This Weekend in Politics, Bulletin 328.

… As first reported by Meidas and later picked up by many major media outlets, Trump’s PAC sent a fundraising email to donors promising them “private national security briefings” by Trump on the Iran War. The sales pitch featured a photo from the dignified transfer of service members killed in Kuwait. This is what the email said:

“For the first time ever, I’m opening up spots on the National Security Briefing Membership. As a National Security Briefing Member, you’ll receive my private national security briefings, unfiltered updates on the threats facing America. The straight truth on border invasions, foreign adversaries, deep state sabotage, and every danger the fake news hides. You’ll get the inside scoop DIRECT from me.”

… Pete Buttigieg on CNN: “The president’s political operation was raising money off images at a dignified transfer. Any politician who does that has no business leading American troops into war. If the president is willing to raise campaign funds over the bodies of America’s war dead, he is unfit to be the commander in chief.”

The solicitation included this photo from the ceremony:

… Trump posted a plea for help from allies he has previously insulted and refused to consult: “The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT! The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well. This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be!”

… NYT: “Trump called on a host of other countries, including Britain, France, and China, to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to end a de facto Iranian blockade on the shipping of oil through the strategic waterway. It was far from clear, however, whether any countries would volunteer to patrol the strait, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil transits.”

… Buttigieg: “We lived through a war that was sold to us on false pretenses when I was younger. This war has not been sold on any pretense. The president just went ahead and did it.”

… Energy Secretary Chris Wright on ABC: “We were very aware that we would cause a little bit of increased prices on Americans. Host - But we see right now that the president is seeking help from other nations in opening up the Strait of Hormuz. Why is that happening now? Wright: The element of surprise was essential so we could as quickly as possible destroy their military capabilities.”

… WSJ: “The Americans and Israelis quickly took control of Iran’s skies and have used thousands of airstrikes to pummel the country’s leadership and its armed forces -destroying much of the navy and its ability to launch long-range missiles. But the past century has shown that even the world’s largest and most modern militaries can be humbled when attacking tenacious adversaries willing to endure more pain to defend their territory despite overwhelming odds.”

… “Tehran has taken control of the Strait of Hormuz using far less sophisticated weaponry than the US has unleashed and can now choke energy supplies and commercial shipping through the vital waterway. The goal: to drag the US into a war of economic attrition, inflicting pain on America and its allies around the world.”

… “Iranian forces have struck at least 16 commercial ships since the war began, sending oil prices above $100 a barrel and prompting predictions of longer-term dislocations as a significant chunk of the world’s oil and natural gas comes off the market.”

… “Tehran’s vast arsenal of drones, short-range rockets, sea mines and other arms makes it easy to attack ships in the narrow strait. And shipping lines and mariners have largely decided not to risk death or financial loss by running the gantlet.”

… Amir Handjani, with Truman National Security Project: “Here is a breakdown on what’s actually happening with shipping through the Persian Gulf:

• It is less about oil prices and more about the ships that move oil. War risk insurance on a tanker through Hormuz went from $200K a voyage to over $1M over the last two weeks.

• Most insurers didn’t reprice, they just walked away because the risk was too extreme. Nobody wants to take the risk of getting hit by an Iranian drone or missile as they are crossing the Straits of Hormuz.”

• Freight rates for supertankers hit $800K a day. That’s four times what they were two weeks ago.

• Even at those rates, owners can’t get the insurance they need to legally operate.

• This means that the price of everything you buy is about to go up from gas at the pump, groceries, consumer good, plastic and even clothes.”

… Reuters: “When Saudi Aramco told its oil buyers in a letter this week that it had no clear idea which port it would use for April exports, it laid bare a new reality: Iran, not the US, holds the key to reopening the global energy market. The letter, sent to Saudi oil buyers around the world, said they might receive oil from the Red Sea, but they might still get it from the Gulf.”

… One Saudi oil buyer: “I might as well call Iran to find out when this war ends so I can get my oil.”

… “The comment reflects the growing conviction inside and outside the Middle East that while the US and Israel could declare the war over at any time, Iran will have the final say about the duration of what the International Energy Agency has described as the most severe oil and gas supply disruptions ever.”

