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Joe Kent Makes Genuine Plea To Trump: "Address The Israeli Issue"
Joe Kent Makes Genuine Plea To Trump: "Address The Israeli Issue"
Recently-resigned director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent told http://antiwar.com/ editor Scott Horton that a narrow window for de-escalation still exists, but only if Donald Trump is willing to confront what Kent repeatedly described as the core constraint on U.S. strategy: Israel.
“I think he's got to address the Israeli issue first and foremost… and demand and force them to stop going on the offense.”
Kent addressed Trump’s recent public comments urging restraint, specifically that Israel halt strikes on energy infrastructure, but warned that rhetorical pressure alone would prove ineffective. According to Kent, past behavior suggests compliance would be temporary at best.
“If you tell them that they need to stop… they might back off for a week or so, but they're not going to listen to you.”
https://t.co/BEeBTR6zs3
— ZeroHedge Debates (@zerohedgeDebate) https://twitter.com/zerohedgeDebate/status/2035064192156201052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“Take Away Their Ability”
Kent outlined what he sees as the only viable leverage: withdrawing U.S. defensive support unless Israel shifts fully to a defensive posture.
“You have to take away their ability to do that… we’re not going to support you while you’re on the offense.”
Tying American support to Israeli operational restraint would be a massive structural change in the U.S.-Israel relationship (if actually carried out in practice) as it is something rarely done by past Presidents on both sides of the aisle.
Kent argued that U.S. and Israeli endgames in Iran are no longer aligned. While Washington may seek limited military objectives, he described Israel’s aims as far more expansive, and far more destabilizing.
“The Israelis want full regime change… and have a very high tolerance for chaos.”
He warned that such an outcome would carry severe downstream consequences from increased terrorism threats in the continental U.S. to yet another immigration crisis for Europe to unsustainable oil prices.
“That would be absolutely catastrophic… for the world energy trade.”
A Narrow Window For A Deal
Despite the escalation, Kent believes President Trump can still make a deal and secure a diplomatic off-ramp, signaling that backchannel negotiations could be underway already.
“We already saw… [Bessent] talking about lifting the sanctions on some of the Iranian oil that's already on the water.”
Kent emphasized that “only Donald Trump can do it,” showing there is still optimism for the President he served just days ago and accused of launching a war of choice on behalf of Israel.
“I think we have a lot of potential right now to get that deal.”
The throughline of Kent’s argument is that absent a shift in U.S. policy, the current trajectory is self-reinforcing.
“To let the Israelis continue to… drive the strategic objectives… that is not doing any service for the American people,” he said, adding that if nothing changes “we’re going to continue to be in this cycle.”
Watch Horton’s full interview below:
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Mon, 03/23/2026 - 04:15
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/joe-kent-makes-genuine-plea-trump-address-israeli-issue
Joe Kent Makes Genuine Plea To Trump: "Address The Israeli Issue"
Recently-resigned director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent told http://antiwar.com/ editor Scott Horton that a narrow window for de-escalation still exists, but only if Donald Trump is willing to confront what Kent repeatedly described as the core constraint on U.S. strategy: Israel.
“I think he's got to address the Israeli issue first and foremost… and demand and force them to stop going on the offense.”
Kent addressed Trump’s recent public comments urging restraint, specifically that Israel halt strikes on energy infrastructure, but warned that rhetorical pressure alone would prove ineffective. According to Kent, past behavior suggests compliance would be temporary at best.
“If you tell them that they need to stop… they might back off for a week or so, but they're not going to listen to you.”
https://t.co/BEeBTR6zs3
— ZeroHedge Debates (@zerohedgeDebate) https://twitter.com/zerohedgeDebate/status/2035064192156201052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“Take Away Their Ability”
Kent outlined what he sees as the only viable leverage: withdrawing U.S. defensive support unless Israel shifts fully to a defensive posture.
“You have to take away their ability to do that… we’re not going to support you while you’re on the offense.”
Tying American support to Israeli operational restraint would be a massive structural change in the U.S.-Israel relationship (if actually carried out in practice) as it is something rarely done by past Presidents on both sides of the aisle.
Kent argued that U.S. and Israeli endgames in Iran are no longer aligned. While Washington may seek limited military objectives, he described Israel’s aims as far more expansive, and far more destabilizing.
“The Israelis want full regime change… and have a very high tolerance for chaos.”
He warned that such an outcome would carry severe downstream consequences from increased terrorism threats in the continental U.S. to yet another immigration crisis for Europe to unsustainable oil prices.
“That would be absolutely catastrophic… for the world energy trade.”
A Narrow Window For A Deal
Despite the escalation, Kent believes President Trump can still make a deal and secure a diplomatic off-ramp, signaling that backchannel negotiations could be underway already.
“We already saw… [Bessent] talking about lifting the sanctions on some of the Iranian oil that's already on the water.”
Kent emphasized that “only Donald Trump can do it,” showing there is still optimism for the President he served just days ago and accused of launching a war of choice on behalf of Israel.
“I think we have a lot of potential right now to get that deal.”
The throughline of Kent’s argument is that absent a shift in U.S. policy, the current trajectory is self-reinforcing.
“To let the Israelis continue to… drive the strategic objectives… that is not doing any service for the American people,” he said, adding that if nothing changes “we’re going to continue to be in this cycle.”
Watch Horton’s full interview below:
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Mon, 03/23/2026 - 04:15
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/joe-kent-makes-genuine-plea-trump-address-israeli-issue
'Become MPs To Protect Your Homeland!' - Alarm Bells In Spain As Moroccan Diaspora Seeks Political Mobilization
'Become MPs To Protect Your Homeland!' - Alarm Bells In Spain As Moroccan Diaspora Seeks Political Mobilization
https://rmx.news/article/become-mps-in-spain-to-protect-your-homeland-alarm-bells-in-spain-as-moroccan-diaspora-seeks-political-mobilization/
Spain is facing mounting concern over the long-term consequences of years of large-scale Moroccan migration, as warnings grow that a sizable and increasingly organized community could begin to exert coordinated political influence.
Official figures cited by https://www.laregion.es/opinion/formacion-escolares-marroquies-espana-efectos_1_20260313-4197381.html show that nearly 900,000 Moroccan nationals were living in Spain in 2024, making them the largest Muslim group in the country.
More than 226,000 are concentrated in Catalonia, with numbers continuing to rise sharply.
What is now causing alarm is not just the scale, but the potential for political mobilization.
The Spanish news outlet referenced a 2023 speech by Enaam Mayara, then-president of the Moroccan parliament’s upper chamber, in which he openly called on Moroccans living in Spain to enter politics, join parties, and take part in elections.
His goal was clear: to build influence inside Spanish institutions and defend Moroccan national interests from within.
“The community in our northern neighbor should be encouraged to participate in that country’s political process,” Mayara said.
“Members of the Moroccan community should be encouraged to become members of parliament in the country of their nationality in order to defend the interests of their homeland whenever necessary.”
“The Moroccan community must integrate into Spanish political parties to form a lobby that defends Morocco,” he added.
The comments sparked fears that what began as migration could evolve into coordinated political leverage.
More recently, Morocco has moved to strengthen its grip on diaspora identity through education.
Earlier this month, in response to the suspension of the Arabic language and Moroccan culture program in the Spanish regions of Madrid and Murcia, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita called for reforms to overseas teaching programs that could trigger a “qualitative transformation” in how Arabic language and Moroccan culture are taught to children living abroad.
The changes will place greater responsibility for diaspora education under a new institutional structure, with a focus on expanding cultural and linguistic ties between Morocco and its citizens overseas.
The push comes as Moroccan-funded programs are already deeply embedded in Spain’s education system.
Hundreds of schools across the country offer Arabic language and Moroccan culture classes financed by Rabat, with teachers selected and paid by Moroccan authorities.
https://www.laregion.es/opinion/formacion-escolares-marroquies-espana-efectos_1_20260313-4197381.html notes that the Arabic Language and Moroccan Culture Teaching Program (PLACM) is already being implemented in 12 autonomous communities, with the most participating schools being in Catalonia at 125 institutions. This is followed by Andalusia with 96, and Madrid with 70.
The combination of expanding state-backed education and political messaging raises serious questions about long-term integration, and whether future generations will be shaped as much by Moroccan institutions as by Spanish society.
https://rmx.news/article/become-mps-in-spain-to-protect-your-homeland-alarm-bells-in-spain-as-moroccan-diaspora-seeks-political-mobilization/
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Mon, 03/23/2026 - 03:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/become-mps-protect-your-homeland-alarm-bells-spain-moroccan-diaspora-seeks-political
'Become MPs To Protect Your Homeland!' - Alarm Bells In Spain As Moroccan Diaspora Seeks Political Mobilization
https://rmx.news/article/become-mps-in-spain-to-protect-your-homeland-alarm-bells-in-spain-as-moroccan-diaspora-seeks-political-mobilization/
Spain is facing mounting concern over the long-term consequences of years of large-scale Moroccan migration, as warnings grow that a sizable and increasingly organized community could begin to exert coordinated political influence.
Official figures cited by https://www.laregion.es/opinion/formacion-escolares-marroquies-espana-efectos_1_20260313-4197381.html show that nearly 900,000 Moroccan nationals were living in Spain in 2024, making them the largest Muslim group in the country.
More than 226,000 are concentrated in Catalonia, with numbers continuing to rise sharply.
What is now causing alarm is not just the scale, but the potential for political mobilization.
The Spanish news outlet referenced a 2023 speech by Enaam Mayara, then-president of the Moroccan parliament’s upper chamber, in which he openly called on Moroccans living in Spain to enter politics, join parties, and take part in elections.
