This Weekend in Politics, Bulletin 323.

… Trump was widely criticized for wearing a campaign hat he’s selling on his website for $55 during the dignified transfer ceremony for the soldiers killed during his Iran War. But people who get their news from Fox wouldn’t know that since they decided to clean things up for the cult leader by airing old footage of him at a ceremony without a hat.

… They later issued an “apology” for airing the incorrect footage, which they claimed they did “inadvertently.” However, even when making the statement they failed to air the correct video of him as the only one at the ceremony disrespectfully wearing a campaign hat.

… One user on X went viral with this caption of a photo of Trump arriving at the ceremony:

… On his way to the ceremony, Trump answered questions from reporters about the war:

• Q - “Could the war could last longer than 6 weeks? Trump: “I don’t know, I don’t know, I never project time. Whatever it takes.”

• Q - “Did the US bomb an elementary school and kill 175 people? Trump: Based on what I’ve seen, it was done by Iran. To Hegseth who was with Trump: Is that true Mr. Hegseth? Hegseth: We’re investigating. Trump: They are very inaccurate with their munitions. It was done by Iran.”

… CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale: “It’s not common for a Trump admin official standing beside the president to refuse to endorse the accuracy of the president’s claim. Analysis by CNN and other outlets finds that the US was likely responsible for the strike on the school.”

• Q - “What would it mean to you if Russia were sharing with targeting information with Iran? Trump: They’d say we do it against them.”

• Q - “Iran accused the US of hitting desalination plants and they said that might open the door to other strikes on non-military infrastructure. Trump: It would allow us to also open the door to other strikes against them. Q - Can you respond to that allegation? Did the US hit these— Trump: They are among the most evil people ever on earth. They cut babies heads off. They chop women in half.”

• Steve Witkoff was also there. Q - “Have you communicated to the Russians to not send targeting information and other assistance to the Iranians? Witkoff: Strongly. Q - Do you believe that they are? Witkoff: I hope not.”

• Q - “Do you have indications of whether Russia is supporting Iran? Trump: No. I have had no indication of that whatsoever.

• Q - “Can you give us an idea of what unconditional surrender looks like to you?
  Trump: I said unconditional. It’s where they cry uncle or when they can’t fight any long longer and there’s nobody around to cry uncle - that could happen too.”

• Trump: “We’re not looking to the Kurds going in. Q - You ruled it out? Trump: I ruled it out. They are willing to go in. I don’t want them to go in.”

… This is another lie. Trump asked the Kurds to invade from Iraq and they publicly rejected it, stating that he betrayed them in the past and they didn’t trust him.

• Q - “Are you worried you’re going to end up coming back for more of these dignified transfers? Trump: Sure. I hate to do it but it’s a part of war, isn’t it?”

• Q - “Don’t you need ground troops to secure the enriched uranium at the nuclear sites? Trump: We’re going to find out about that. We haven’t talked about it, but it was a total obliteration. They haven’t been able to get to it. And at some point, maybe we will. You know, that’d be a that would be a great thing, but right now we’re just decimating them.”

• Q - You said you want to be involved in the selection of the next leader of Iran.
  Trump: Yeah, we don’t want to come back every 5 years or every 10 years and do this. So, we want to pick a president that’s not going to be leading their country into a war.”

… House Intelligence Committee Chair Rick Crawford on Fox: “We have been at war with Iran since 1947.”

… The Republican talking point is to claim that Iran has been at war with us for 47 years, so Trump’s bombings are just a continuation of that and are being done in self defense. But Crawford got it a little confused trying to follow the script.

… ABC’s chief WH correspondent Mary Bruce: “Trump tells me Iran was planning ‘to attack the entire Middle East. To take over the entire Middle East.”

… Daily Mail: “Trump’s WH is blocking top US intelligence agencies from warning law enforcement across the country about rising threats to the homeland tied to his war with Iran. The FBI, DHS, and the National Counterterrorism Center were preparing to put out a joint intelligence statement on Friday to state and local authorities alerting them of a heightened threat due to the ongoing war in Iran, a senior DHS official said.”

