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March 9, 2026
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/eric-trump-calls-ayatollahs-son-an
The Borowitz Report-Eric Trump Calls Ayatollah's Son an Incompetent Moron who Only Got Position Through Nepotism
Thank you @merlinmm.bsky.social!! 💙💙💙
— Peppa Pax Pippa 🕊ï¸â˜®ï¸âœŒðŸ¼ (@peppapaxpippa.bsky.social) 2026-03-08T12:46:57.373Z
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/eric-trump-calls-ayatollahs-son-an
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In a blistering takedown of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, on Sunday Eric Trump claimed that the late Ayatollah’s son was an incompetent idiot who only attained his position through nepotism.
“The last thing the world needs is yet another total bonehead getting a leg up just because of who his dad is,” Trump said. “If this dope’s last name was Henderson instead of Khamenei, he wouldn’t even be in the conversation.”
He added that giving someone control over massive sums of money just because he had a powerful father is “a recipe for disaster.”
“What kind of backwards country showers someone with riches because of who his dad is?” Trump asked. “All I can say is, congratulations, Iran: you just chose a member of the Lucky Sperm Club.”
“The last thing the world needs is yet another total bonehead getting a leg up just because of who his dad is,” Trump said. “If this dope’s last name was Henderson instead of Khamenei, he wouldn’t even be in the conversation.”
He added that giving someone control over massive sums of money just because he had a powerful father is “a recipe for disaster.”
“What kind of backwards country showers someone with riches because of who his dad is?” Trump asked. “All I can say is, congratulations, Iran: you just chose a member of the Lucky Sperm Club.”
March 8, 2026
US service member dies from injuries suffered in Iranian attack
Source: ABC
A U.S. service member has died from injuries received during the initial attacks by the Iranian regime across the Middle East, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Sunday.
The service member, whose name was not immediately released, was seriously wounded on March 1 in an Iranian attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, according to CENTCOM.
Seven service members have now been killed in action during Operation Epic Fury, which was launched on Feb. 28, according to CENTCOM.
Read more: https://abcnews.com/International/live-updates/iran-live-updates-idf-targets-iranian-internal-security
March 8, 2026
CENTCOM officially announced the death of the 7th American servicemen lost during Trump's War in Iran.
March 8, 2026
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/07/gonzales-is-out-in-texas-and-dems-see-a-chance-to-beat-the-akguy-00817739
Gonzales is out in Texas, and Dems see a chance to beat 'The AKGuy'
Brandon Herrera’s controversial online presence and hardline politics could open another opportunity for House Democrats in a deep-red district.
Gonzales is out in Texas, and Dems see a chance to beat ‘The AKGuy’
— Politico (@politico.com) 2026-03-07T15:04:43Z
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/07/gonzales-is-out-in-texas-and-dems-see-a-chance-to-beat-the-akguy-00817739
Democrats see a new opportunity brewing deep in the heart of Texas, where Republicans solving one problem may have inadvertently created a new one.
Rep. Tony Gonzales’ decision to drop his reelection bid over an infidelity scandal has elevated Brandon Herrera, a controversial social media figure known by his handle “TheAKGuy,” to the Republican nomination for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District......
The biggest reason the race might become competitive is Herrera himself. The YouTuber, gun manufacturer and Second Amendment activist has millions of online followers — and a track record of off-color, edgelord jokes that are ripe fodder for campaign ads. Herrera has come under fire for a long history of posting Nazi imagery and his involvement in a group called Sons of Confederate Veterans. Jokes like his line “I often think about putting a gun in my mouth. So, I’m basically an honorary veteran” were a flashpoint for criticism in his 2024 primary against Gonzales......
Democrats argue Herrera has his own baggage that may be hard to overcome as well.
“Maybe I’m just an old-fashioned East Texas farm kid, but I tend to be anti-Nazi, and I have a feeling that people on the western side of the state feel a similar way,” said Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party.
“So, you know, go ahead and nominate the adulterer, sexual predator, or nominate the actual Nazi. Regardless, we outvoted them, and we’re going to do it again in November,” he added, citing Tuesday’s strong Democratic turn out in primaries up and down the ballot.
Rep. Tony Gonzales’ decision to drop his reelection bid over an infidelity scandal has elevated Brandon Herrera, a controversial social media figure known by his handle “TheAKGuy,” to the Republican nomination for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District......
The biggest reason the race might become competitive is Herrera himself. The YouTuber, gun manufacturer and Second Amendment activist has millions of online followers — and a track record of off-color, edgelord jokes that are ripe fodder for campaign ads. Herrera has come under fire for a long history of posting Nazi imagery and his involvement in a group called Sons of Confederate Veterans. Jokes like his line “I often think about putting a gun in my mouth. So, I’m basically an honorary veteran” were a flashpoint for criticism in his 2024 primary against Gonzales......
