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Saturday, March 21, 2026
6 hours ago
News

Russia Hoax Peddler Robert Mueller Dead at 81, Trump Responds.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Robert Mueller, former special counsel in the Russia investigation, has died at the age of 81.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Robert Mueller, former FBI Director and Special Counsel, along with unnamed sources who confirmed his passing.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Mueller passed away on Friday, March 20, 2026. The location was not disclosed.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Mueller had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for years,” according to individuals familiar with the matter.

🎯IMPACT: Mueller’s passing marks the end of a career that included leadership of the FBI and a high-profile investigation into falsely alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.

IN FULL

Robert Mueller, who led the phoney investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, has died at the age of 81. His death was confirmed by two individuals familiar with the matter.

President Trump responded on Truth Social: “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. However, sources indicated that Mueller had been battling Parkinson’s disease for several years.

Mueller served as FBI Director from 2001 to 2013 and was appointed as Special Counsel by the Justice Department in 2017 to oversee the investigation into alleged Russian interference. His two-year probe concluded in 2019, finding no substantive evidence that Russia colluded with the Trump campaign to influence the election.

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12 hours ago
Crime

Town’s First Vape Store Closed Down Within Months After Becoming Hub for ‘Crime and Antisocial Behavior.’

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The first vape store in West Kirby, England, was shut down due to “criminality and antisocial behaviour.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Wirral Council, The West Kirby Vape Shop, and its director, Khalid Qader.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The store was closed in March 2026; it was located in West Kirby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.

🎯IMPACT: The closure order underscores the link between vape stores and criminal activity, dangerous goods, and illegal working.

IN FULL

The first vape store to open in West Kirby, England, has been forced to close just months after launching in October 2025, due to “criminality and antisocial behaviour.” Wirral Council enforcement officers who inspected the premises discovered a suspicious mattress on the floor in a back room, along with illegal cigarettes and illegal vapes.

Community complaints about the business surfaced shortly after it began operating. Andrea Fitzgerald, speaking for Wirral Council in court, said that someone had been found working there illegally and that counterfeit cigarettes were discovered. Kevin Burn, a tobacco compliance officer, said dozens of illegal vapes and several suspect bottles of Coca-Cola without proper labeling were also found, indicating multiple additional violations of regulations.

The court was informed that the shop’s director, Khalid Qader, is connected to another vape business in Oswestry, Shropshire, where officers intercepted a staff member attempting to flee with a suitcase and a shopping bag holding 5,000 illegal cigarettes. Vape stores are associated with similar issues in the United States, with a recent series of raids in Kinston, North Carolina, seeing four people arrested and drugs and millions in cash seized.

Previous investigations have found strong links between vape stores, which are spreading in numbers far beyond the market demand for them, and organized crime, human trafficking, drug dealing, and illegal immigration.

They are also a serious risk to life and the heritage of the communities they are proliferating in, with an unregistered vape store in Glasgow, Scotland, recently burning down a 175-year-old landmark. It also caused the country’s largest railway station, located nearby, to close down, throwing the transport network into days of ongoing chaos.

Image by Azraq Al Rezoan.

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March 20, 2026
News

Russia Offered to Stop Sharing Intel With Iran If U.S. Stops Sharing Intel With Ukraine.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Russia offered to cease supplying intelligence to Iran if the U.S. stopped supplying Ukraine with intel about Russia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald J. Trump, and the Iranian and Ukrainian governments.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was reportedly made last week in Miami, Florida.

🎯IMPACT: The Trump administration rejected the proposal, but it has sparked concern among European diplomats that the U.S. may cease assisting Ukraine in favor of prioritizing its agenda in the Middle East.

IN FULL

Russia recently put a proposal to the United States, offering to cease intelligence sharing with Iran—in particular, details like precise locations of U.S. military assets in the Middle East—if Washington ceases sharing intelligence with Ukraine regarding Russian military activities. The suggestion was conveyed by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev to U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during a meeting in Miami, Florida, last week.

The Trump administration rejected the offer, according to sources, but the proposal has caused alarm among European diplomats, who worry that Russia is seeking to exploit divisions between the U.S. and its European partners over Iran.

