Steve Schmidt: Trump Is a TOTAL Flop

Mar 27, 2026 | Trump's approval is cratering at 36%, the Iran war enters its second month with no end in sight, and gas prices keep climbing while he tells America the economy has never been better. Steve Schmidt delivers his verdict on a week that proves Trump is losing on every front.

Trump is such a know-nothing lightweight. He should have stuck with reality TV, or maybe with real estate! If Trump had done that, he would have had far fewer headaches, and so would we! The global economy would have been in a far healthier state, very many people would still be alive, and billions of dollars’ worth of damage in the Middle East would have been avoided. America’s national debt, already alarmingly high, would not be being swollen by the billion by the day, and inflation would not be set to go through the roof. Further, a probable wave of immigrants, people who have been made homeless by the relentless bombings, would not be about to start moving westward, which is now a distinct probability. In short, Trump has done what he always does: Screw everything up! — © Mark Alexander

A War of Regression: How Trump Bombed the US into a Worse Position with Iran

THE GUARDIAN: Analysts fear Iran has played a weak hand well and the US has blundered into a defining strategic failure

Four weeks into a war that was going to take four days, and that has so far cost the US about $30-40bn and Israel $300m a day, Washington is further away from a diplomatic agreement with Iran than it was in May 2025.

Not only has the war failed to persuade Iran to agree to dismantle its nuclear programme in the comprehensive and irreversible way the US demanded in a 15-point paper that it tabled on 23 May last year, Washington is now having to negotiate to reopen the strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that has been open ever since the invention of the dhow, with a short exception of a tanker war in the 1980s between Iran and Iraq.

This regression is proving to be perplexing for the American high command. Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defence, recently said that “the only thing prohibiting transit in the strait right now is Iran shooting at shipping”, but this was not quite right. Iran has not been shooting at shipping that much in recent weeks. Instead, it is the fear of Iran shooting at shipping that is scaring off insurers and tanker owners.

Still worse from the US perspective, Iran has set up a waterside stall whereby prime ministers and tanker owners can bargain with the Iranian navy over the toll they are willing to pay for their tankers to be given “free passage”. Iran plans to turn the strait into a money spinner, just as Egypt charges for access to the Suez canal. By some calculations, given the massive scale of the traffic that passes through the strait each year, Iran could raise $80bn a year. If a law currently being rushed through the Iranian parliament passes, tankers carrying oil from favoured non-hostile nations such as India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea and China will be waved through or offered cheaper rates. » | Patrick Wintour | Diplomatic editor | Friday, March 27, 2026

Trump Has 'No Idea' What He’s Gotten into on Iran | David Cay Johnston

Mar 27, 2026 | On this episode of The Trump Report, Fergus Macphee is joined by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist David Cay Johnston. They discuss conflicting reports from the US that the President has extended a pause on striking Iranian energy facilities, meanwhile 10,000 additional troops could be deployed. David believes the President is in a difficult situation.

"Quagmire": Jeremy Scahill on Iran War, Strait of Hormuz, Market Manipulation & More

Mar 27, 2026 | Drop Site News's Jeremy Scahill joins Democracy Now! to discuss the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, including President Donald Trump's lies about U.S. strategy and negotiations with Iran, possible avenues of U.S. escalation and what Scahill has learned about Iranian strategy in conversations with Iranian officials. "They want to cause enough pain to the world economy … [so] that any nation that thinks of attacking Iran again is going to do so knowing that these are the consequences," he explains.

Drop Site News.

Democracy Now! can be supported here.

« Nous voulons des alliés fiers de leur culture » : Marco Rubio, émissaire de l’Amérique qui aime encore l’Europe à condition qu’elle change

LE FIGARO : ANALYSE - Le secrétaire d’État américain est arrivé à Paris pour le sommet du G7. Depuis un an, il incarne le messager d’une Amérique souhaitant réaffirmer l’alliance transatlantique, mais tout en la soumettant à certaines conditions redéfinies bon gré mal gré par Donald Trump.

Dans une histoire d’amour, mieux vaut savoir lire entre les lignes. Surtout avec Donald Trump. Après plus d’un an de mandat d’un président qui aura bousculé, chahuté, brusqué et parfois humilié ses alliés, certains au centre de son administration ou parmi ses anciens alliés ont à cœur de faire dire à l’Amérique ces mots doux que l’Europe (et ses 450 millions de citoyens consommateurs de produits américains) aime tant entendre. Marco Rubio, attendu aux Vaux-de-Cernay pour rencontrer ses homologues européens rassemblés autour de Jean-Noël Barrot pour évoquer les nombreuses crises géopolitiques actuelles, est l’un d’entre eux.

Difficile d’imaginer qu’il apporte de grandes concessions sur les ambitions du président américain qui semble continuer de vouloir mener une guerre qu’il a pourtant annoncé avoir déjà gagné le 11 mars dernier. Mais à l’heure où les relations entre les États-Unis et l’Europe sont en pleine reconfiguration, et où certains l’évoquent comme potentiel successeur à Donald Trump, il est bon de savoir qui est Marco Rubio et de quelle Amérique il se fait l’émissaire. » | Par Vincent Jolly, pour Le Figaro Magazine | vendredi 27 mars 2026

Réservé aux abonnés

Breaking: US Plans Weekend Iran Invasion. Devastating Consequences | Amb. Chas Freeman

Mar 27, 2026 | Donald Trump seems to think that "signalling de-escalation" by announcing that hits on Iranian gas facilities have been further suspended until April 6 would lull Iran into believing they are safe for now.