… “The bulletin, which was reviewed by DM, details ‘elevated threats by the govt of Iran to US military and govt personnel and facilities, Jewish and Israeli institutions and their perceived supporters, and Iranian dissidents and other anti-regime activists in the United States.’ The 5-page bulletin blocked by the WH provides specific details on how Iranian proxies may carry out attacks across the country. One section explains how local law enforcement can respond to this type of violence.”

… “The official title is ‘A Public Safety Awareness Report: Elevated threat in the US during US-Iran conflict’. DHS broke protocol and gave the WH a heads-up about the nationwide bulletin hours before it was set to be released. Top Trump officials ordered it placed on ‘hold’.”

… AP: “Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant on Sunday, raising fears that civilian infrastructure may become fair game in the war, as Iran’s president vowed to expand the country’s attacks on American targets across the region in the face of intense US and Israeli airstrikes. Bahrain, Kuwait and UAE reported additional Iranian missiles launched toward them, including several that hit new categories of civilian infrastructure.”

… “UAE said that Iran launched more than 100 missiles and drones in new barrages. Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online. The island nation, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been among the countries targeted by Iranian drones and missiles. Attacks have hit hotels, ports and residential towers.”

… “The desalination plant strike came after Iran said a US airstrike damaged an Iranian desalination plant. Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region, raising new fears of risks in multiple parched desert nations.”

… Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi: “The US committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted. Attacking Iran’s infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The US set this precedent, not Iran.”

… Journalist Mikkel Rosenvold: “Attacking desalination plants is NOT a front the US wants to open. Horrible, horrible strategic decision. Iran is 3% dependent on desalination - US allies in the region at 40-90%.”

… Journalist Patricia Marins: “The coalition targeted approximately 30 large-scale oil storage facilities in Iran today, representing an escalation unlike any seen in the 12 days of the war. Also today, Iran accused the US of attacking a desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Attacks of this magnitude against oil and potable water infrastructure constitute an unprecedented escalation, even though smaller-scale strikes on refineries have occurred previously.

… “The concern is that with its industry paralyzed, there is no reason for Iran not to consider mining the Strait of Hormuz, which would trigger yet another significant escalation in the conflict.”

… Axios: “Israel‘s strikes on 30 Iranian fuel depots Saturday went far beyond what the US expected when Israel notified it in advance, sparking the first significant disagreement between the allies since the war began 8 days ago. The US is concerned Israeli strikes on infrastructure that serves ordinary Iranians could backfire strategically, rallying Iranian society to support the regime and driving up oil prices.”

… One Trump adviser: “The president doesn’t like the attack. He wants to save the oil. He doesn’t want to burn it. And it reminds people of higher gas prices.”

… WSJ: “Bahrain and Kuwait bore the brunt of Iranian drone attacks overnight. A desalination plant and a major hotel were hit in Bahrain. In Kuwait, the airport’s fuel tanks were ablaze, as was a high-rise headquarters of the social security dept. Two officers in the Kuwait border force were also reported killed.”

… UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “UAE affirms that it is in a state of defense in response to the brutal and unprovoked Iranian aggression, which included the launch of more than 1,400 ballistic missiles and drones targeting infrastructure and civilian sites, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. These attacks constitute a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter, an infringement of the UAE’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a direct threat to its security and stability.”

… “The UAE stresses that it does not seek to be drawn into conflicts or escalation. However, the UAE reaffirms its full right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, national security, and territorial integrity, and to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.”

… US Central Command: “CENTCOM is issuing a safety warning to civilians in Iran, as Iran’s terrorist regime blatantly disregards the safety of innocent people. The Iranian regime is using heavily populated civilian areas to conduct military operations, including launching one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles. This dangerous decision risks the lives of all civilians in Iran since locations used for military purposes lose protected status and could become legitimate military targets under international law.

… “Iranian forces are using crowded areas surrounded by civilians in cities such as Dezful, Esfahan and Shiraz to launch attack drones and ballistic missiles. US forces strongly urge civilians in Iran to stay at home. The Iranian regime is knowingly endangering innocent lives. Additionally, Iranian forces are jeopardizing the safety of innocent people throughout the Middle East by deliberately and indiscriminately targeting civilian airports, hotels, and residential neighborhoods.”

