Stephan Schmitt📯

This morning, I asked President Trump if he’s okay with the Iranians charging a toll for all ships that go through the Strait of Hormuz, he told me there may be a Joint US-Iran venture to charge tolls: “We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it — also securing it from lots of other people.” “It’s a beautiful thing”

Lindsey Graham is upset that Iran is using Yuan. He calls it an attack on the dollar. But Iran didn't choose this. The US did. By attacking them. By bombing their economy. By threatening their existence. They have every reason to dump the dollar.

BREAKING: New US intelligence reports suggest that Iran may "increase its regional sway" as a result of the Iran War through their control of the Strait of Hormuz, per Reuters. Details include: 1. Intelligence suggests that Iran is "unlikely" to open the Strait of Hormuz "any time soon" ​2. Intelligence suggests that Iran's control over Hormuz "provides the only real leverage" it has over the US 3. As a result, Iran may actually end up gaining regional influence from the Iran War, US intelligence suggests 4. US officials note that Trump also has said that other countries "have far more at stake in preventing this ​outcome" than the US The Strait of Hormuz is quickly becoming the focus of this war.

For the third day Russia keeps hitting Kharkiv nonstop. This is European Street, heart of the city.

Lindsey Graham tonight: He is calling for the destruction of infrastructure that allows Iran “to function as a nation.” Power grids. Water systems. Civilian infrastructure. That is not a military target. That is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.

Trump called federal judges "criminals" at an NRCC fundraiser last Wednesday. Called for legislation to punish them. The room applauded. One of the judges he's been targeting — Karin Immergut in Portland — was his own appointee. His response when she ruled against him: "I appointed the judge and she goes like that. So I wasn't served well, obviously." That's the tell. Not ideology. Not constitutional principle. Personal loyalty, or else. Chief Justice Roberts already asked publicly for an end to the "hostility." The pizza deliveries to judges' home addresses are already happening — a signal the sender knows where they live, sometimes sent in the name of a judge's son who was murdered at his door in 2020. Threats logged last year: 564. Up from 509 the year before. McQuade is right that Congress probably won't pass this bill. She says so directly. But that's not the point of the speech. The point is the other judges watching. The message is: rule my way, or you're next. Legislation is optional. Fear isn't.