yxwt9
I'm sure the Silicon Valley set approves, as do many others, which no doubt is why he's desperate enough to do this. The EO will not improve my opinion of either Rogan or Donnie one bit, but I approve and hope the Dems codify it beyond an EO. Many vets suffering from PTSD, cancer patients, tobacco addicts, and more have benefited tremendously from psilocybin therapy after other "approved" therapies and drugs have failed.
I’ve done Ketamine therapy for anxiety, and PTSD issues. It’s definitely helped.
Kelvin, hopefully he can be given enough to enjoy going down under forever!!
IMPEACH AND DUMP TRAITOR AND CON RTRUMP AND REPUBLICONS EVERYWHERE
You have to wonder how tall of a box he's standing on to be able to see over the back of the throne
No shit! LOL What a wanker. Anyone care to run down to the comedy club in steers and queers country and flush a Hasbro micro machine down the toilet?
And why isn't he wearing a SUIT???? I thought this was disrespectful of the president. Or does that only apply to those like Zelenskyy who left his kneepads at home? The hypocrisy, as always is nauseating, but never surprising.
Now we can all rest easy.
I never knew that America had a drug problem until Joe told me. 🤪
Yep he's a fucking brainiac from MIT. p.s. I need my drugs just to live here.
Is he?
wtf
America, safe in the hands of a mediocre comedian
IMPEACH AND DUMP TRAITOR AND CON RTRUMP AND REPUBLICONS EVERYWHERE
Yep! He'll ask the penetrating questions, alright! After Miller OK's them, of course.
Yeah he looks like a real penetrator. That chickenshit.
Hahahahaha yeah!
Key phrase: "Trump lied. Again."
Evergreen line
I know, why would we expect anything different. 🤣
If his lips are moving, he's lying
Even the Iranians know, Donald Trump is an idiot!!!
Spot on. One Iranian official put it in writing on social media correcting the liar in chief, tRump, saying in reference to the Strait being open that "it will be open per Ayatollah Khomeini, not by tweets of some idiot". It is not hard to imagine what "idiot" he is referring to. Personally, I am of the opinion that he is a criminally insane idiot who has dragged the United States into the mud, which will take decades, if not a generation, to restore us back to a govt we can be proud of.
My opinion of his idiocy is changing a tiny bit, leaning more to his own malignant narcissist controlling him
Malignant narcissist in terms of delusional megalomania, insufferable arrogance and deep seated ignorance that drives him to idiotic and dangerous decisions.
All great afflictions the turd has. Bottom line. He is Nuckin Futs. ..
Did you find one of his campaign flyers?
Every time dumpty opens his mouth it's a lie Article 2 Section 4 now, h already started a war 😳 😐. He ha the nuclear codes.
Actually, that is the most frightening of all.
Sally, and also his delusional, psychopathic brain!
Embarassing to read Trump's quotes against the Iranians. Even better trolling than Newsom's.
Like shooting fish in a barrel.
At this point a gnome knows he is an idiot.
Frankly, I am not sure he even knows that.
Everyone knows. The pedo protectors are the only a holes who think he is doing anything but making an idiot of himself. Daily
Bingo!!!
Agree! Much to the detriment of the whole planet, Too many voters fell for the Orange Blob's !💩S again.
Ayatollah 2029 for president 🤪
I trust the Iranian Supreme Leader more than Trump and the RepubliCunts. Pretty pathetic, huh?
Trump thinks that he can lie his way through this and that no one will question him as the entire world watches.
He thinks we're all fucking dumb like the MAGAts.
I think trump and repubs believe if you don't speak English, in other words speak in your country's native tongue, you can't possibly be intelligent. Yes, he and they are that arrogant.
You are so right.
The Iranians are dealing with reality. Trump is dealing with the voices in his head.
And, so are our negotiators. Iran knows that as well!
Two real estate guys with massive conflicts of interest and a doughy dork with zero foreign policy experience.
The Iranians are far more intelligent, well educated, and strategically wise than our Demented Donnie, and he is getting desperate.
Timothy Snyder recently warned us in a discussion with Preet Bharara to be alert for a domestic terrorist attack, which Trump will blame on the Left or a Democrat. He said the best way to prepare for this is to warn the public in advance, as Magyar did during his campaign.
