Justin Baragona

Anyway, like I said earlier today, we'll see how long Trump stays mad at Tucker and keeps him out of the MAGA club.

bsky.app/profile/just...

Tucker Carlson, to his Fox News producers in January 2021: "We are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. I truly can't wait."

"I hate him passionately. ... I can't handle much more of this."

Of course, the whole centrist posturing is a scam, considering half the network’s roster hails from Fox News and Bill O'Reilly just guest hosted last night.

And Nexstar, the company that owns NewsNation, is cozying up to Trump to help push through its local TV merger with Tegna.

NewsNation, the supposedly centrist, non-partisan, down-the-middle network that only wants to report the news, is out here cheering on Karoline Leavitt for berating Kaitlan Collins and using that to promote themselves.

I continue to be gobsmacked at 1) how common this formulation is 2) how antisemitic and generally bigoted it is 3) and how for all the talk of anti-semitism this is never cited as an example even though it’s quite literally the original incarnation.

Iran appeared to surveil center where U.S. forces were killed in Kuwait, Army memo says In the week before an Iranian retaliatory strike that killed six U.S. service members, Iranian intelligence was likely able to identify and track American forces, according to a memo reviewed by CBS N...

New: Army memo said Iranian intelligence was likely able to identify and track the American service members who moved to the tactical operations center in Kuwait that was struck by a drone killing six. Smaller drones were suspected of conducting aerial recon. www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-ap...

Vet whose arm was broken during Senate briefing can get ‘kind of riled up,’ mom says Exclusive: Marine Corps veteran Brian McGinnis, whose wife is Palestinian, ‘has strong feelings’ about the Middle East, his mother told The Independent

"Marine Corps veteran Brian McGinnis, whose wife is Palestinian, ‘has strong feelings’ about the Middle East, his mother told The Independent."

@justinrohrlich.bsky.social spoke to McGinnis' mom, who said she still couldn't bring herself to watch the video.

www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...

Donald, the Dove

In a lengthy conversation just now, President Trump hit back at Tucker Carlson who called the Iran war “absolutely disgusting and evil.” "Tucker has lost his way,” Trump told me. “I knew that a long time ago, and he's not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that."

We'll see if Trump fully boots Tucker out of his inner circle and keeps attacking him over Iran.

Last year, he called Tucker "kooky" after Carlson criticized him for the Iran strikes and saber rattling, only to welcome the ex-Fox star back into the fold in short order.

CNN's Kasie Hunt: Do you expect the confirmation of Markwayne Mulling to be bipartisan?

Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT): "Well, Markwayne is -- he's respected, he‘s honest and he‘s competent... people respect Markwayne."

Hunt: "Hmm, interesting."

Fetterman is basically a reactionary now: there is no real effort to explain why Mullin - a buffoon who spent the week insisting we are not at war with Iran - is qualified. Trump nominated Mullin, and that’s good enough for him.

Subscribe to Zeteo Zeteo is a new media organization that seeks to answer the questions that really matter, while always striving for the truth. Founded by Mehdi Hasan, Zeteo is a movement for media accountability, unfi...

If you want to make sure that you get Ragebait in your mailboxes every Wednesday night, please hit that subscribe button at Zeteo!

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He wasted no time...

Bari Weiss Is Going Full ‘Propaganda-Palooza’ With the Iran War The CBS News war coverage is going exactly as we thought it would. Plus, Gayle King goes 'all in' on Weiss, while CNN commentator Scott Jennings sucks up to her.

“It was naive to think she would stand on principle when that much money was on the line,” a CBS reporter told me about Gayle King's new contract. “A lot of people were disappointed that she didn’t use her position to speak up. Instead, she rolled over for a fat paycheck.”

zeteo.com/p/bari-weiss...

Just the cherry on the top that Noem goes out by spouting out another falsehood.

George Orwell did not say this:

winstonchurchill.hillsdale.edu/rough-men-st...

Corey Lewandowski is expected to leave DHS with Kristi Noem, according to Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich.

A Whte House source also says that "t was a combination of her many unfortunate leadership failures. From MN to the ad campaign to the allegations of an affair."

BREAKING: Trump Axes His Puppy Killer Kristi Noem is out at the Department of Homeland Security, partly for a very silly reason. The department will remain under the control of Stephen Miller.

by far the best, ballsiest, and most in-depth story on noem's firing so far. @swin24.bsky.social @andrewperez.bsky.social @zeteo.com open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...

Amazing!

Elon Musk Is Backing ‘JD Vance 2.0.’ Some Republicans Aren’t Sure That’s a Good Thing So far, Musk’s super PAC money has done little to sway a Kentucky race.

Elon Musk is backing “JD Vance 2.0.” It's not clear that’s a winning strategy.

BREAKING: Trump Axes His Puppy Killer Kristi Noem is out at the Department of Homeland Security, partly for a very silly reason. The department will remain under the control of Stephen Miller.

"Donald Trump has fired Kristi Noem – his monstrous Homeland Security secretary – for what may be the stupidest reason possible."