Democrats argue Herrera has his own baggage that may be hard to overcome as well.
“Maybe I’m just an old-fashioned East Texas farm kid, but I tend to be anti-Nazi, and I have a feeling that people on the western side of the state feel a similar way,” said Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party.
“So, you know, go ahead and nominate the adulterer, sexual predator, or nominate the actual Nazi. Regardless, we outvoted them, and we’re going to do it again in November,” he added, citing Tuesday’s strong Democratic turn out in primaries up and down the ballot.
March 8, 2026
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/07/gonzales-is-out-in-texas-and-dems-see-a-chance-to-beat-the-akguy-00817739
Gonzales is out in Texas, and Dems see a chance to beat 'The AKGuy'
Brandon Herrera’s controversial online presence and hardline politics could open another opportunity for House Democrats in a deep-red district.
Gonzales is out in Texas, and Dems see a chance to beat ‘The AKGuy’
— Politico (@politico.com) 2026-03-07T15:04:43Z
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/07/gonzales-is-out-in-texas-and-dems-see-a-chance-to-beat-the-akguy-00817739
Democrats see a new opportunity brewing deep in the heart of Texas, where Republicans solving one problem may have inadvertently created a new one.
Rep. Tony Gonzales’ decision to drop his reelection bid over an infidelity scandal has elevated Brandon Herrera, a controversial social media figure known by his handle “TheAKGuy,” to the Republican nomination for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District......
The biggest reason the race might become competitive is Herrera himself. The YouTuber, gun manufacturer and Second Amendment activist has millions of online followers — and a track record of off-color, edgelord jokes that are ripe fodder for campaign ads. Herrera has come under fire for a long history of posting Nazi imagery and his involvement in a group called Sons of Confederate Veterans. Jokes like his line “I often think about putting a gun in my mouth. So, I’m basically an honorary veteran” were a flashpoint for criticism in his 2024 primary against Gonzales......
Democrats argue Herrera has his own baggage that may be hard to overcome as well.
“Maybe I’m just an old-fashioned East Texas farm kid, but I tend to be anti-Nazi, and I have a feeling that people on the western side of the state feel a similar way,” said Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party.
“So, you know, go ahead and nominate the adulterer, sexual predator, or nominate the actual Nazi. Regardless, we outvoted them, and we’re going to do it again in November,” he added, citing Tuesday’s strong Democratic turn out in primaries up and down the ballot.
Rep. Tony Gonzales’ decision to drop his reelection bid over an infidelity scandal has elevated Brandon Herrera, a controversial social media figure known by his handle “TheAKGuy,” to the Republican nomination for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District......
The biggest reason the race might become competitive is Herrera himself. The YouTuber, gun manufacturer and Second Amendment activist has millions of online followers — and a track record of off-color, edgelord jokes that are ripe fodder for campaign ads. Herrera has come under fire for a long history of posting Nazi imagery and his involvement in a group called Sons of Confederate Veterans. Jokes like his line “I often think about putting a gun in my mouth. So, I’m basically an honorary veteran” were a flashpoint for criticism in his 2024 primary against Gonzales......
Democrats argue Herrera has his own baggage that may be hard to overcome as well.
“Maybe I’m just an old-fashioned East Texas farm kid, but I tend to be anti-Nazi, and I have a feeling that people on the western side of the state feel a similar way,” said Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party.
“So, you know, go ahead and nominate the adulterer, sexual predator, or nominate the actual Nazi. Regardless, we outvoted them, and we’re going to do it again in November,” he added, citing Tuesday’s strong Democratic turn out in primaries up and down the ballot.
March 8, 2026
Everything including pardons are up for sale under trump
Pardon Industry Offers Rich Offenders a Path to Trump (NYT Gift Link)
One inmate paid lobbyists and lawyers with ties to the president’s team and walked free. Others are following his blueprint, but it is not always clear who can deliver.
https://x.com/mloughlin/status/2029985658370920895
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/us/politics/schwartz-trump-pardon-industry.html?unlocked_article_code=1.RFA.qWQq.NYiRCtODpjfK&smid=url-share
One evening last November, word spread around the federal prison camp in Otisville, N.Y., that an inmate who had spent heavily to pursue clemency had hit pay dirt, winning a pardon from President Trump and walking free.
His release intensified an ongoing debate for those who were left behind. Whom could they pay to achieve the same result?....