Notably, President Donald J. Trump recently voiced frustration with NATO allies’ hesitation to deploy warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, branding them “COWARDS” in a Truth Social post and warning, “we will REMEMBER!”

The Kremlin has indicated that U.S.-facilitated peace negotiations on Ukraine are presently “on hold.” While the United States continues to provide intelligence support to Ukraine, other categories of assistance have been reduced. The Trump administration’s recent moves to relax sanctions on Russian energy exports, as the Iran war disrupts global supply, have drawn complaints from some European officials.

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March 20, 2026
Media

CBS News Slashes Staff, Shuts Down Radio Division.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: CBS News is shutting down its radio service in May after nearly 100 years in operation, and laying off approximately six percent of its workforce.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: CBS News employees, including those affected by the layoffs, CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The radio unit will officially go off air on May 22, 2026, with the announcement made on Friday in a memo to staff.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A shift in radio station programming strategies, coupled with challenging economic realities, has made it impossible to continue the service.” – CBS News executives

🎯IMPACT: The decision affects 60-70 employees and ends nearly a century of CBS News radio broadcasting, impacting 700 affiliated radio stations.

IN FULL

CBS News has announced the closure of its radio service after nearly 100 years in operation. In addition, approximately six percent of the network’s workforce will be laid off, affecting 60 to 70 employees. The announcement was made through a memo issued Friday from CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and President Tom Cibrowski.

The memo acknowledged the challenges of the modern news business, stating, “It’s no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it. New audiences are burgeoning in new places, and we are pressing forward with ambitious plans to grow and invest so that we can be there for them.”

Executives also addressed the closure of the radio service, citing shifts in radio programming strategies and economic realities as primary factors. “While this was a necessary decision, it was not an easy one,” the memo noted. The radio unit, which serves 700 affiliated stations, will officially go off air on May 22, 2026.

The closure comes as CBS’s parent company, Paramount, awaits regulatory approval for a merger with Warner Bros Discovery, the parent company of CNN. CBS sources have stated that this merger did not influence the decision to shut down the radio service. Regulatory approval for the deal is expected to take six months.

Image by Studio Sarah Lou.

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March 20, 2026
Education

Trump Admin Sues Harvard for Failing to Back ‘Jewish and Israeli’ Students.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, alleging the institution failed to address anti-Semitism on campus.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, Harvard University, Jewish and Israeli students, and campus protesters.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed in a Massachusetts federal court on Friday, following incidents on Harvard’s campus from 2023 to 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Jewish and Israeli students at Harvard University were harassed, physically assaulted, stalked, and spat upon… Harvard’s response to this: do nothing.” – Lawsuit filed by the Trump administration.

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit seeks to revoke federal funding, appoint an external monitor, and require Harvard to collaborate with law enforcement on protest-related arrests.

IN FULL

The Trump administration on Friday filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League institution of allowing anti-Semitism to persist on its campus. Filed in a Massachusetts federal court, the complaint alleges that Jewish and Israeli students have been harassed, physically assaulted, and subjected to a hostile environment with little to no intervention from the university.

According to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) filing, Harvard failed to address numerous anti-Semitic incidents, including students being blocked from entering buildings, being spat upon, and hearing chants such as “Heil Hitler” during protests. Notably, the legal action also seeks to classify certain pro-Hamas protest chants, such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” as calls for violence against Jewish people. The Trump administration claims that these actions violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin at federally funded institutions.

Harvard has responded by defending its actions, stating that it has implemented measures to combat anti-Semitism, including enhanced training and education, as well as programs promoting civil dialogue. A university spokesman described the lawsuit as “yet another pretextual and retaliatory action by the administration for refusing to turn over control of Harvard to the federal government.”

This latest DOJ lawsuit is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to address alleged anti-Semitism at major universities. Unlike other institutions such as Columbia and Northwestern, Harvard has refused to reach a negotiated settlement with the administration. The university has also faced other legal challenges, including a recent lawsuit over its admissions records and accusations of failing to comply with the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.

Image by Adam Fagen.

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March 20, 2026
News

Trump Announces He Is Considering ‘Winding Down’ the War in Iran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced he is considering “winding down” military operations against Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump and U.S.-Israeli forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The war is ongoing as of February 2026, across Iran and the wider Middle East.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East…” – President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Ending the war could stabilize the global economy, which is reeling from the impact of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on energy infrastructure.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has indicated that the United States is nearing the completion of its military objectives in Iran and that operations may be gradually brought to an end. “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” he wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday.

