When there is a pretense of democracy, leaders try to persuade the public to express agreement with whatever it is they're going to do. This time, they didn't bother.
Jared Yates Sexton writes:
"Having cut my political teeth during the run-up to the Iraq War, there’s something truly awful to all of this. Back then, we had to listen to Colin Powell lie about weapons of mass destruction. Dick Cheney made the rounds on all the shows. We were fed one piece of propaganda after another. The Bush Administration at least went through the process of telling us Saddam Hussein had helped al-Qaeda and that any failure to act would lead to a “mushroom cloud” erupting over the American homeland. The air was thick with drumbeats and it felt, maddeningly, like we were being marched toward an illegal and catastrophic war.
Now, it’s just kind of happening.
This is a taste of the peasant life. Living like an ant under the shadow of an elephant that moves and sits and attacks without so much as warning. Leadership and the population completely removed from one another save for the consequences and violence visited upon the population at the leadership’s behest. You might wake up one Saturday morning and find that the U.S. has kidnapped the President of Venezuela and then watch a disorienting and frankly embarrassing press conference where the President of the United States tells you in strange, bored language that America now controls the country. No one particularly asks follow-ups. There’s no clarification. Rather, everything becomes more confusing until it just isn’t talked about anymore. A story might get published revealing that money from Venezuela is being held in shadowy accounts in Qatar, but that doesn’t get much attention either."
— Jared Yates Sexton, The American Religion: Imperialism and the Next Step of Modern Fascism: As we stand on the edge of war with Iran, a new phase of authoritarianism rears its head. Dispatches From a Collapsing State, Feb 19, 2026
Read also: The Scent of Iranian Lavender: The U.S. and Israel are gearing up for war with Iran while the Pentagon demands an AI company drop its "safeguards." Hmm. But yes: abuse the Defense Production Act! Spencer Ackerman, Forever Wars, 26 Feb 2026
"Visualizing the US-Israeli war with Iran and retaliation in maps and charts" CNN, Feb 28 (kept updated)
In 2003, writes Philip Bump, President Bush
"had spent months trying to convince the country that the nation of Iraq posed such a dire threat to American security that an invasion aimed at ousting its leadership was warranted. There were hearings and speeches and rallies, debates in newspapers, all the sorts of things you might expect before putting numerous soldiers, sailors and airmen in harm's way.
At the time, it seemed rushed and superficial. But history will show that it was, in fact, thorough and well-crafted — at least compared to the action against Iran President Donald Trump initiated this morning.
In 2003, Bush spent a big chunk of his State of the Union address arguing for the need to strike Iraq. During his SOTU speech this week, Trump mentioned Iran only briefly, including commenting that the nation's ability to build nuclear weapons had been "obliterated" during strikes last year. But, uh, they are still/now/again a threat!"
— Philip Bump, This way madness lies, but you knew that, How to Read This Chart, 28 Feb 2026
(Background: Why Did the US Invade Iraq in 2003?: For no good reason)
‘Peace President’ Trump Floats ‘Friendly Takeover’ of Cuba While Preparing to Attack Iran: “Trump ran on an explicitly anti-interventionist platform when he ran for president,” noted one critic. “He lied to the American people.” Brett Wilkins, Feb 27, 2026
For what it's worth, every criticism Trump ever launched about other people's warmaking has only ever been a pretext to insult them. He was never anti-war. He was waiting for the moment to make his own war.
— Ayman Makarem (@aymanmak.bsky.social) February 28, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Oman’s Foreign Minister Said US-Iran Deal Was ‘Within Our Reach.’ Then Trump Started Bombing: “The Omani FM decided to go public,” suggested one observer, “so that the American people knew that peace was within reach when Trump instead opted for war.” Jake Johnson, Common Dreams, February 28, 2026
‘Bombs Will Be Dropping Everywhere’: Trump Launches Illegal Regime Change War Against Iran: “The US once again used the veneer of negotiations as a cover to bomb Iran.” Jake Johnson, Common Dreams, February 28, 2026
U.S. And Israel Launch Major Attack On Iran And Trump Urges Iranians To 'Take Over Your Government': Some of the first strikes appeared to hit areas near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Jon Gambrell, Konstantin Toropin, Josh Boak and Aamer Madhani, Associated Press, Feb 28, 2026
1440 Media sent in an email on February 28:
Pakistan Declares War
"Pakistan yesterday proclaimed an "open war" against Afghanistan's Taliban government after the neighboring nations (see map) exchanged fire overnight Thursday [Feb 26].