But we know that the US is finishing its troop amassment in the region. The logical conclusion: the US is planning another sneak attack over a weekend with the hope that once markets are closed the troops would have two days to capture either some important economic infrastructure that will calm the oil traders or even create the fundament for gaining control over the Strait of Hormuz. What a folly!

I'm discussing today with Ambassador Chas Freeman, a former top official in the Department of Defence and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

The International Criminal Court Is about to Arrest Netanyahu for War Crimes | Jeffrey Sachs

March 27, 2026

Saudi Arabia Urging US to Ramp Up Iran Attacks, Intelligence Source Confirms

THE GUARDIAN: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is said to view US-Israeli war as ‘historic opportunity’ to remake Middle East

Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Mohammed bin Salman has urged Trump not to cut short war, according to New York Times report confirmed by a Saudi intelligence source. Photograph: AP
Saudi Arabia has urged the US to ramp up attacks on Iran, a Saudi intelligence source has confirmed, while it is weighing a decision on whether to join the fight directly.

The Saudi source confirmed reporting in the New York Times, which said the kingdom’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has urged Donald Trump not to cut short his war against Iran, and that the US-Israeli campaign represented a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East.

The intelligence source said Riyadh was not just calling for the military campaign to be continued, but to be intensified. Trump appeared to confirm the report about the crown prince’s role, telling journalists on Tuesday: “Yeah, he’s a warrior. He’s fighting with us.”

There are no reports of active Saudi military involvement in the nearly four-week-old war so far, but a Saudi political analyst said the kingdom was likely to take that step if current peace efforts led by Pakistan failed.

“What matters now is Iran’s decision,” Mohammed Alhamed, a Saudi geopolitical analyst, said. “If Iran engages seriously, there is still a path to contain escalation. If it rejects the conditions and continues its attacks, the threshold for Saudi action will be crossed.”

Alhamed added that Saudi Arabia “is not reacting impulsively”. » | Julian Borger and Aram Roston in Washington | Friday, March 27, 2026

Wallahi! as a Muslim might say. So much for brotherhood in Islam! Calling in the infidel to fight your brothers and sisters in Islam!

Actually, this should not surprise us. Not at all! This is a clear manifestation of the Sunni-Shia divide in Islam. Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni, though not exclusively. The Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia is home to a significant Shia population, much to the chagrin of the Saudi ruling class. Iran, by contrast, is Shia, though even in Iran, there is a significant Sunni minority, estimated as being between 5 and 10% of the whole population.

Unbeknownst to Trump, he has got himself into a fine pickle with this unnecessary and illegal war, because he has unknowingly enmeshed himself in one of the greatest and most troubling divides in Islam. The distrust and often hatred between Sunnis and Shias goes back centuries and is, in many ways, legendary. It is very much part of the historical narrative. Trump has fallen into the trap. He has become ensnared in a religious and political schism.

This could get ugly. Very ugly! — © Mark Alexander

Trump Extends Deadline for Iran to Re-open Strait of Hormuz as Stock Markets Fall | BBC News

President Trump has claimed that talks with Iran are “going very well” and he’s said he’s giving its leaders a further 10 days to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, before launching threatened attacks on the country’s energy sites.

In a post on his Truth Social media platform Trump wrote: "As per Iranian Government request... I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days.”

Earlier, the US president said the US would be Iran’s “worst nightmare” if it doesn’t agree to a peace plan. His special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that he has sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran.

Trump said talks with Iran were continuing and claimed it had let some oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “present” to him. Iran has denied that talks to end the war are taking place.

US stocks fell again, adding to steep falls seen since the start of the war.

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Gary O’Donoghue, Faisal Islam and James Landale.

Spain’s PM Responds to Trump’s Threats to ‘Cut Off’ Trade | WSJ

Mar 26, 2026 | Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is one of the rare European leaders taking on President Trump. In an interview with WSJ’s Gordon Fairclough, Sanchez argues that blind alignment with the U.S. on the conflict in Iran is a mistake and calls for a more autonomous EU.

„Niemand kann mich stoppen“: Satz von Trump enthüllt seinen wahren Plan für die USA

Mar 26, 2026 | New York – „Niemand kann mich stoppen“, sagte Donald Trump in einem Interview mit der New York Times. Seine Macht sei ausschließlich von seiner Moral und seinem Verstand begrenzt. Er bräuchte kein internationales Recht. Ebenfalls Trump: Der Iran-Krieg endet, wenn ich es in meinen Knochen verspüre. Das Schicksal der Welt abhängig von dem Bauchgefühl eines Mannes, den augenscheinlich niemand und nichts stoppen kann. In I …

Trump Says Americans Should Like the War in Iran Because Iranians “Throw Gays Off the Buildings”

LGBTQ NATION: Meanwhile, Trump and his cronies have relentlessly supported people and policies that seek to decimate LGBTQ+ rights.