Nearly a million dollars went to right-wing operatives who claimed to have worked with Laura Loomer, a social media provocateur who has the ear of Mr. Trump, to advocate for Mr. Schwartz’s release. Another $100,000 or more was paid to a lobbyist who had a different set of connections to Mr. Trump — pro-Israel evangelicals.
Thousands more went to lawyers who had personal relationships with Alice Marie Johnson, Mr. Trump’s “pardon czar,” and David Warrington, the White House counsel, according to four people familiar with the effort.....
But the costly campaign offers rare visibility into the lucrative pardon industry that has emerged around Mr. Trump.
It is based in part on the proposition that paying the right person to deliver a message tailored to Mr. Trump’s politics or grievances is more important than demonstrating remorse or a low likelihood of recidivism.
A growing number of practitioners promise access in this murky enterprise, but some also may exaggerate their effectiveness to elicit payments from clients desperate to avoid incarceration. Pardon seekers routinely offer to pay as much as $1 million or more, often with bonus payments triggered by a successful outcome, according to lobbying filings and people familiar with the fees.
This transactional approach to clemency has been welcomed by white-collar offenders like those serving time at the Otisville camp, a minimum-security facility about 75 miles northwest of Manhattan......
In all, lobbying firms disclosed receiving payments of nearly $5.2 million last year from clients seeking clemency from Mr. Trump for individual clients — about eight times more than was disclosed in 2024 from people seeking clemency from former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. — according to congressional filings. But that likely reflects only a fraction of the spending by clemency seekers, since most pardon advocates claim that their efforts represent legal work that is exempt from lobbying disclosure laws.
As word circulated about successful paid clemency campaigns, more inmates sought out their own pardon fixers claiming access to the president, said Walt Pavlo, who served two years himself starting in 2001 for his role in a fraud scheme and now serves as a consultant for people facing prison time.
His release intensified an ongoing debate for those who were left behind. Whom could they pay to achieve the same result?....
Nearly a million dollars went to right-wing operatives who claimed to have worked with Laura Loomer, a social media provocateur who has the ear of Mr. Trump, to advocate for Mr. Schwartz’s release. Another $100,000 or more was paid to a lobbyist who had a different set of connections to Mr. Trump — pro-Israel evangelicals.
Thousands more went to lawyers who had personal relationships with Alice Marie Johnson, Mr. Trump’s “pardon czar,” and David Warrington, the White House counsel, according to four people familiar with the effort.....
But the costly campaign offers rare visibility into the lucrative pardon industry that has emerged around Mr. Trump.
It is based in part on the proposition that paying the right person to deliver a message tailored to Mr. Trump’s politics or grievances is more important than demonstrating remorse or a low likelihood of recidivism.
A growing number of practitioners promise access in this murky enterprise, but some also may exaggerate their effectiveness to elicit payments from clients desperate to avoid incarceration. Pardon seekers routinely offer to pay as much as $1 million or more, often with bonus payments triggered by a successful outcome, according to lobbying filings and people familiar with the fees.
This transactional approach to clemency has been welcomed by white-collar offenders like those serving time at the Otisville camp, a minimum-security facility about 75 miles northwest of Manhattan......
In all, lobbying firms disclosed receiving payments of nearly $5.2 million last year from clients seeking clemency from Mr. Trump for individual clients — about eight times more than was disclosed in 2024 from people seeking clemency from former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. — according to congressional filings. But that likely reflects only a fraction of the spending by clemency seekers, since most pardon advocates claim that their efforts represent legal work that is exempt from lobbying disclosure laws.
As word circulated about successful paid clemency campaigns, more inmates sought out their own pardon fixers claiming access to the president, said Walt Pavlo, who served two years himself starting in 2001 for his role in a fraud scheme and now serves as a consultant for people facing prison time.
Everything including pardons are up for sale under trump
March 8, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-iran-mistake/
Leaked classified report undercut Trump's Iran plans a week before he started war: WaPo
trump will NOT be successful in his efforts at regime change
Three members of the Donald Trump administration have confirmed to the Washington Post that a classified document created by the National Intelligence Council poured cold water on the president's hopes about regime change in Iran following his war launch.
— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-03-07T22:00:12.962Z
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-iran-mistake/
Three members of the Donald Trump administration have confirmed to the Washington Post that a classified document created by the National Intelligence Council poured cold water on the president’s hopes about regime change in Iran following his war launch.
According to the Post, the warning was completed a week before the president gave the go-ahead for the Department of Defense, under Secretary Pete Hegseth to proceed with the bombings on February 28th.
The classified report examined succession scenarios under two potential military scenarios: a targeted campaign against Iran's leadership or a broader assault on its government institutions. In both cases, intelligence analysts concluded that "Iran's clerical and military establishment would respond to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by following protocols designed to preserve continuity of power," according to those familiar with the findings......