His goal was clear: to build influence inside Spanish institutions and defend Moroccan national interests from within.
“The community in our northern neighbor should be encouraged to participate in that country’s political process,” Mayara said.
“Members of the Moroccan community should be encouraged to become members of parliament in the country of their nationality in order to defend the interests of their homeland whenever necessary.”
“The Moroccan community must integrate into Spanish political parties to form a lobby that defends Morocco,” he added.
The comments sparked fears that what began as migration could evolve into coordinated political leverage.
More recently, Morocco has moved to strengthen its grip on diaspora identity through education.
Earlier this month, in response to the suspension of the Arabic language and Moroccan culture program in the Spanish regions of Madrid and Murcia, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita called for reforms to overseas teaching programs that could trigger a “qualitative transformation” in how Arabic language and Moroccan culture are taught to children living abroad.
The changes will place greater responsibility for diaspora education under a new institutional structure, with a focus on expanding cultural and linguistic ties between Morocco and its citizens overseas.
The push comes as Moroccan-funded programs are already deeply embedded in Spain’s education system.
Hundreds of schools across the country offer Arabic language and Moroccan culture classes financed by Rabat, with teachers selected and paid by Moroccan authorities.
https://www.laregion.es/opinion/formacion-escolares-marroquies-espana-efectos_1_20260313-4197381.html notes that the Arabic Language and Moroccan Culture Teaching Program (PLACM) is already being implemented in 12 autonomous communities, with the most participating schools being in Catalonia at 125 institutions. This is followed by Andalusia with 96, and Madrid with 70.
The combination of expanding state-backed education and political messaging raises serious questions about long-term integration, and whether future generations will be shaped as much by Moroccan institutions as by Spanish society.
https://rmx.news/article/become-mps-in-spain-to-protect-your-homeland-alarm-bells-in-spain-as-moroccan-diaspora-seeks-political-mobilization/
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Mon, 03/23/2026 - 03:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/become-mps-protect-your-homeland-alarm-bells-spain-moroccan-diaspora-seeks-political
ICE Agents To Assist With Airport Security Lines Starting Monday, Trump Confirms
ICE Agents To Assist With Airport Security Lines Starting Monday, Trump Confirms
In a post on his TruthSocial feed, President Trump has confirmed that ICE agents will be joining forces with TSA agents as of tomorrow to aid in the safe-keeping of Americans:
On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents...
... who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all.
But watch, no matter how great a job ICE does, the Lunatics leading the incompetent Dems will be highly critical of their work.
THEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
The great Tom Homan is in charge!!! President DJT
Something's got to give...
🚨HOLY CRAP!!!
The Atlanta TSA line has now stretched to a stunning 153 minute-wait-time... AT 6AM IN THE MORNING!!!!
The line is WRAPPING AROUND BAGGAGE CLAIM!!!
THIS IS PURE INSANITY!!!!!! https://t.co/2MluEMjitJ
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) https://twitter.com/mattvanswol/status/2035685530537529440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This confirmation comes after President Trump initially announced plans yesterday to move Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports on Monday to help Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents manage security checkpoints.
“If the Radical Left Democrats don’t immediately sign an agreement to let our Country, in particular, our Airports, be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on March 21.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/ice-agents-to-assist-with-airport-security-lines-starting-monday-trump-says-6002184?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedgeTrump revealed his plans to move ICE agents to airports one day after the Senate https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/senate-again-fails-to-advance-dhs-funding-bill-as-shutdown-stretches-over-a-month-6001497 to advance a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been in a partial shutdown since Feb. 13.
“I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, ‘GET READY.’ NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!” Trump added in a second Truth Social post on Saturday.
Trump did not reveal which airports the ICE agents would be deployed to but added that he would order them to immediately arrest “all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country, with heavy emphasis on those from Somalia.”
As lawmakers on Capitol Hill remain at a stalemate, federal employees in the agencies under DHS have been working without pay due to the lapse in federal funding that started in mid-February.
Agencies under the DHS umbrella include TSA, Customs and Border Protection, ICE, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Coast Guard.
Some TSA agents have had to sleep in their cars and go to food banks just to stay afloat, while others called in sick, which has caused hours-long security lines, according to Homeland Security.
There are growing concerns that some airports will have to temporarily https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/some-us-airports-face-possible-closure-if-government-shutdown-prolongs-tsa-official-6000403 down due to TSA staffing shortages.
Billionaire Elon Musk offered on Saturday to help pay TSA workers.
“I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,” Musk said in an X post.
Since the start of the partial shutdown, Democrats have refused to support funding bills because they want to change immigration enforcement policies, particularly those involving ICE.
Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) proposed a motion on Saturday to advance a bill that would fully fund TSA—but not the entire DHS. It failed in a party-line vote of 49 to 41.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Sun, 03/22/2026 - 11:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/ice-agents-assist-airport-security-lines-starting-monday-trump-confirms
ICE Agents To Assist With Airport Security Lines Starting Monday, Trump Confirms
In a post on his TruthSocial feed, President Trump has confirmed that ICE agents will be joining forces with TSA agents as of tomorrow to aid in the safe-keeping of Americans:
On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents...
... who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all.
But watch, no matter how great a job ICE does, the Lunatics leading the incompetent Dems will be highly critical of their work.
THEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
The great Tom Homan is in charge!!! President DJT
Something's got to give...
🚨HOLY CRAP!!!
The Atlanta TSA line has now stretched to a stunning 153 minute-wait-time... AT 6AM IN THE MORNING!!!!
The line is WRAPPING AROUND BAGGAGE CLAIM!!!
THIS IS PURE INSANITY!!!!!! https://t.co/2MluEMjitJ
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) https://twitter.com/mattvanswol/status/2035685530537529440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This confirmation comes after President Trump initially announced plans yesterday to move Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports on Monday to help Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents manage security checkpoints.
“If the Radical Left Democrats don’t immediately sign an agreement to let our Country, in particular, our Airports, be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on March 21.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/ice-agents-to-assist-with-airport-security-lines-starting-monday-trump-says-6002184?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedgeTrump revealed his plans to move ICE agents to airports one day after the Senate https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/senate-again-fails-to-advance-dhs-funding-bill-as-shutdown-stretches-over-a-month-6001497 to advance a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been in a partial shutdown since Feb. 13.
“I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, ‘GET READY.’ NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!” Trump added in a second Truth Social post on Saturday.
Trump did not reveal which airports the ICE agents would be deployed to but added that he would order them to immediately arrest “all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country, with heavy emphasis on those from Somalia.”
As lawmakers on Capitol Hill remain at a stalemate, federal employees in the agencies under DHS have been working without pay due to the lapse in federal funding that started in mid-February.
Agencies under the DHS umbrella include TSA, Customs and Border Protection, ICE, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Coast Guard.
Some TSA agents have had to sleep in their cars and go to food banks just to stay afloat, while others called in sick, which has caused hours-long security lines, according to Homeland Security.
There are growing concerns that some airports will have to temporarily https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/some-us-airports-face-possible-closure-if-government-shutdown-prolongs-tsa-official-6000403 down due to TSA staffing shortages.
Billionaire Elon Musk offered on Saturday to help pay TSA workers.
“I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,” Musk said in an X post.
Since the start of the partial shutdown, Democrats have refused to support funding bills because they want to change immigration enforcement policies, particularly those involving ICE.
Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) proposed a motion on Saturday to advance a bill that would fully fund TSA—but not the entire DHS. It failed in a party-line vote of 49 to 41.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Sun, 03/22/2026 - 11:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/ice-agents-assist-airport-security-lines-starting-monday-trump-confirms
"Going To Cripple Our Economy": Small Businesses Sound Alarm Over Record Diesel Price Spike
"Going To Cripple Our Economy": Small Businesses Sound Alarm Over Record Diesel Price Spike
The latest AAA fuel data from across America shows that the national average diesel price at the pump has jumped nearly 40% this month, surpassing the 2022 fuel spike that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Surging diesel prices are already generating a shock across trucking, rail, shipping, farm equipment, construction machinery, generators, and much of industrial logistics, given that the fuel powers the core of the economy.
Seasonality: AAA Daily National Avg. Diesel 2022 vs. 2026
Companies now face three difficult choices if they did not lock in fuel prices before the spike: absorb the impact and accept margin compression, add surcharges, or raise prices.
Last week, Rapidan Energy's Director of Refined Products, Linda Giesecke, https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/pump-price-shock-aaa-national-gas-price-average-soars-most-record that, "unlike 2022, the current tightness reflects physical supply disruptions rather than policy risk and trade reshuffling."
Giesecke warned that if the fuel spike proves prolonged, global economic growth could suffer because of diesel's close link to industrial production and freight activity.
BloombergNEF forecast that $5-per-gallon diesel could inflict a weekly $6 billion or more hit on the US economy because these surging fuel costs hurt truckers, construction firms, and farmers the hardest. With prices at $5.2 as of Friday, that weekly hit is set to rise next week.
Readers are already aware of the dire consequences of spiking diesel prices, as we've laid out in recent weeks (see https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/pump-price-shock-aaa-national-gas-price-average-soars-most-record & https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/5-diesel-means-35-jump-prices-us-consumers).
Adding more color to the fuel that underpins nearly every stage of production and transport is a Bloomberg report warning that small businesses are sounding the alarm over surging fuel costs.