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… Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was giddy and unhinged on Fox:

• “We’re going to blow the hell out of these people! This regime is in a death row now. It is going to be on its knees. It’s going to fall. And when it falls, we’re going to have peace like no other time. We’re going to have prosperity unlike anyone could ever imagine. Peace brings prosperity. You can’t do it by talking.”

• “When this regime goes down, we’re going to have a new Middle East - we’re going to make a ton of money.”

• Maria Bartiromo: “A billion dollars a day. Oil prices up 27% in a week. The president wants a $1.5 trillion defense budget. The Pentagon wants $50 billion for these strikes. Graham - Best money ever spent. What’s it worth to America to take down a religious Nazi regime?”

• “If we get in a fight, I want to win it quick. I’m in Miami. You see this hat? ‘Free Cuba.’ Stay tuned. The liberation of Cuba is upon us. We’re marching through the world. We’re clearing out the bad guys. Cuba is next.”

• “Israel and the US - you just wait to see what comes the next two weeks. Bartiromo: Meaning what? Graham: We’re going to blow the hell out of these people!”

… WSJ: “To help make the case on Iran, Lindsey Graham traveled several times to Israel in recent weeks, meeting with members of the country’s intelligence agency. ‘They’ll tell me things our own govt won’t tell me,’ he said. He spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu, coaching him on how to lobby the president for action.”

… NYT: “The volley of Israeli missiles that slammed into a govt compound in central Tehran last Saturday morning was by any military standard a successful opening strike by the US and Israel as they went to war with Iran. The blasts killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, as well as a cadre of other senior military and intelligence officials. The war’s first salvo left Iran without many of its top commanders to lead the response.”

… “The reckoning, it turned out, was more complicated. The Israeli strike also killed another group of Iranian officials who had been meeting in a different part of the compound. Among them were people the WH had identified as more willing to negotiate than their bosses, and who might help bring a swift end to the conflict.”

… “This week, Pentagon officials told Congress that the first week of the war had cost approximately $6 billion, and Republicans are expecting the admin to seek more funding from Congress for the war. Iranian officials have said they are confident that the govt can survive the barrage and that, over time, the Americans and Israelis will lose their appetite for a war. They have given a code name to their strategy of raising the costs of the conflict to get the US and Israel to blink: Operation Madman.”

… Axios: “The US and Israel have discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war. Any operation to seize the material would likely require US or Israeli troops on Iranian soil, navigating heavily fortified underground facilities in the middle of a war.”

… WSJ: “Iran is targeting the radar systems that serve as the eyes of the air defenses in the Middle East, hitting several in recent days and degrading the ability of the US and its allies to track incoming missiles. Iranian strikes in retaliation for the US and Israeli bombing campaign have hit radar, communications and air defense systems in Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.”

… “The strikes are often carried out by Iran’s one-way attack drones, such as its Shaheds, which are a fraction of the cost of the missiles that the sophisticated US systems were designed to defend against. One of the most significant strikes hit a sophisticated early-warning radar system at Qatar’s Al-Udeid, which hosts the largest American military base in the region. The attack damaged the AN/FPS-132 radar.”

… “The AN/FPS-132 is a wide-aperture radar designed to track many targets at once. The US has 5 of these fixed radar systems in its North American warning system that is set up to protect the US homeland from potential incoming missiles. The system costs up to $1 billion.”

… Thomas Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies: “These are scarce, strategic resources.”

… NYT: “The Kremlin is enjoying a sudden resurgence of its importance as a global supplier of oil and gas, as the conflict in Iran disrupts energy production and shipment across the Middle East and sends global energy prices soaring. Vladimir Putin, in his only comments to a journalist since the start of the US-Israeli onslaught against Iran, did not mention Trump or what he had earlier called the ‘cynical murder’ of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.”

