Friday, March 13 | By Cate Martel |
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Happy Friday the 13th! Tomorrow is Pi Day! How are you celebrating? I'm always looking for pie recipes.🥧 | 6 U.S. service members die in Iraq plane crash Trump threatens Iran's leaders The next Capitol Hill funding fight: Iran Watchdog says DOD spent millions on lobster
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What is the status of Iran's leader?: |
AP/Vahid Salemi, file photo |
Iran's new leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen in public since he took the reins from his father, who was killed by the U.S. and Israel two weeks ago. There are reports circulating that he was in a coma and had his leg amputated after being wounded on the first day of attacks that killed his father. He's reportedly in hiding. Well, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are openly speculating about the Iranian leader's well-being. Trump speculated to Fox News's Brian Kilmeade this morning that Khamenei is "probably alive in some form" but "damaged." Hegseth said during a press briefing at the Pentagon that he thinks Khamenei is "wounded and likely disfigured." He also called him the "new so-called not-so-supreme leader." |
➤ WHITE HOUSE FURIOUS CNN BROADCASTED IRAN'S STATEMENT: |
The Trump administration is blasting CNN for airing statements from Iran's new supreme leader. The White House posted on social media: "Fake news CNN just aired four straight minutes of uninterrupted Iranian state TV, run by the same psychotic and murderous regime that prided itself on brutally slaughtering Americans for 47 years." Keep in mind: The Hill's Dominick Mastrangelo pointed out that several other outlets also covered Khamenei's remarks. 📺 More on the Iran leader's comments. |
➤ 'WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE DERANGED SCUMBAGS TODAY': |
Trump threatened Iranian leaders this morning with a specific warning for today's military action. "We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time – Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today," the president posted. "They've been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them." 🔎 Trump's full post |
Six more American service members dead in the Middle East: |
All six American service members aboard a U.S. refueling aircraft died when the plane crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed Friday. What happened?: The military is investigating but noted the aircraft *did not* crash due to "hostile fire or friendly fire." What we know about the crash From Hegseth: "War is hell. War is chaos. And as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen. … We will greet those heroes at Dover. And their sacrifice will only recommit us to the resolve of this mission." The total U.S. death toll of the Iran war: Thirteen service members have died since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. |
➤ WHAT'S THE LATEST IN IRAN?: |
Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine gave an update on the war Friday morning. Here's what we know: 🔷 15,000 Iranian targets have been hit: That encompasses targets hit by both the U.S. and Israel, according to Hegseth. "That's well over 1,000 a day. No other combination of countries in the world can do that," he said. 🔷 It's not confirmed that Iran is laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz: Hegseth said there's "no clear evidence" of reports that Iran is placing mines in the vital trade passage. 💬 Follow today's live blog |
The New York Times's Greg Jaffe writes "How Hegseth Came to See Moral Purpose in War as Weakness." The gist: "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's bellicose and vengeful rhetoric describing the military's war in Iran grew out of his experience in Iraq." Excerpt: "For decades, presidents and their secretaries of defense have framed American military interventions in altruistic terms. Even though the truth was often more complicated, they cast U.S. troops as liberators bringing democracy and freedom to those living under tyranny and oppression. Mr. Hegseth has largely dispensed with that talk. His bellicose, at times vengeful, rhetoric reflects his belief that the United States' lofty goals in Iraq and Afghanistan caused the military to lose focus on its main task, killing the enemy, and led to costly defeats in both wars. In his view, the U.S. military's strength is not rooted in its high ideals, humanity or moral purpose, but rather its ability to punish adversaries." |
Airport security lines are growing longer around the country since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shut down a month ago. Is there any progress on reopening it?: Sources told The Hill's Alexander Bolton there has been some progress behind the scenes, but it's still slow-moving. A source told Bolton that leaders' internal goal is to fund DHS by the Easter recess, which is scheduled to begin on March 28. Have you heard about the wild security lines in Houston?: There were reportedly three-hour long TSA lines in Houston last weekend. The one-month mark for the shutdown is officially tonight at midnight. Read Bolton's reporting: 'TSA lines at airports add pressure on lawmakers to end DHS shutdown' |
➤ THIS MORNING ON CAPITOL HILL: |
Several Senate Democrats filed legislation to block Trump from going to war with Cuba without congressional approval. Which senators filed the resolution?: Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine (Va.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) and Adam Schiff (Calif.). |
The next fight on Capitol Hill — Iran funding: |
Pentagon officials told lawmakers this week that more than $11.3 billion was spent in the first six days of the war in Iran. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters that Iran supplemental funding will be "inevitable." That sets up a likely fight on Capitol Hill when the time comes. Johnson can only afford one Republican "no" vote, assuming all Democrats are unified in their opposition. However, conservative fiscal hawks may be hesitant to approve the funding. Read Sudiksha Kochi and Mike Lillis's reporting from Doral, Fla.: '"Inevitable" Iran funding request sets up another big clash in the Capitol' |
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That's a lot of surf and turf: |
The Pentagon spent a record $93.4 billion in September, including splurges on luxury items, to exhaust its use-it-or-lose-it budget, according to a new report from government watchdog Open the Books. In September alone, the government reportedly spent: |
- $6.9 million on lobster tails
- $2 million on Alaskan king crab
- $15.1 million on ribeye steak
- $139,224 for doughnuts
- $124,000 for ice cream machines
- $5.3 million on Apple devices
- $4 million on Samsung devices, including a $4,000 98-inch monitor with "crystal UHD display"
- $98,329 on a Steinway & Sons grand piano for the Air Force chief of staff's home
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Keep in mind: The use-it-or-lose-it policy is not unique to the Pentagon. But this happened during the intense government funding talks that resulted in a 43-day government shutdown that cut food stamp benefits for millions of Americans. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) had some sharp words about the Pentagon's lavish spending, noting, "This is where your taxpayer dollars are going. Isn't this supposed to be the Administration that's targeting 'waste, fraud, and abuse'?!? Make it make sense." Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) called out Hegseth, arguing the amount his department spent in one month would have paid to extend health care credits for three years. "But instead of lowering American's healthcare costs, Hegseth used millions of taxpayer dollars on fruit baskets, Herman Miller recliners, ice cream machines, Alaskan King Crabs, and a Steinway & Sons grand piano," Schumer posted. "A true grifter in every sense of the word." The Hill has reached out to the Pentagon for comment. |
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The House and Senate are out. Trump is at the White House with no public events on his schedule. (All times EDT) |
2 p.m. Trump signs executive orders. 3 p.m. Trump meets with the National Finals Rodeo winners. This evening: Trump leaves for Palm Beach, Fla. Saturday evening: Trump attends a MAGA Inc. roundtable dinner. 7 p.m. Sunday: The 2026 Oscars |
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🥥 Celebrate: Today is National Coconut Torte Day. 🥧 Saturday is Pi Day! 🌮 Taco Bell is on the front lines of innovation: Taco Bell announced a lineup of new menu items, including an edible fried hot sauce packet. Oh, and there's a Flamin' Hot Mini Taco Salad. 📝 Ranking of the new items |
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