… Kobeissi Letter: “The next big question: What is happening in the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea? Since the Iran war began, the Strait of Hormuz has been the focal point, as it accounts for 20 million barrels of daily oil supply. Iran’s Fars News Agency said Houthis in Yemen and other ‘resistance groups’ may soon join the war against the US and Israel.”

… “Not too long ago, Yemen’s Houthis, who are backed by Iran, were striking ships in the Red Sea, resulting in a major drop in shipping activity. Currently, 12% of global seaborne oil passes through Bab al-Mandab, making it the world’s 4th-largest shipping chokepoint. If this passage is closed, another 6 million barrels of daily oil supply would be halted. Total offline capacity between the two Straits would near 25 million barrels per day, or 25% of global supply.”

… Guardian: “After days of conflicting messaging from the WH on how much longer it will continue to wage war on Iran, Trump alleged that US strikes had ‘totally demolished’ most of Kharg Island, and said that its military may hit site ‘a few more times just for fun. We’ve totally decimated it. Except, as you know, I didn’t do anything having to do with the energy lines, because having to rebuild that would take years.’”

… Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on CBS: “We never asked for a ceasefire or negotiations. We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes until President Trump comes to the point that this is an illegal war. There are people being killed only because Trump wants to have fun.”

… US Ambassador to UN Mike Waltz on CNN: “Is Trump hoping that other countries will send naval escorts to the Strait of Hormuz, or have they committed to it? Waltz: We welcome, encourage, and even demand their participation to help their own economies.”

… ‘Demand’ now?

… Waltz was asked on Fox about the possibility of Trump sending ground troops into Iran: “If the president has to dedicate limited options, very focused, very targeted options, I’m confident that’s something the Pentagon can and will provide them.”

We make the entire Weekend Bulletin available to everyone, where about the first third of the daily Bulletins during the week are available. Everyone can also participate in the lively comments section to this one. If you missed Friday’s Bulletin, you can find it here.

… Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) was asked on NewsNation about Trump’s claim that he knows where all the Iranian sleepers cells are in the US: Q - “If the govt knows where the sleeper cells are, why wouldn’t they have been taken into custody already?
Crawford: That’s a good question. That may have already taken place but we haven’t seen out a press release on it.”

… Absurd. Kash Patel would be on a media tour for 36 hours straight if that happened.

… WH Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett on Fox: Q - If this disruption lasts for months, can the US economy absorb the shock without a recession? Hassett: It’s not going to last for months. Trump’s team has briefed us that it’s going to be 4-6 weeks beginning 2 weeks ago, and that we’re ahead of schedule. And if it did last for a long time, it wouldn’t really do a lot of harm to the US economy.”

… Hassett: “You have to understand that America is not going to have its economy harmed by what the Iranians are doing. They think they’re gonna harm the US economy and get Trump to back down? There couldn’t be anything that was a stupider thing to say.”

… It has already been harmed, and this is far from over.

… Trump and his FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened media companies covering the war: “The NYT and WSJ, and other Lowlife ‘Papers’ and Media actually want us to lose the War. Their terrible reporting is the exact opposite of the actual facts! They are truly sick and demented people that have no idea the damage they cause the USA.”

… Carr: “Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.”

… The FCC issues 8-year licenses to individual broadcast stations, many of which are owned and operated by television networks.

… Karoline Leavitt on Fox: “It is abhorrent, some of the stories that are coming from the mainstream media. These are anonymous sources without checking with the people who were actually in the room. I’m speaking about the CNN story alleging the admin was ill-prepared for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and that’s unequivocally false.”

… Then why is it closed with Trump and the WH scrambling while alternately begging for help and threatening other countries?

… Chris Wright on NBC: Q - “Is the Strait of Hormuz safe for shipping right now? Wright: No, it is not. Host - If you were prepared, why is the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed right now? Wright: Because it’s right near the Iranian shoreline.”