Here's one example of a small business being financially crushed by surging fuel costs:
Roger Conner sells firewood for a living, but he might know just as much about another energy source: diesel. The fuel powers every step of the supply chain for his company, RC Conner Enterprises: the megatrucks that carry the logs from suppliers to his facility in Exeter, New Hampshire; the machines that offload and process those logs into kiln-dried residential and restaurant-grade firewood; and the trucks that deliver the finished bundles and cords to customers across New England. In a normal year, Conner spends roughly $6,800 a month on diesel. Now it's about $11,000. To absorb some of the cost, he's added a 5% fuel surcharge; when customers saw that, several walked away.
If diesel keeps rising, "we're going to have to keep going up on our pricing, but we probably won't have any sales," says Conner, 50. "This is going to cripple our economy. I don't think people think about how much the economy rides on diesel fuel."
Across the trucking industry, fuel costs are the second-largest expense after driver pay for carriers, according to Bob Costello, the American Trucking Associations' chief economist. He said that even in non-crisis periods, carriers carefully manage fuel consumption because small changes in diesel costs can erode profit margins.
Surging fuel costs are already pushing up freight rates (e.g., barge transport up 27%) across the economy, leading to fuel surcharges from carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and USPS.
Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at tax consulting firm RSM US, told the outlet that a 10% rise in diesel could lift the CPI by .1%, potentially adding .4%, given the nearly 40% spike in diesel prices this month alone.
The Trump administration is doing a delicate balancing act while attempting to neuter IRGC forces while ensuring domestic fuel prices do not spike out of control. The administration has pulled two of what https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/here-are-6-options-contain-soaring-oil-prices say are six levers to combat triple-digit WTI prices; those two levers pulled so far include an https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/us-waives-jones-act-after-iran-gas-field-attack-trump-activate-next-option-combat-spiking to ensure that crude flows from emergency stockpiles move more quickly from port to port.
On Friday, President Trump hinted at "https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/irans-longest-range-missile-strike-fails-diego-garcia-natanz-nuclear-facility-bombed" the Iran war, as CENTCOM on Saturday morning announced its biggest move so far to free up the Hormuz chokepoint by https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/us-strikes-iranian-hormuz-targets-23-nations-signal-waterway-support with air-delivered munitions. The administration's current goal is to ensure Hormuz reopens to avert what the IEA head https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/iea-chief-warns-biggest-ever-energy-shock-gulf-flows-may-take-six-months-restore last week could be the world's largest energy shock on record.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Sat, 03/21/2026 - 22:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/going-cripple-our-economy-small-businesses-sound-alarm-over-record-diesel-price-spike
"Going To Cripple Our Economy": Small Businesses Sound Alarm Over Record Diesel Price Spike
The latest AAA fuel data from across America shows that the national average diesel price at the pump has jumped nearly 40% this month, surpassing the 2022 fuel spike that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Surging diesel prices are already generating a shock across trucking, rail, shipping, farm equipment, construction machinery, generators, and much of industrial logistics, given that the fuel powers the core of the economy.
Seasonality: AAA Daily National Avg. Diesel 2022 vs. 2026
Companies now face three difficult choices if they did not lock in fuel prices before the spike: absorb the impact and accept margin compression, add surcharges, or raise prices.
Last week, Rapidan Energy's Director of Refined Products, Linda Giesecke, https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/pump-price-shock-aaa-national-gas-price-average-soars-most-record that, "unlike 2022, the current tightness reflects physical supply disruptions rather than policy risk and trade reshuffling."
Giesecke warned that if the fuel spike proves prolonged, global economic growth could suffer because of diesel's close link to industrial production and freight activity.
BloombergNEF forecast that $5-per-gallon diesel could inflict a weekly $6 billion or more hit on the US economy because these surging fuel costs hurt truckers, construction firms, and farmers the hardest. With prices at $5.2 as of Friday, that weekly hit is set to rise next week.
Readers are already aware of the dire consequences of spiking diesel prices, as we've laid out in recent weeks (see https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/pump-price-shock-aaa-national-gas-price-average-soars-most-record & https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/5-diesel-means-35-jump-prices-us-consumers).
Adding more color to the fuel that underpins nearly every stage of production and transport is a Bloomberg report warning that small businesses are sounding the alarm over surging fuel costs.
Here's one example of a small business being financially crushed by surging fuel costs:
Roger Conner sells firewood for a living, but he might know just as much about another energy source: diesel. The fuel powers every step of the supply chain for his company, RC Conner Enterprises: the megatrucks that carry the logs from suppliers to his facility in Exeter, New Hampshire; the machines that offload and process those logs into kiln-dried residential and restaurant-grade firewood; and the trucks that deliver the finished bundles and cords to customers across New England. In a normal year, Conner spends roughly $6,800 a month on diesel. Now it's about $11,000. To absorb some of the cost, he's added a 5% fuel surcharge; when customers saw that, several walked away.
If diesel keeps rising, "we're going to have to keep going up on our pricing, but we probably won't have any sales," says Conner, 50. "This is going to cripple our economy. I don't think people think about how much the economy rides on diesel fuel."
Across the trucking industry, fuel costs are the second-largest expense after driver pay for carriers, according to Bob Costello, the American Trucking Associations' chief economist. He said that even in non-crisis periods, carriers carefully manage fuel consumption because small changes in diesel costs can erode profit margins.
Surging fuel costs are already pushing up freight rates (e.g., barge transport up 27%) across the economy, leading to fuel surcharges from carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and USPS.
Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at tax consulting firm RSM US, told the outlet that a 10% rise in diesel could lift the CPI by .1%, potentially adding .4%, given the nearly 40% spike in diesel prices this month alone.
The Trump administration is doing a delicate balancing act while attempting to neuter IRGC forces while ensuring domestic fuel prices do not spike out of control. The administration has pulled two of what https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/here-are-6-options-contain-soaring-oil-prices say are six levers to combat triple-digit WTI prices; those two levers pulled so far include an https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/us-waives-jones-act-after-iran-gas-field-attack-trump-activate-next-option-combat-spiking to ensure that crude flows from emergency stockpiles move more quickly from port to port.
On Friday, President Trump hinted at "https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/irans-longest-range-missile-strike-fails-diego-garcia-natanz-nuclear-facility-bombed" the Iran war, as CENTCOM on Saturday morning announced its biggest move so far to free up the Hormuz chokepoint by https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/us-strikes-iranian-hormuz-targets-23-nations-signal-waterway-support with air-delivered munitions. The administration's current goal is to ensure Hormuz reopens to avert what the IEA head https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/iea-chief-warns-biggest-ever-energy-shock-gulf-flows-may-take-six-months-restore last week could be the world's largest energy shock on record.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Sat, 03/21/2026 - 22:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/going-cripple-our-economy-small-businesses-sound-alarm-over-record-diesel-price-spike
Iran's Longest-Range Missile Strike Fails On Diego Garcia, As Natanz Nuclear Facility Bombed
Iran's Longest-Range Missile Strike Fails On Diego Garcia, As Natanz Nuclear Facility Bombed
Summary
-
Natanz nuclear site attacked: Iran says "no nuclear radiation" detected, even as attacks on core sites like Isfahan nuclear facilities signal clear escalation despite earlier Trump signals of maybe "winding down."
-
War expands with furthest ever Iranian missile launch: Iran fires missiles at Diego Garcia in a failed but unprecedented long-range strike.
-
US claims momentum, hits hardened targets, Hormuz softening ops: CENTCOM says Iran has lost “significant combat capability” after 8,000+ strikes, and bunker-busting attacks on coastal facilities tied to control of the Strait of Hormuz.
-
Kharg invasion risk rising: US still weighing a high-risk seizure of Kharg Island as more US warships and Marines surge to the region, raising odds of boots-on-the-ground escalation.
* * *
Natanz Nuclear Site Suffers Direct Attack - No Radiation Leakage
President Trump's late in the day Friday comments https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/hormuz-showdown-begins-us-warplanes-apaches-launch-sea-lane-offensive-trump-eyes-high "I think we've won" suggested he might be readying the announcement of an offramp or at least de-escalation, but that speculation has proven premature as things definitely escalated overnight.
For apparently the https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-us-israel-war-updates-2026?mod=lc_navigation of Operation Epic Fury, Iran's flagship enrichment site at Natanz nuclear facility has come under attack. Iran's nuclear agency confirmed the strike but is keeping details deliberately vague, saying nothing about how it was carried out or what weapons were used. What it did emphasize, however, is that "no nuclear radiation" was released.
Natanz - alongside the Isfahan nuclear facilities - sits at the core of Tehran’s nuclear program, long viewed as a prime target in the US-Israel campaign to cripple Iran's ability to produce an atomic bomb - though it remains that even Iran's current wartime leadership is saying it has no intent to produce a nuclear weapon. The AP says Natanz was earlier struck at least once at the opening of the conflict, https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-21-2026-260bac76e5554ff31aaf5a3a30c92a2e: "The facility, Iran’s main uranium enrichment site, was hit in the first week of the war and several buildings appeared damaged, according to satellite images."
All of this, along with steady the overnight and early morning heavy bombing of Tehran marks a definite escalation despite Trump having floated the idea of "winding down" operations in the late Friday comments.
Iran Vastly Expands Threat Radius: Diego Garcia
Another huge escalation and development: British officials are staying tight-lipped after an attempted Iranian strike on the key Indian Ocean air base on Friday reportedly failed, offering no details on what exactly happened. But this risks pulling in the UK, which has appeared reluctant to directly participate in Trump's operation. Britain has generally condemned "Iran’s reckless attacks."
Just hours after Iran targeted the Diego Garcia base, Britain confirmed US bombers can continue using UK facilities - including the same base - for operations aimed at stopping Iranian attacks on shipping in Hormuz.
"Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-U.K. military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean, according to multiple U.S. officials," https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-us-israel-war-updates-2026/card/iran-targeted-diego-garcia-base-with-ballistic-missiles-rb7MdZW1CfwRTauDYHOt?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqfozUghcIDm8IK36TS-NjFlrpjeNeC-i6OBta8IvxeW6H58e0mstYyPw29x1Ow%3D&gaa_ts=69be9b07&gaa_sig=11hMyM2BeJHGJXsF74i_N4iDuiBiWu9x6vVQE2OfCzTnzt8QqFciO-PTf1wmMQ9PEjCKeFxmRcXwc_wRhFHBUQ%3D%3D details. "Neither of the missiles hit the base, but the move marked Iran's first operational use of IRBMs and a significant attempt to reach far beyond the Middle East and threaten US-UK interests."
"One of the missiles failed in flight, and a U.S. warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the other, according to two of the people," the report added. "It couldn't be determined if an interception was made, according to one of the officials." The geographical expanse of the war just got greatly expanded, given Diego Garcia lies about 4,000 kilometers from Iran.
Iran and some regional proxies continue attacking US military sites and interests across the region:
Drone strike triggers massive blaze at US-linked Baghdad airport facility
Iran-backed militia Ashab al-kahf claims responsibility for the attackhttps://twitter.com/hashtag/israel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/iran?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/war?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/strikes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/drones?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/attack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/hezbollah?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://t.co/GZnmWWEv8l
— WION (@WIONews) https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2035349290303082869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Pentagon Touts 'Obvious Progress'; Bombs Underground Facilities
CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper has said in an operational update that Iran "has lost significant combat capability" in the three weeks since the war began, also at a moment of reports that more IRGC leadership has been taken out in airstrikes. He said the US has struck more than 8,000 military targets, including 130 Iranian vessels. "Our progress is obvious," Cooper boasted.
He described that multiple 5,000-pound bombs were dropped on an underground facility on Iran's coastline, part of a strategy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "We not only took out the facility but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements," Cooper said.
Domestic fallout amid rising prices at the gas pump looks to grow in US:
Question: I'm a waiter at a local restaurant in Queens, a full time college student who sleeps an average of four hours a night and is still thousands in debt. How is a war in a country half the world away funded by the taxes pulled from my check, helping me in any way? https://t.co/QVgzfSSQZ8
— Acyn (@Acyn) https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/2035173646168465748?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Trump is still said to be mulling a very high risk Kharg Island takeover, which to accomplish would most definitely require ground troops. A second deployment of US troops to the region was authorized earlier this week, and three warships and thousands of additional Marines are en route to the Middle East.
One among many problems in even getting to Kharg Island is that hundreds of miles of Iranian coastline must be passed by any ship hoping to reach Kharg, which lies over 300 miles deep and northwest of the Strait of Hormuz.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Sat, 03/21/2026 - 09:55
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/irans-longest-range-missile-strike-fails-diego-garcia-natanz-nuclear-facility-bombed
Iran's Longest-Range Missile Strike Fails On Diego Garcia, As Natanz Nuclear Facility Bombed
Summary
-
Natanz nuclear site attacked: Iran says "no nuclear radiation" detected, even as attacks on core sites like Isfahan nuclear facilities signal clear escalation despite earlier Trump signals of maybe "winding down."
-
War expands with furthest ever Iranian missile launch: Iran fires missiles at Diego Garcia in a failed but unprecedented long-range strike.
-
US claims momentum, hits hardened targets, Hormuz softening ops: CENTCOM says Iran has lost “significant combat capability” after 8,000+ strikes, and bunker-busting attacks on coastal facilities tied to control of the Strait of Hormuz.
-
Kharg invasion risk rising: US still weighing a high-risk seizure of Kharg Island as more US warships and Marines surge to the region, raising odds of boots-on-the-ground escalation.
* * *
Natanz Nuclear Site Suffers Direct Attack - No Radiation Leakage
President Trump's late in the day Friday comments https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/hormuz-showdown-begins-us-warplanes-apaches-launch-sea-lane-offensive-trump-eyes-high "I think we've won" suggested he might be readying the announcement of an offramp or at least de-escalation, but that speculation has proven premature as things definitely escalated overnight.
For apparently the https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-us-israel-war-updates-2026?mod=lc_navigation of Operation Epic Fury, Iran's flagship enrichment site at Natanz nuclear facility has come under attack. Iran's nuclear agency confirmed the strike but is keeping details deliberately vague, saying nothing about how it was carried out or what weapons were used. What it did emphasize, however, is that "no nuclear radiation" was released.
Natanz - alongside the Isfahan nuclear facilities - sits at the core of Tehran’s nuclear program, long viewed as a prime target in the US-Israel campaign to cripple Iran's ability to produce an atomic bomb - though it remains that even Iran's current wartime leadership is saying it has no intent to produce a nuclear weapon. The AP says Natanz was earlier struck at least once at the opening of the conflict, https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-21-2026-260bac76e5554ff31aaf5a3a30c92a2e: "The facility, Iran’s main uranium enrichment site, was hit in the first week of the war and several buildings appeared damaged, according to satellite images."
All of this, along with steady the overnight and early morning heavy bombing of Tehran marks a definite escalation despite Trump having floated the idea of "winding down" operations in the late Friday comments.
Iran Vastly Expands Threat Radius: Diego Garcia
Another huge escalation and development: British officials are staying tight-lipped after an attempted Iranian strike on the key Indian Ocean air base on Friday reportedly failed, offering no details on what exactly happened. But this risks pulling in the UK, which has appeared reluctant to directly participate in Trump's operation. Britain has generally condemned "Iran’s reckless attacks."
Just hours after Iran targeted the Diego Garcia base, Britain confirmed US bombers can continue using UK facilities - including the same base - for operations aimed at stopping Iranian attacks on shipping in Hormuz.
"Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-U.K. military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean, according to multiple U.S. officials," https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-us-israel-war-updates-2026/card/iran-targeted-diego-garcia-base-with-ballistic-missiles-rb7MdZW1CfwRTauDYHOt?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqfozUghcIDm8IK36TS-NjFlrpjeNeC-i6OBta8IvxeW6H58e0mstYyPw29x1Ow%3D&gaa_ts=69be9b07&gaa_sig=11hMyM2BeJHGJXsF74i_N4iDuiBiWu9x6vVQE2OfCzTnzt8QqFciO-PTf1wmMQ9PEjCKeFxmRcXwc_wRhFHBUQ%3D%3D details. "Neither of the missiles hit the base, but the move marked Iran's first operational use of IRBMs and a significant attempt to reach far beyond the Middle East and threaten US-UK interests."
"One of the missiles failed in flight, and a U.S. warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the other, according to two of the people," the report added. "It couldn't be determined if an interception was made, according to one of the officials." The geographical expanse of the war just got greatly expanded, given Diego Garcia lies about 4,000 kilometers from Iran.
Iran and some regional proxies continue attacking US military sites and interests across the region:
Drone strike triggers massive blaze at US-linked Baghdad airport facility
Iran-backed militia Ashab al-kahf claims responsibility for the attackhttps://twitter.com/hashtag/israel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/iran?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/war?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/strikes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/drones?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/attack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/hashtag/hezbollah?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://t.co/GZnmWWEv8l
— WION (@WIONews) https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2035349290303082869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Pentagon Touts 'Obvious Progress'; Bombs Underground Facilities
CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper has said in an operational update that Iran "has lost significant combat capability" in the three weeks since the war began, also at a moment of reports that more IRGC leadership has been taken out in airstrikes. He said the US has struck more than 8,000 military targets, including 130 Iranian vessels. "Our progress is obvious," Cooper boasted.
He described that multiple 5,000-pound bombs were dropped on an underground facility on Iran's coastline, part of a strategy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "We not only took out the facility but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements," Cooper said.
Domestic fallout amid rising prices at the gas pump looks to grow in US:
Question: I'm a waiter at a local restaurant in Queens, a full time college student who sleeps an average of four hours a night and is still thousands in debt. How is a war in a country half the world away funded by the taxes pulled from my check, helping me in any way? https://t.co/QVgzfSSQZ8
— Acyn (@Acyn) https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/2035173646168465748?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Trump is still said to be mulling a very high risk Kharg Island takeover, which to accomplish would most definitely require ground troops. A second deployment of US troops to the region was authorized earlier this week, and three warships and thousands of additional Marines are en route to the Middle East.
One among many problems in even getting to Kharg Island is that hundreds of miles of Iranian coastline must be passed by any ship hoping to reach Kharg, which lies over 300 miles deep and northwest of the Strait of Hormuz.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Sat, 03/21/2026 - 09:55
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/irans-longest-range-missile-strike-fails-diego-garcia-natanz-nuclear-facility-bombed
These Seven Allies Concocted A 'Hormuz Coalition' Statement To Placate Trump, Which Failed
These Seven Allies Concocted A 'Hormuz Coalition' Statement To Placate Trump, Which Failed
We reported https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/hormuz-showdown-begins-us-warplanes-apaches-launch-sea-lane-offensive-trump-eyes-high that President Trump has again expressed his extreme frustration at lack of direct NATO participation in a plan to open up the Strait of Hormuz. He declared the US has "militarily WON" - and lambasted lack of allied interest in a "simple military maneuver" to open the Strait of Hormuz, calling NATO a "Paper Tiger" without the US.
And so clearly Trump himself is unconvinced after on Thursday seven allied nations signed a statement expressing a readiness to contribute to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The statement included no pledge to commit warships or any kind of military or even logistical help, and so is somewhat of a facade and pure PR spectacle.