Check out @andrewperez.bsky.social and @swin24.bsky.social on the firing of Kristi Noem.

zeteo.com/p/trump-kris...

There it is: Noem out, Mullin in

Gas prices are now higher than when Trump took office.

PAT RYAN: 'Does the US want to be the policeman of the Middle East getting nothing but spending precious lives & trillions.' Rng a bell?

COLBY: Defer to you

R: That was Trump. How about this - 'we simply cannot afford to get enmeshed in a Middle East war'

C: Defer to you

R: That was actually you

What If the Mullahs Are Smarter Than Trump? True victory through air power has never been tried!

US war planners believed they could prevent Iran from militarily closing the Strait of Hormuz.

But Iran understood that the insurance industry could close it for them. And this reality seems to have caught US leadership totally flat-footed. www.thebulwark.com/p/what-if-th...

When you absolutely know what human rights are

The $220 million contract for the ad campaign was awarded to an LLC which subcontracted with a company run by the husband of former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. The ads were filmed in October at Mount Rushmore. Ben Yoho, McLaughlin’s husband, said he made $226,137.17 for his work. Under questioning from Kennedy, Noem said repeatedly that Trump personally approved the controversial ad blitz featuring her in the lead role. This has so angered Trump that Noem’s future at DHS may be at risk, we’re told. Kennedy: “The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?” Noem: “Yes sir, we went through the legal processes …” Kennedy: “Did the president know you were gonna do this?” Noem: “Yes.” Kennedy: “He did?” Noem: “Uh huh, yes.” More from Kennedy: “They were effective in your name recognition. To me it puts the president in a terribly awkward spot.”

Senator Kennedy put Noem in a spot where she either shifted blame to Trump or took it herself. She chose...poorly. punchbowl.news/article/bord...

JD Vance to join Tony Dokoupil for CBS News "Things That Matter" town hall Vice President JD Vance will talk about the economy, foreign policy, the state of the Republican Party and the 2028 race for the White House in an upcoming edition of the CBS News town hall series​ "T...

CBS News says that the March 14 town hall with JD Vance, which was to be moderated by Tony Dokoupil, has been postponed indefinitely.

www.cbsnews.com/news/jd-vanc...

The first note informing the entire staff of Shawna Thomas' departure from CBS Mornings is from CBS News president Tom Cibrowski.

Good morning, everyone. By now, some of you have heard the news in Shawna’s heartfelt note below.  After five years on CBS Mornings, Shawna is stepping away from the broadcast at the end of this month. Shawna brings energy, clarity, and heart into every broadcast.  She doesn’t just shape the show; along with Gayle, Nate, Tony, and the team, she shaped its voice.    Morning television moves fast.  It demands grace under pressure, sharp instincts, and the ability to pivot at a moment’s notice.  Shawna does all of that with a calm confidence and a great sense of humor.  Morning television is also a tight-knit family.  Behind the scenes, Shawna’s leadership creates space for collaboration, creativity, and trust – and on screen, that translates into something viewers can feel. But beyond the rundown meetings and breaking news moments, what stands out most is the way Shawna shows up for people – listening, encouraging, and pushing for better.  She celebrates wins and steadies the ship when things are uncertain.  That kind of presence leaves a lasting mark. Getting to know Shawna this past year has been a gift.  She is a passionate journalist, especially when it comes to reporting and understanding our country’s very dynamic political arena.  We will certainly miss her smart and reasoned voice at our morning meeting. In the meantime, there is important work to be done as we cover the historic unfolding events in the Middle East around the clock.  Shawna will continue to lead the way, and Jon Tower with his very steady hands, will run CBS Mornings on an interim basis once Shawna departs.  Let’s continue to support the entire CBS Mornings team and each other. See Shawna’s note below.  Thank you.

Today is not my last day at CBS Mornings, but it begins a countdown to my alarm going off a little bit later.  First, I’m so happy Gayle King came to a deal and will continue to bring her bright shiny face and amazing interviewing skills to CBS Mornings and CBS News.  I bow down to her and her talent every day and thank her for her kindness and work ethic. For five years, I’ve tried to make this show something she and everybody on this team want to be a part of. Want to watch. Want to learn from. And in return, this team has made me more thoughtful, empathetic and expanded my personal definition of storytelling.  I’ve had the privilege of helping to make 10 (now 12!) hours of television each week that goes out free to people everywhere.  I’ve taken that responsibility of trying to inform, educate, entertain and make people care about the world around them very seriously, and I know the people here do, too. Now, this isn’t THE GREAT GOODBYE NOTE. But you should know I’ve been thinking about this for a while and, frankly, I’m tired y’all.  I will be thanking everyone I possibly can with my voice and my face - especially Jon Tower and Peter Burgess, who I will be transitioning things over to - in the coming weeks.  But because we know nothing ever stays quiet for long, I just wanted to put out a quick note now.   Call it a tease, if you will. ⁃ Shawna

NEW: CBS Mornings executive producer Shawna Thomas announces to staff that she will be leaving the show at the end of the month.

This comes one day after Gayle King extended her contract, all while Bari Weiss is looking to overhaul the show and bring on a new conservative co-host.