… Fred Wellman, who did multiple tours in Iraq: “This is so bizarrely funny. Yes…the Strait of Hormuz is right near the Iranian shoreline. We launched a war without even warning our allies in the region and now it’s closed. Trump was told this would happen and it did. The desperate spinning to blame anyone other than Trump overriding military advice is just pathetic.”

… NBC reviewed footage of 30 drone attacks carried out by Iran in 7 different countries: “Apparent targets include military bases, transportation hubs, energy infrastructure and diplomatic centers. In 21 of 26 videos, drones appear to reach their targets. The videos reveal a pattern of inadequate protection for strategic locations targeted by the drones from the outset of the war.”

… “As the US and Israel bombard Iran with the stated goal of crippling its nuclear, ballistic and drone capabilities, Iran retaliates by utilizing its arsenal of missiles and cheap exploding drones. The weapon’s versatility may allow Iran to prolong the war by straining enemy resources, a tactic attractive for cash-strapped states, experts say.”

… “Iran is a pioneer of the technology, which it sold to Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It has challenged the economics of warfare. While the US remains firm in its air dominance, Iran’s drone campaign has forced the targeted countries to use expensive munitions for interceptions.”

… NYT: “The average price for a gallon of gas in the US has hit $3.70, up from $3.45 a week ago and $2.93 a month ago.”

… Karoline Leavitt on Fox: Q - “What’s your message to people concerned over gas prices? Leavitt: We understand your concerns and we are taking them into account. This is a temporary short-term disruption in global oil prices that the president is ultimately going to rectify by wiping out the rogue Iranian terrorist regime.”

… Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Fox: Q - “When can Americans expect to see the price of gas come down? Wright: After the conflict is over you’ll start to see prices come back down. Americans will feel it for a few more weeks.”

… Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ): “Calling BS on this. A few weeks? They don’t know when this war will end because they don’t have a plan to end it. You’re going to pay more because of their lies.”

… Foreign policy reporter Laura Rozen: “Trump putting his economic advisors, Energy and Interior secretaries on the Sunday shows, rather than his NSA, Secretary of State, intelligence officials, or military leaders. What does that tell you? And this has been true all week. Mostly Trump advisors focused on the US economy have been repping Trump admin to talk about the Iran war. Most notable is the absence of Rubio.”

… BBC foreign policy correspondent Tom Bateman: “WH messaging this morning seems designed to counter market turmoil rather than speak to a metastasizing military campaign. Line to push for energy sec and economic advisor was about it being over within a couple of weeks, it’s all ahead of schedule, don’t panic.”

… Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ): My constituents don’t support Trump’s illegal war. AZ gas prices are already nearing $5/gallon. While this admin spends $2 billion a day on war, it just ripped away Medicaid and SNAP from millions of Americans. 13 US service members have been killed, and thousands of Marines are now heading to the Middle East—appearing to prepare for boots on the ground. Americans don’t support this.”

… “Meanwhile, on day one of this war, the US bombed a children’s school. That’s a war crime. More than 1,200 Iranian civilians have already been killed, and dozens of hospitals, water plants, and oil refineries have been hit—damage that will have catastrophic health impacts for years to come—all after tens of thousands of Iranians were massacred by their own brutal regime.”

… Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) on Fox: “Right now the only thing the American people care about is getting the SAVE America Act signed into law.”

… AP: “Iran threatened for the first time to attack infrastructure of a neighboring country, urging people to evacuate three major ports in the UAE that Tehran claimed were ‘legitimate targets’ because the US military used them for attacks.”

… Sen. Adam Schiff on NBC: Q - Would you consider voting for more funding for the military during this conflict? Schiff: No. The military has all the funding it needs for this conflict. This $11 billion we’ve spent just within the first few days - that’s money that could’ve gone into new hospitals and schools.”

… Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Fox: Q - “When supplemental military funding comes before you, how will you vote? Khanna: I’ll vote absolutely not.”

… Schiff: “We are now giving Russia $140 million a day by releasing them from these sanctions when Russia is providing intelligence to Iran to better attack and kill American troops. It is rewarding Russia and punishing Ukraine.”