These countries are: UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada. But again there's no military role here: "We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait," the close US allies announced.
Thehttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-from-the-leaders-of-the-united-kingdom-france-germany-italy-the-netherlands-and-japan-on-the-strait-of-hormuz-19-march-2026 did of course condemn Iran, and seemed generally supportive of Trump's actions, even as individual leaders like Germany's Merz have expressed they would have been against starting a war with Iran in the first place.
It further denounces ongoing Iranian attacks commercial vessels and energy infrastructure, citing "the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces," and calls on Tehran to "cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the strait."
One reporter writing for https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/strait-hormuz-coalition-allies-statement-uk views the statement as "largely a gesture to placate Trump, who has railed against allies for declining to help secure the strait and warned that a failure to do so could undermine the future of NATO."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has made clear that no EU state is at moment considering "a military mission to forcibly break the Iranian blockade," adding the EU favors "diplomacy and de-escalation."
Other EU countries like Spain, Greece, and Switzerland have also made it clear they won't join the war. Washington has meanwhile put a lot of pressure on the UK for some tangible assistance, but this too has been a disappointment for the White House who appears to be 'going it alone'.
As for a total list of countries individually called on by Washington, these have issued formal refusals:
Here are some of the countries that have rejected Trump's request to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz:
🇦🇺 Australia
🇫🇮 Finland
🇫🇷 France
🇩🇪 Germany
🇬🇷 Greece
🇮🇹 Italy
🇯🇵 Japan
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇪🇸 Spain
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/2033587856543801353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
But the US and Israel seem to be getting pulled deeper into the war in the Persian Gulf and near Kharg Island in particular, with thousands of US Marines en route to the region. What they will ultimately do when they get there remains anyone's guess - though reports say Trump is mulling a takeover of Kharg.
As a reminder, Trump has claimed an operation would include "so little risk"...
Such a plan might prove bloody and difficult, which is perhaps why so many US allies are content to stay on the sidelines, fearing they too could soon join another Middle East quagmire.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Fri, 03/20/2026 - 12:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/these-seven-allies-concocted-hormuz-coalition-statement-placate-trump-which-failed
These Seven Allies Concocted A 'Hormuz Coalition' Statement To Placate Trump, Which Failed
We reported https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/hormuz-showdown-begins-us-warplanes-apaches-launch-sea-lane-offensive-trump-eyes-high that President Trump has again expressed his extreme frustration at lack of direct NATO participation in a plan to open up the Strait of Hormuz. He declared the US has "militarily WON" - and lambasted lack of allied interest in a "simple military maneuver" to open the Strait of Hormuz, calling NATO a "Paper Tiger" without the US.
And so clearly Trump himself is unconvinced after on Thursday seven allied nations signed a statement expressing a readiness to contribute to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The statement included no pledge to commit warships or any kind of military or even logistical help, and so is somewhat of a facade and pure PR spectacle.
These countries are: UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada. But again there's no military role here: "We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait," the close US allies announced.
Thehttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-from-the-leaders-of-the-united-kingdom-france-germany-italy-the-netherlands-and-japan-on-the-strait-of-hormuz-19-march-2026 did of course condemn Iran, and seemed generally supportive of Trump's actions, even as individual leaders like Germany's Merz have expressed they would have been against starting a war with Iran in the first place.
It further denounces ongoing Iranian attacks commercial vessels and energy infrastructure, citing "the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces," and calls on Tehran to "cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the strait."
One reporter writing for https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/strait-hormuz-coalition-allies-statement-uk views the statement as "largely a gesture to placate Trump, who has railed against allies for declining to help secure the strait and warned that a failure to do so could undermine the future of NATO."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has made clear that no EU state is at moment considering "a military mission to forcibly break the Iranian blockade," adding the EU favors "diplomacy and de-escalation."
Other EU countries like Spain, Greece, and Switzerland have also made it clear they won't join the war. Washington has meanwhile put a lot of pressure on the UK for some tangible assistance, but this too has been a disappointment for the White House who appears to be 'going it alone'.
As for a total list of countries individually called on by Washington, these have issued formal refusals:
Here are some of the countries that have rejected Trump's request to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz:
🇦🇺 Australia
🇫🇮 Finland
🇫🇷 France
🇩🇪 Germany
🇬🇷 Greece
🇮🇹 Italy
🇯🇵 Japan
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇪🇸 Spain
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/2033587856543801353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
But the US and Israel seem to be getting pulled deeper into the war in the Persian Gulf and near Kharg Island in particular, with thousands of US Marines en route to the region. What they will ultimately do when they get there remains anyone's guess - though reports say Trump is mulling a takeover of Kharg.
As a reminder, Trump has claimed an operation would include "so little risk"...
Such a plan might prove bloody and difficult, which is perhaps why so many US allies are content to stay on the sidelines, fearing they too could soon join another Middle East quagmire.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Fri, 03/20/2026 - 12:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/these-seven-allies-concocted-hormuz-coalition-statement-placate-trump-which-failed
1
17 Veterans Kill Themselves A Day Waiting 17 Days For Help
17 Veterans Kill Themselves A Day Waiting 17 Days For Help
https://www.realclearwire.com/articles/2026/03/17/17_veterans_kill_themselves_a_day_waiting_17_days_for_help_1170858.html,
Every day, roughly https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8162890/ take their own lives. For https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1363-1-v2.html, that number hasn't budged.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said that https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/we-want-the-best-possible-care-for-veterans-va-secretary-visits-american-legion-post-138/ of dollars, we're losing the same number of veterans every year. For veterans under the age of 45, a https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2024/2024-Annual-Report-Part-2-of-2_508.pdf shows suicide is the second-leading cause of death. They’re not faceless statistics, but fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters who couldn't survive the wait for help.
What makes this unbearable is that while those veterans were in crisis, veterans wait an average of https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/05/24/va-says-it-cut-wait-times-primary-mental-health-care-veteran-enrollment-surged.html to see a mental health professional for the first time. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/3A4C2B28-65FA-4E58-ACCF-6EA7181F1D47 that these delays ‘pose serious risks to the health and safety of those who served.’
The problem isn't money. In November, President Trump signed a https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2025/11/lawmakers-signal-support-using-ai-prevent-veteran-suicides-fy26-va-funding-bill-reports/409576/ that includes $698 million for suicide prevention outreach. And the problem isn’t resourcing, as more than https://digital.va.gov/general/va-employee-technical-innovation-reduces-nationwide-appointment-no-shows/ each year due to missed appointments. The problem is that the infrastructure can’t keep up.
The VA operates on electronic record systems that don't communicate across facilities, community providers, or state lines, the very kind of coordination that's standard in private health systems.
Consider the veteran who needs help for mental health or PTSD treatment. There might be an appointment at their local VA, an available telehealth appointment, or a nearby walk-in clinic. But the scheduling infrastructure can't surface those pathways together. Staff can’t schedule across the network, even though there's availability to address a veteran’s needs that day. The veteran can't book online, and they're told to wait, call back, or try another number.
The inefficiencies are well documented. The VA's own https://www.accesstocare.va.gov/ website shows it: mental health, primary care, specialty services, all backed up. At the West Los Angeles VA, new patients wait 69 days for mental health, 49 days for pain medicine, and 100 days for substance use treatment. VA clinicians are mission-driven and understand the wounds of war, but they're working with systems that can't deliver at the speed healthcare demands.
The largest health systems in America manage their networks in real time. Open appointments, provider resourcing, and patient needs are all visible in a single ‘pane of glass’ that call center staff can reference to route patients. For decades, VA has struggled to do the same. For a fraction of what VA spends, that same capability can be deployed systemwide. Not to add bureaucracy but linking the network so it operates as one.
Veteran suicide is complex. Stigma keeps many from seeking help, and nearly https://www.va.gov/homeless/pit_count.asp veterans are homeless each night, many struggling with mental illness and disconnected from care. That makes it even more critical that when a veteran reaches out—after overcoming enormous barriers—the system responds immediately. We can't afford to lose them to wait times and scheduling friction after they've found the courage to ask for help.
Of course, technology alone won't solve this. Some argue that expanding community care—a program that lets eligible veterans see local private providers—is the solution. It's part of the answer. But more choice doesn't help if veterans and schedulers can't see what's available, most convenient, or the soonest.
When a veteran reaches out, the person on the other end should be able to see every available option, including a nearby clinic, a VA specialty appointment, a community care provider, a virtual visit, a VA physician, and a mental health counselor. The VA should—and can—work as a single system that connects veterans in that moment.
VA Secretary Collins said https://federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-retention/2025/01/trumps-va-pick-defends-hiring-freeze-amid-staffing-concerns/. Not “we can't do it.” Not “we don't have enough money.” The VA must modernize its legacy systems with navigational intelligence that provides staff with a real-time view of its entire network. One interface. All the appointments. All the providers. And the ability to match a veteran in crisis—or one just looking to book an annual physical—to care now, not next month.
The funding and technology are there. What’s needed is urgency to deploy. Because somewhere today, a veteran will reach out for help. And whether they get it in time shouldn't depend on whether the right systems happen to be talking to each other.
Veterans unite us.
Rural or urban, red state or blue state, they're ours. We asked them to serve and sacrifice. The least we can do is make sure they can see a doctor when they need one.
