Trump News for Thursday, March 26, 2026

Brendan Carr says his broadcast license threat wasn’t really about Iran war coverage

Lauren Feiner, The Verge

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr never meant to threaten broadcast licenses over their coverage of the war in Iran, he told reporters after an event hosted by FGS and Semafor. "My comments weren't actually on the Iran war," Carr said in re…

Judge temporairly blocks Pentagon's 'supply chain risk' designation for Anthropic

Peter Charalambous, Abcnews.com

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from designating AI company Anthropic a "supply-chain risk to national security."

Judge temporarily blocks the Pentagon from declaring Anthropic a national security risk

Brent D. Griffiths,Lloyd Lee, Business Insider

Anthropic has said it could lose billions if a federal judge didn't step in to block the Trump administration.

TRUMP'S GROUND WAR BLUFF?

Ken Klippenstein, Kenklippenstein.com

TRUMP'S GROUND WAR BLUFF? (First column, 6th story, link) Related stories:IRAN VOWS TO STRIKE HOTELS INCLUDING FOUR SEASONS... Furious Republicans storm out of secret war briefing... New objectives spark panic... 'Pentagon has exagger…

Trump says he will sign an executive order to have the Department of Homeland Security pay TSA workers

Katherine Li, Business Insider

Trump said he will sign an order to immediately pay TSA workers as travel chaos intensifies, but it remains unclear if he has the authority to do so.

Anthropic Supply-Chain Risk Designation Halted By Judge

Paresh Dave, Wired

A judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's designation, clearing the way for Anthropic to keep doing business without the label starting next week.

Trump's signature to appear on US currency, a first for a sitting president

Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert, Business Insider

The move breaks with longstanding precedent. For more than a century, US banknotes carried the signatures of Treasury officials, not the president.

Trump Says He’ll Sign Order to Pay TSA

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

"It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it!" wrote Trump.

Costa Rica to accept 25 deportees per week under Trump deportation effort

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The Central American nation is latest to sign a 'third-country' deportation agreement with the Trump administration.

Trump ‘pausing’ plan to destroy Iranian power plants for 10 days

Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump says he is “pausing” his plan to destroy Iranian power plants for 10 days.

Trump says he'll sign order directing DHS to pay TSA workers as shutdown drags on

Emily Chang, Abcnews.com

Trump he'll sign an executive order instructing DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to pay TSA workers immediately, calling the ongoing DHS shutdown an "Emergency Situation."

Trump's signature will be added to US currency, Treasury says

Elizabeth Schulze, Benjamin Siegel, Abcnews.com

Trump will become the first sitting president whose name will appear on currency.

Trump’s moving Iran deadline, briefly explained

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump has had a lot to say about US n…

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr And Gavin Newsom Clash Over Nexstar-Tegna Merger, Censorship And Jimmy Kimmel

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The Nexstar-Tegna merger is being challenged in the courts on a number of fronts, but in the meantime it’s the source of a political clash between California Governor Gavin Newsom and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. The merger, which would create a broadcast giant…

FBI agent behind Fulton County ballot seizure warrant does not have to testify

Olivia Rubin, Abcnews.com

The FBI agent behind the search warrant that led to the FBI's seizure of 2020 election ballots in Fulton County won't have to testify in a hearing in the case Friday.

Argentina declares Jalisco New Generation Cartel a ‘terrorist’ group

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

President Javier Milei's office said the designation is meant to 'strengthens international cooperation' against crime.

What are the red lines for Iran and the US in the war?

Al Jazeera English

Tehran says US list of 15 demands does not reflect reality.

Trump postpones US strikes on Iranian power grid to April 6 amid talks

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The US president has threatened the attacks as a means of pressuring Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway.

Critics Have a New Way to Describe the Trump Administration

David A. Graham, The Atlantic

Calling his presidency a “regime” has some benefits, but it underestimates the resilience of the 250-year-old republic.

US Treasury plans to put Trump's signature on new paper currency in first for sitting president

FATIMA HUSSEIN, Yahoo Entertainment

The U.S. Treasury Department plans to put President Donald Trump’s signature on all new U.S. paper currency, the agency announced on Thursday. The move...

Trump extends deadline 2nd time for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz amid talks

Bill Hutchinson, Abcnews.com

With his ultimatum set to expire for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping traffic, President Donald Trump has yet to say it will be prolonged.

Who Needs TSA When You Have ICE?

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson, Slate Magazine

ICE agents aren't trained to do what TSA agents do. Not even close.

Influencer Infestation of Our Politics...

Lauren Egan, The Bulwark

Influencer Infestation of Our Politics... (First column, 18th story, link)

Early Wildfires Are Surging Across the US—and Trump’s New Fire Agency Isn’t Ready

Ellyn Lapointe, Gizmodo.com

A brutal wildfire season is about to put Trump’s Wildland Fire Service to the test, with the safety of millions of Americans on the line.

