This Weekend in Politics, Bulletin 390.

… Trump made another 100+ batshit crazy posts on Truth Social again this weekend. Here are a few:

• On his Freedom 250 event: "I understand Artists are getting ‘the yips’ having to do with their performance, so I am thinking about bringing the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World, the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so without a guitar, the man who loves our Country more than anyone else, and the man who some say is the Greatest President in History, DONALD J. TRUMP, to take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate “Artists,” and give a major speech, rallying the Country forward like I have done ever since being President!”

… If they are 3rd rate artists, why did he book them?

• “I don’t want so-called ‘Artists’ that get paid far too much money, who aren’t happy. I only want to be surrounded by Happy People, Smart People, Successful People, and People that know how to WIN. So, by copy of this TRUTH, I am ordering my Representatives to look at the feasibility of doing an AMERICA IS BACK Rally on Wednesday, same time, same location. Only Great Patriots invited — It will be a Wild and Beautiful Celebration of America!”

• Then later: “We should have a giant MAGA RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain. Cancel it, just like I canceled my involvement with the failing and unsafe to be in Kennedy Center.”

… Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) posted a video on social media to Trump where he volunteered to organize new talent for the event. He said that Kid Rock, John Rich and Lee Greenwood be the new headliners and said he could also round up some random bands from Nashville: “Everybody in the country will be watching this dadgum thing. Let’s see if we can make this thing happen.”

• “Judge Cooper also stated that the highly prestigious Board of the Center was not authorized to add on the name ‘TRUMP’ despite the fact that hundreds of millions of dollars of my time and money will be necessary for its successful reincarnation. So now, the Kennedy Center will collapse, both structurally and financially. Judge Cooper, like numerous other Crooked Judges on my cases, should be IMPEACHED.”

• “The results of my Physical Examination, taken at Walter Reed, and just released, were extremely good. Unlike other US Presidents, none of whom have ever taken an approved, high difficulty, Cognitive Test, I scored a perfect 30 out of 30, considered ‘extreme intelligence.’ It is very rare that anyone gets a Perfect Score, especially when achieved 4 times in a row.”

… Dr. Jonathan Reiner: “I’m glad the president did well on the MOCA exam, but it’s a dementia screening tool, not an IQ test, so a score of 26 or higher represents normal cognitive performance, not extreme intelligence. None of the questions are high difficulty.

• “The DronePort at the WH Ballroom will be, perhaps, the most sophisticated anywhere in the World! Judge Richard Leon should stop playing games with America’s Security! If anything happens, he will be held responsible for the Death and Destruction caused to our Country. He has already created enough problems by allowing ‘Top Secret’ info to be released and exposed based on a ridiculous lawsuit started by a highly litigious woman. This ridiculous lawsuit must be dismissed, IMMEDIATELY!”

… And of course, Trump also posted lots of weirdo memes:

… Interior Secrtary Doug Burgum on CNN: “There are questions about where private funding is coming from for Freedom 250. It’s not transparent. Burgum: Transparency is always a good thing. I work for the president I think i most transparent ever. Q: So you’ll make the donors public? Burgum: That’s up to Freedom 250. It’s run out of the WH. It’s not about the donors it’s about Americans celebrating.”

… NewsNation host Batya Ungar-Sargon: “Mr. President: Your supporters are hurting. They need help. And they need it from you. A stimulus check to get working-class people through the months of negotiations in Iran would go a long way.”

… Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) to CNN on the migrant detention center in NJ being protested: “Delaney Hall is run by GEO Group. GEO Group is getting a nearly $1 billion contract to run Delaney Hall. They tell me there is one full-time doctor for 800 detainees. They could have more doctors if they wanted to, but that’s cutting into their profits.”

… Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ): “GEO Group and CoreCivic are the two private prison giants making billions of dollars as they physically and psychologically torture tens of thousands of people in detention every day. It’s a moral stain on our country. We need to end for-profit detention in the US now!”

… Privatizing prisons and detention facilities is one of the worst public policy decisions this country has ever made.

… NYT: “In recent conversations with aides and allies, Trump often interjects with a question about his VP: Does Vance have what it takes to go all the way? He usually answers his own question: He’s not so sure. Trump often compares Vance’s performance to his own achievements. He has told several allies that Vance has never won a tough race without his help. He has brought up the number of vacations Vance has taken as VP.”