Sean O’Connor is founder of DexCare and a former Naval Officer
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Wed, 03/18/2026 - 23:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/17-veterans-kill-themselves-day-waiting-17-days-help
17 Veterans Kill Themselves A Day Waiting 17 Days For Help
https://www.realclearwire.com/articles/2026/03/17/17_veterans_kill_themselves_a_day_waiting_17_days_for_help_1170858.html,
Every day, roughly https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8162890/ take their own lives. For https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1363-1-v2.html, that number hasn't budged.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said that https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/we-want-the-best-possible-care-for-veterans-va-secretary-visits-american-legion-post-138/ of dollars, we're losing the same number of veterans every year. For veterans under the age of 45, a https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2024/2024-Annual-Report-Part-2-of-2_508.pdf shows suicide is the second-leading cause of death. They’re not faceless statistics, but fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters who couldn't survive the wait for help.
What makes this unbearable is that while those veterans were in crisis, veterans wait an average of https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/05/24/va-says-it-cut-wait-times-primary-mental-health-care-veteran-enrollment-surged.html to see a mental health professional for the first time. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/3A4C2B28-65FA-4E58-ACCF-6EA7181F1D47 that these delays ‘pose serious risks to the health and safety of those who served.’
The problem isn't money. In November, President Trump signed a https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2025/11/lawmakers-signal-support-using-ai-prevent-veteran-suicides-fy26-va-funding-bill-reports/409576/ that includes $698 million for suicide prevention outreach. And the problem isn’t resourcing, as more than https://digital.va.gov/general/va-employee-technical-innovation-reduces-nationwide-appointment-no-shows/ each year due to missed appointments. The problem is that the infrastructure can’t keep up.
The VA operates on electronic record systems that don't communicate across facilities, community providers, or state lines, the very kind of coordination that's standard in private health systems.
Consider the veteran who needs help for mental health or PTSD treatment. There might be an appointment at their local VA, an available telehealth appointment, or a nearby walk-in clinic. But the scheduling infrastructure can't surface those pathways together. Staff can’t schedule across the network, even though there's availability to address a veteran’s needs that day. The veteran can't book online, and they're told to wait, call back, or try another number.
The inefficiencies are well documented. The VA's own https://www.accesstocare.va.gov/ website shows it: mental health, primary care, specialty services, all backed up. At the West Los Angeles VA, new patients wait 69 days for mental health, 49 days for pain medicine, and 100 days for substance use treatment. VA clinicians are mission-driven and understand the wounds of war, but they're working with systems that can't deliver at the speed healthcare demands.
The largest health systems in America manage their networks in real time. Open appointments, provider resourcing, and patient needs are all visible in a single ‘pane of glass’ that call center staff can reference to route patients. For decades, VA has struggled to do the same. For a fraction of what VA spends, that same capability can be deployed systemwide. Not to add bureaucracy but linking the network so it operates as one.
Veteran suicide is complex. Stigma keeps many from seeking help, and nearly https://www.va.gov/homeless/pit_count.asp veterans are homeless each night, many struggling with mental illness and disconnected from care. That makes it even more critical that when a veteran reaches out—after overcoming enormous barriers—the system responds immediately. We can't afford to lose them to wait times and scheduling friction after they've found the courage to ask for help.
Of course, technology alone won't solve this. Some argue that expanding community care—a program that lets eligible veterans see local private providers—is the solution. It's part of the answer. But more choice doesn't help if veterans and schedulers can't see what's available, most convenient, or the soonest.
When a veteran reaches out, the person on the other end should be able to see every available option, including a nearby clinic, a VA specialty appointment, a community care provider, a virtual visit, a VA physician, and a mental health counselor. The VA should—and can—work as a single system that connects veterans in that moment.
VA Secretary Collins said https://federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-retention/2025/01/trumps-va-pick-defends-hiring-freeze-amid-staffing-concerns/. Not “we can't do it.” Not “we don't have enough money.” The VA must modernize its legacy systems with navigational intelligence that provides staff with a real-time view of its entire network. One interface. All the appointments. All the providers. And the ability to match a veteran in crisis—or one just looking to book an annual physical—to care now, not next month.
The funding and technology are there. What’s needed is urgency to deploy. Because somewhere today, a veteran will reach out for help. And whether they get it in time shouldn't depend on whether the right systems happen to be talking to each other.
Veterans unite us.
Rural or urban, red state or blue state, they're ours. We asked them to serve and sacrifice. The least we can do is make sure they can see a doctor when they need one.
Sean O’Connor is founder of DexCare and a former Naval Officer
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Wed, 03/18/2026 - 23:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/17-veterans-kill-themselves-day-waiting-17-days-help
1
Former Air Force Officer Claims UFOs Disabled Nuclear Missiles
Former Air Force Officer Claims UFOs Disabled Nuclear Missiles
A former U.S. Air Force missile launch officer says unidentified flying objects once disabled several nuclear missiles at a base in Montana during the Cold War, https://nypost.com/2026/03/17/us-news/former-air-force-missile-officer-claims-ufos-disabled-nuclear-arsenal-at-montana-base-during-cold-war/.
Robert Salas, now 85, said the incident occurred in 1967 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, where he was on duty monitoring LGM-30 Minuteman I missiles. Speaking on the The Danny Jones Podcast, Salas recalled that guards above ground reported strange lights flying over the base late one night.
According to Salas, the guards initially described fast-moving lights that stopped suddenly above the missile facility. Minutes later, one guard called back in a panic, saying a craft emitting a reddish, pulsating glow was hovering near the front gate. He also reported that one of the guards had been injured during the incident.
The NY Post https://nypost.com/2026/03/17/us-news/former-air-force-missile-officer-claims-ufos-disabled-nuclear-arsenal-at-montana-base-during-cold-war/ that shortly after the call, warning alarms sounded inside the underground control center. Salas said the launch control panel showed one missile going offline, followed quickly by the rest. Within moments, all ten missiles at the site became inoperable.
Security teams were sent toward the missile silos, but Salas said they stopped after spotting the lights hovering above the launch areas and were too frightened to approach.
An investigation later examined the shutdown but could not determine what caused it. Salas said the missile systems were designed with heavy shielding to prevent outside interference.
He added that Air Force investigators required him and his commander to sign secrecy agreements afterward, warning them not to discuss the event. Salas said he eventually decided to speak publicly years later after learning about similar reports in books about unidentified aerial phenomena.
Salas believes the incident may suggest the presence of a non-human intelligence interested in preventing nuclear conflict, though the cause of the missile shutdown was never confirmed.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Wed, 03/18/2026 - 22:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/former-air-force-officer-claims-ufos-disabled-nuclear-missiles
Former Air Force Officer Claims UFOs Disabled Nuclear Missiles
A former U.S. Air Force missile launch officer says unidentified flying objects once disabled several nuclear missiles at a base in Montana during the Cold War, https://nypost.com/2026/03/17/us-news/former-air-force-missile-officer-claims-ufos-disabled-nuclear-arsenal-at-montana-base-during-cold-war/.
Robert Salas, now 85, said the incident occurred in 1967 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, where he was on duty monitoring LGM-30 Minuteman I missiles. Speaking on the The Danny Jones Podcast, Salas recalled that guards above ground reported strange lights flying over the base late one night.
According to Salas, the guards initially described fast-moving lights that stopped suddenly above the missile facility. Minutes later, one guard called back in a panic, saying a craft emitting a reddish, pulsating glow was hovering near the front gate. He also reported that one of the guards had been injured during the incident.
The NY Post https://nypost.com/2026/03/17/us-news/former-air-force-missile-officer-claims-ufos-disabled-nuclear-arsenal-at-montana-base-during-cold-war/ that shortly after the call, warning alarms sounded inside the underground control center. Salas said the launch control panel showed one missile going offline, followed quickly by the rest. Within moments, all ten missiles at the site became inoperable.
Security teams were sent toward the missile silos, but Salas said they stopped after spotting the lights hovering above the launch areas and were too frightened to approach.
An investigation later examined the shutdown but could not determine what caused it. Salas said the missile systems were designed with heavy shielding to prevent outside interference.
He added that Air Force investigators required him and his commander to sign secrecy agreements afterward, warning them not to discuss the event. Salas said he eventually decided to speak publicly years later after learning about similar reports in books about unidentified aerial phenomena.
Salas believes the incident may suggest the presence of a non-human intelligence interested in preventing nuclear conflict, though the cause of the missile shutdown was never confirmed.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Wed, 03/18/2026 - 22:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/former-air-force-officer-claims-ufos-disabled-nuclear-missiles
1
Stellar 20Y Auction Stops Through Amid Surge In Foreign Demand
Stellar 20Y Auction Stops Through Amid Surge In Foreign Demand
Moments ago the week's lone coupon auction priced in what was a stellar sale of 20Y Treasury paper.
At 1pm ET, the US Treasury auctioned off $13BN in 20Y paper, with very solid metrics and even more solid buyside demand.
The auction priced at a high yield of 4.817%, up from 4.664%, but below January's 4.846%. The auction stopped 0.7bps through the 4.824% When Issued. This was the 3rd stop through auction in the past 4, following an especially ugly, tailing February 20Y auction.
The bid to cover jumped to 2.76 from 2.36, which was also above the six-auction average of 2.63.
Internals were especially strong, with Foreign demand surging from just 55.2% in February, to 69.2% in March, the highest Indirect award since April 2025 (and obviously above the recent average of 62.1%). And with Directs taking down 21.6%, below the six-auction average of 27.0%, Dealers were left holding 9.2%, a big drop from 17.6% in February and one of the lowest Dealer allotments on record.
Overall, this was a stellar 20Y auction despite the lack of concessions in today's session, and suggests that despite the recent selling across the curve, the bond market remains in solid shape one day ahead of the Fed's decision to keep rates on hold (as most expect).