Ex Officio Kennedy Center Board Member Asks Judge to Reverse Trump’s Name Change

Kory Grow, Rolling Stone

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, who filed a motion with a federal court, also asked a judge to stop the Center's proposed two-year closure set for July

How Trump went from saying Strait of Hormuz 'will open itself' to acknowledging Iran's power to control the waterway

Ben Werschkul, Yahoo Entertainment

President Trump has been issuing ultimatums for weeks about the Strait of Hormuz, demanding full freedom of travel for shippers.

Travelers Experiencing the Longest Security Lines in TSA History

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

Some airports are seeing 4-hour wait times, according to TSA Deputy Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill.

US judge weighs Trump decision to bar Venezuelan funds for Maduro’s defence

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Judge Hellerstein declined to dismiss the case against Maduro but questioned US prosecutors about his access to defence.

America’s Self-Proclaimed Free Speech Warrior, Brendan Carr, Gets A Letter Documenting His First Amendment Violations

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

For years, certain folks on the left kept insisting they wanted to bring back the Fairness Doctrine — the old FCC policy that required broadcasters to present “both sides” of controversial issues. Many of us in the tech policy world kept explaining why that w…

Key takeaways from Trump’s war on Iran meeting

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump held a cabinet meeting where he discussed the war on Iran with senior officials.

Trump interrupts a Cabinet meeting dealing with the Iran war and rising prices to talk Sharpies

WILL WEISSERT, Yahoo Entertainment

President Donald Trump may believe the adage that the pen is mightier than the sword — as long as it's a Sharpie. During a Cabinet meeting Thursday that...

Trump says Iran ‘begging’ for deal to end war as Tehran issues new demands

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Trump says US, Israel wiped out navy and air force, as Iran lawmakers plan to collect tolls for transiting ships.

Ousted Venezuelan President Maduro returns to court, judge says he won't dismiss case

Peter Charalambous, Aaron Katersky, Tonya Simpson, Abcnews.com

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro returned to a Manhattan courtroom Thursday for a status conference in the criminal case against them.

Trump envoy Witkoff reveals more details of US negotiations with Iran prior to war

Ivan Pereira, Abcnews.com

President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff revealed new details Thursday about his negotiations with Iranian officials before the U.S. attacked Iran.

WATCH: Protesters gathered in Manhattan as ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores returned to federal court on Thursday.

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Protesters gathered in Manhattan as ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores returned to federal court on Thursday.

Who Said It: Pete Hegseth, or Colin Jost Playing Pete Hegseth?

Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

Pete Hegseth's Iran war press briefings are absurd, maybe even more so than Colin Jost's parodies of them on Saturday Night Live.

Iranian missiles cause widespread damage across Israel in latest wave

Al Jazeera English

Iranian missiles have caused widespread damage across Israel in the latest wave of attacks.

Judge Boots DOJ Prosecutor From Courtroom, Demands To Know Who’s Actually Calling The Shots

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

This judge ain’t fucking around. Earlier this month, we covered New Jersey federal judge Zahid Qurashi’s response to the actions of Trump’s DOJ, which begins with lots of illegal appointments of prosecutors and runs right through these prosecutors’ inability …

Trump jokingly reveals possible move after the presidency: ‘It’s an option’

Rachel Cohen, nj.com

The president said he was the "highest polling person" there.

Apple's making more iPhone parts in the US. The iPhone itself? Not so much

Brandon Vigliarolo, Theregister.com

Maybe that's why Tim didn't get an invitation to the President's tech bro club? Apple's American Manufacturing Program (AMP) is expanding, with new suppliers signed on to produce iPhone components - though those parts will still be shipped overseas for final …

White House Social Media Just Had Its Covfefe Moment

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Is it just a troll or something more sinister?

Details revealed of Board of Peace plan for Gaza disarmament

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Plan, submitted by Board of Peace head Nikolay Mladenov, calls for gradual disarmament over eight months.

Trump says Iran's 'present' to US was allowing 10 oil tankers through Hormuz

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran was letting 10 oil tankers transit the Strait of Hormuz as an...

Olympics align with Trump as transgender athletes banned from women’s games

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Transgender athletes banned from women's Olympic events by new IOC policy aiming for 'fairness, safety and integrity'.

Trump says Iran ‘lousy fighters but great negotiators’

Al Jazeera English

President Trump has said Iran is “begging to make a deal”, describing them as “lousy fighters but great negotiators".

Everyone hates Ticketmaster. Why’d Trump go easy on them?