… “He has repeatedly mentioned the VP’s initial opposition to starting a war with Iran and has done so in front of Vance. The president has also questioned his decision to send a Vance-led delegation to a negotiation session in Pakistan that failed to end the war.”

… “Trump, always keenly attuned to the optics of the presidency, has zeroed in on moments when Vance might not look the part. He has repeatedly brought up a moment from last spring, when Vance fumbled Ohio State’s national football championship trophy on the WH South Lawn.”

… “In meetings, Vance frequently scrolls his phone, and he uses social media to fight with his critics. The president frequently posts to Truth Social, but he does not spend time replying to people online, as Vance does. Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, recently advised Vance to take a break from social media, as have other officials in the West Wing, because the fighting was beneath his office.”

… “In November, the president wondered aloud why Vance was not more subservient, like the officials who work for President Xi Jinping of China. ‘Why don’t you behave like that?’ Trump asked Vance during a breakfast for Republican senators. ‘JD doesn’t behave like that! JD butts into conversations! I want to have that for at least a couple of days. OK, JD?’”

We make the entire Weekend Bulletin available to everyone while about the first third of the daily Bulletins during the week can be read by free subscribers. Tomorrow is also Ask the Editor where I choose 5 questions from you to answer with our Capitol Hill reporter Pablo chiming in with his take. Please submit your question in the comments section to this Bulletin below.

If you missed Friday’s Bulletin, you can find it here. Thank you to everyone who reads, watches, and subscribes!

… WaPo: “Democratic state leaders around the country have an unusual strategy to stymie Trump’s $1.8 billion settlement fund for people who claim they were wrongly investigated by the govt. Their plan: Tax the payouts at 100%. Gavin Newsom has endorsed the idea, saying, ‘It’s an action we look forward to taking.’ State legislators in NY and WI are crafting bills on the topic. And Democratic candidates are rallying behind the tactic in blue states.”

… Sen. Michael Bennet, who is the front-runner in the CO governor’s race: “The slush fund is a blatantly corrupt theft of taxpayer dollars, and we need to do everything we can to stop it.”

… Mike Pence on NBC: “This talk of a weaponization fund, the idea of creating a fund that could compensate people that assaulted police officers and vandalized the Capitol that day is totally unacceptable. My hope is the admin will drop it. Drop the idea entirely.”

… Zelensky: “We wanted to conclude the first Drone Deal with the US. The US wanted to test all types of our drones. We agreed to the way they wanted to test, train with, and use our systems in the air, on land, and at sea. But we still don’t have a bilateral Drone Deal – a big framework document.”

… “The Drone Deals we have are with some countries in the Middle East and Europe, and now we are preparing a big Drone Deal with the EU. I hope we will reach the same agreement with our American partners. I count on it.”

… I mean, they’re competing with Don Jr’s drone company. What the hell do the Ukrainians know about drones compared to Junior?

… The Hill: “The federal prosecutor who secured an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly threatening the life of Trump in a since-deleted social media post of seashells has stepped down. A ‘notice of substitution’ filed in the E. District of NC stated that Matthew Petracca would no longer serve as DOJ’s counsel on the case and would be replaced by assistant US Attorney Timothy Severo.”

… “The filing did not provide any explanation for Petracca’s removal from the case, and the E. District of NC did not immediately return a request for comment.”

… Politico: “Graham Platner exchanged sexually explicit texts with multiple women while married to his wife, Amy Gertner, his campaign confirmed, the latest scandal he has faced since launching his Maine Senate campaign last year.”

… Gertner: “I confided deeply personal details about my marriage to someone I considered a friend. In the months since, I have had to watch as she spread malicious gossip to anyone who would take her call. I trusted this person with the most private chapter of our lives - the early days of our marriage before any campaign was on our mind - and I am deeply hurt by her betrayal and the invasion of our privacy.”

… Henry Olsen with Ethics in Public Policy: “Per Maine law, Platner can quit after he is nominated without providing a reason prior to 5 PM on the 2nd Monday in July. The state party then names a replacement prior to 5 PM on the 4th Monday in July.”

… Not a bad idea to keep those dates in mind. At this rate who knows what’s coming out next.

