Vance Is the Point Man on Defending MOU From Countless Critics

Donald Trump may be the decision-maker on all things Iran, but nobody disputes that J.D. Vance is the face and top negotiator for the deal. He took to the White House Pressroom podium to face questions, and will be flying to Switzerland to lead the negotiations for the final deal. Associated Press: JD Vance was supposed to be spending the week promoting his new book, the kind of event a potential presidential candidate like the vice president typically uses to speak to a wide audience about his life and values ahead of a campaign. Instead, the rollout of Vance’s second book, “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith,” has been largely crowded out by something else he’s put his name on: the deal to end the Iran war. The Republican vice president has embraced the role of chief defender of the agreement he and President Donald Trump signed with Tehran, giving a series of interviews touting it as a success, releasing a video championing it and parrying questions about it during a briefing at the White House. It’s a striking emergence for a politician who’s known for his skepticism of foreign military interventions and who seemed reluctant to speak on the conflict when Trump launched it in February. (Associated Press.)

Vance Takes a Not-So-Gentle Swipe at Israel

Not everybody thinks it was all that gentle, in fact. New York Post: Vice President JD Vance ripped Israeli officials who have criticized President Trump over the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, blasting them for complaining about the document that requires them to stop striking Hezbollah in Lebanon. Vance told reporters in the White House briefing room Thursday that Israeli cabinet members had, in some cases, “very personally attacked the president of the United States.” “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,” he added, pointedly. “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time, and he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower.” “Over the last three months, two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars,” Vance went on. “The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump, and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in.” (New York Post.)

Hardliners in Iran Express Fury at MOU

It may seem strange to many critics of Trump’s Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, but Iranian hardliners are expressing fury at the contents as well. Iran International: Kayhan, the hardline conservative daily, adopted a tone of open opposition, portraying the agreement as diplomatic capitulation under Western pressure and breaking with the official state narrative of victory. “Surrendering to the Great Satan under the guise of an ‘antidote’ or regional de-escalation is a betrayal of our long-standing resistance,” Kayhan wrote. “The historical track record shows that retreating before American demands never guarantees peace; it only invites further exploitation. This administration is repeating past blunders, turning a blind eye to our ultimate red lines.” Khorasan, a conservative daily close to chief negotiator and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, framed the MoU not as a peace settlement but as a tactical pause. “The emerging agreement only aims to end the current war and does not resolve the underlying issues between Iran and the United States,” it wrote. “This text merely delays the ‘final battle,’ giving both sides time to rebuild offensive and defensive military capabilities and prepare for a larger, full-scale war.” Hamshahri, the conservative daily affiliated with Tehran Municipality, adopted a more cautious and technocratic tone. It neither endorsed nor rejected the agreement outright, but argued that any concessions from Washington were the result of Iran’s military deterrence rather than US goodwill. “Let no one mistake this memorandum for a change of heart in Washington,” Hamshahri wrote. (Iran International.)

Treasury Sanctions Hizballah-Aligned Lebanese Officials

The very first point in the MOU between Iran and the US is an enforceable cease-fire in Lebanon. The issue there is that Hizballah occupies parts of Lebanon, and is at war with Israel, even after the signing of the MOU. Indications are that Iran will continue funding the terrorist organization. This likely explains Treasury’s move to sanction Hizballah-aligned Lebanese officials. US Treasury: Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating Hizballah-aligned Lebanese officials, as well as members of a Hizballah-associated business network overseen by Alaa Hassan Hamieh, also known as Alaa Hamieh.  The Lebanese officials designated today have used their influence to obstruct Lebanon’s peace process and delay the disarmament of Hizballah. OFAC is also expanding upon the March 20, 2026 designations of Alaa Hamieh and his business network by targeting additional interlocutors in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Oman who raise funds, execute contracts, and operate front companies to generate revenue for Hizballah.  “Hizballah must disarm for Lebanon to achieve a secure and prosperous future,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Treasury will continue to target Hizballah’s financial networks and hold accountable those who enable the group to undermine the Lebanese state and threaten prospects for lasting peace.” Today’s action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority, Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended.  The U.S. Department of State designated Hizballah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 31, 2001, and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act on October 8, 1997. (US Treasury.)

Ukrainian Strike on Moscow Described as ‘Pure Hell’

This strike was no pinprick. Fox News: Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, striking a major oil refinery in the Russian capital and sending thick black smoke over parts of the city, according to Russian officials and multiple reports. The Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district — one of the capital region’s key fuel facilities — was hit overnight Thursday, marking the second reported strike on the site in three days. Videos circulating online showed large flames and black smoke rising from the facility, while Russian officials said air defenses intercepted waves of incoming drones. Kyiv says its strikes deep inside Russia are evidence that it is turning the tide of the war — a message President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took this week to President Donald Trump and other G7 leaders at a summit in France. The latest strikes underscore a new phase of the war, with Ukraine increasingly able to hit high-value targets deep inside Russia while Moscow struggles to prevent drones from reaching politically sensitive and economically important sites near the capital. “This is pure hell, I’ve never felt such terror,” one Moscow resident said after the attack, according to East2West News. Another resident, according to the outlet, asked: “Why won’t this madman stop his crazy and pointless war and end the death and destruction?” (Fox News.) No word on which leader the Russian citizen meant when he said “madman.”

