Friday, March 20, 2026

March 20, 2026

Good morning,

Welcome to the news for independent thinkers

Leading the News . . .

US speeds deployment of thousands more Marines and sailors to Middle East . . . The Pentagon is fast-tracking thousands more troops to the Middle East as the Iran war stretches into week three, surging forces earlier than planned. The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Boxer is redeploying from San Diego, joining 5,000 already sent on the USS Tripoli. With possible additions from the USS Portland and USS Comstock, the buildup signals a widening commitment—and mounting risks. Washington Examiner

Trump eyes Kharg Island invasion to force Iran strait reopening . . . Donald Trump is weighing a bold move against Iran's Kharg Island—its key oil export hub—either by invasion or blockade to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz. With three marine units already in the Middle East and more possible, the strategy aims to give Trump leverage to end the conflict on his terms, targeting Iran's economy at a critical point in the Gulf. Telegraph

Hegseth blames Biden stockpile draine Ukraine as Iran war price tops $200 billion . . . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon's massive funding push for the Iran war—reportedly exceeding $200 billion—comes after depleted U.S. stockpiles under Joe Biden's Ukraine policy. Arguing the military must rebuild what was spent, Hegseth framed the request as both wartime necessity and cleanup operation. Daily Caller

Ukraine is not a member of NATO, and yet we transferred huge stockpiles of weaponry there. Now we have a true national security crisis, and the arms are gone.

Politics

White House rolls out first AI framework for kids, critics demand tougher rules . . . The White House has drafted its inaugural National Framework on Artificial Intelligence, directing platforms to shield children from AI harms and give parents oversight of their digital lives. Meant as a blueprint for federal law, the plan marks a first in federal efforts to regulate AI for youth—but child safety advocates argue the guidelines are too weak to truly protect kids from the technology's expanding reach. Daily Signal

This proposal, written by Silicon Valley's operatives in the administration, is designed to preempt state rules that would be tougher and cause the AI industry to make less money.

Hochul Begs Rich People Who Fled New York To Return And Foot Bill For 'Generous Social Programs' . . . New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging wealthy residents who fled to Florida to return and help prop up the state's costly social agenda, spotlighting a growing tax-base exodus. The appeal follows a wave of departures tied to looming tax hikes championed by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose far-left platform—free day care and government-run grocery stores—has rattled top earners and strained Albany's fiscal footing. Daily Caller

Newsom's $114M butterfly bridge to nowhere is still unfinished . . . California Gov. Gavin Newsom's celebrated $54 million bridge, designed to transport cougars and butterflies over the 101 Freeway, has spiraled into a $114 million boondoggle, years past its promised 2025 completion. Despite $25 million from the Annenberg Foundation, taxpayers are footing the bulk of the overrun, echoing the state's notorious bullet train fiasco. Daily Signal

The bridge connects mountain lions to residential areas, but never mind, it will reduce global warming or something.

Treasury takes over Education Department student loan duties in latest move toward dismantlement . . . The U.S. Departments of Education and Treasury signed a major agreement to shift college loan responsibilities to Treasury, simplifying lending and aiding the wind-down of the Education Department. With student debt hitting $1.7 trillion and 40% of borrowers not paying, the move leverages Treasury's debt-collection expertise, marking a significant step in the White House's push—now a year old—to phase out the Education Department entirely. Daily Signal

National Security

Trump Told Inner Circle Some Mass Deportation Policies Went Too Far . . . President Donald Trump is dialing back the optics of his signature immigration crackdown, urging aides to soften rhetoric and refocus on targeting criminals rather than sweeping removals. After concerns—even from close advisers and Melania—that the approach appeared excessive and unpopular, the pivot aims to reduce visible chaos in cities while preserving enforcement, signaling a recalibration driven by political pressure. Wall Street Journal

An echo of Nancy Reagan adulterating conservative policies of her husband. Where's Pat Nixon when you need her?

International

UK, France, Japan, Germany, and others voice readiness to contribute to secure Strait of Hormuz . . . Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands signaled cautious willingness to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as they hedge on the broader U.S. clash with Iran. While some allies question the war's legality and purpose, energy dependence sharpens priorities. The joint stance reveals a split instinct—public skepticism of conflict paired with quiet urgency to safeguard oil routes critical to Europe's stability and economic survival. Washington Examiner

Trump has been so mean to them! But self-interest dictates that they get on board with this anyway, even if their feelings are hurt.

Iran executes champion wrestler as it intensifies brutal crackdown during war . . . Iran's judiciary executed 19-year-old champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi after he protested the Khamenei regime, ignoring U.S. warnings and appeals from Iranian-American athletes. Human rights activists condemned the public hanging as a political murder, part of a brutal pattern targeting athletes to terrorize society and crush dissent. Fox News

Denmark secretly prepared to blow up Greenland's runways to stop US aircraft

Money

HSBC weighs 20,000 job cuts in AI overhaul shakeup . . . Fears of a Wall Street jobs purge are rising after HSBC signaled it may slash up to 20,000 roles—about 10 percent of its workforce—in a sweeping shift toward artificial intelligence. The move underscores mounting pressure on major banks to cut costs and automate, with rivals like JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Bank of America investing heavily in similar tech, setting the stage for a broader industry shakeup. Daily Mail

OpenAI delays "adult mode" after advisory council sounds alarm . . . OpenAI has postponed its controversial erotic chat feature following intense pushback from its own well-being advisory council and fears that safeguards could fail to protect minors. CEO Sam Altman's plan to treat adult users "like adults" sparked outrage, with advisers warning the feature could turn AI into a dangerous emotional trap—raising concerns about sexualized interactions and mental health risks, forcing the company to push back its rollout by at least a month. Breitbart

You should also know

Trump invokes Pearl Harbor sneak attack as Japan PM looks on . . . "Japan and the U.S. are very good friends, but one question," the reporter asked, "Why didn't you tell U.S. allies in Europe and Asia, like Japan, about the war before attacking Iran? So, we are very confused about it, we Japanese citizens." The president answered that he did not "want to signal "too much," adding that he wanted to retain the element of surprise. "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?" Trump quickly quipped drawing laughter. He then added, "Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?" Daily Caller

Might have been, you know, a little inappropriate.

"Influencer" Jessica Foster exposed as AI mirage after viral rise . . . A glamorous "Army influencer" who rocketed past a million followers with pro-Trump posts and staged shots beside an F-22 and on a tarmac with Donald Trump is now flagged as likely AI fiction. Jessica Foster's account, lacking any service record and riddled with digital tells, appears engineered for viral appeal—mixing patriotic imagery with calculated bait—raising fresh questions about manipulation and authenticity online. Washington Post

Venomous flying spiders the size of a human hand spreading across the US . . . A once-contained outbreak of bright yellow Joro spiders is resurging and pushing deeper into the U.S., with experts warning the venomous species is expanding faster than before. After a spike since 2024, the invasive arachnids are hitching the wind through "ballooning," casting silk sails to travel long distances—turning a regional nuisance into a nationwide creep. Daily Mail