Trump outlined his key goals as degrading Iran’s missile capabilities, destroying its defense industrial base, eliminating its navy and air force, and forcibly terminating its nuclear program. He also described “Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others”—which have been taking an increasing amount of damage as a result of Iranian retaliatory strikes, often targeting U.S. bases and energy infrastructure.

Additionally, Trump mentioned that the Strait of Hormuz, a major conduit for global energy and fertilizer supplies that has been closed by Iranian action, should be secured by others. “The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not! If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated,” he wrote, adding: “Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them.”

The announcement comes as the unpopularity of the Iran war in the U.S. is increasing, and its negative economic impact is becoming more severe. Notably, and despite Trump’s Friday statement on the Iran war possibly winding down, the U.S. has in recent days begun to deploy an increasing number of ground troops to the region, signaling the potential for escalation, such as an amphibious assault on Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub.

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March 20, 2026
Data
Politics
War

Trump Rating Hits All-Time Low With FRIENDLY Pollster as War Opposition Amongst 2024 Trump Voters Doubles.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 42 percent, the lowest of his presidency, according to a new poll.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and 1,037 registered voters surveyed by JL Partners.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll conducted online from March 18 to March 20, 2026, amid the ongoing Iran war.

🎯IMPACT: Rising inflation, gas prices, and opposition to the Iran war are driving disapproval, with 54 percent of voters saying the economy is worsening.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump‘s approval rating has dropped to 42 percent, according to a new poll from Trump-friendly JL Partners. This marks the lowest approval rating of his presidency, down from 44 percent earlier this month and 48 percent in January. The poll surveyed 1,037 registered voters online from March 18 to March 20, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.

According to the survey, the Iran war and inflation fears are key reasons for the decline. Twenty-eight percent of respondents disapproved of Trump’s handling of the Middle East, up from 20 percent earlier this month. Meanwhile, 44 percent blamed him for rising inflation, an increase from 38 percent at the start of March. Gas prices have risen to $3.90 per gallon nationally, compared to $2.90 before U.S. strikes began on February 28.

Support for the Iran war has also waned. Initially, 40 percent of voters supported military action, but that figure has now dropped to 33 percent, with 49 percent opposing the conflict. Among Trump voters, support for the war has decreased from 75 percent to 61 percent, while opposition has risen to 22 percent. Thirteen U.S. troops have been killed and over 200 injured since the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran started.

Economic sentiment has also worsened, with 54 percent of voters saying the economy is deteriorating, up from 44 percent last month. Only 16 percent believe the economy is improving, a significant drop from 30 percent in February. The poll also revealed that only 19 percent of voters would tolerate a $1 increase in gas prices to secure a military victory, while just seven percent would accept up to 10,000 American fatalities in the conflict.

Vice President J.D. Vance, however, has not seen his approval rating affected by the Iran war. His approval remains steady at 47 percent, five points higher than Trump’s. Notably, independents, who are crucial for Republican success in the 2026 midterm elections, oppose the war by a two-to-one margin, with 50 percent against and 24 percent in favor. Democrats are overwhelmingly opposed, with 76 percent disapproving of the decision to strike Iran.

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March 20, 2026
Jack Montgomery
Health
Lawfare

Biden Judge Reverses RFK Jr. Ban on Transgender Surgeries for Minors.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden announced he will grant a motion by Democrat states to vacate a declaration by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. banning doctors from performing gender transition procedures such as breast amputations on minors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), and officials from New York and 18 other states.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Thursday in Oregon, with the judge’s formal written opinion expected soon.

💬KEY QUOTE: “No one should lose access to medically necessary health care because their federal government tried to interfere in decisions that belong in doctors’ offices.” – Letitia James

🎯IMPACT: The ruling challenges the HHS declaration, potentially allowing states to bypass restrictions on inflicting irreversible gender transition procedures on minors.

IN FULL

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai, appointed by former President Joe Biden in late 2024, announced that he intends to grant a motion brought by a coalition of Democrat-led states to vacate a declaration issued by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. banning gender transition procedures such as breast amputations for minors.

