Today in Politics, Bulletin 356. 4/24/26

… DOJ directed the Bureau of Prisons to expand death penalty protocols to allow multiple methods of execution, including firing squads: “Today, DOJ acted to restore its solemn duty to seek, obtain, and implement lawful capital sentences. Among the actions taken are expanding the protocol to include additional manners of execution such as the firing squad, and streamlining internal processes to expedite death penalty cases.”

… The Intercept: “FBI Director Kash Patel was twice arrested in incidents involving alcohol, once for public intoxication and once for public urination after leaving a bar, he admitted in a 2005 letter about disclosures on his Florida Bar application. The letter obtained by The Intercept was part of Patel’s personnel file at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, where he once worked.”

… Conflicting reports on whether Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will be meeting with an Iranian delegation in Pakistan. Once again, the reports come on Friday afternoon with oil prices dropping sharply on the claim by the Trump admin. However, Iran officials and their state media deny that a meeting will take place.

… Axios’s Barak Ravid: “Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to depart in the coming days for Pakistan to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to continue the negotiations on a deal to end the war, according to two senior American officials.”

… Iran state media Fars: “The Axios news outlet, citing anonymous American sources, claimed that two senior Trump advisors, Witkoff and Kushner, will hold talks with Araghchi in Islamabad. This is while the CNN network had previously reported that Araghchi only holds talks with intermediary parties and no meeting between Iranians and Americans is expected. In recent days, Western media have repeatedly published false and biased news in an attempt to influence the course of decisions made by Iranian officials.”

… Karoline Leavitt: “I can confirm Witkoff and Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in talks, direct talks intermediated by the Pakistanis who have been incredible friends and mediators throughout this entire process with reps from the Iranian delegation. The Iranians reached out and asked for this in person conversation, so the president is dispatching Steve and Jared to hear what he has to say.”

… Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi: “Embarking on timely tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow. Purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments. Our neighbors are our priority.”

… Al-Jazeera reporter Ali Hashem: “No Iran-US talks to take place during FM Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Pakistan, only bilateral engagement, I was told by a senior Iranian source. The FM will visit Muscat and Moscow too to discuss developments. My understanding is that the continuous media hype (leaks and rumors) from the Pakistani side is complicating the situation, and could lead to changing the venue of the talks.”

… IRGC-backed outlet Tasnim says Iran’s Foreign Minister will not hold direct talks with US envoys Witkoff and Kushner in Pakistan this weekend.

… Seyed Mohammad Marandi with Tehran Univ: “The Iranian FM will not hold any negotiations with the Trump regime in Islamabad and will merely convey Iran’s considerations and views regarding the end of the war to the Pakistani side. This meeting is a response to General Asim Munir’s trip to Tehran, and I have been informed that no negotiations with any Americans are planned during this visit.”

… Sen. Lindsey Graham used the war to beg for money on Fox’s Sean Hannity show to fundraise against a right-wing primary challenger critical of his war position and ties to Israel: “The blockade is working. It's going to be global. Back here at home, I hope people understand we will be in an election soon. I need your help. I’ve been with Trump at every step. We’re going to get this war right. Please help me.”

… NYT: “Since the Iran war began, the US has burned through around 1,100 of its long-range stealth cruise missiles built for a war with China, close to the total number remaining in the US stockpile. The military has fired off more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, 10 times the number it currently buys each year. The Pentagon used more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, at more than $4 million a pop, and over 1,000 Precision Strike and ATACMS ground-based missiles, leaving inventories worrisomely low.”

… “The Iran war has significantly drained much of the US military’s global supply of munitions, and forced the Pentagon to rush bombs, missiles and other hardware to the Middle East from commands in Asia and Europe. The drawdowns have left these regional commands less ready to confront potential adversaries like Russia and China, and it has forced the US to find ways to scale up production to address the depletions.”