Nilay Patel, The Verge

Today on Decoder, we’re talking about the major antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, and what it might mean for antitrust and competition law in general now that the Justice Department under Trump has decided to settle its part of the case. That’s even as m…

Suit asks court to force Trump administration to use 'The Kennedy Center' name

Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR

The motion is part of a lawsuit challenging President Trump and the Center's board, who now refer to the complex as "The Trump Kennedy Center."

Girls Will Never Have Funds? For the 2nd Year in a Row, Equal Pay Day Got Pushed Back!

Danielle Han, Jezebel

And March 26 is only the “all women’s” Equal Pay Day. LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Day is June 17; Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is July 21; and—wait for it—Mothers’ Equal Pay Day is August 6.

WATCH: One of the first officers on the scene testified about the moment he encountered a bloodied Arielle Konig after she was allegedly attacked by her then-husband on a Hawaii hiking trail.

ABC News, Abcnews.com

One of the first officers on the scene testified about the moment he encountered a bloodied Arielle Konig after she was allegedly attacked by her then-husband on a Hawaii hiking trail.

Russian officials meet US counterparts as Moscow denies aiding Iran

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Kremlin spokesperson says talks are part of '​necessary dialogue' with Washington as war in Ukraine continues.

Evidence of insider trading on Iran war grows

Heather Digby Parton, Salon

Unusually timed trades around Trump’s Iran announcement have raised questions about who knew what and when

Prison Guards Were Googling Jeffrey Epstein Just Before He Was Found Dead, Files Say

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Less than an hour before Jeffrey Epstein was found dead, the guards meant to be watching him were apparently searching him online.

Trump Issues Meaningless Executive Order To Try And Protect Larry Ellison’s CBS (And The Army Navy Game) From Competition

Karl Bode, Techdirt

FCC boss Brendan Carr spends an awful lot of time pretending to be a tough guy, threatening any broadcasters that aren’t suitably deferential to our mad, idiot king. Carr’s had giant temper tantrums over comedians who make jokes, daytime and late night talk s…

Senators Demand to Know How Much Energy Data Centers Use

Molly Taft, Wired

In a letter sent Thursday morning, Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley press the Energy Information Agency to mandate annual electricity disclosure for data centers.

Venezuela’s Maduro set to again appear in US court: How strong is the case?

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

March 26 hearing will be second court appearance since Maduro's January 3 abduction by US military.

Southeast Asia turns to nuclear as Iran war disrupts energy supplies

The Associated Press, NPR

Analysts say the Iran war energy crisis is also adding momentum to nuclear interest and action in the region.

As the US Midterms Approach, AI Is Going to Emerge as a Key Issue Concerning Voters

Bruce Schneier, Schneier.com

In December, the Trump administration signed an executive order that neutered states’ ability to regulate AI by ordering his administration to both sue and withhold funds from states that try to do so. This action pointedly supported industry lobbyists keen t…

E-Verify Is No Silver Bullet

Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic

Focusing enforcement on employers might be the easiest choice in immigration policy—just as soon as you make all of the hard ones.

More Pregnant Women Around the World Die When the U.S. Has a GOP President

Danielle Han, Jezebel

A new study reveals global maternal mortality increases by about 10.5%, or about 44.7 additional deaths per 100,000 live births, whenever a Republican is in power.

Melania Trump appeared alongside Figure AI's Figure 3 humanoid robot at the White House to promote integrating more tech and AI into US children's education (Katie Rogers/New York Times)

Techmeme.com

Katie Rogers / New York Times: Melania Trump appeared alongside Figure AI's Figure 3 humanoid robot at the White House to promote integrating more tech and AI into US children's education  —  The first lady, Melania Trump, believes that more children should b…

10 Thursday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My morning train WFH reads: • Traders Placed $580mn in Oil Bets Ahead of Donald Trump’s Social Media Post on Iran Talks: Someone placed enormous oil bets right before Trump’s Iran post moved the market. Coincidence is one explanation, but not the most obvious…

WATCH: Airport crisis worsens as talks hit snag

ABC News, Abcnews.com

More than 40 days into the partial government shutdown, wait times at airport security checkpoints nationwide have reached historic levels.

Meet the New ICE

Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic

Same as the old ICE?

“Europe Has Forgotten How To Tell Its Own Story,” Says Impassioned Council Of Europe Chief As He Prepares To Bring Landmark Co-Pro Treaty Into Force At Series Mania

Max Goldbart, Deadline

Europe needs to remember how to “tell its own story.” That was the loud and clear message from an impassioned, almost Churchillian speech by Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset this morning, as he gets set to sign a landmark international co-prod…

Cuban president says Raul Castro involved in US talks amid oil blockade

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The talks come amid increasing tensions with the US after Trump said he would be 'honoured' to take over Cuba.

The US military is pushing up production for the weapons that could matter most in a major war

Chris Panella, Business Insider

From Tomahawk missiles to THAAD interceptor seekers, the US is massively increasing its production rates for key munitions amid stockpile concerns.