… Zelensky on CNN: “Putin never wanted to stop the war. America has to make big pressure on Putin or he will not negotiate. Of course the situation in Iran gives him more money, and the process of taking off the sanctions also is helpful for him. It gives him more assurance that he can continue the war.”

… Iran Security Council leader Ali Larijani: “I’ve heard that the remaining members of Epstein’s network (that is what he calls the Trump and Netanyahu admins) have devised a conspiracy to create an incident similar to 9/11 and blame Iran for it. Iran fundamentally opposes such terrorist schemes and has no war with the American people.”

… Seyed Mohammed Marandi, Prof at Tehran Univ: “I’ve been told that recently, in a joint meeting between some extremist figures in the US and Israeli regime intelligence services, a plan was discussed to target a landmark tower in either an American city or in the UAE, and then blame it on Iran. The goal would be to create international consensus for their subsequent actions and crimes.”

… Laura Loomer: “How can anyone deny that Tucker Carlson is an Iranian asset? Ask yourself why he would oppose the US killing the Ayatollah, a terrorist leader? Tucker needs to be jailed. I have created a list of Conservative influencers who I believe are taking money from Iran, Russia and Qatar. I have attached my supporting evidence. As I told the DOJ, Tucker isn’t the only person who is likely violating FARA. All of these traitors deserve jail time.”

… WSJ: “The WH is more tightly controlling the messaging and policies—including around vaccines—coming from HHS ahead of the midterm elections. Aides close to Trump decided to take a more active role in managing RFK Jr.’s department in the face of polling that shows his vaccine moves are unpopular. Some people close to both Kennedy and the WH said the secretary’s standing among some staff is at a new low following a series of setbacks for his MAHA agenda.”

… “Although Trump brought Kennedy into his admin with the promise that the vaccine skeptic and ultraprocessed-food critic could ‘go wild on health,’ admin officials grew increasingly frustrated with what they viewed as foul-ups inside Kennedy’s dept. Aides close to Trump grew worried that perceived disorganization and a focus on vaccines could damage the president’s party in Nov.”

… Meanwhile, RFK Jr. posted a cringe AI video today depicting himself shirtless wearing jeans in a wresting match beating up a Twinkie. It was produced by HHS.

… NYT reported on a right-wing lawyer who allegedly hired a hit-man to collect money owed by a fraudster client who hired him to get a pardon from Trump: “Josh Nass, a conservative lawyer and lobbyist, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on Sat to face accusations of attempted extortion that appeared related to a client who was pardoned by Trump. Joseph Nocella Jr., the US attorney, accused Nass of having ‘plotted the violent extortion of one of his own clients’."

… “Nass had been paid $100,000 by the client but was owed an additional $500,000. The filings accuse Nass of instructing a person he hired to ‘do anything and everything’ to collect the outstanding funds from the client’s son. The filings strongly suggest that the targets of Nass’s threats were Joseph Schwartz and one of his sons.”

… “Nass had been retained late last year to help seek a pardon for Schwartz, who had been convicted of tax crimes related to a nursing-home empire that had collapsed amid allegations of endangering the residents and defrauding his employees. The case against Nass highlights a shadowy corner of the growing clemency lobbying industry that has emerged around Trump.”

… “Instead of relying on a DOJ system for identifying and vetting worthy clemency recipients, Trump has often granted pardons and commutations to allies or people who hire them to advance their petitions. That has created a demand for pardon brokers with connections in Trump’s orbit who charge as much as $1 million or more to people facing charges or jail time.”

… Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) pleaded with Trump to lift tariffs while admitting they have raised food prices for Americans. He posted: “Secretary of Agriculture said WH is working to get food prices down. THE FASTEST WAY IS TO TAKE TARIFF OFF FERTILIZER FARMERS NEED TO HARVEST AN ABUNDANT CROP. Tariffs must go.”

… Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) was asked on CNN why he lost his primary: “I’ve been the target of online smears and conspiracies. My election was a product of that. Dozens of online smears - it didn’t matter how many times we debunked it, people still went into the voting booth believing it.”

… He just described all 3 of Trump's campaigns, which he cheered on enthusiastically. Now he is a victim of exactly the same tactics when a MAGA candidate used them against him. Cry me a river.

