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Mar 2, 2026 - World

Faced with overwhelming odds combating US military might, one Middle East expert predicted the leadership of the war-torn country looks to be aiming to get to Donald Trump by going after one of his biggest weaknesses.Appearing on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe,” New York Times columnist Tom Friedman claimed that, if there is one thing Donald Trump uses to gauge how he’s doing, it is the stock market and the surviving Iranian leadership knows that is one of his vulnerabilities.Friedman made those comments when asked about Iran’s decision to lob missiles at its Middle Eastern neighbors, which has put the entire region under strain while the US conducts military operations.‘’Let's talk about the region, a region you know so well,” co-host Jonathan Lemire prompted his guest. “You know, Iran is striking at moments. It feels indiscriminately. Other times targeted, like targeting civilian hotels in some of the major capitals there in the Gulf, striking potentially some energy infrastructure as well. But by doing so, what do you think happens next that's simply going to push, you know, the region more and more aligned with the US efforts or descend into that chaos you're talking about?”“Jonathan, I think that Iran's strategy,” the columnist replied. “They think Trump's soft underbelly, because they've seen this before on tariffs, is the stock market and the economy.”“And Iran, I think, wants to create as much chaos, turmoil in global oil markets and global financial markets,” he predicted. “They think that will freak Trump out and make him more vulnerable in negotiations.”He added, “Drive the price of oil as high as you can, drive the Dow Jones Industrial Average down as far as you can, and hope that Trump, as in the past, will chicken out.” - YouTube youtu.be

Mar 2, 2026 - World

Defense secretary refuses to establish timeline for how long operation will continue in first public remarks since strikesThe US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, has called the joint US-Israeli strikes in Iran the “most lethal and precise air power campaign in history”, indicated the US did not plan to effect a democratic transition in Iran – and refused to establish a clear timeline for how long the US operation will continue.In the first public remarks by an administration official since the war began on Saturday, Hegseth also said that the US did not have “boots on the ground” in Iran but that he wouldn’t speculate what “we will or will not do”. He also said that four US service members had been killed by a ballistic missile that managed to penetrate allied air defenses. Continue reading...

Mar 2, 2026 - World

First Lady Melania Trump will become the first spouse of a world leader to chair a United Nations Security Council meeting despite her husband's ongoing attacks against Iran.The U.S. first lady was expected to "emphasize education's role in advancing tolerance and world peace," according to a statement from her office.The event, first unveiled on Thursday, was not canceled after her husband, President Donald Trump, launched Operation Epic Fury in Iran.At least four U.S. service members had been killed in action, along with Iran's supreme leader and dozens of other officials.UN ambassador Mike Waltz has denied that the attack on Iran flouts international law, calling it a "ridiculous and frankly farcical assertion."

Mar 2, 2026 - World

Banner has sparked criticism as Kirk was a polarizing figure who made incendiary and often racist and sexist commentsThe US Department of Education has hung large banners outside its building in Washington DC, including one featuring an image of the late far-right commentator, Charlie Kirk.Kirk, who was shot and killed last September while speaking at a campus event a Utah Valley University, co-founded the conservative non-profit organization Turning Point USA, which advocates for and promotes conservative politics among young people, particularly on college campuses. Continue reading...

Mar 2, 2026 - World

A South Park writer has launched a new website following the death of three American troops in President Donald Trump's war with Iran, as a wave of criticism online prompted #SendBarron to trend Monday. The White House has called President Trump "the president of peace" — but the internet had a different reaction to that following his comments acknowledging that lives would be lost in the war against Iran, The Daily Beast reported. Americans started asking about whether the president's youngest son, Barron Trump, would join the fight in the "noble war." Just after the service member casualties were announced, DraftBarronTrump.com went live. The website was created by Toby Morton, a former South Park writer and comedian who has about 50 political satire websites, including those mocking the Trump-Kennedy Center, Moms for Liberty and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Morton has dubbed himself a "Creator of Anti-Fascist Websites." The parody site has several photos of Barron and the president, plus testimonials from Donald and Eric Trump. The homepage has the following message posted: "America is strong because its leaders are strong. President Trump proves that every day. Naturally, his son Barron is more than ready to defend the country his father so boldly commands. Service is honor. Strength is inherited. Dog Bless Barron."People had reactions to Barron Trump and the war with Iran on social media: "Should Barron Trump be drafted into the U.S. military so he can be shipped off to fight in his father’s war against Iran?" Democratic strategist Jon Cooper wrote on X."Barron Trump is too cowardly to join the military. Just like his brothers were," retired newspaper editor Michael Coates wrote on X."I hope Barron Trump is signing up for the military Monday morning. It’s his Dad’s war," independent journalist and podcaster Karly Kingsley wrote on Bluesky. "Will Barron Trump be signing up to fight in daddy’s war?" Investigative journalist Lisa Guerrero wrote on Bluesky. "Anybody taking bets on whether Barron Trump has 'hereditary bonespurs' to keep him out of the draft in the event this war with Iran gets larger?" Radio personality and writer Thom Hartmann wrote on Bluesky.