Today in Politics, Bulletin 353. 4/20/26
… Trump fired his Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer today. NOTUS: “Her tenure has been plagued by multiple scandals and an investigation that the secretary was engaged in an extramarital affair with a member of her security team and accusations of inappropriate behavior, like drinking on the job.” The is the 3rd Trump cabinet member this term to be fired.
… Kash Patel filed a $250 million lawsuit in DC federal court against The Atlantic. The lawsuit, like Patel himself, is so bad it’s comical. This will be dropped by Kash’s lawyers before any meaningful discovery happens, or tossed in a motion to dismiss. Kash is upset about their story documenting many incidents of intoxication while serving as FBI Director, citing dozens of sources.
… Patel alleges that the story was not an isolated incident from the publication: “AMG’s conduct toward Director Patel is part of a broader and well documented pattern. Numerous Atlantic pieces over the past two years have characterized Director Patel as unqualified, dangerous, corrupt, or mentally unstable.”
… Where’s the lie?
… The lawsuit was kind enough to list the most inflammatory parts of the article for us, claiming that each of these are false:
That Director Patel “is known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication, in many cases at the private club Ned’s in Washington, D.C., while in the presence of White House and other administration staff.”
That Director Patel “is also known to drink to excess at the Poodle Room in Las Vegas, where he frequently spends parts of his weekends.”
That “[e]arly in his tenure, meetings and briefings had to be rescheduled for later in the day as a result of his alcohol-fueled nights.”
That “[o]n multiple occasions in the past year, members of his security detail had difficulty waking Patel because he was seemingly intoxicated, according to information supplied to Justice Department and White House officials.”
That “[a] request for ‘breaching equipment’—normally used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams to quickly gain entry into buildings—was made last year because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors.”
That Director Patel’s alleged alcohol consumption has negatively impacted various law-enforcement investigations, including the Charlie Kirk murder investigation.
That Director Patel “recently expressed frustration with the look of FBI merchandise, complaining that it isn’t intimidating enough.”
That on April 10, 2026, Director Patel “panicked, frantically calling aides and allies to announce that he had been fired by the White House,” and that his behavior was a “freak-out.”
That Director Patel is “often away or unreachable, delaying timesensitive decisions needed to advance investigations,” and that on several occasions, Director Patel’s “delays resulted in normally unflappable agents ‘losing their shit.’”
That Director Patel’s “drinking has been a recurring source of concern across the government.”
The false implication that Director Patel violated DOJ’s ethics rules prohibiting “habitually using alcohol or other intoxicants to excess.”
That Director Patel has used his position to improperly “target political or personal adversaries of the president.”
The false implication that Director Patel abuses alcohol, thereby making him vulnerable to exploitation or coercion by foreign adversaries.
The false implication that this alleged alcohol abuse “has become a threat to public safety,” including in the context of “a domestic terrorist attack,” and constitutes a national-security vulnerability.
That Director Patel “is deeply concerned that his job is in jeopardy.”
That Director Patel has had a problem with “unexplained absences,” and “spotty attendance at the office,” thereby falsely implying that Director Patel has been derelict in his duties.
That Director Patel left the country vulnerable because “Days before the United States launched its war with Iran, Patel fired members of a counterintelligence squad that was devoted, in part, to Iran.”
… The bulk of the lawsuit is a complaint that the article used anonymous sources, didn’t give Kash enough time to respond to allegations in the story, and included rebuttals to statements of denial from Patel allies that were included in the story.
… From the lawsuit: “The vast majority of the defamatory claims in the Article rely solely on vague, unattributed sourcing such as “people familiar with the matter,” “some have characterized,” “officials said,” “former advisers,” and similar formulations. Any such purported sources could not possibly possess firsthand knowledge of the events described, both because the sources were not in a position to know and because the events described did not occur.”
… “Defendants’ complete and total reliance on these anonymous sources -Defendants could not get a single person to go on the record, nor could they cite a single email or piece of documentary evidence - for such breathtaking and scurrilous allegations, once again is not negligence. It demonstrates a deliberate and malicious smear. Defendants relied on “former advisers” and “political operatives” - categories of sources with obvious axes to grind.”