… Lara Trump interviewed her father-in-law for Fox:

• On the ballroom: “Eric Trump has the gene. He has the gene that I have. I have the gene. Eric has it. He looked at this and understood it immediately.”

• “The ballroom will be the most secure facility ever build. The way the world is now, that’s very important. You have the drone ports and the sniper ports.”

• “We’re gonna have the inauguration here”

… The next president decides that. But he continues to talk like that will be him.

• On Iran negotiations: “I’m in no hurry. I’d like to say I’m in a hurry because gas prices but if you are in a hurry you won’t make a good deal.”

• “We sort of left their military alone because we think that their military is somewhat moderate. We’ve actually let their military alone - people would be surprised to hear that. Moments later: Iran is a very bad position. They have no military.”

… Pete Hegseth on March 13: “Never before has a modern, capable military, which Iran used to have, been so quickly destroyed.”

… Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA): “Now we know why Trump still hasn’t been able to open the Straight of Hormuz. It’s because, in the cognitively impaired mind of trump, Iran cleverly has the only Schrödinger military in the world: it exists and it doesn’t exist all at the same time.”

• On CA: “They don’t have voting booths, everything is by mail. I know the system very well. I don’t think a Republican can win CA until they pass the SAVE Act.”

… Gavin Newsom: “Trump is actively lying to Americans. Again. This time it’s to keep you from voting. Don’t believe him.”

• On his new nickname ‘dumocrats’: “Dumb ends with a B but most people don’t know that.”

… Whenever Trump says “the country” he means himself. Whenever he says “most people don’t know that” it means he didn’t know it.

• On his President’s Walk of Fame: “This is a brass plaque. I did this. Most people would put brass on top of a piece of wood. This is solid brass. This is all solid beautiful brass.”

• “Did you see CNN did a poll on me and I was 100% with MAGA? They couldn't believe it. Harry Enten. He's legit. He gives me a lot of good polls."

… Trump’s physical said he is 6’3”. Lara must have gotten a lot taller recently.

… Political consultant Chris Jackson: “I’m hearing from multiple folks who would know that Andy Beshear had a very good night in SC. He brought the house down at the Blue Palmetto Dinner and made a real impression at Jim Clyburn’s Fish Fry. Clyburn reportedly called it ‘one of the most incredible speeches I’ve heard from a Democratic governor from the South.’”

… “That matters. A Democratic governor who wins in deep-red Kentucky, talks like a normal person, leads with decency, and can connect in SC? Keep an eye on Andy.”

… Axios’s Barak Ravid with his latest update on Iran’s surrender: “A senior American official said that Trump was told it would take about 3 days for the Iranians to come back with a response to his request: ‘They’re really hiding in caves and they’re not using email. There will be a deal. As for how close it is—we’ll wait and see. We’re prepared to wait so that the president gets what he’s asking for. It could be a week. It could be less. It could be more. Early next week we hope we’ll have something'.’”

… Axios has been reporting every few days for the past 3 months that a deal was happening any day.

… NewsNation asked about Intel Committee Chair Rick Crawford about the US military intel report that Iran’s military capabilities remain largely intact: “The clear-eyed view is listening to the president, who has access to more info than anybody does. There may be some individuals who take delight in undermining the president through leaks. I would encourage them to get with Team America and come in on our side.”

… Middle East expert Danny Citrinowitz: “The chances of Iran backing down on its core negotiating positions are extremely low. This applies to its demand for meaningful economic relief from the outset, its insistence on preserving its sovereign rights in Hormuz, and its willingness to discuss limitations on its nuclear program only as part of a later stage of the process.”

… “If Washington's demands clash with these fundamental positions, Iran is likely to prefer no deal at all rather than accept an agreement that, in its view, fails to improve its strategic situation. The danger of introducing tougher demands at the last minute is that such a strategy assumes Iran lacks confidence and can be pressured into concessions. The opposite is true: Tehran currently sees little reason to compromise on what it considers its core interests.”

… “The admin must recognize a basic reality. If the goal is to fundamentally alter Iran's strategic calculus, it would require a prolonged and costly campaign to undermine Tehran's confidence in its position. But as long as Washington prioritizes reaching an agreement, there is little logic in insisting on demands that Iran is almost certain to reject and that would only push a deal further out of reach.”

