Good morning everyone. There is a lot of major news to cover this Monday morning. A criminal referral is being sent to the Justice Department regarding Kristi Noem. Donald Trump spent the evening lashing out at critics ranging from the Supreme Court to Republicans who do not support his war in Iran, while also defending his PAC for using a photo from a dignified transfer in a fundraising email.
At the same time, Trump is calling for the criminal prosecution of media companies for treason for sharing videos he claims are AI related to the war in Iran that he does not like. He is also making clear that the chairman of the FCC is looking into revoking the broadcast licenses of several media organizations.
The attack on the media has never been greater, and it is exactly why independent journalism matters right now. We do not answer to any one person and we do not tailor our coverage to the demands of the administration, no matter who is in the White House. Subscribe to support my work, help continue building this independent media brand, and let’s bring accurate reporting to millions more people together.
Here’s the news:
- According to Scott MacFarlane, who is a friend and recently left CBS to be independent, Congressional Democrats, led by Dick Durbin and Jamie Raskin, are sending a referral to the U.S. Department of Justice requesting an investigation into whether outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem committed perjury during congressional testimony earlier in March. Previously, Republican Senator John Kennedy also suggested Noem lied under oath:
- The referral alleges that several of Noem’s statements to Congress—about a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign, conditions in immigrant detention facilities, the detention of U.S. citizens, and compliance with federal court orders—may have been false or misleading.
- During a press exchange, Donald Trump defended a fundraising email from his PAC that used photos of him at a military dignified transfer, saying he believed the message was appropriate and arguing that no one has been more supportive of the U.S. military than he has. When questioned by a reporter from ABC News about criticism of the email, Trump dismissed the outlet as “one of the worst, most fake, most corrupt” and said he did not want further questions from them.
- Donald Trump said that U.S. media outlets could face serious legal risk for publishing information he claims they know is false, arguing that spreading knowingly inaccurate reporting is “pretty criminal,” undermines their credibility, and poses a danger to the country.
- During an exchange with a reporter from ABC News, Donald Trump declined to explain the purpose of sending 5,000 Marines and sailors and instead told the reporter to be quiet, calling them “a very obnoxious person.”
- When asked by a reporter for comment on six deceased U.S. service members, Donald Trump did not respond to the substance of the question and instead ignored it, saying “Go ahead. Who else?” as he moved on to another reporter.
- Donald Trump accused unnamed media outlets of knowingly publishing a “fake” story and suggested they could face treason charges for spreading false information, while praising Brendan Carr for examining the broadcast licenses of what Trump called corrupt and unpatriotic news organizations.
- In a statement, Donald Trump said that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is central to the MAGA movement, calling the Iranian government a “sick, demented, and violent terrorist regime” and arguing that stopping its nuclear ambitions is necessary to protect the United States, the Middle East, and global security while praising the U.S. military and his efforts to rebuild it.
- In a phone call with the Financial Times, Donald Trump warned that it would “be very bad for the future of NATO” if allies refuse to help secure the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, pressing NATO countries and other major economies to send warships to escort shipping through the vital oil corridor. Several allies have responded cautiously or rejected the idea of a NATO mission, highlighting tensions within the alliance over involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict.
- Donald Trump criticized the Supreme Court of the United States, claiming the country had been “ransacked” by the court and accusing it of becoming a weaponized and unjust political organization.
- Several European countries are resisting pressure from Donald Trump to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with leaders such as Antonio Tajani saying existing EU naval missions are defensive and not intended to expand into the strait. Officials including Xavier Bettel also signaled reluctance to commit troops or military assets, reflecting broader caution across Europe as governments weigh the risks of being drawn deeper into the escalating conflict and instead emphasize diplomatic or limited support measures.
- Australia has declined requests from Donald Trump to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, signaling reluctance to become directly involved in the effort to reopen the vital oil shipping corridor amid the escalating regional conflict.
- According to a report by the New York Post, U.S. intelligence officials told Donald Trump that Mojtaba Khamenei may be gay, an allegation reportedly based on classified intelligence sources and longstanding rumors about his personal life. The report says Trump and some aides reacted with surprise and laughter during the briefing, though the claim has not been publicly confirmed and comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
- Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom will not be drawn into a broader Middle East war, emphasizing that the government’s priority is to work with allies toward a swift resolution to the conflict rather than expanding its military involvement.
- China said it is continuing diplomatic communication with the United States about an upcoming visit by Donald Trump, despite Trump threatening to delay the trip unless Beijing helps reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively shut down. Chinese officials said a planned summit between Trump and Xi Jinping remains under discussion while urging all parties to halt military actions and avoid further escalation that could disrupt global economic stability.
- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is not seeking a ceasefire in the current conflict because it wants the war to end in a way that deters future attacks, arguing that Iran must demonstrate it will defend itself and continue fighting as long as necessary to ensure its adversaries do not attempt similar actions again.
- According to Reuters, Israel Katz said the Israel Defense Forces has begun a ground maneuver in Lebanon aimed at removing threats and securing northern Israel, warning that hundreds of thousands of Shiite residents displaced from southern Lebanon and Beirut will not be allowed to return south of the Litani River until Israel says the region is safe.
- NBC News has confirmed that Cuba will allow Cuban nationals living abroad—including many in the Miami area—to invest in and own private businesses on the island as part of new economic reforms aimed at reviving its struggling economy, according to Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga. The move comes amid an energy crisis, protests, and pressure from the administration of Donald Trump, with Cuban officials blaming U.S. sanctions for limiting access to fuel, technology, and financing while also confirming that talks have begun between Havana and Washington about future relations.
- According to NBC, former Return to Nature Funeral Home co-owner Carie Hallford faces up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for taking more than $130,000 from families for cremations while often giving them urns filled with concrete instead of ashes and helping conceal nearly 200 decomposing bodies at the facility.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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