… CNN’s media reporter Brian Stelter: “It’s worth underscoring that Sarah Fitzpatrick said she interviewed “more than two dozen people” about Patel’s conduct, “including current and former FBI officials, staff at law-enforcement and intelligence agencies, hospitality-industry workers, members of Congress, political operatives, lobbyists, and former advisers.” Of particular note: “Hospitality-industry workers.”
… There were numerous conflicting reports throughout the day about whether peace talks would resume in Pakistan, whether JD Vance would lead the US delegation again, and whether the Iranians were going to show up. This is where we are at - MS NOW: “An Iranian delegation led by MB Ghalibaf and Abas Aragchi will travel to Islamabad for peace talks on Tues ‘only’ if Vance is present.”
… Fars, a media org affiliated with the IRGC: “Participating in negotiations in this space means playing on a field where the outcome has already been designed in advance for America’s domestic and international consumption. A logical alternative solution is to insist on written diplomacy instead of yielding to a showy negotiation. If the American side is truly eager for talks and the Pakistani mediator claims there are agreed-upon clauses that respect Iran’s red lines, there is no need for a face-to-face or indirect meeting.”
… “Written text, on one hand, prevents fabrication, arbitrary interpretation, and subsequent denial of promises; and on the other hand, in the event of a breach of commitment, it leaves Iran’s hand open for legal and documented disclosure.”
… Tehran Univ Prof Seyed Mohammed Marandi: “I advise US VP Vance to unpack his suitcases and not to head to Islamabad. With the current delusional and unrealistic demands and the continued naval blockade, no one in Tehran is willing to negotiate with him.”
… Trump made a series of long, rambling posts on Truth Social today about the war. I cut some of the repetitive nonsense from each of them, and they are still long:
“I’m winning a War, BY A LOT, things are going very well, our Military has been amazing and, if you read the Fake News, like The Failing NYT, the absolutely horrendous and disgusting WSJ, or the now almost defunct, fortunately, WaPo, you would actually think we are losing the War. The Anti-America Fake News Media is rooting for Iran to win, but it’s not going to happen, because I’m in charge! Just like these unpatriotic people used every ounce of their limited strength to fight me in the Election, they continue to do so with Iran.”
“The Democrats are doing everything possible to hurt the very strong position we are in with respect to Iran. They like to say that I promised 6 weeks to defeat Iran, and actually, from the Military standpoint, it was far faster than that, but I’m not going to let them rush the US into making a Deal that is not as good as it could have been. I read the Fake News saying that I am under “pressure” to make a Deal. THIS IS NOT TRUE! I am under no pressure whatsoever, although, it will all happen, relatively quickly! Time is not my adversary. I am properly and judiciously using our Military to solve problems left to us by others of far less understanding or competence.”
“The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as “The Iran Nuclear Deal,” penned by Barack Hussein Obama and Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the Worst Deals ever made having to do with the Security of our Country. If I did not terminate that “Deal,” Nuclear Weapons would have been used on Israel, and all over the Middle East, including our cherished U.S. Military Bases. If a Deal happens under “TRUMP,” it will guarantee Peace, Security, and Safety, not only for Israel and the Middle East, but for Europe, America, and everywhere else. It will be something that the entire World will be proud of.”
… Trump to Fox this morning: “If the deal isn’t done, the deal that we made, then I’m going to take out their bridges and their power plants. If they don’t sign this thing, the whole country is going to get blown up.”
… He said that Fox about 5 hours before he made the post saying he was in no hurry to make a deal.
… Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Maria Bartiromo’s Fox show: “Barack Obama was a great statesman who left America much safer. I wouldn’t put Trump in the same paragraph. Obama actually did his homework - all Trump did is listen to Netanyahu. That’s his entire foreign policy.”
… Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei: “Iran does not accept any deadlines or ultimatums to safeguard its national interests. We have clearly stated our red lines from the beginning, and we will not change our principled positions. In none of the stages of current or previous negotiations was the issue of transferring Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles to the US or any other country raised, and fundamentally this option is not on the agenda of Iran.”
… CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas: “Broadcasts by the IRGC denigrating Iran’s Foreign Minister and leaked concerns attributed to Iran’s lead negotiator and Speaker of the Parliament are confirming what I’m hearing from regional mediators - Iran’s IRGC is blocking attempts by the civilian leadership to reach a deal.”
… Middle East expert Danny Citrinowicz: “Welcome to the Islamic Republic of Iran 3.0. Unlike Khomeini’s historic decision to ‘drink the poison chalice,’ this time, through the lens of the Revolutionary Guards, there will be no room for pragmatic politicians to push Iran’s leadership toward compromise, especially after what they perceive as strategic gains against the US and Israel.”
… “If negotiations were difficult before the conflict, they are now far more complex. Iran is facing an increasingly decentralized, hardline, and ideologically rigid system, one that interprets its resilience in the conflict as a form of ‘divine victory.’ Khamenei was never a moderate, but the decision-making process in Iran was once relatively clear and centralized. The Revolutionary Guards were a dominant force, but not the decisive one. That reality has changed and it is not coming back. This is not a leadership inclined to concede.”
… Iran International English (covers Iran - it is not state media): “Iranian Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf sharply criticized opponents of a potential agreement with the US. Ghalibaf, who also led Iran’s team in the latest negotiations, described figures including Saeed Jalili, a member of Iran’s NSC, and hardline Iranian MP Amirhossein Sabeti as extremist militia-like actors who would destroy Iran.”
… “He said the camp was using state TV and mobilizing hardline supporters to intensify opposition to negotiations and a possible deal with the US. Ghalibaf also voiced concern about being removed from the speakership and about Foreign Minister Araghchi being pushed out of office.”
… Politico: “Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s admission on CNN that it ‘could be next year’ before gas prices return to below $3-a-gallon sent alarm bells ringing for Republicans in battleground districts, for obvious reasons - that means after the midterm elections on Nov. 3. Last week, Wright told Semafor prices will remain ‘high and maybe even rising’ until ‘meaningful ship traffic’ returns to the Strait of Hormuz.”
… “But Trump told Maria Bartiromo on Fox last Sunday that gas prices could be ‘around the same’ or ‘maybe a little bit higher’ when we hit election season this fall. Trump previously insisted oil prices would quickly return to normal, once he decided to end the conflict.”
… One GOP strategist close to the WH: “The rhetoric around this stuff matters way less than the reality. It either will be or it won’t be. If we don’t see the $3 gallon of gas, we’re gonna get killed.”
… Trump went after his Energy Secretary this morning for telling the truth about gas prices on the Sunday shows. The Hill’s Julia Manchester: “Trump just told me over the phone that he disagrees with Chris Wright’s assessment that gas prices may not drop until next year.” Trump: “No, I think he’s wrong on that. Totally wrong.”
… Gas analyst Patrick De Haan: “The Trump admin’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve releases are ramping up- the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by 4.2 million barrels in the last week according to the DOE- that’s the largest weekly drop since 2022 when the SPR was being released to counter the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
… Gregory Brew, oil market analyst for Eurasia Group: “I don’t think folks are quite ready for the size of our draws between now and (I’d say) June. It’s going to be epic. 10 million billion barrels a week, easy.”
Tomorrow should be a busy day with the “peace negotiations” in Pakistan. Assuming everyone shows up. I’m sure we can count on honest and accurate updates on a regular basis from the president as always. If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin recapping the weekend, you can find it here.
… NYT: “At the start of the 2026 election cycle, the Senate looked far out of reach for the Democrats. The House always seemed competitive, but retaking the Senate would require flipping at least 4 Republican-held seats - including at least 2 seats in states that Trump won by double digits in 2024. In today’s polarized era, Democrats would need everything to break their way.”
… “So far, everything is breaking the Democrats’ way. With Trump’s approval rating falling and inflation rising, along with the uncertainty of a war in the Middle East, it’s not hard to imagine a Democratic tsunami in Nov. A blue wave is not guaranteed, of