… “Brett Erickson with Obsidian Risk Advisors: “Last night, Trump made a move that came as a surprise to many. He got TOUGHER in his negotiating position. But why did he do this is the question many are asking right now. Iran has consistently rejected terms offered by the US because, quite frankly, they are ridiculously maximalist and entirely detached from the reality of the situation.”

… “Trump is at the table with Iran holding a 7 & 2 off-suit, and Iran is sitting with pocket aces. So why even waste the time to make an offer Iran is sure to refuse immediately? Because the deal wasn’t meant for Iran. It was meant for American consumption.”

… “Throughout this conflict, from a strategic standpoint, Trump has been absolutely dog walked by the Iranian regime. From the very first day that Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, and every day since, Iran has held the upper hand, and it only gets stronger by the day.”

… “Trump knows this, even as he wallows in self pity and denial. Iran obviously knows this, and sees the upcoming bullet train of the World Cup, lowest SPR levels in history, midterms, cratering approval numbers - everything is going south for Trump fast at this point. It’s spiraling, and Trump looks increasingly desperate for a deal.”

… “As much as Trump has tried to claim Iran is ‘begging’ for a deal, it is obvious to everyone that it is really Trump that is on his hands and knees. So if he’s going to reject the latest Iranian proposal because the terms are simply a step too far… why not give the image, the bluster, the BRAVADO of a ‘tough on Iran’ Commander in Chief to sell to the American people.”

… “Of course, this is all obviously rubbish. Iran knows that. Trump knows that. And everyone around the world knows that. But it’s not meant for them, it’s meant for his MAGA base. Trump, by setting forth even more ludicrous terms, allows for a kicking of the can down the road, and the veneer of a tough President that will placate his base that has been ready to rip him to shreds.”

… “It’s not a serious offer. It doesn’t have even the slightest of chance to be accepted by Iran. But it was never meant for them. It was meant for the desperate and hopeless. Trump to try to prove to his base that he is still in control. Even when he is clearly not.”

… WH economic advisor Kevin Hassett on ABC: Q - “The Exxon Mobil senior VP said prices will ‘shoot up’ after the next 2 to 3 weeks if a deal isn’t struck. Hassett: There’s a lot of pressure on Iran to finally agree to the president’s terms.”

… Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Fox: "Many people have said to me, 'Are you surprised the market has gone up on bad news?' I say, I don't think the news is that bad. I think the news is bad. The quality of the reporting. The anti-Americanism. People are so anti-President Trump."

… Media reporter Bill Carter: “Here we go: reporting in ways we consider negatively abt the leader is ‘unAmerican.’ Hence we get the FCC going after comedians, CBS censoring 60 Min, and women reporters asking legit questions being told to shut up Piggy.”

… Republican senate nominee Ken Paxton on Fox: Q - “What are you going to do about your perception? The WSJ describes you as 'scandal plagued'. Paxton: The reality is they could say the same thing about Donald Trump.”

… I’m not sure that’s much of a selling point.

… Smirking Kevin Hassett was back on Fox to show again how out of touch he is with the vast majority of Americans:

• Q - “The BLS says inflation is now outpacing wage growth. How do you answer that concern? Hassett: That's a technical matter. Personal income includes lots of things like transfers and food stamps that we have been reducing as part of our effort to make govt leaner and meaner.”

… Former Senate Budget Committee staffer Bobby Kogan: “Insane response. This is literally false. The personal income report counts transfers, but BLS report he was asked about doesn’t. Inflation outpaced wages. But EVEN IF talking about personal income, saying ‘the only reason you’re poorer is we took away your Medicaid’ is crazy.”

• Q - “WSJ says the percentage of delinquent credit card balances is 13%, the highest since the period following the financial crisis. People say they're using them for necessities. Your message to them? Hassett: We talk to the CEOs of the credit card companies all the time. Delinquency is different from default, and there's not any financial threat to the credit card companies. It's just people are taking a little bit longer.”

• "People are spending more on gas, but they're also spending more on everything else - not just groceries, but restaurants and so on. I think that's a sign you see when people are optimistic about the future."