… Middle East expert Danny Citrinowitz: “Iran has effectively evolved into a military-dominated dictatorship under the control of the IRGC. Mojtaba Khamenei was supported by the IRGC as calculated decision by the Guards, based on the understanding that he would be more susceptible to their influence and direction.”

… “One only needs to look at the circle surrounding him to understand where real power lies. Figures such as Mohsen Rezaei, Hossein Taeb, Yahya Rahim Safavi, and Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr are all deeply tied to the IRGC and represent its institutional interests. Their presence signals that the Guards have positioned themselves to remain the decisive force behind the scenes.”

… “Whether Mojtaba himself is fully aware of this dynamic or not is almost secondary. In practice, key decisions are increasingly shaped, if not outright determined, by the IRGC. In that sense, we may be witnessing the emergence of what could be described as ‘Islamic Republic 3.0’, a system where clerical authority remains as a facade, but real power is firmly consolidated in the hands of a military-security elite.”

… New Fox poll has devastating numbers for Trump:

• Has sound judgment: Yes-42%, No-57%

• Has the right temperament to be president: Yes-40%, No-60%

• Has sound mental fitness: Yes-45%, No-55%

• He cares about people like me: Yes-37%, No-63%

… Megyn Kelly: “The American public feels like they gave Trump a year and a half, he’s done nothing other than make things worse, and they’re pissed. They don’t like the tariffs, they don’t like the war, they don’t like what’s happening in their bank accounts. They’re starting to think the Democrats might be the better option on the economy.”

… NBC: “Federal authorities arrested and charged a US special forces soldier who is accused of using classified information about the raid that removed Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro from office to make prediction market bets. The soldier was identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke in a news release announcing the indictment.”

… Van Dyke bet a total of approximately $33,034 on the Maduro operation on the prediction market platform Polymarket. He ultimately made more than $409,000 as a result of the bets placed on the US operation, an unsealed indictment alleges. Authorities said he ‘participated in the planning and execution of the U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro.’”

… Van Dyke was charged with “unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.”

… Trump was asked about it: Q - “There was a special forces soldier involved in the capture of Maduro who was arrested on suspicion of insider trading. Are you concerned that federal employees are betting on these reduction markets and potentially getting rich? Trump: Well, I don't know about it. Was he betting that they would get him or wouldn't get him? Reporter: It sounds like he was betting on his removal from office. Trump: That’s like Pete Rose betting on his own team. If he bet against his team, that would be no good.”

… Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-FL): “I think this guy should be pardoned. If the DOJ isn’t prepared to go after every member of Congress who’s profiting off insider trading, then this feels like selective enforcement, not justice. I don’t support what he did, and he should absolutely have to give back every dollar he made. But holding one person accountable while others get a pass undermines the idea of equal justice under the law. Trump should make this decision at his discretion not the DOJ.”

… Meaghan Mobbs, Director Center for Safety & Security: “I do not understand those calling for this man to be pardoned. There must be zero tolerance for this kind of behavior. An elite operator used advance knowledge of a classified operation to line his own pockets. That is a betrayal of trust, a violation of the profession, and a direct threat to the men and women who serve beside him.”

… Newsmax primetime host Greg Kelly blasted Pete Hegseth with this post: “What a DESPICABLE guy Hegseth is. Frustrated that he can’t remove his Real Nemesis, the Army Secretary, He Fires the NAVY Secretary, has him ‘walked out of the building’ by security. But this was NOT an Urgent matter. Could have given the SECNAV a month, maybe 2 weeks notice. You know, The DECENT thing to do. Instead this Insecure FAKE, who Lied and Conned his way thru Life (see Mom) and the Trump admin (see ‘confidential settlement’ ie Blackmail of accuser #1) Blows up Someone Else’s life because he can’t Handle his own. Not CUTE anymore.”