The South Asian nations have been embroiled in conflict since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan after NATO forces withdrew in 2021, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban of harboring anti-Pakistani militants. The Taliban denies the allegation and, in turn, accuses Pakistan of attacking civilians. The Taliban launched the first strikes Thursday in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes last weekend that it claims killed or wounded dozens of civilians. Pakistan disputes that account, saying its military carried out a targeted operation that killed at least 70 militants. As of this writing, the extent of casualties and damage from Thursday's strikes is unclear.
Pakistan is believed to have the world’s sixth-largest nuclear arsenal, with an estimated stockpile of about 170 warheads. Its nuclear program was developed in the 1990s as a deterrent against rival India, which has recently strengthened ties with the Taliban."
Fool Me Twice: The Case for War With Iran Is Even Thinner Than It Was for Iraq: The case for invading Iraq was based on lies. The Trump administration’s case for war with Iran hardly exists at all. Séamus Malekafzali, The Intercept, February 28 2026
The U.S. and Israel Killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. What Comes Next? “This tells any potential adversaries of the U.S.: Get nuclear weapons. Hedging is not a strategy.” Noah Hurowitz, The Intercept, February 28 2026
Trump’s Iran Attack Was Illegal, Former U.S. Military Officials Allege: “This is an introduction of U.S. forces into hostilities. It absolutely triggers the 48-hour notice requirement.” Austin Campbell, The Intercept, March 1 2026
You couldn’t make this up. And if you did, everyone would say it’s too much.
— Nick Feik (@nickfeik.bsky.social) March 2, 2026 at 3:14 PM
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White House privately tells Congress that "it is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that may be necessary."
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein.bsky.social) March 2, 2026 at 8:22 PM
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One of the biggest successes of The War on Terror was recoding war as a form of global policing. There are no invasions, only actions; no enemies, only combatants; no countries, only jurisdictions. When there is no such thing as war, there's also no such thing as peace.
— Benjamín Schultz-Figueroa (@benjaminschultzfig.bsky.social) March 2, 2026 at 4:58 PM
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EXCLUSIVE: At more than 30 installations, U.S. commanders told troops the war on Iran is a Christian war. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has been “inundated” with more than 110 complaints. One NCO said they were told the U.S. war is to bring about Armageddon and the return of Jesus…
— Jonathan Larsen (@jonathanlarsen.bsky.social) March 2, 2026 at 8:54 PM
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ANNA PAULINA LUNA: It is not the intention of the US government to invade RAMPELL: Did we not just invade? LUNA: Are you seeing boots on the ground there? RAMPELL: We just killed the leader of the country! The president has called it a war LUNA: Strategic strikes are not war JORDAN: Really?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 1, 2026 at 8:24 PM
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Hey, you're not wrecking yourself on phone casino, you're a temporarily embarrassed war profiteer
— Mags Display Name (@mags.colvett.online) March 1, 2026 at 10:39 AM
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"Trump may have too sunny a view of what war with Iran would entail because Iran barely responded to the assassination of Qassim Suleimani in 2020 or to the bombing of nuclear sites last year. My guess is that Iran feels it now must re-establish deterrence and will continue to respond aggressively — not just attacking United States military bases but also perhaps striking ships in the Strait of Hormuz (through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes) or organizing future terror attacks against American targets worldwide. * * * Trump created a nuclear crisis with Iran in part by tearing up the imperfect nuclear accord that President Barack Obama had reached with the ayatollahs; if we had remained in the deal, it seems to me we would be in a safer place today — and at peace." (Nicholas Kristof, New York Times, Feb 28, 2026)
"...like most of the country I’m still completely confused about what the point of this latest war is, other than, perhaps, distraction from the Epstein files.