Pentagon Wants It to Be Illegal for Reporters to Ask “Unauthorized” Questions

Seth Stern, The Intercept

The Trump admin wants to criminalize a key part of journalists doing their jobs — a broadside attack on a free press. The post Pentagon Wants It to Be Illegal for Reporters to Ask “Unauthorized” Questions appeared first on The Intercept.

US seeks Hamas ‘political surrender’ in new Gaza plan

Mohammad Mansour, Al Jazeera English

Analysts say a new US disarmament proposal exploits the regional war to enforce inequitable plan for Gaza.

Two teenagers killed in Shiraz, two dead in Abu Dhabi as Iran war expands

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Deadly attacks rise as Israel announces strikes on Isfahan and as Trump and Tehran debate ceasefire terms.

Melania Trump Welcomes Humanoid Robot At White House Summit

BeauHD, Slashdot.org

Longtime Slashdot reader theodp writes: In Melania and the Robot, the New York Times reports on First Lady Melania Trump's inaugural Fostering the Future Together Coalition Summit, which brought together international leaders, First Spouses from around the wo…

US-Israel war on Iran: What’s happening on day 27 of attacks?

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

The US and Israel’s war on Iran is intensifying, as Trump again claims Iranian leaders want to 'make a deal'.

US links security guarantees to Ukraine giving up Donbas, Zelenskiy says

By Daniel Flynn and Olena Harmash, Yahoo Entertainment

KYIV, March 25 (Reuters) - The U. is making its offer of security guarantees for a peace deal in Ukraine conditional on Kyiv ceding all of the country's...

Go for a walk, man: Sony's drive to create a car parked by partner Honda

Simon Sharwood, Theregister.com

CarStation/PlayMobile won’t hit the road after pile-up of tax and competition issues in China and the USA Sony and Honda have broken up, meaning their joint vision to deliver a revolutionary electric vehicle won’t happen.…

WATCH: Democrat flips seat representing Mar-a-Lago

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Democrat Emily Gregory won the Florida House District 87 special election, according to the Associated Press, flipping the district that includes President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

Oil prices rise higher as Iran denies US talks, dimming deescalation hopes

John Power, Al Jazeera English

Brent crude tops $104 a barrel as hopes fade for deescalation in US-Israel war on Iran.

WATCH: Woman returns as doctor to hospital where she worked as a janitor

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Shay Taylor-Allen learned last week that she had matched with her first-choice residency pick, Yale School of Medicine — the very same hospital where was born and later worked as a janitor.

Australia bans visitors from Iran amid war in the Middle East

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Australia's Home Affairs Department said decision to ban Iranian visitors amid the war was in the 'national interest'.

The Casey Means Surgeon General Nomination Appears To Be In Trouble

Timothy Geigner, Techdirt

It’s somewhat stunning to realize that the United States has been operating with Surgeon Generals that are merely “acting” in the role or “performing the duties of” since January 20th of 2025. The last Senate-confirmed SG was Dr. Vivek Murthy. The current nom…

Is Trump any closer to an Iran exit strategy?

BBC News

The White House insists the president is dictating events, but even some Republicans are frustrated by mixed messaging about his war aims.

Trump Makes Frantic Excuse After Iran’s Humiliating Reveal

Yahoo Entertainment

Tehran issues warning to regional neighbour if Iranian island occupied

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Iran's parliament speaker issues threat as US administration talks peace while committing more troops to conflict.

Donald Trump’s Renovation Plans For The Kennedy Center: New Court Documents Give A Glimpse Of Two-Year Project’s Budget

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The Kennedy Center is slated for closure on July 7, in what President Donald Trump says is a needed pause in operations to make badly needed repairs to the sprawling complex on the Potomac. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), an ex officio member of the board, is seeki…

Trump says Iranian leaders want deal ‘so badly’ but fear retaliation

Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump said Iran is negotiating with the US but is “afraid to say it”.

Days from recess, Democrats and Republicans blame each other for TSA chaos

Allison Pecorin, Abcnews.com

Democrats blocked the latest GOP proposal from advancing to a vote on Wednesday.

You’ll Never Believe This but Elon Musk Doesn’t Get to Pay TSA Workers’ Salaries

Mike Pearl, Gizmodo.com

His oh-so generous offer was rejected by the government. He must be so mad!

Melania Trump Escorted by Talking Humanoid Robot at White House Tech Summit

Giselle Castro-Sloboda, CNET

The first lady shared the spotlight with the robot to promote the use of artificial intelligence in education.

Trump’s new science advisers include 12 technology chiefs — and one academic

Dan Garisto, Nature.com

Sparse academic presence on the US President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology reflects a focus on technology and industry.