… Trump was melting down today about having to refund tariff money: “People and Companies that have taken advantage of our Country for decades, because of the horrible and ridiculous Supreme Court decision on Tariffs, are now supposed to be given back 159 Billion Dollars. All they had to do was one little half sentence, ‘that the US does not have to pay back monies that were already paid’ - and our Country would be 159 Billion Dollars richer. That’s more than most Countries are worth! Think of it - Just one half sentence, and we would have saved 159 Billion Dollars. Couldn’t they have done that for our Nation?”

… Rep. Dan Goldman and Dep. AG Todd Blanche went at it over the new DOJ indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The indictment alleges that SPLC used donor money to pay informants to infiltrate right-wing hate groups, but claims it was being done to create false flags to instigate violence and racist demonstrations. It has also refueled conspiracies that the J6 insurrection was instigated by infiltrators paid by left-wing groups.

… Goldman posted: “By this logic, the FBI ‘funds’ drug trafficking or terrorism every time they give an informant money to buy drugs or weapons (which happens all the time). This is one of the dumbest cases I have ever seen. Even for this DOJ.”

… Blanche responded: “Hey Dan, remember when you were a federal prosecutor? Man, you really have been captured by the extremists in your own party. At least you’ve gone all in on the asinine talking points.”

… Goldman: “Yes Todd, I remember the many years I was a prosecutor alongside you, when you would have resigned before acting on the blatantly political directives you now dole out routinely. Sadly, it is you that has been captured by a deeply unethical and lawless man. It is sad to see.”

… Trump then weighed in: “The SPLC, one of the greatest political scams in American History, has been charged with FRAUD. This is another Democrat Hoax, along with Act Blue, and many others. If it is true, the 2020 Presidential Election should be permanently wiped from the books and be of no further force or effect!”

… ABC: “DOJ has dropped its criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, ending a standoff that threatened to delay the confirmation of Powell’s successor at the central bank. Senior DOJ officials have contacted senators in recent days, including Sen. Thom Tillis, informing them of the plan to drop the probe and refer the matter regarding alleged cost overruns at the Fed’s DC HQ to the bank’s internal watchdog.”

… Tillis has said he will block Trump’s nominee to replace Powell, Kevin Warsh, until the bogus case against Powell was dropped.

… DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro: “The IG for the Fed Reserve has been asked to scrutinize the building costs overruns – in the billions of dollars – that have been borne by taxpayers. The IG has the authority to hold the Fed Reserve accountable to American taxpayers. I expect a comprehensive report in short order and am confident the outcome will assist in resolving, once and for all, the questions that led this office to issue subpoenas.”

… “Accordingly, I have directed my office to close our investigation as the IG undertakes this inquiry. Note well, however, that I will not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so.”

… Karoline Leavitt was asked about it today as she was leaving the WH on maternity leave to give birth to her second child: “The case is not necessarily dropped, it’s just being moved over to the IG. This has been a priority for the president. The investigation still continues.”

… No reaction yet from Tillis. I’ve been checking and I tagged him with the Leavitt clip.

… Axios: “At least 15 defense officials have abruptly left or been pushed out of their jobs under Trump 2.0. The exits, civilian and uniform, are the results of clashing politics, policies and personalities.”

… One Trump admin official: “There’s a lot of confusion and head-shaking. It feels so much like petty, high-school or middle-school drama.”

… Another official: “You have this pervasive, ‘Oh my gosh, what is the next perceived slight that is going to upset the Mean Girls.’”

Reminder that there is no Bulletin tomorrow because I’m off Saturdays. We are taking a drive to the area where we just bought a house to check out all the different shops and things to do. I will be out with the next Bulletin on Sunday recapping the weekend.

Thank you to everyone who reads, shares and subscribes to my work. If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin, you can find it here.

… Tim Richardson with PEN America calls: “Jacqueline Smith spent months warning Stars and Stripes readers, the public, and Congress about the Pentagon’s efforts to shift editorial decision-making away from the newsroom and into the hands of political appointees. Now Smith has been fired for doing exactly what Congress