To that end, it seems that Trump, even in his attempts to distance himself from charges of abuse and assaults on women and girls, can’t help but inflict more horrific violence on women and girls, as one of the first targets of his and Netanyahu’s joint bombing spree was a girl’s school where more than eighty children, mostly girls between the ages of six and ten, were killed on the first day of the attack."
— Starhawk, War In Iran, Mar 1, 2026
""I can tell you as a veteran in no uncertain terms, the United States does everything it can to avoid civilian casualties," Waltz told ABC News reporter Martha Raddatz on Sunday [March 8]. "Sometimes, of course, tragic mistakes occur.""
— U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz Responds To Report U.S. Is Responsible For Bombing Iranian School, Paige Skinner, HuffPost, March 8, 2026. (Waltz then went on to suggest that someone else might have bombed the school, as in a separate incident when, in October 2023, a hospital in Gaza was bombed and there was dispute over whether it was a Palestinian rocket that fell short or was misdirected and accidentally landed on the hospital, or whether Israel had done it.
Iran Vows To Attack Any Ship Passing Strait Of Hormuz, Threatening Global Oil Supply: An Iranian Revolutionary Guards senior official said Iran will fire on any ship trying to pass the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported. Reuters, Mar 2, 2026
Nearly all traffic cameras in Tehran had been hacked for years, with footage encrypted and transmitted to servers in Tel Aviv and southern Israel. www.iranintl.com/en/202603027...
— Cynthia Brumfield (@metacurity.com) March 3, 2026 at 7:23 AM
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JD VANCE: "There's just no way Trump is gonna about this country to get into a multiyear conflict with no end in sight" TRUMP HOURS LATER: "Wars can be fought 'forever,' and very successfully"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 3, 2026 at 9:37 AM
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Military Commander Tells Troops Bombing Iran Is ‘Part Of God’s Divine Plan’: One commander had a “big grin” on his face while saying Donald Trump “has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran," a service member said. Brandi Buchman, HuffPost, Mar 3, 2026
"The targeting and killing of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which opened an undeclared war with Iran, is the first time in modern history the US — in this case working with Israel — openly killed the leader of a foreign country, according to CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali.
For those keeping track, the US has now decapitated two foreign governments — both US adversaries overseeing vast oil reserves — in the past two months. Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro is in New York awaiting trial and Khamenei is dead."
— Zachary B. Wolf, Has the US ever assassinated a world leader before?, CNN, March 3, 2026
Only on March 4 does the US public get a story about what the objectives are:
"In her first press briefing since Israel and the U.S. went to war with Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt laid out four major objectives she said President Donald Trump hopes to achieve, and wildly exaggerated the threat post by Iran, claiming the country is 'seeking to destroy western civilization itself.'
Per Leavitt, the objectives are:
- Destroy Iran’s ballistic missiles and its capacity to manufacture new ones.
- “Annihilate” Iran’s navy.
- Destroy Iran’s ability to fund and arm terrorist proxies throughout the region.
- Guarantee Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon."
— Ryan Grenoble, White House Details Four Sweeping Objectives For War In Iran, HuffPost, March 4
Karoline Leavitt: Press 'Only Wants To Make The President Look Bad' For Reporting On Troop Deaths, Sebastian Murdock, HuffPost, March 4, 2026
"Iran is responding to America’s campaign in a very logical way, albeit “logical” in the context of having very few good options. Iran’s strategic deterrence and a decent amount of its military capacity were already destroyed in 2024 and 2025, the power of its proxies in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza even more decisively shattered. So they’re launching missiles and drones everywhere they can to try to expand the conflict into some new configuration that is better than Iran facing the U.S. and Israel on its own. The challenge is that they’re launching attacks against basically all the countries in the region who might be most likely to rein the U.S. in, as well as those who have kept up at least reasonably robust ties with Iran.
