Monday, March 30, 2026

​ March 30, 2026 Good morning, ​ Quick note: We're in the final two days of our reader fundraising drive, and we're getting closer to our goal. I'll have more details in a brief separate email this afternoon. Meantime, please support Cut to the News by clicking here now. Thank you! ​ Keith ​ Leading the News . . . ​ Trump Weighs Military Operation to Extract Iran's Uranium . . . President Trump is considering a high-stakes operation to seize roughly 1,000 pounds of uranium from inside Iran, a move that could put American forces in harm's way for days. The plan aims to block Tehran's nuclear ambitions outright, though risks of escalation loom large. Trump is also pushing for Iran to surrender the material diplomatically but is openly prepared to take it by force if talks fail. Wall Street Journal​ ​ ​Former Centcom commander: US military has been working on Iran ground raid plans for years​ ​ ​Iran warns U.S. troops would be 'set on fire' if they invade​ Politics JD Vance wins CPAC 2026 straw poll in Texas showdown with Rubio . . . Vice President JD Vance pulled 53% in a CPAC straw poll in Grapevine, Texas, while Marco Rubio surged to 35% from a negligible showing last year. Though Vance's margin slipped from his prior 61% win, the results signal a two-man contest taking shape, with grassroots conservatives rallying behind familiar Trump-era figures ahead of a wide-open primary battle. Daily Signal​ ​ This is actually a very strong showing by Rubio, considering that CPAC is MAGA-dominated and might be more naturally inclined to support Vance than some other segments of the Republican electorate are. ​ $100M Trump-linked AI group targets state laws . . . A new Trump-aligned outfit, Innovation Council Action, is gearing up to pour at least $100 million into promoting White House AI policies while swatting down state-level regulation. Structured as a nonprofit with plans for a super PAC, the group can boost allies and hammer critics ahead of midterms. The spending surge highlights how big AI money is flooding politics, with this effort taking a sharper, more partisan edge. New York Times​ ​ The tech industry does not want states enacting tougher standards to avoid harming children. And it certainly doesn't want anyone worred about human extinction to interfere with "progress." ​ Mass arrests hit "No Kings" protests as eight million march nationwide . . . Police detained dozens, including 70 in Los Angeles, during sprawling "No Kings" demonstrations against Trump, ICE operations, and the Iran conflict. Los Angeles rallies turned tense as demonstrators refused to disperse, prompting federal arrests for assaults on courthouse personnel. Organizers claim eight million people joined marches across the country. Daily Signal​ ​ No kings, except for federal bureaucrats. ​ GOP calls to get undocumented children out of public schools grow . . . Republicans are pushing to overturn the Supreme Court ruling granting undocumented children access to free public schooling, extending efforts from statehouses like Tennessee to the White House. Lawmakers argue the decision overstepped judicial authority and strains taxpayers, part of a broader Trump-era crackdown that began with visa and activism restrictions on foreign students at U.S. universities. The Hill​ Culture Teen Girl Allegedly Confessed to Killing Mother, Mother's Boyfriend, After 'Misgendering' Dispute . . . A 16-year-old, Julia Egler, is accused of killing her mother and her mother's boyfriend after repeated clashes over her transgender identity and alleged misgendering. After initially claiming a break-in, she later confessed, according to court records, describing how she obtained a revolver from the home. Egler has pleaded not guilty to two counts of premeditated murder. Daily Signal​ ​ "People in Dearborn Who Are Sad': Why Dem Senate Hopeful El-Sayed Stayed Silent on Khamenei Killing . . . Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed admitted privately that he would avoid taking a public stance on Ayatollah Khamenei's assassination, citing concern for Dearborn's Iranian-American population. In leaked audio, he told staffers that if pressed, he would pivot to attacking Donald Trump over ties to Jeffrey Epstein, framing the shift as a way to highlight Trump's alleged misconduct. Washington Free Beacon​ ​ Harvard leans on Massachusetts for $675M bond boost amid federal scrutiny . . . Harvard plans to issue $675 million in tax-exempt bonds through the state of Massachusetts, raising its total support from the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency to over $1.8 billion since 2024. The move comes as federal authorities criticize the university for falling short on intellectual and civil rights obligations tied to federal funding. Governor Maura Healey, a Harvard alum and former