… Daily Mail: “Kristi Noem’s former spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin met with Fox after leaving DHS about joining the network as a contributor, but Fox declined to give her an offer.”

… The Atlantic: “The WH has received reports in recent weeks that Trump’s personal phone number has been offered for sale to deep-pocketed interests seeking influence, two admin officials told us. Journalists have taken to horse-trading among themselves, offering the contact information of other world leaders—or sometimes even dozens of bold-faced names—just to get the most important one saved into their phones.”

… Source: “It’s honestly just wild. I’ve heard of CEOs offering money for his number. I’ve heard of crypto bros offering cryptocurrency for it.”

… Second source: “It’s out of control. It’s like a wrecking ball.”

… “No one foresaw this at the start of Trump’s second term, when the number was closely held by the president’s friends and a handful of journalists who used it sparingly. So many people now call Trump on his private iPhone that his advisers have stopped trying to keep track. Sometimes in meetings, he will leave his phone face up, allowing staff to gawk at the flashing notifications of incoming or missed calls that pile up on his screen.”

… Source: “It is literally call after reporter call. It is just boom, boom, boom.”

… Fox host Mark Levin and former Fox host Megyn Kelly continue to go at it on social media. Levin: “Poor Megyn Kelly. An emotionally unhinged, lewd, and petulant wreck. She’s completely revealed and destroyed herself. She’s everything people say she is, but much worse. Never an intelligent, thoughtful, or substantive comment. Utterly toxic.”

… Kelly responded: “Micropenis Mark Levin thinks he has the monopoly on lewd. He tweets about me obsessively in the crudest, nastiest terms possible. Literally more than some stalkers I’ve had arrested. He doesn’t like it when women like me fight back. Because of his micropenis.”

… Levin: “Busy Sunday morning for Megyn Kelly. She wakes up and has ‘micropenis’ on her mind. Suffice to say, if it talks like a harlot, and posts like a harlot, it’s … well, you know the rest.”

… Kelly: “We just went back and counted. Micro penis Mark Levin has shit posed about me over 100 times since Nov. I’ve responded a total of 6 times. In response he amped up his attacks ten-fold in the nastiest, most personal, misogynistic, vile terms possible, on his show and on X. Fox allows this. MicroP is obsessed. It’s sick.”

… WaPo: “For nearly two centuries, the WH’s main entrance - framed by a row of graceful Ionic columns - has been a signature image of the seat of American power. Now the Trump-appointed head of a federal arts commission is proposing to replace them with a more ornate style favored by Trump.”

… “Those more decorative columns, a style known as Corinthian, are considered the most luxurious in classical architecture and appear on buildings such as the US Capitol and the Supreme Court. They have long been deployed on Trump’s properties, and the president has handpicked them for his planned WH ballroom, too.”

… Steven Semes, Prof of Architecture at Notre Dame: “The Corinthian would be inappropriate for the Executive Residence.” He added that the WH’s Ionic columns evoke “the character of dignity, grace and a kind of intimacy or domesticity,” whereas Corinthian columns are “used to express the height of formality and monumentality” for buildings such as the Capitol.

… Kobeissi Letter: “Key Events This Week. We have a huge week ahead:”

• Futures Markets React to US Strikes on Kharg Island - Today 6 PM ET

• February Pending Home Sales data - Tuesday

• February PPI Inflation data - Wednesday

• Fed Interest Rate Decision and Statement - Wednesday

• Philly Fed Manufacturing Index - Thursday

• January New Home Sales data - Thursday

We had a great time yesterday at NH Maple Weekend. We learned all about farming and making maple syrup. Most of the operations are just one or two people and the season is only about 4-8 weeks and a little unpredictable based on weather. It also takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. So that is why good maple syrup isn’t cheap.

This is one of the sugar shacks we went to. At another in the White Mountains of northern NH we got the best maple syrup I have ever had from a guy we has been doing it for 60 years. He started at 12 years old with his father and grandfather, and he made it clear he thinks about maple syrup every waking moment of his life. Probably dreams about it when he isn’t awake.