… “Instead, Putin spoke with bravado about European nations’ longstanding plans to phase out imports of Russian gas in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, threatening to accelerate the divorce himself as prices spike on the continent. The surge in energy prices comes as a reprieve to Moscow, after a year in which Russian oil and gas revenues declined by nearly a quarter and strained the nation’s wartime economy.”

… Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov: “We are seeing an increase in demand, a substantive increase in demand for Russian energy providers in connection with the war in Iran.”

… Ambassador to UN Mike Waltz on NBC: Q - “Why is the Trump admin helping Russia in this moment? Waltz: Oh, I wouldn’t characterize it that way. Q - How else would you characterize easing oil sanctions? Waltz: It’s common sense to allow millions of barrels of oil sitting on ships to go to India. Host - Russia will be getting that money as it wages its war in Ukraine.”

… Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY): “The price of gas has gone up $0.47 and the price of diesel has gone up $0.83 in 10 days due to War with Iran. And waging war costs American taxpayers about $1 billion per day, which comes out to $10 per family per day, or $100 since the war began. This isn’t America First.”

… Karoline Leavitt on Fox: “With respect to what’s happening with gas prices right now, this is a short-term disruption for the long-term gain of taking out the rogue Iranian terrorist regime.”

… Energy Secretary Chris Wright on CNN: Q - “When will gas prices go back down? Wright: You never know exactly the timeframe of this, but in the worst case this is a weeks, not a month thing.”

… Wright on CBS: “The US is temporarily suspending some sanctions on Russia to make Russian oil available. But doesn’t Russia still financially benefit from that? Why isn’t the US seizing those tankers? Wright: Because right now we’re worried about Iran and we’re worried about US consumers. Host - Russia was helping Iran. Wright: Well, there’s been rumors of that. We don’t know if that’s true. Host - These Iranian drones have Russian parts in them. The Russians have been buying Iranian drones. And reportedly there was intelligence sharing.”

… There is nothing that Russia can do that will cause anyone in this admin to criticize them.

… Zelensky: “We have received some messages regarding how to help civilians in the Middle East and how to help American soldiers deployed in certain countries. We responded: we will send experts and provide everything needed to protect them. Many issues are being discussed in this dialogue. If we are talking about increasing capabilities, we would very much like this to be a beneficial for both sides.”

… “As of now it is too early to speak in detail. Next week, when the experts are on the ground, assess the situation and provide assistance – since they are coming with the capabilities to assist right away – we will proceed accordingly. Let us wait for the initial meetings.”

… Trump posted: “The UK, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. That’s OK, PM Starmer, we don’t need them any longer - But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”

… Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffrey: “Trump - hard to imagine he would say this to the Brits. Destructive to US global standing. Illogical. Childish. Shameful.”

… Guardian: “Rap and EDM. Clips from action movies. Heads-up displays from video games. As the war with Iran approaches its second week, the WH has leaned into an online propaganda campaign that seems less about intimidating Iran or projecting US strength abroad than it is about reaching a rather niche domestic audience: young rightwing American men who spend a lot of time online.”

… “Over the past couple of days, the WH and officials affiliated with the Trump admin have shared on X a series of hype videos that aggressively, and tastelessly, show off deadly combat footage from the strikes on Iran, sometimes in combination with footage from fictional movies and video games. The videos are short, rapidly edited, and seem designed to appeal to the attention spans and tastes of Gen Z males fond of video-game trash-talk.”

… “One video, captioned ‘JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY’, is less than a minute long but manically mixes footage from iconic action movies such as Braveheart, Gladiator, and Iron Man with apparently real footage of American ordnance striking Iranian military targets. Pulsing, fast-paced electronic dance music plays in the background as Russell Crowe, in Gladiator, says, ‘Strength and honor,’ and a face-painted Mel Gibson, in Braveheart, demands: ‘What will you do without freedom?’”

… Reuters: “Trump’s admin has bypassed US Congress using an emergency authority to expedite the sale of more than 20,000 bombs to Israel worth around $650 million. The State Dept said Marco Rubio determined that an emergency existed that required an immediate sale to Israel and waived the congressional review requirements for the sale.”