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Tue, 03/17/2026 - 13:24
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/stellar-20y-auction-stops-through-amid-surge-foreign-demand
Stellar 20Y Auction Stops Through Amid Surge In Foreign Demand
Moments ago the week's lone coupon auction priced in what was a stellar sale of 20Y Treasury paper.
At 1pm ET, the US Treasury auctioned off $13BN in 20Y paper, with very solid metrics and even more solid buyside demand.
The auction priced at a high yield of 4.817%, up from 4.664%, but below January's 4.846%. The auction stopped 0.7bps through the 4.824% When Issued. This was the 3rd stop through auction in the past 4, following an especially ugly, tailing February 20Y auction.
The bid to cover jumped to 2.76 from 2.36, which was also above the six-auction average of 2.63.
Internals were especially strong, with Foreign demand surging from just 55.2% in February, to 69.2% in March, the highest Indirect award since April 2025 (and obviously above the recent average of 62.1%). And with Directs taking down 21.6%, below the six-auction average of 27.0%, Dealers were left holding 9.2%, a big drop from 17.6% in February and one of the lowest Dealer allotments on record.
Overall, this was a stellar 20Y auction despite the lack of concessions in today's session, and suggests that despite the recent selling across the curve, the bond market remains in solid shape one day ahead of the Fed's decision to keep rates on hold (as most expect).
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Tue, 03/17/2026 - 13:24
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/stellar-20y-auction-stops-through-amid-surge-foreign-demand
1
British Tourist Faces Prison Sentence In UAE For Filming Iranian Missiles
British Tourist Faces Prison Sentence In UAE For Filming Iranian Missiles
https://news.antiwar.com/2026/03/12/british-tourist-faces-prison-sentence-in-uae-for-filming-iranian-missiles/
A British tourist is among about 20 people who are facing charges in the UAE for filming Iranian attacks on Dubai, as America's Gulf Arab allies are taking steps to censor the impact of the war.
According to https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/12/british-tourist-among-20-charged-in-dubai-over-videos-of-iranian-missile-strikes, the 60-year-old man is being charged with a law that prohibits sharing material that can endanger public security. The report said that he is still facing charges despite deleting the video immediately when he was asked to.
The charge carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, and many could face similar charges for simply sharing videos of missile attacks that have already been published online.
"The charges sound extremely vague but serious on paper. In reality, the alleged conduct could be something as simple as sharing or commenting on a video that is already circulating online," said Radha Stirling, the head of Detained in Dubai.
"Under UAE cybercrime laws, the person who originally posts content can be charged, but so can anyone who reshapes, reposts, or comments on it," Striling added.
In the immediate aftermath of the US and Israel launching the war with Iran on February 28, videos of counterattacks in Gulf countries were widespread on social media, but they became scarce once the Arab governments began cracking down.
In Bahrain, which has a Shia majority ruled by a Sunni monarch, authorities https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/bahrain-cracks-down-on-social-media-misuse-two-arrested-over-live-broadcasts/articleshow/128905298.cms and pursued people who https://www.newarab.com/news/bahrain-detains-people-allegedly-celebrating-iran-strikes
Israel has also imposed tight restrictions on the dissemination of information about Iranian missile strikes, as it did during the 12-Day War in June 2025.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Sat, 03/14/2026 - 08:10
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/british-tourist-faces-prison-sentence-uae-filming-iranian-missiles
British Tourist Faces Prison Sentence In UAE For Filming Iranian Missiles
https://news.antiwar.com/2026/03/12/british-tourist-faces-prison-sentence-in-uae-for-filming-iranian-missiles/
A British tourist is among about 20 people who are facing charges in the UAE for filming Iranian attacks on Dubai, as America's Gulf Arab allies are taking steps to censor the impact of the war.
According to https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/12/british-tourist-among-20-charged-in-dubai-over-videos-of-iranian-missile-strikes, the 60-year-old man is being charged with a law that prohibits sharing material that can endanger public security. The report said that he is still facing charges despite deleting the video immediately when he was asked to.
The charge carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, and many could face similar charges for simply sharing videos of missile attacks that have already been published online.
"The charges sound extremely vague but serious on paper. In reality, the alleged conduct could be something as simple as sharing or commenting on a video that is already circulating online," said Radha Stirling, the head of Detained in Dubai.
"Under UAE cybercrime laws, the person who originally posts content can be charged, but so can anyone who reshapes, reposts, or comments on it," Striling added.
In the immediate aftermath of the US and Israel launching the war with Iran on February 28, videos of counterattacks in Gulf countries were widespread on social media, but they became scarce once the Arab governments began cracking down.
In Bahrain, which has a Shia majority ruled by a Sunni monarch, authorities https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/bahrain-cracks-down-on-social-media-misuse-two-arrested-over-live-broadcasts/articleshow/128905298.cms and pursued people who https://www.newarab.com/news/bahrain-detains-people-allegedly-celebrating-iran-strikes
Israel has also imposed tight restrictions on the dissemination of information about Iranian missile strikes, as it did during the 12-Day War in June 2025.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Sat, 03/14/2026 - 08:10
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/british-tourist-faces-prison-sentence-uae-filming-iranian-missiles
1❤️1♥️1
SNAP Recipients Sue Trump Administration Over Sugary Food Restrictions
SNAP Recipients Sue Trump Administration Over Sugary Food Restrictions
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/snap-recipients-sue-trump-administration-over-sugary-food-restrictions-5997596?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries sued the Department of Agriculture on March 11 over the issuance of waivers to five states restricting certain types of foods that can be purchased under the program.
On May 19 last year, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/usda-approves-nebraskas-banning-soda-and-energy-drinks-from-food-stamps-5860488 a waiver to Nebraska that bans SNAP recipients in the state from buying soda or energy drinks. As of March 4 this year, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved similar waivers for 22 states in total.
In addition to soda and energy drinks, the additional waivers prohibit the purchase of fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50 percent natural juice, as well as candy, unhealthy drinks, soft drinks, prepared desserts, sugar-sweetened beverages, and processed foods and beverages. Different states ban one or more of these items.
In the lawsuit, filed at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, plaintiffs argued that the USDA’s actions amount to “authorizing a patchwork of state-by-state food prohibition regimes.”
“These changes deprive SNAP recipients and their families of the food they need to maintain their health and employment, and in some cases, to survive,” the lawsuit alleged. “Individuals with chronic illnesses are losing access to products they need to manage blood sugar or sustain diets they need to maintain baseline health care needs.
“Families must choose between using scarce cash to purchase restricted items or foregoing essential household expenses such as rent, utilities, or transportation. These harms are tangible, ongoing, and irreparable.”
The lawsuit specifically challenges SNAP waivers issued for Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia, the states in which the five plaintiffs reside.
In 2018, the USDA had rejected similar food restriction proposals on SNAP purchases. According to the lawsuit, this was because the agency concluded that the restrictions would force the government to draw arbitrary lines among food products, limit food choices for households without clear evidence of health benefits, impose significant burdens on retailers, and increase administrative costs.
“Even though the challenged waivers present the same defects USDA previously recognized, they were approved without any attempt to address, let alone resolve, those concerns,” the complaint stated.
By approving the five waivers, the defendants are in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, the lawsuit claims.
Plaintiffs have asked the court to deem the food restriction waivers as unlawful.
The Epoch Times reached out to the USDA for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
SNAP Restrictions and Health
While announcing SNAP waiver approvals for six states in December 2025, Rollins justified the need for food restrictions as a way to improve people’s health.
“President Trump has made it clear: we are restoring SNAP to its true purpose—nutrition. Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long,” Rollins said in a Dec. 10 statement.
“With these new waivers, we are empowering states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly-processed foods, and moving one step closer to the President’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.”
Rollins and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are strong https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/usda-approves-new-food-stamp-restrictions-for-4-states-5994250 of banning food items deemed unhealthy from SNAP as part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda. Kennedy said he hopes that all states will have asked for, and received approval for, SNAP restrictions by the end of 2026.
In June 2025, Kennedy https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/rfk-jr-calls-on-governors-to-eliminate-sugary-drinks-from-snap-5871221 on all state governors to exclude sugary drinks from the SNAP program. “Taxpayer dollars should never bankroll products that fuel the chronic disease epidemic,” he said at the time.
A study published on Dec. 8, 2024, in Frontiers in Public Health found that consuming more sugary drinks was linked to a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases than eating sweet food items such as pastries.
“Liquid sugars, found in sweetened beverages, typically provide less satiety than solid forms—they make you feel less full, potentially leading to overconsumption,” Suzanne Janzi, the study’s co-author, said in a statement.
“Context also matters—treats are often enjoyed in social settings or [for] special occasions, while sweetened beverages might be consumed more regularly.”
The waivers have already been implemented in eight states: Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia.
The waivers will come into effect in the remainder of the year in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The waivers are set to be implemented in 2027 or 2028 in three states: Kansas, Nevada, and Wyoming.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Fri, 03/13/2026 - 21:25
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/snap-recipients-sue-trump-administration-over-sugary-food-restrictions
SNAP Recipients Sue Trump Administration Over Sugary Food Restrictions
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/snap-recipients-sue-trump-administration-over-sugary-food-restrictions-5997596?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries sued the Department of Agriculture on March 11 over the issuance of waivers to five states restricting certain types of foods that can be purchased under the program.
On May 19 last year, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/usda-approves-nebraskas-banning-soda-and-energy-drinks-from-food-stamps-5860488 a waiver to Nebraska that bans SNAP recipients in the state from buying soda or energy drinks. As of March 4 this year, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved similar waivers for 22 states in total.
In addition to soda and energy drinks, the additional waivers prohibit the purchase of fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50 percent natural juice, as well as candy, unhealthy drinks, soft drinks, prepared desserts, sugar-sweetened beverages, and processed foods and beverages. Different states ban one or more of these items.