… ACJ covered the debate today between Republican senate candidates Mike Collins and Vince Dooley:

• “Ossoff earlier challenged Collins and Dooley to say whether they support Trump-backed measures to finance $1 billion in security funding tied to a new WH ballroom and a $1.8 billion fund for people who say they were politically persecuted. Both endorsed each initiative.”

• “Only clashes so far: Dooley pushes back against Collins attack calling him weak on illegal immigration. Collins blames Collins and a lackadaisical Congress for not taking further action. ‘Typical politician,’ says Dooley.”

• “Report card on today’s GA GOP Senate debate: Collins v. Dooley = Hardliner vs. Happy warrior. Both pro-Trump, both support ballroom, Iran and Trump weaponization fund. BUT Collins forced to defend on ethics 3 times in 30 min.”

… Meanwhile Jon Ossoff held his first of many joint events on Sunday with the Democratic nominee for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms:

• “This war in Iran is the worst foreign policy blunder since Iraq. And just like the Iraq War, it's a war built on lies. Let’s update the record: On day one, the president said it was running ahead of schedule. On day 10, he said it was very complete. Day 21, getting very close. Day 32, leaving very soon. On day 39, the President said a whole civilization will die.”

• “On the next day, day 40, he declared total and complete victory. Day 67, great progress. Day 79, the clock is ticking. Today is day 92 . And on day 92 Iran's ballistic missiles and drones have not been destroyed. The Strait of Hormuz, which was opened before the war is still closed. The regime is intact along with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium—a stockpile Iran only built after Trump shredded President Obama's Iran deal.”

• “The America first president who said he would end foreign wars to put America first and focus on America's working class. Instead, now he says, it's not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid or Medicare. Now he says all we can afford is war. Now he demands we cut cancer and Alzheimer's research to throw even more money at Hegseth’s Pentagon. While Hegseth's broker looked to buy defense fund before Iran.”

• They tried to run Brian Kemp, but he refused. So we're left with the congressman who's only a congressman because his daddy was a congressman and the coach, who's only a coach because his daddy was a coach. It doesn't matter which one wins. They're both Trump puppets and we'll beat either one of them in November.”

… Axios: “At least $2 million in settlements has been agreed to after employees and other critics were fired or penalized over their posts about Charlie Kirk following his killing. The settlements illustrate the limits employers can have in regulating their workers’ political rhetoric.”

… “Kirk’s death became a catalyst for a free speech debate after an estimated 600 individuals were fired or punished for criticizing the conservative political activist or downplaying his death - repercussions that were backed by the Trump admin. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression is aware of 14 First Amend lawsuits in federal court brought by workers terminated for their comments about Kirk, not including those brought by workers terminated in the private sector or filed in state court.”

… “Case in point: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission settled a lawsuit with biologist Brittney Brown for $485,000 after she was fired for reposting a meme criticizing Kirk on her personal Instagram account. ‘All I wanted was my job back,’ Brown said in a statement, slamming the state agency for acting as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ‘personal puppet show.’”

… Sen. Bernie Sanders was the first guest on Meidas’ new Sunday talk show On Sunday: “What we have here, and it’s a real issue, is that if you’re progressive, you can go out there and give a great speech, fine. You’re saying all the right things. You’re right on the issues. Great. Can you run a government? Can you be a good mayor? Can you be a good governor?”

… “What Mamdani is doing is showing that you can have a democratic socialist, progressive ideology and run a city. You know what? NYC had really serious snowstorms. It meant that people couldn’t get to work, kids couldn’t get to school, ambulances couldn’t get people to the hospital. You know what he did? He got the bloody snow off the ground and did a great job on that.”

… “So the point is, we have got to have progressives who are not only right on the issues—and I speak as somebody who was a mayor for 8 years—you’ve got to know how to run a govt. You’ve got to cut through the bureaucracy. You’ve got to stand up for working-class people. You’ve got to create the best educational system in the world that we can. You’ve got to make the system work efficiently.”

… Rep. Ro Khanna was also a guest to talk about the Epstein files: “James Comer has made this totally partisan. He used two to three months to go after the Clintons, who haven’t been in office for 20 years, and yet he didn’t have Pam Bondi under oath. He didn’t have her testimony public. He didn’t have Howard Lutnick under oath. He didn’t have his testimony public.”