basketball captain, is overseeing the agency backing the offering. Washington Free Beacon​ ​ Trump: Massive military complex benearth ballroom . . . President Donald Trump said Sunday that the military is constructing a "massive complex" beneath a planned White House ballroom, which he said will feature bulletproof glass and drone-proof protections while being funded entirely by private donors. "The military is building a massive complex under the ballroom, and that's under construction, and we're doing very well," Trump said. Fox News​ National Security America Downs Cheap Drones With Million-Dollar Missiles. A Fix Is In the Works . . . The U.S. is burning million-dollar interceptors to swat down cheap Iranian drones, exposing a lopsided battlefield economy now driving a scramble for lower-cost weapons. A Texas startup led by ex-NASA engineer Jason Cornelius claims it can build missiles for $10,000, using off-the-shelf parts and automated production. As conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East drain pricey stockpiles, the Pentagon faces pressure to fix a costly mismatch fast. Wall Street Journal​ ​ Russia tanker lands in Cuba amid Trump tariff threat . . . Russia announced a 100,000-ton crude shipment to Cuba, signaling it will keep oil flowing despite U.S. pressure aimed at choking off the island's energy lifeline. Washington had moved to cut Venezuela's supply and warned other exporters with tariffs, but Trump suddenly softened his stance, citing concern for Cuban citizens. The reversal underscores a muddled policy, while Moscow steps in to fill the gap and flex influence in America's backyard. Reuters​ ​ Trump Gets TSA Paid Starting Today . . . TSA agents are finally set to receive delayed paychecks after President Trump ordered funds redirected to cover wages, but the fallout is far from over. Border czar Tom Homan says payments could arrive within days, ending weeks of uncertainty for airport staff. Still, disruptions to air travel persist, exposing how quickly the system buckles when funding gaps hit frontline security operations. Daily Wire​ International Orbán faces potential collapse as Tisza surges in April 12 Hungary vote . . Hungary's long-entrenched leader Viktor Orbán is staring down his weakest reelection fight since 2010, with upstart rival Péter Magyar and his Tisza party now commanding over 50% in polls. Once dominant Fidesz trails badly near 35%, a stunning reversal from last year's dead heat. The outcome threatens a key ally for Donald Trump in Europe and could hand Brussels a fresh foothold as Hungarian voters weigh a dramatic political reset. Just the News​ ​ Israel blocks Palm Sunday access in Jerusalem before quick apology from Herzog . . . Israeli authorities barred top Catholic leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday, citing tight security amid ongoing Iranian missile threats. The move triggered swift backlash, prompting President Isaac Herzog to issue a public apology and order immediate access restored. The episode underscores the strain between security crackdowns and religious freedoms in a city already on edge. Washington Times​ Money Private Credit's Exposure to Ailing Software Industry Is Bigger Than Advertised . . . Private-credit giants Apollo, Blackstone, Ares, and Blue Owl are downplaying sizable exposure to software just as AI fears rattle the sector. Analysis shows actual allocations run closer to 25%, not the roughly 19% disclosed, with Blue Owl nearly doubling its reported stake. Jittery investors have already yanked record cash, raising questions about transparency as fund managers insist AI risks are uneven and manageable. Wall Street Journal​ Guilty Pleasures Chicago snowplow christened "Abolish ICE" . . . One of Chicago's newest snowplows has been officially named "Abolish ICE," a choice celebrated by Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson. The moniker, reflecting calls from the political left to dismantle Immigration and Customs Enforcement, won roughly 70% of over 39,000 votes in a citywide naming contest, highlighting local resistance to Trump-era deportation policies and giving the mayor a humorous boost in civic engagement. Daily Wire​ ​ Well it's kind of funny. Liberals have a sense of humor too. Somtimes. ​ Keith Koffler Editor, Cut to the News ​ Cut to the News brings the day's top news to conservative-leaning readers and others with insight, humor, and concision. ​ Help CTTN reach more people by forwarding it to your family and friends. Click below to write your message and share the signup link by email. ​ Or, you can share it on social media. ​​​​ Got this from a friend? Subscribe here and get Cut to the News sent to your Inbox every morning. ​ Have a great day! ​ Follow us ​​​​ 8300 Greensboro DR, STE L1 #709, McLean, VA 22102 Unsubscribe · Preferences​ ​