Donald Trump recently told Americans they should be grateful for the war in Iran because Iranians “throw gays off the buildings” and Americans don’t do that.

Trump made the comment during a conversation earlier this month with MAGA influencer and boxer Jake Paul.

Paul lavished praise on Trump for attacking Iran, telling him it was a “phenomenal” decision.

“I was shocked that so many activists in America didn’t like it,” Paul said, “but meanwhile they’re like, we support women, we want women to have all these rights. Meanwhile, you’re liberating the women of Iran, and then they have an issue with it. I thought that was very confusing.”

Trump then replied with a series of lies: “We support gays, but they throw gays off the buildings… I think I have tremendous support on this. This is something that’s been incredible. I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had now, and it’s not because of this, I think. You know, the economy’s great. You take a little bit of a winding road for a little while, but you have to wipe out the evil. It’s an evil place. They’re evil people.” » | Molly Sprayregen | Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Just imagine the jollity and rejoicing in Iran if Iranians had the opportunity to throw Trump off a building! — © Mark Alexander

Why Trump's War Has Made Iran More Dangerous - Interview with Danny Citrinowicz

Mar 26, 2026 | What did Trump and Israel get wrong in their war with Iran, and can the remaining elements of the regime hold out?

We speak to Danny Citrinowicz, the former head of the Iran branch in the Research and Analysis Division in Israel Defense Intelligence and now Senior Researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies.

Citrinowicz says one of Trump's "biggest mistakes" was assuming the regime would fall as soon as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed - when in fact it has left an even more emboldened and radicalised regime in his place.

He says what's left is a series of "bad options" for the US president and Israel.

Richard Wolff: Iran War Destroys Global Economy & US Empire

Mar 25, 2026 | Prof Richard Wolff discusses the global consequences of the US war against Iran, which is destroying the Trump presidency, the US Empire, and the global economy.

Donald Trump Surrounded by Sycophants Laps Up Endless Praise

Mar 24, 2026 | Jesse discusses Donald Trump’s latest meeting with his cabinet, held solely to boost his ego, with particular emphasis on comments from Stephen Miller and Kash Patel.

Strong language alert!

Only Americans suffering from softening of the brain would believe the cr** coming out of the mouths of people like Stephen Miller and Kash Patel! — © Mark Alexander

Steve Schmidt: Trump Will Drown in His Mess

Mar 25, 2026 | Trump claimed victory in Iran but is sending more American troops into a war he never had a plan to win. Steve Schmidt exposes Trump's sick charade as he gets ready to drop more bombs.

The West is being led by a bunch of lunatics and clowns. Maybe it’s time for sane people to convert to Islam! — © Mark Alexander

Jeffrey Sachs: Iran Is the Graveyard of American Hegemony

Mar 25, 2026 | Prof. Jeffrey Sachs argues that Trump is becoming increasingly irrational and that the miscalculations in the war against Iran reveal problems of a decadent hegemony.

Professor Marandi Explains How Trump’s’Negotiations’ Claims Are False

Prof Marandi has got Trump’s number.

Trump Says War Is Won and Blames Hegseth for Conflict in Iran

Mar 25, 2026 | The most revealing part of President Donald Trump’s latest comments about the war with Iran isn’t the strategy—it’s the impulse behind how he talks about it. In a single stretch of remarks, he managed to do two things that rarely coexist comfortably in serious statecraft: casually assign credit for the start of a war and publicly narrate supposed diplomatic progress that the other side insists doesn’t exist. If nothing else, it underscores a defining trait of his leadership style—an inability to keep sensitive matters contained.

Iran will not negotiate with the Trump regime until the terms are right. The powers-that-be in Iran are determined to end this war, when it ends, on their terms., not Trump’s. That means to say that they want the US out of the Middle East, they want US bases closed. They want to put an end to US influence in the region. What Trump says is all show. As always, he talks 'BIGLY'. — © Mark Alexander

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Saudi Leader Is Said to Push Trump to Continue Iran War in Recent Calls

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees a “historic opportunity” to remake the region, according to people briefed by U.S. officials on the conversations.

Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | President Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia at the White House last year.| Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been pushing President Trump to continue the war against Iran, arguing that the U.S.-Israeli military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East, according to people briefed by American officials on the conversations.

In a series of conversations over the last week, Prince Mohammed has conveyed to Mr. Trump that he must press toward the destruction of Iran’s hard-line government, the people familiar with the conversations said.

Prince Mohammed, the people familiar with the discussions said, has argued that Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf that can only be eliminated by getting rid of the government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel also views Iran as a long-term threat, but analysts say Israeli officials would probably view a failed Iranian state that is too caught up in internal turmoil to menace Israel as a win, while Saudi Arabia views a failed state in Iran as a grave and direct security threat.

But senior officials in both the Saudi and American governments worry that if the conflict drags on, Iran could deliver ever more punishing attacks on Saudi oil installations and the United States could be stuck in an endless war. » | Julian E. Barnes, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt | Reporting from Washington | Tuesday, March 24, 2026