Obama Library Opens to Controversy Over Stiffing Contractors, and a Land Acknowledgment

The media and establishment showed the appropriate sycophancy, while critics focused on less savory aspects of the ceremony to dedicate Obama’s monument to himself. Axios: More than a decade in the making, the Obama Presidential Center opened Thursday on Chicago’s South Side with four former presidents, A-list entertainers and thousands of visitors in attendance. Why it matters: The $850 million center serves as the public home of President Obama’s legacy and museum, while his presidential archives remain digital. To say the event was star-studded is an understatement. Former Presidents Obama, Clinton, Bush and Biden sat onstage, while high-profile Democrats including former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel were in the audience. Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Tyler Perry, Dave Chappelle, Conan O’Brien, Quinta Brunson, David Letterman and Stephen Colbert were also in attendance. The Roots opened the ceremony before Jennifer Hudson delivered a rousing rendition of the national anthem. Later, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, John Legend, Common, Christina Aguilera and Bono took the stage. (Axios.) Small contractors, who have been stiffed, were not so celebratory. Fox News: A Fox News Digital investigation identified multiple construction firms claiming losses ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to tens of millions. The allegations cut against one of the Center’s defining goals: helping minority-owned businesses and local contractors grow through one of Chicago’s highest-profile construction projects. Several of the complaints reviewed by Fox News Digital come from firms that were supposed to benefit from that mission. Among them is Adamson Plumbing, whose owner Mike Owen says is nearly $4 million in the red after years of work on the project. “That is a hole that no subcontractor, small business can survive,” Owen said. (Fox News.) And then there was the land acknowledgment from Valerie Jarrett, which brought guffaws from wags who wondered when the Obamas will give the land back. Via Townhall: “We honor the Anishinaabe, the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi Nations.” (Townhall on X.) Perhaps they can pay reparations after they pay their bills.

Khamenei: Iran Will Not Submit to Trump’s Demands

Mojtaba Khamenei distanced himself from the MOU, putting responsibility on Iran’s president to make a final deal with America that will leave Iran in a stronger, not weaker position than before the war. Mojtaba Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran: “The passionate and loyal nation of Iran, As you have been informed, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Presidents of Iran and the United States. On the path to reaching this stage, the officials, out of sincerity and goodwill, made many efforts, and of course, it was the U.S. President who, out of desperation, used various leverage for this matter. I basically had a different opinion, but due to the commitment that the honorable President, as the head of the Supreme National Security Council, gave me on behalf of himself and other members in safeguarding the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front, and explicitly accepted responsibility for it, I granted permission. He has also stated that if the American side wants to be excessive, they will not accept it. From this moment, we, meaning you proud nation and this humble servant, will await the fulfillment of the stated conditions. However, it is obvious that future face to face negotiations will not mean acceptance of the enemy’s opinion. We hope that the prayers of our master, may God hasten his noble reappearance, bring all kinds of victories and triumphs to the honorable nation of Iran. Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you. Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei” (Mojtaba Khamenei on X.) Very flowery. We’ll have to see what the cardboard Mullah means.

Al Gore Was Right, Says Al Gore and ABC

There is a reason why many call the prestige media the “Pravda Media.” ABC News: The scientists have been right about climate change all along, says former Vice President Al Gore on the 20th anniversary of the release of “An Inconvenient Truth,” the Oscar-winning documentary about Gore’s campaign to educate people about climate change. When asked by ABC News chief meteorologist and chief climate correspondent Ginger Zee whether the film and its predictions on global warming hold up, Gore responded, “Unfortunately, yes.” “The scientists were dead right on all the important elements of it, and it really is insane that we are continuing to use the sky as an open sewer and we’re trapping so much heat every day it’s equal to the amount that would be released by 800,000 Hiroshima-class atomic bombs exploding every day on the earth,” Gore said during an interview with ABC News at his family farm in Tennessee. In a review of key claims by the documentary, ABC News found that the majority of the scientific observations made in “An Inconvenient Truth” have come to fruition or are on track to in the years to come. The last 11 years — from 2015 to 2025 — have been the hottest on record, according to scientific data from NOAA and the Copernicus Climate Change Service  and summarized in a report released earlier this year by the World Meteorological Organization. (ABC News.)

Los Angeles City Council Votes to Put Illegal Alien Voting on November Ballot

In a move that surprises precisely nobody, the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve a measure that would extend voting rights to illegal aliens. It will appear on the November ballot for approval by voters, who will also be choosing between a “Democratic Socialist” and a communist for mayor. Townhall: The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to advance a measure that would allow non-citizens to vote in citywide and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) school board elections. The proposal passed by a 10-5 vote and is now expected to appear on the November ballot, where city residents will have the final say. If approved, the measure would extend voting rights in those elections to non-citizen residents, including DACA recipients, individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and lawful permanent residents. (Townhall.)

Hegseth Lays Into NATO

Don’t sugarcoat it, Pete. Townhall: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth tore into NATO on Thursday, branding the military alliance a paper tiger and demanding Europeans finally take responsibility for their own defense. Hegseth went on to call for a return to “NATO 1.0,” the era when Europeans understood that NATO’s power came not from “small flags on fancy tables” but from “warriors.” It’s a feature of the military alliance that Europeans have been happy to ignore, vastly preferring the negotiating table, meetings, and international governing bodies over legitimate, hard defense. “For too long, NATO has been a paper tiger and a one-way street. No more,” the Secretary of War said. “And that’s what the Hague Summit is all about. That’s what defense spending commitments are all about. Transforming NATO back into a real military alliance that’s focused on hard power and real deterrence.” (Townhall.)