The declaration, released in December 2025, stated that puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries are “neither safe nor effective” treatments for gender dysphoria, and do not meet professionally recognized standards of healthcare. It also warned that providers offering these services could face exclusion from federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

During a lengthy hearing, Judge Kasubhai indicated he would issue a formal written opinion soon and that he plans to deny the government’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit and grant the states’ request for summary judgment, effectively blocking the declaration’s enforcement.

The lawsuit, brought by Democrat-led states including New York and involving a total of 19 states plus Washington, D.C., argued that the declaration unlawfully overstepped HHS authority, interfered with state regulation of medicine, and violated federal rulemaking requirements.

New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, “No one should lose access to medically necessary health care because their federal government tried to interfere in decisions that belong in doctors’ offices.”

However, earlier this year in New York, a jury awarded a 22-year-old “detransitioner” $1.6 million for pain and suffering and $400,000 for future medical expenses after a psychologist and a surgeon performed transgender procedures on her, including a double mastectomy at age 16.

Image by Wikilawcontributor.

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March 20, 2026
UK
War

Britain Grants Trump Use of Bases for Iran Strikes.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The British government has agreed to allow the United States to use British bases for defensive operations targeting Iranian missile sites attacking oil tankers and other vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Britain’s governing Labour Party, the U.S. military, and Iranian forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on March 20, 2026, following a ministerial meeting in London, England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Ministers condemned Iran’s expansion of its targets to include international shipping. They agreed that Iran’s reckless strikes… risked pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the economic impact being felt in the UK and around the world.” – Spokesman for Prime Minister Starmer

🎯IMPACT: The decision aims to safeguard international shipping and prevent further economic disruption caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

IN FULL

Britain’s Labour Party government has approved the use of British bases by the United States to conduct strikes targeting Iranian missile sites that have been used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement followed a ministerial meeting to address escalating conflict in the Middle East.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that government ministers condemned Iran’s targeting of international shipping and civilian infrastructure, describing such actions as reckless and dangerous. The spokesman added, “They confirmed that the agreement for the U.S. to use UK bases in the collective self-defense of the region includes U.S. defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the British decision, calling it “participation in aggression” and warning against targeting Iranian interests. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper underscored that the decision was a response to Iran’s strikes on Gulf countries and its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international shipping route for oil, gas, and fertilizer.

The economic ramifications of Iran’s actions have already been felt globally. The Bank of England warned that inflation could rise significantly due to higher wholesale energy costs. Oil and gas prices surged earlier in the week but retreated slightly on Friday, with Brent crude dropping to $108 per barrel.

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March 20, 2026
War

Trump Orders Even More Warships, Marines to Middle East.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon is deploying three additional warships and approximately 2,500 US Marines to the Middle East, marking the second deployment to the region this week.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the USS Boxer amphibious ready group, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Deployment announced this week, with troops heading to CENTCOM’s area of operation in the Middle East.

💬KEY QUOTE: “No, I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you,” President Trump told the media when questioned on possible ground action in Iran.

🎯IMPACT: This deployment raises the possibility that Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran, may escalate to involve a ground component, such as an amphibious assault on Kharg Island.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of War is sending three additional warships and approximately 2,500 U.S. Marines to the Middle East, in the second troop deployment announced this week. This latest deployment includes the USS Boxer amphibious ready group and elements of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, likely intended to bolster ongoing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Earlier this week, the Pentagon ordered the deployment of 2,200 Marines and sailors aboard the USS Tripoli, based in Japan, to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations in the Middle East, possibly to participate in the seizure of Iran’s Kharg Island. Notably, the island—located just off the coast of Iran in the northern Persian Gulf—serves as a critical hub for Iranian oil exports, hosting extensive petroleum storage and port facilities.

Despite the new Marine deployments and repositioning of warships, President Donald J. Trump insisted on Thursday that he does not currently intend to put “boots on the ground” in Iran. “No, I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you,” Trump told the media, though he added that his administration will “do whatever’s necessary to keep the price” of oil down.

Notably, the latest Middle East deployments coincide with the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier leaving its position in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Israel for port in Greece to undergo minor repairs following a small kitchen fire. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group remains positioned in the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury.

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