Monday, March 23 | By Cate Martel |
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Trump pauses Iran strikes for talks Stock market celebrates Iran denies talks with US Airport security lines soar, rattling Senate GOP Cruz floats plan to end partial DHS shutdown Trump a 'BIG proponent' of ICE agents wearing masks
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Hitting the pause button for 5 days: |
President Trump announced the U.S. will pause its strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure for five days. Trump said he has had "productive" conversations with Iranian leaders and hopes they can agree to a complete and total resolution in the Middle East. 🔎 Read Trump's all-caps social media post announcing the pause Meanwhile –– Iran pushed back on Trump's announcement: A senior Iranian official disputed Trump's claim that there are negotiations between the two countries, arguing Trump has "backed down" due to pressure from the markets and allies. "Trump backed down from attacking critical infrastructure as Iran's military threats became credible. Financial market pressure and the threat of bonds within the U.S. and the West have increased, and this has been another important factor in this retreat," the senior official told Iran's Fars News Agency in translated remarks. Trump then clarified: The president said he has not been in contact with Iran's supreme leader, arguing his top envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner have been speaking with their Iranian diplomatic counterparts. "We're dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and the leader," Trump told reporters in Palm Beach, Fla., late this morning. "We have not heard from the son," he added, referring to the new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei. Regardless, the stock market loved this news: The stock market jumped this morning at opening after Trump made his announcement. Oil prices also dropped. 💬 Follow today's live blog |
Airport travel looks miserable: |
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown has gotten even more painful for Americans. Footage of massive lines at major airports over the weekend has been getting a lot of traction online. More than 400 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have quit since the shutdown began 38 days ago, The Hill's Sarah Fortinsky reports. And Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says long security wait times will get "much worse." Senate Republicans are feeling rattled. The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports that cracks are beginning to form in the Senate GOP, which could lead to some movement in ending the shutdown. A way this could end, per Bolton's reporting: "Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a prominent conservative and an influential voice in the Senate GOP conference, has pushed colleagues to consider breaking up the Homeland Security appropriations bill to fund and reopen the TSA and other critical agencies immediately and use the budget reconciliation process later to increase funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)." But Trump is raining on that parade: Trump says there would be no deal to end the partial shutdown until Democrats agree to join Republicans and pass his voter restriction bill. It's worth reading Bolton's reporting on the cracks forming within the Senate GOP: 'GOP cracks in Senate begin to show in DHS shutdown fight' |
Trump says ICE officers will help with airport security for "as long as it takes" to help ease the long lines. However, White House border czar Tom Homan says ICE will assist at airports but will not be directly involved in security screening. The ICE deployment has begun: CNN reports that ICE agents are . The list does not include any airports in the Washington, D.C.-area. 📝 Live airport security line wait time tracker ^ Well, maybe not JFK Airport!: John F. Kennedy International Airport suspended its wait time reporting today, warning the estimated times are no longer sufficient. "Please allow for significantly more time and check with your airline for the current status of your flight," the airport wrote in a statement. |
➤ A POINT OF CONTENTION IN NEGOTIATIONS: |
Democrats want ICE officers to be barred from wearing face masks to conceal their identities. Well, Trump rejected that proposal this morning, saying he's a "BIG proponent of ICE wearing masks as they search for, and are forced to deal with, hardened criminals." Even while working at airports?: No, Trump clarified that he does not want ICE officers wearing masks if deployed to airports. |
Sen. Mullin's colleagues will vote on his promotion today: |
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The House is out. The Senate is in. President Trump is in Memphis, Tenn., this afternoon. (All times EDT) |
1 p.m. Trump participates in a roundtable in Memphis. 💻 Livestream Later today: Trump returns to the White House. 7:45 p.m. Two Senate votes. 📆 Today's agenda 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: The House votes. 📆 Tuesday's agenda |
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🫔 Celebrate: Today is National Tamale Day. 🥩 A nearly 200-year-old steakhouse is expanding: "When Delmonico's first opened around the corner from Wall Street in 1837, it coincided with a financial panic, bank failures and the popping of a real-estate bubble. But the steakhouse survived. And in the coming years, it would serve famous customers such as Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain. Now, nearly two centuries later, the restaurant that calls itself the first fine-dining spot in the U.S. is poised to open its second outpost in Midtown Manhattan next year." Read more: 'America's Original Steakhouse Is Expanding—After Nearly 200 Years' |
Because the weather is finally beautiful and beach weather is in sight, let's all aspire to be this puppy at the beach, soaking up the sun. |
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