* * *
I think we’re in this war because the Venezuela operation went pretty well for Trump, certainly in the short-run. That was fun. So why not do it again in Iran? And he’s escalating abroad in general because escalation, vast expression of power and violence, amount to a kind of psychological compensation for loss of power and popularity at home. It’s a kind of presidential self-care making use of the prerogative powers of the American presidency. I see little evidence Trump is ready for this level of chaos or economic shocks with a war few Americans thought there was any reason to commit to in the first place."
— Josh Marshall, Let’s Face Facts: This Isn’t Going Well (Iran War Edition), Talking Points, March 4, 2026
On March 4, Trump said the war was "exciting times" and he rated it a 15 on a scale of 1 to 10.
The Idea That Trump Was Antiwar Was Always Delusional The idea "rests on a deep, willful misunderstanding...what Trump has always hated isn’t conflict but sacrifice, the notion that American power should ever be constrained" Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/o...
— AFinRenoFightsBack 🌊2026 🌊 (@callyson.bsky.social) March 4, 2026 at 9:46 PM
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"American innovation" now refers to making a kind of atrocity cronut by combining insider trading with war crimes.
— Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman.bsky.social) March 1, 2026 at 10:19 AM
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"The girls’ school in Iran, where 165 people were killed by an apparent US-Israeli attack, was hit with two strikes, with the second missile killing sheltering survivors, two first responders and the parent of a slain child have told Middle East Eye." (Exclusive: Iranian girls killed by ‘double-tap’ strikes on Minab school: Eyewitnesses describe second blast which killed survivors as they sheltered in prayer hall, Middle East Eye, 4 March 2026)
A US submarine sinking a lonely, dinky Iranian surface ship an ocean away from the theater of the main conflict—and 9000 miles from North America—makes it pretty clear the US is fighting a general war, without the declaration required by the Constitution. www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw.bsky.social) March 4, 2026 at 12:40 PM
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Of Course Trump Bombed Iran, Robert Malley and Stephen Wertheim, New York Times, March 5, 2026
Republicans Toil to Avoid Saying ‘War’ as Iran Conflict Widens
— The People’s Press (@peoplespress.bsky.social) March 5, 2026 at 10:33 AM
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New imagery suggests U.S. responsible for Iran school strike, CNN video, March 6, 2026
Oil prices are going parabolic. This is insane.
— Clay Ranck (@clayranck.bsky.social) March 6, 2026 at 1:01 PM
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US-Israeli Bombs Strike ‘The Fourth School in 6 Days’ in Iran: Report “There are straight lines between what Israel has attempted to do… in Gaza, to completely decimate and collapse the systems that existed there, to what we are seeing in Iran,” said one expert. Stephen Prager, Common Dreams, Mar 06, 2026
Trump tells CNN he’s not worried whether Iran becomes a democratic state, Dana Bash, CNN, March 6, 2026
Middle East War about to take a sharp turn in the likely direction of greater chaos. President Trump on Kurdish ground offensive: “I think it’s wonderful that they want to do that, I’d be all for it." What could go wrong: www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw.bsky.social) March 5, 2026 at 3:17 PM
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Sources Briefed on Iran War Say U.S. Has No Plans for What Comes Next: “The administration doesn’t have a clue. They do not have an actual, real rationale, endgame, or plan for the aftermath of this.” Nick Turse, The Intercept, March 5 2026
"The war is costing about $891.4 million per day, according to a think tank based in Washington, DC, that analyzed the information the Pentagon has shared about targets it struck and the assets involved in the operation."