… “The weapons package, which included 12,000 BLU-110A/B general purpose 1,000-pound bomb bodies that Israel had requested, comes a week after the US and Israel began their joint air war against Iran, Washington’s biggest military operation since the 2003 Iraq invasion.”

… Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) on CNN: Tapper - “You know that if you vote against an additional $50 billion of funding for operations in Iran, that vote will be cast as you voting against the troops. Murphy - Come on. The American people do not want this war. If you support the troops, you should be voting against this war to get them out of harm’s way.”

… AP: “A reporter for a Spanish-language news outlet in TN who has been detained by ICE was not shown any warrant when she was arrested this week, according to court documents filed by her attorney. Estefany Rodriguez Florez, a reporter for Nashville Noticias who has done stories critical of ICE, was arrested during a traffic stop. Her lawyer called for her immediate release, but ICE has asked a judge to deny the request.”

… “Rodriguez, a Colombian citizen, entered the US lawfully and has been living in the country for the past 5 years. She has a valid work permit, and she has applied for political asylum and legal status through her husband, who is a US citizen. Rodriguez has said she left Colombia after receiving death threats for her coverage of crime in the region.”

… National Association of Hispanic Journalists: “We denounce immigration tactics that detain journalists and any efforts to interfere with news coverage of immigration enforcement.”

… Trump posted: “Great Job by Scott Pressler on Fox & Friends talking about using the Talking Filibuster, in order to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, an 88% issue with ALL VOTERS. It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION - GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY - ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL: NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS: NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION FOR CHILDREN! DO NOT FAIL!!!”

… Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) referencing new reporting by conservative National Review: “Corey Lewandowski appears to have treated DHS like his personal slush fund, steering contracts, bullying staff, and operating in the shadows while billions in taxpayer dollars were at stake. Congress and federal investigators must follow the money and hold him accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

… Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on CNN: Q - One of your points of contention with Noem was how she jumped to conclusions about the killings of Pretti and Good, but Markwayne Mullin said equally false things. Does that give you pause? Tillis: It gives me pause that you had people like Stephen Miller calling the shots. It was Stephen Miller that was talking about a terrorist brandishing a gun.”

… Q - “Do you think Stephen Miller should go? Tillis: Of course I do. He's a big problem in this admin and has been since the beginning.”

… NPR: “With Rep. Darrell Issa's announcement he's retiring, we're at 68 members of Congress who don't plan to return to their seat - 1 in 8 lawmakers. We're tied for the most House Republicans retiring in a century and it's already the most Senate Republicans in one cycle.”

… NPR: “A federal judge overseeing a raft of legal challenges to the Trump admin’s drive to dismantle the Voice of America ruled that Kari Lake had acted unlawfully in running the network’s parent agency. ‘Lake satisfies the requirements of neither the statute nor the Constitution,’ US District Court Judge Royce Lamberth wrote in his ruling. He declared all of Lake’s actions over the past year to be null and void. That includes the layoffs of more than 1,000 journalists and staffers at the US Agency for Global Media and VOA.”

… “Lake told NPR Saturday night that she would appeal the ruling from Lamberth, an appointee of Ronald Reagan. If left standing, Lamberth’s decision would open the door to reversing a series of sweeping acts taken by Lake in trying to kill VOA and other international networks that receive federal funding. They include Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcast Networks.”

… “Among the decisions taken under Lake’s watch: dismissing all contractors; laying off almost all permanent network and agency full-time staffers; firing the director of VOA; striking a deal to carry content from the right-wing TV network One America News; withholding money from the sister networks such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia; and killing a lease for a new HQ that previous agency leaders said would save the govt tens of millions of dollars.”

… Kobeissi Letter: Key Events This Week:

• US Stock Market and Oil Futures Open - 6 PM ET TODAY

• February Existing Home Sales data - Tuesday

• February CPI Inflation data - Wednesday

• US Q4 2025 GDP Data - Friday

• January PCE Inflation data - Friday

• January JOLTS Job Openings data - Friday

All eyes are on oil prices tonight.