He said they sought publicity and would “say anything necessary” to get it.

“The warning came in a staff-wide email from the White House Management Office on March 23… Earlier that morning, Trump had announced the pause via Truth Social. About 15 minutes before the sudden shift in policy, a mysterious flurry of activity kicked off in the futures markets.”

“Some set fire to the star-spangled ones of the superpower that, according to state media, they had just ‘humiliated.’”

“The already shaky ceasefire between the two countries is getting more strained by the day, even as they prepare for peace talks in Islamabad on Saturday.”

CNN: Ships still aren’t going through the Strait of Hormuz.

CNBC: Trump says Iran “better stop now” if it’s charging oil tankers fees to go through Strait of Hormuz.

“Mr. Rutte had traveled to Washington to try to assuage Mr. Trump’s anger that NATO members had refused to participate in the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and help open up the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping route. But Mr. Rutte conceded that it was not an easy meeting, calling it ‘very frank’ and ‘very open,’ despite clear disagreements.”

Politico: Trump vented at Rutte over NATO inaction on Iran during turbulent meeting.

Donald Trump has a way of turning extremes into contradictions.

One moment, he’s issuing apocalyptic threats about wiping out Iranian civilization.

Said Trump: “The lies linking ⁠me with the disgraceful ​Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.”

She added: “I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. I was not a participant.”

He claimed Iran’s leaders “talk much differently when you’re at a meeting than they do to the press. They’re much more reasonable. They’re agreeing to all the things that they have to agree to. Remember, they’ve been conquered. They have no military.”

He added: “If they don’t make a deal, it’s going to be very painful.”

“While the Trump administration and Israel have both said Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire, Israel agreed ‘to be a helpful partner.'”

“One big problem, though: The U.S. can’t even seem to agree with Iran on what they agreed to for the ceasefire.”

Just for members: The latest edition of Inside Elections.

This issue takes a deep dive into one of the most interesting House races in the country.

“Over the past few months, right-wing media figures like Owens have broken with Trump on a number of issues, including the Epstein files and the administration’s intervention in Venezuela. But the fracturing among the MAGA media coalition appears to have reached the point of no return after the president’s threats to annihilate ‘a whole civilization’ in Iran this week.”

“Roughly $41 million was spent on personal, event-related or cyber security for federal candidates in the latest general election.”

“Of course, calling this a ‘deal’ or an ‘arrangement’ is an overly generous description — What actually happened sounds more like a series of coordinated social media posts…”

“I’m serious: what tactical gain did the Trump administration secure by agreeing to the two-week cease-fire beyond the cease-fire itself? Sure, President Trump saved himself from committing war crimes, but that’s not exactly a tactical win.”