Suzanne Maloney, an Iran scholar and vice president at the Brookings Institution, characterized the NIC assessment as credible, stating: "It sounds like a deeply informed assessment of the Iranian system and the institutions and processes that have been established for many years."
According to the Post, the warning was completed a week before the president gave the go-ahead for the Department of Defense, under Secretary Pete Hegseth to proceed with the bombings on February 28th.
The classified report examined succession scenarios under two potential military scenarios: a targeted campaign against Iran's leadership or a broader assault on its government institutions. In both cases, intelligence analysts concluded that "Iran's clerical and military establishment would respond to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by following protocols designed to preserve continuity of power," according to those familiar with the findings......
Suzanne Maloney, an Iran scholar and vice president at the Brookings Institution, characterized the NIC assessment as credible, stating: "It sounds like a deeply informed assessment of the Iranian system and the institutions and processes that have been established for many years."
March 8, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/putin-oil-iran/
Putin has 'renewed swagger' after Trump hands him a big win: WSJ
Putin had nearly bankrupted Russia. Now trump is allowing Putin to sell oil to India. Putin is being given a lifeline by trump's attack on Iran and the disruption of the energy markets
Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin's declining fortunes have taken a major turn for the better because Donald Trump's war on Iran has given the staggering Russian economy a shot in the arm as oil prices lurch upward.
— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-03-08T01:00:11Z
https://www.rawstory.com/putin-oil-iran/
Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin’s declining fortunes have taken a major turn for the better because Donald Trump’s war on Iran has given the staggering Russian economy a shot in the arm as oil prices lurch upward.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Russian crude that was languishing unsold just days ago has become a hot commodity. The U.S. has eased sanctions on Russian oil, opening the door for key buyers to increase purchases. With oil and natural gas prices surging, Russian producers are reaping substantial profits.
The shift is already visible in global markets. In India, traders who previously demanded steep discounts to purchase Russian oil are now attempting to sell at prices above global benchmarks—a dramatic reversal.
"The longer that this conflict goes on, the world will increasingly rely on both Russian crude oil and Russian refined products," said Naveen Das, senior crude analyst at Kpler.....
Global benchmark Brent crude has surged nearly 30 percent since the attacks began. While higher prices normally benefit all oil producers, disruption in the Gulf has crippled Russia's primary competitors in that region, leaving Moscow uniquely positioned to capitalize on the crisis.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Russian crude that was languishing unsold just days ago has become a hot commodity. The U.S. has eased sanctions on Russian oil, opening the door for key buyers to increase purchases. With oil and natural gas prices surging, Russian producers are reaping substantial profits.
The shift is already visible in global markets. In India, traders who previously demanded steep discounts to purchase Russian oil are now attempting to sell at prices above global benchmarks—a dramatic reversal.
"The longer that this conflict goes on, the world will increasingly rely on both Russian crude oil and Russian refined products," said Naveen Das, senior crude analyst at Kpler.....
Global benchmark Brent crude has surged nearly 30 percent since the attacks began. While higher prices normally benefit all oil producers, disruption in the Gulf has crippled Russia's primary competitors in that region, leaving Moscow uniquely positioned to capitalize on the crisis.
March 8, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2675780226
'Head unbowed': Trump buried for showing 'total disrespect' at service for fallen soldiers
trump did not trust his "hair" to cover up his balding head and so wore a baseball cap to this ceremony. trump put his personal appearance over the honoring of these troops
'Head unbowed': Trump buried for showing 'total disrespect' at service for fallen soldiers
— Blue Freedom Quest 💙🌊💙🌊 (@bluefreedomquest.bsky.social) 2026-03-07T22:43:46.145Z
www.rawstory.com/trump-267578...
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2675780226
Donald Trump came under fire on Saturday for his behavior during a solemn moment in which six fallen soldiers killed in the president's onslaught against Iran were honored.
The president was seen during the event standing upright while others bowed their heads. He was also wearing a white baseball cap during the typically solemn event, which was broadcast in complete silence on CNN.
That Trump behavior didn't sit well with numerous analysts, including Assistant Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks, who wrote, "Head unbowed and baseball cap in white. Total disrespect."
https://x.com/JillWineBanks/status/2030394296117920241
The president was seen during the event standing upright while others bowed their heads. He was also wearing a white baseball cap during the typically solemn event, which was broadcast in complete silence on CNN.
That Trump behavior didn't sit well with numerous analysts, including Assistant Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks, who wrote, "Head unbowed and baseball cap in white. Total disrespect."
https://x.com/JillWineBanks/status/2030394296117920241
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