Episode Details

Today’s Headlines: The Iran war's bill just got a lot bigger — the Pentagon is asking Congress for $200 billion, on top of the $12 billion already spent, while Trump insists he's "not putting troops anywhere" in a statement that inspired exactly zero confidence. Israel struck the South Pars Gas Field — the largest natural gas field in the world, shared by Iran and Qatar — damaging Qatari energy infrastructure, hitting an American F-35, and triggering retaliatory Iranian strikes across the region. Trump posted that the U.S. "knew nothing" about the attack, Israel immediately said that wasn't true, then Trump said he'd actually warned them not to do it — so he did know — and then threatened to blow up the entire gas field himself if Iran touches Qatar. Oil and gas prices climbed further, the stock market dropped, and seven allies — the UK, Japan, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and one more — announced they'd help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump accepted graciously by screaming in all caps that he doesn't need anyone's help. Also, Trump told Japan's prime minister "who knows better about surprise than Japan, why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor" — an actual thing he said out loud. Elsewhere in global chaos: Hungary's Viktor Orban blocked a $100 billion EU loan to Ukraine, potentially threatening the country's ability to keep its government running. Canada announced it's building its own sovereign space program to reduce dependence on Starlink. Two Iranian citizens were charged in the UK with spying on Jewish institutions on behalf of Iranian intelligence. And in one of the most cold-blooded moves yet, the U.S. State Department is reportedly considering withholding HIV medication from 1.3 million people in Zambia as leverage to extract a minerals deal — because apparently that's a negotiating tactic now. Markwayne Mullin's DHS nomination cleared committee 8-7, with Rand Paul voting no and John Fetterman voting yes, because nothing means anything anymore. Full Senate vote is next, outcome predictable.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

NYT: Pentagon Seeks Additional $200 Billion to Fund Iran War

NYT: Israeli Officials Said U.S. Was Told About South Pars Attack

Axios: After Tehran strikes, Trump says Israel won't attack Iran gas fields anymore

Axios: Seven U.S. allies back potential Strait of Hormuz coalition

NBC News: Trump makes Pearl Harbor joke during meeting with Japanese prime minister

NYT: 2 Men Charged With Spying for Iran on Jewish Institutions in UK

WSJ: Ukraine Suffers Money Setback After Hungary Blocks $100 Billion From Europe

NYT: Canada Takes Its Sovereignty Push to Space

NYT: U.S. Considers Withholding H.I.V. Aid Unless Zambia Expands Minerals Access

AP News:

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