I think every sentient person in the world knows this. Alas MAGAs have not yet found the sign that leads them out of Fantastyland.
And a liar!
We are living under a fucking banana republic.
Can you address the 10B windfall the Treasury seems poised to award Diaper Donnie from our flattened wallets? Is there nothing to be done to block this?
Meidas correspondent Scott MacFarlane is watching this story closely: https://substack.com/@macfarlanenews/note/c-244991398?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=8aw6s
I like the comment one person said “It’s a cash & grab” regime.
trump said he was going to donate the money to charity. I believe him, which one of his kids started a charity?
He has never donated a penny to charity in his life. Remember when he didn't show up for a Republican primary debate in 2015, holding his own competing event and saying he was going to donate the money to veterans organizations? And no veterans organization ever saw any money?
Lots of interesting points about that whole debacle. No wonder he dislikes L James. lol Sons were required to get training in how to run a charity. trump admitted to wrong doing -- never heard that accusation before. lol
According to the article some money went to the vets.
https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-7b8d0f5ce9cb4cadad948c2c414afd57
Or, give that to Russia too !
Qualifying organizations under IRC § 501(c)(3) are charitable organizations. Form 990 (2024) filed by Donors Trust Inc. lists on Schedule I (pdf pp. 44-502/519) how many conservative “charitable organizations” were funded under this umbrella. Page 1(G) shows gross receipts for 2024 to be $345,528,988 and Page 1(13) shows that it granted $284,123,648. Dark money always hides and never sleeps. https://tinyurl.com/42yr7svs
Where's my cash?
Good question 🤔
The Iran Embassy in South Africa wrote: “Know that our finger is on the trigger. If they betray the negotiations for the third time, the U.S. and the Israeli regimes, and the facilitators of their military aggression will suffer a blow they cannot imagine.”
The challenge for me with this statement is that while I know this to be a valid threat, the reality is that it is the citizens of the United States and Israel that will suffer, not Trump and Netanyahu. Doesn't anyone remember September 11, 2001?
A photo of Trump signing a bill into law promoting roadkill castration. RFK Jr. appears to be salivating.
“In a Nov. 11, 2001, diary entry uncovered by [investigative journalist Isabel] Vincent, [RFK, Jr.] describes driving down the highway with his wife and kids in a minivan like a typical suburban father when he spotted a dead raccoon and pulled over his car. I was standing in front of my parked car on I-684 [removing part of a] road killed raccoon, thinking about how weird some of my family members have turned out to be.” People Magazine; 14-Apr-26; https://tinyurl.com/49amd9ry [THEY turned out to be weird?]
Thanks for all your hard work Meidas!! I can't believe this is America. What a catastrophic fall from grace and humanity.
Thanks for reading and spreading the word!
I get all my news from you!
Better a 34x’s convicted felon, rapist and pedophile, then a woman as president, right America? 🤮
Can't deny it. A clear moral choice stood before the American electorate in Nov 2024, and it chose the immoral. Assuming nothing hinky was going on. I still remember Trump saying "we were losing in PA until Elon worked his computer magic." What did he mean? And now even MAGA thinks that Butler assassination attempt was a scam. Remember, it was win or prison for Trump. Given the stakes, wouldn't he have cheated/conspired to ensure his victory? Absolutely.
I couldn’t agree more regarding the moral choice America made. As far as the 2020 election goes, I’m, now, suspect myself, something “hokey” went on in the state of Pa. Knowing nothing will ever be done about it keeps me from wanting to know anymore. At this point, it’s just political rage porn.
Yes, that woman (Harris) would have been worse than.... No, I came to my senses. That woman, working 1/4 time, would have accomplished more than Trump ever ha inall his near 80 years. .
And thank you for writing, ‘I can’t believe this is America’, instead of the more common: ‘this isn’t America’ or ‘this isn’t who we are’, both of which gall me because, at the moment, it (insert atrocity) is who we are.
What is happening now in Strait of Hormuz is very dangerous for the region and the whole world. As an Afghan veteran, I know what war and conflict really means for normal people. When leaders make wrong decisions, it is always civilians who suffer the most. I hope all sides stop escalation and choose dialogue, because more tension will only bring more pain and instability.
War & conflict mean good for very few people, and the people who benefit are no where near the zone of conflict.
