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 My son has narrated the last book I wrote. Please consider listening to it and encouraging others to do so too. (Click on Book Cover) World & Nation Iran's New Supreme Leader Wounded, Disfigured  War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday confirmed reports Iran's new supreme leader was wounded during the U.S.-Israeli military action, adding that Mojtaba Khamenei likely has been "disfigured." In a forceful Pentagon briefing shown live on Newsmax, Hegseth said the Iranian regime is reeling after nearly two weeks of sustained U.S. and Israeli strikes, with its leadership in hiding and its military capabilities rapidly collapsing. "We know the new so-called not so supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured," Hegseth said, arguing that the absence of a public video or voice message from Khamenei spoke volumes. He described Iran's ruling class as "desperate and hiding," saying the regime can barely communicate, let alone coordinate.
Iran Laying Mines in Strait of Hormuz  Iran has begun laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical Persian Gulf channel that carries about 20% of the world's oil, according to U.S. officials, raising concerns about global shipping and energy supplies. U.S. intelligence indicates Iran started deploying the mines Thursday using small boats after the U.S. military destroyed larger Iranian naval vessels capable of quickly laying mines in the narrow waterway, a U.S. official briefed on the intelligence said, according to The New York Times on Friday. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps can deploy hundreds, even thousands, of small boats it has long used to harass larger vessels, including ships operated by the U.S. Navy. Iran announced shortly after the United States and Israel began attacks on Feb. 28 that it was closing the strait, disrupting global shipping and pushing oil prices sharply higher.
6 US service members confirmed dead following aircraft crash in western Iraq, CENTCOM says  U.S. Central Command announced Friday that the death toll in a refueling aircraft crash in western Iraq on Thursday has risen to six. "All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury," it said in a statement. "The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," CENTCOM added. "The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified." Walz in the hot seat as critics' predictions on his controversial new law come true: 'Concerning trends' Two GOP Minnesota lawmakers told Fox News Digital the law is hurting employers  As Minnesota’s fraud scandal continues to make headlines, signature legislation signed by Gov. Tim Walz extending the amount of paid leave available to Minnesota workers is already causing major headaches and concerns from critics worried about potential abuse of even more dollars. The legislation, which took effect on January 1, allows Minnesota workers up to 12 weeks a year off with partial pay to care for a newborn or a sick family member, and up to 12 weeks to recover from their own serious illness. Benefits are capped at 20 weeks a year for employees who take advantage of both. Two months in, the legislation is already receiving pushback, including from the state's largest, non-partisan business advocacy organization. Michigan synagogue security 'heroes' 'saved lives' during Temple Israel attack, governor says 'Yesterday's attack was antisemitism,' Whitmer said  Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said during a press briefing on Friday that the security officers at a Michigan synagogue that was targeted in an attack on Thursday were "heroes" who "saved lives." "They were selfless in their courage and they saved lives. These heroes threw themselves in harm's way, engaging the suspect," she said. "Yesterday's attack was antisemitism. It was hate, plain and simple. We will fight this ancient and rampant evil. We will stand together as we do it. And we will call it out," she said. Old Dominion terrorist Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was released from prison early — despite admitting to helping plot attack against US  Old Dominion terrorist Mohamed Bailor Jalloh had been serving time in federal prison until 2024 for helping plot a heinous attack against the US — but ended up being cut loose early, records show. The 36-year-old ISIS-linked maniac — who was killed after he opened fire at the Virginia university Thursday — was sprung from federal custody Dec. 23, 2024, after serving roughly eight years of his 11-year sentence. Jalloh, who was a former member of the Virginia National Guard, was originally sentenced in 2017 after confessing to providing material to the Islamic State. Japan to Join US Golden Dome Missile Defense Initiative  Japan plans to inform the United States of its intention to join the next-generation missile defense initiative known as the Golden Dome during a summit this month, Yomiuri reported Friday, citing government officials. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will announce the plan when she meets President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on March 19, the newspaper reported. The initiative aims to bolster defenses against threats such as hypersonic glide vehicles being developed by Russia and China. The U.S. envisions deploying interceptors in space with operations beginning by January 2029.
Judge denies restraining order for conservative media figures who sought press passes  Washington state lawmakers were within their rights when they declined to issue press passes to three conservative media figures, a federal judge ruled Tuesday in a case that echoes a national discussion over who qualifies as a journalist. The Democratic-controlled Washington House of Representatives early this year declined to issue press credentials that would have granted the three access to parts of the Capitol in Olympia that are off-limits to the general public. The body said they were not bona fide journalists because they are participants in the political arena — advocating for certain agendas and hosting or speaking at rallies. The three asked the court for an emergency temporary restraining order that would force the House to give them passes in the closing days of the session. The group includes Ari Hoffman, host of “The Ari Hoffman Show” on conservative Seattle talk radio station KVI-AM; Brandi Kruse, host of the podcast “unDivided”; and Jonathan Choe, a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, a conservative think tank. Calif. law enforcement responds to 'unsubstantiated' reports of Iranian drone strikes  Law enforcement agencies across the Bay Area and California said they are coordinating with federal authorities after reports surfaced of a potential Iranian drone threat targeting the state. The concern stems from an FBI alert circulated to law enforcement partners warning about an unverified report that Iran considered launching drones from a vessel positioned off the U.S. coast. In a post shared online by FBI assistant director for public affairs Ben Williamson, the warning said the information was acquired in early February. King Charles has 'washed his hands' of Prince Harry and Meghan amid royal crisis  King Charles has “washed his hands” of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as they announced their second pseudo-royal trip in just a few months. Earlier this week, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they would be heading to Australia for the first time in over seven years, just weeks after returning from a whirlwind two-day trip to Jordan. While in Australia, Harry and Meghan will travel to Sydney and Melbourne for a series of “private, business and philanthropic engagements,” according to their spokesperson. Now, a royal expert has shared their thoughts on how this trip would be impacting King Charles. Trump's Operation Epic Fury proves Reagan-style peace through strength is back In a just world, Epic Fury would put an end to the GOP Establishment’s habit of smearing the America First Right as 'isolationist' By Dr. Kevin Roberts
In just a few days, Operation Epic Fury has eliminated Iran’s leadership, degraded its capacity to terrorize the West, and — for the moment — united the Middle East and most of the world around a vital American interest. It’s still early, of course. But so far, President Donald Trump has achieved a strategic masterstroke. He has done so by reviving America’s oldest, simplest and best national security policy: peace through strength. Yet Washington Democrats are blasting the president for ordering the attacks at all. They still cling, bitterly, to President Barack Obama’s delusion of pacifying the ayatollahs through diplomacy and appeasement, not only lifting sanctions but literally delivering pallets of cash to one of America’s most dangerous enemies. On the other side of the aisle, some principled MAGA conservatives are understandably wary of another forever war in the Middle East. But both critiques misapprehend this mission, this commander in chief, and his national security strategy. Trump’s decision to fight Iran is historic — but he needs to finish the job By Douglas Murray
For years excitable figures have warned that any attack on Iran would start World War III. The fact that the regime in Iran has spent decades trying to develop a nuclear weapon was always a problem for these people. After all, if a terrorist regime is developing a nuclear weapon and says it is going to use that weapon, what exactly is the world meant to do? Sit back and let it happen? That’s what much of the world seemed happy to do. Or rather, they hoped that someone would take the problem off the world’s hands for them. And so it fell to the governments of Israel and the United States of America to step up. To do what the German chancellor recently called the world’s “dirty work” for the rest of the planet. But there are reasons why World War III has not remotely kicked off. |
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