In the lawsuit, filed at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, plaintiffs argued that the USDA’s actions amount to “authorizing a patchwork of state-by-state food prohibition regimes.”
“These changes deprive SNAP recipients and their families of the food they need to maintain their health and employment, and in some cases, to survive,” the lawsuit alleged. “Individuals with chronic illnesses are losing access to products they need to manage blood sugar or sustain diets they need to maintain baseline health care needs.
“Families must choose between using scarce cash to purchase restricted items or foregoing essential household expenses such as rent, utilities, or transportation. These harms are tangible, ongoing, and irreparable.”
The lawsuit specifically challenges SNAP waivers issued for Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia, the states in which the five plaintiffs reside.
In 2018, the USDA had rejected similar food restriction proposals on SNAP purchases. According to the lawsuit, this was because the agency concluded that the restrictions would force the government to draw arbitrary lines among food products, limit food choices for households without clear evidence of health benefits, impose significant burdens on retailers, and increase administrative costs.
“Even though the challenged waivers present the same defects USDA previously recognized, they were approved without any attempt to address, let alone resolve, those concerns,” the complaint stated.
By approving the five waivers, the defendants are in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, the lawsuit claims.
Plaintiffs have asked the court to deem the food restriction waivers as unlawful.
The Epoch Times reached out to the USDA for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
SNAP Restrictions and Health
While announcing SNAP waiver approvals for six states in December 2025, Rollins justified the need for food restrictions as a way to improve people’s health.
“President Trump has made it clear: we are restoring SNAP to its true purpose—nutrition. Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long,” Rollins said in a Dec. 10 statement.
“With these new waivers, we are empowering states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly-processed foods, and moving one step closer to the President’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.”
Rollins and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are strong https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/usda-approves-new-food-stamp-restrictions-for-4-states-5994250 of banning food items deemed unhealthy from SNAP as part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda. Kennedy said he hopes that all states will have asked for, and received approval for, SNAP restrictions by the end of 2026.
In June 2025, Kennedy https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/rfk-jr-calls-on-governors-to-eliminate-sugary-drinks-from-snap-5871221 on all state governors to exclude sugary drinks from the SNAP program. “Taxpayer dollars should never bankroll products that fuel the chronic disease epidemic,” he said at the time.
A study published on Dec. 8, 2024, in Frontiers in Public Health found that consuming more sugary drinks was linked to a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases than eating sweet food items such as pastries.
“Liquid sugars, found in sweetened beverages, typically provide less satiety than solid forms—they make you feel less full, potentially leading to overconsumption,” Suzanne Janzi, the study’s co-author, said in a statement.
“Context also matters—treats are often enjoyed in social settings or [for] special occasions, while sweetened beverages might be consumed more regularly.”
The waivers have already been implemented in eight states: Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia.
The waivers will come into effect in the remainder of the year in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The waivers are set to be implemented in 2027 or 2028 in three states: Kansas, Nevada, and Wyoming.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Fri, 03/13/2026 - 21:25
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/snap-recipients-sue-trump-administration-over-sugary-food-restrictions
2❤️1
New Mexico Bets Big On Fusion And Defense Startups
New Mexico Bets Big On Fusion And Defense Startups
New Mexico’s $70 billion sovereign wealth fund is making a major push to attract advanced technology industries to the state, betting that sectors such as nuclear fusion, defense systems, and advanced manufacturing can generate both financial returns and local economic growth, according to https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-11/new-mexico-wealth-fund-bets-on-fusion-and-defense-startups?srnd=undefined
.
A centerpiece of the effort is a proposed $1 billion research and manufacturing campus by startup Pacific Fusion near Albuquerque. The company is working to commercialize nuclear fusion, the reaction that powers the sun and stars, though practical power generation remains years away. To help support the effort, the New Mexico State Investment Council has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to venture capital funds that invest in fusion companies, signaling that capital will be available if firms choose to build and expand in the state.
The strategy reflects a broader overhaul of New Mexico’s in-state investment program. Over the past three years, the fund has allocated about $1.8 billion to dozens of venture capital managers willing to invest in local opportunities, with roughly one out of every five private-equity dollars directed toward the initiative since 2022.
Officials say the goal is to back industries where New Mexico has structural advantages, including aerospace, national security technology, and energy innovation. The state hosts major federal research hubs such as Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, as well as Spaceport America, where Virgin Galactic conducts commercial spaceflight operations. These facilities, combined with large tracts of sparsely populated desert land, have made the state attractive to startups developing capital-intensive technologies that require testing space and specialized infrastructure.
Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-11/new-mexico-wealth-fund-bets-on-fusion-and-defense-startups?srnd=undefined
that defense technology is emerging as another pillar of the investment strategy. Startup Castelion, founded by former engineers from SpaceX, is building a large manufacturing campus in Sandoval County aimed at scaling production of hypersonic strike weapons. Such systems, capable of traveling at extremely high speeds and maneuvering in flight, are becoming a priority for the U.S. military as rival powers develop similar capabilities. The project is expected to generate hundreds of jobs and significant economic activity in the region, illustrating how venture-backed defense startups are increasingly tied to national industrial policy.
The initiative also aligns with a broader shift in venture capital toward sectors tied to national security, supply chains, and heavy industry. As the U.S. government emphasizes competition with China and the rebuilding of domestic manufacturing capacity, investors are channeling more money into energy infrastructure, aerospace systems, and defense technologies rather than purely software companies. For states with abundant land and research institutions, this shift may create new opportunities to host large-scale technology projects.
Still, the approach carries risks. Earlier versions of New Mexico’s local investment program struggled to deliver returns and lost more than $500 million on past deals, raising concerns about mixing economic development goals with investment decisions. State officials say the redesigned program is intended to avoid those pitfalls by prioritizing financial performance while still encouraging venture firms to consider opportunities within New Mexico. Early results show modest returns so far, though most of the investments remain too young to fully evaluate.
Ultimately, the state is betting that attracting companies at the frontier of emerging technologies could reshape its economic landscape. Projects such as Pacific Fusion’s proposed campus and Castelion’s weapons facility illustrate the ambition behind the strategy: using the state’s oil wealth to seed industries that could define the next generation of energy and defense technology, while positioning New Mexico as a hub for advanced innovation.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Fri, 03/13/2026 - 18:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/new-mexico-bets-big-fusion-and-defense-startups
New Mexico Bets Big On Fusion And Defense Startups
New Mexico’s $70 billion sovereign wealth fund is making a major push to attract advanced technology industries to the state, betting that sectors such as nuclear fusion, defense systems, and advanced manufacturing can generate both financial returns and local economic growth, according to https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-11/new-mexico-wealth-fund-bets-on-fusion-and-defense-startups?srnd=undefined
.
A centerpiece of the effort is a proposed $1 billion research and manufacturing campus by startup Pacific Fusion near Albuquerque. The company is working to commercialize nuclear fusion, the reaction that powers the sun and stars, though practical power generation remains years away. To help support the effort, the New Mexico State Investment Council has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to venture capital funds that invest in fusion companies, signaling that capital will be available if firms choose to build and expand in the state.
The strategy reflects a broader overhaul of New Mexico’s in-state investment program. Over the past three years, the fund has allocated about $1.8 billion to dozens of venture capital managers willing to invest in local opportunities, with roughly one out of every five private-equity dollars directed toward the initiative since 2022.
Officials say the goal is to back industries where New Mexico has structural advantages, including aerospace, national security technology, and energy innovation. The state hosts major federal research hubs such as Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, as well as Spaceport America, where Virgin Galactic conducts commercial spaceflight operations. These facilities, combined with large tracts of sparsely populated desert land, have made the state attractive to startups developing capital-intensive technologies that require testing space and specialized infrastructure.
Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-11/new-mexico-wealth-fund-bets-on-fusion-and-defense-startups?srnd=undefined
that defense technology is emerging as another pillar of the investment strategy. Startup Castelion, founded by former engineers from SpaceX, is building a large manufacturing campus in Sandoval County aimed at scaling production of hypersonic strike weapons. Such systems, capable of traveling at extremely high speeds and maneuvering in flight, are becoming a priority for the U.S. military as rival powers develop similar capabilities. The project is expected to generate hundreds of jobs and significant economic activity in the region, illustrating how venture-backed defense startups are increasingly tied to national industrial policy.
The initiative also aligns with a broader shift in venture capital toward sectors tied to national security, supply chains, and heavy industry. As the U.S. government emphasizes competition with China and the rebuilding of domestic manufacturing capacity, investors are channeling more money into energy infrastructure, aerospace systems, and defense technologies rather than purely software companies. For states with abundant land and research institutions, this shift may create new opportunities to host large-scale technology projects.
Still, the approach carries risks. Earlier versions of New Mexico’s local investment program struggled to deliver returns and lost more than $500 million on past deals, raising concerns about mixing economic development goals with investment decisions. State officials say the redesigned program is intended to avoid those pitfalls by prioritizing financial performance while still encouraging venture firms to consider opportunities within New Mexico. Early results show modest returns so far, though most of the investments remain too young to fully evaluate.
Ultimately, the state is betting that attracting companies at the frontier of emerging technologies could reshape its economic landscape. Projects such as Pacific Fusion’s proposed campus and Castelion’s weapons facility illustrate the ambition behind the strategy: using the state’s oil wealth to seed industries that could define the next generation of energy and defense technology, while positioning New Mexico as a hub for advanced innovation.
https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden
Fri, 03/13/2026 - 18:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/new-mexico-bets-big-fusion-and-defense-startups