Our military is going to board and seize tankers and commercial ships in the strait... wow, what could go wrong with that strategy?! Sadly, our troops are just pawns and patsies in this senseless conflict.
I hardly think they will readily want to do this except possibly to look for food and supplies which they are sorely lacking. The pictures released of what they are being fed is a crime in itself. This should be given more reporting time than it is getting.
The thought of American Soldiers looking for food. Like pirates ! Makes me sick Linda. They need to make this stop. All of it.
I'm so tired ...
Did you see the screen shots that service people sent to relatives/friends of their food trays. It was despicable what they showed for their consumption. Bring our service people home.
Meanwhile, Trump gets McDonald's Door Dashed to the White House. Not that I think McDonald's is actual food (I'm a vegetarian who avoids processed foods) but I'll bet the service people would be glad to have it. I am so tired of his flaunting his personal benefits in our faces, while everyone else struggles. Payback is needed.
What about the parties he throws. The golfing he does. The sporting events he flaunts. Secret service gets paid. Fed. His family has protection. Healthcare. Grift money to burn. A real POS is what he is.
And his constant boasting about his ballroom and gaudy arches. I'll bet those service people are not happy to hear about those while their stomachs rumble.
I saw the pic's. So, so sad.
Yes, those pictures in USAToday on Friday of food for our troops were so sad.
Those pictures should have been headline news everywhere. That just goes to show how much MSM caters to trump and his regime.
The service members are not even being fed properly. They should refuse. According to Vote Vets their national hotline is swamped with calls from those who will not re-enlist.
But perhaps that's the best way for our troops to resist.
Hopefully the US military gets some proper nutrition first, if that happens.
The service members are not even being fed properly. They should refuse. This would be suicidal for them. According to the Vote Vets Substack their national hotline is swamped with calls from those who will not re-enlist.
Thanks 😊 for letting everyone read this today
To be honest, AlJazeera is giving the fastest news… short and brief ! Exposing exactly how the USA ( Trump) is handling this war.
Without any payment!I appreciate those, but I think most of them are asking too much. It became a business. Nobody can have more than 3-5 very serious/ short stories to the point.
I mean Substacks
Epstein files, keep hammering the complete, full release of the epstein files.
Can’t wait for Amanda Ugaro’s evidence to be made public. That political betting app should let us bet on who throws who under the bus first - Trump throws Melania or she throws him under 🤔
No surprise here Ben. Your true reporting is always a day or two ahead of the lies that the regime and their propaganda machines push. Thanks for the constant heads up.
When Iran is more credible than our president, we are in big trouble. Not surprising though.
Ben, is there any more info about troops involved in the war lacking basic necessities and food??
USS Ford has been at sea for 296 days. US carriers in WW2 didn't stay out that long. So what this tells me is that the Ford can't be relieved; the Navy doesn't have enough serviceable aircraft carriers. What other ships aren't there enough of? And planes, and rockets, and ammunition? Hegseth has spent more than a year purging admirals and generals, and killing "DEI", and misquoting movies, and apparently ignoring basic replenishment and logistics. And Graham thinks it's a great idea to give this dude another $1.5 trillion?
Graham needs to take a truck load of food over to the troops to replenish the food and basic necessities needed and then ask him what he thinks of the “war” that his buddy started-let stay on the ship while they are in “attack mode/response mode!” Then we will see what he says! He will probably keel over when the bombs and billets start flying!
But he's built himself a makeup studio. How many service members will that feed?
I thought the USS Ford was in Crete for repairs.
Read Friday's USAToday (4/17) edition.
Probably a drunk Kash is not much different from a sober one! Both worthless.
At least a drunk one is unconscious and can do little harm.
While orange is playing Ring Around the Rosie children's games Iran has got him by the gonads and it's not going to change.
Meanwhile we are blowing through billions of dollars per day playing war games. And Iran's loving that too - all the money we’re losing.
The ppl who were and are against trump along with his regime, the war and EVERYTHING the TRUMP REGIME STANDS FOR is GOING to, in the end, just walk away, with lots of money, then, leaving us, the ppl, to suffer the shrapnel of trumps actions. At this moment, or in one hour we have no control of what trump will be allowed to do, nor can we stop, what his actions, will cause to happen to us and our country, and actually the world. How many times do ppl have to say stop to trump NOW, because it’s just compounding, while trumps getting more desperate in every minute?