Here’s how much the war with Iran is expected to cost every day, Kaanita Iyer, CNN, March 6, 2026
Rights Group Says Massacre at Iranian School—Likely by US—Should Be Investigated as ‘War Crime’ “Trump loves putting his name on things, but this should be the only building for which he is remembered by history.” Jon Queally, Common Dreams, March 7, 2026
US Argues ‘Emergency’ of Iran War Means Israel Needs 20,000+ More Bombs Without Congressional Approval ‘Who cares about Israel’s genocide, apartheid, and aggression?” asked one human rights expert. Jon Queally, Common Dreams, March 7, 2026
‘Your Tax Dollars Being Used to Raise Your Gas Prices’: US-Israel Bomb Major Iranian Oil Depots Scenes from Tehran on Saturday were described as “apocalyptic” and widely condemned. Jon Queally, Common Dreams, March 7, 2026
Trump signals he’ll escalate war as Iran vows to keep up strikes on US targets; Meanwhile, the US president is in Delaware for the dignified transfer of six American service members killed in the conflict. CNN, March 7, 2026
BREAKING: The US has bombed Tehran’s main refinery and burning oil is now flooding down the streets into the city’s sewers. This is a vision from hell, unleashed by the US tonight. (🎥 Vahid Online)
— News Eye (@newseye.bsky.social) March 7, 2026 at 8:10 PM
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Trump's psychotic, murderous post: "Iran is being beat to HELL … They said, 'Thank you President Trump.' I said, 'You’re welcome!' ... Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for destruction & certain death are groups of people not considered for targeting until this moment"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 7, 2026 at 9:25 AM
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Explosion Hits U.S. Embassy In Oslo, Causing Minor Damage, Police Say It was not immediately clear what caused the blast or who was involved, the Oslo police department said in a separate statement. Gwladys Fouche and Terje Solsvik Reuters, HuffPost, Mar 7, 2026
"there is no victory that the U.S. is trying to replicate here. It’s replicating failed strategic bombing campaigns of the past. The strategic logic, such as it is, rests on three fallacies: The first is the ends-ways-means definition of strategy where X number of tactical successes plus Y number of operational successes equals strategic effect. The second is just the classic attrition fallacy, where the destruction of enemy forces is the aim of tactics. The third is that fires alone can be decisive, a fallacy dispensed with by Clausewitz two hundred years ago." — Orphaned Tactics Oops we did it again, B. A. Friedman, Fire for Effect, Mar 08, 2026
Military Leaders See Iran War as “God’s Divine Plan” — a Chilling Turn for Trump’s Fascism: A military watchdog has been “inundated” with complaints that officials are using end-times Christian rhetoric to justify war. Natasha Lennard, The Intercept, March 5, 2026
OpenAI on Surveillance and Autonomous Killings: You’re Going to Have to Trust Us OpenAI says Americans shouldn’t worry about the ethics of its new Pentagon contract. You’ll have to take their word for it (and Pete Hegseth’s). Sam Biddle, The Intercept, March 8 2026
Anthropic is a public benefit corporation which means they are for-profit and answer to their shareholders but they're also legally required to consider the public benefit. Pete Hegseth ranted on X, saying they're not allowed to make any choices whatsoever: "Their true objective is unmistakable: to seize veto power over the operational decisions of the United States military. That is unacceptable. As President Trump stated on Truth Social, the Commander-in-Chief and the American people alone will determine the destiny of our armed forces, not unelected tech executives."
Jake Tapper Plays Voting-Against-the-Troops Card: “The American people don’t want this war,” said Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut. “Virtually nothing good happened from sending thousands of Americans to die in Iraq in the 2000s and if we don’t learn that lesson then shame on every single one of us.” Jon Queally, Common Dreams, March 8, 2026
BREAKING: Iran launches missiles at central Israel for the second time within minutes of each other.
— Fared Al Mahlool | فريد المحلول (@faredalmahlool.bsky.social) March 8, 2026 at 6:53 PM
I feel like it should be bigger news that Trump is now openly considering a military draft. Young men haven't been called up for a draft since 1972. Not during the Gulf War. Not during Iraq or Afghanistan. He received five draft deferments but is now open to drafting your kids.
— Charlotte Clymer (@charlotteclymer.bsky.social) March 8, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Pete Hegseth: "This is war"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 8, 2026 at 7:17 PM
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Damn. Rough day for the “THIS IS NOT A WAR!” crowd.
— Patric Reynolds (@patricjreynolds.bsky.social) March 8, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Trump announces that the soaring cost of filling up your gas tank is a "small price to pay" for his glorious Iran war. www.cnbc.com/2026/03/08/c...
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm.bsky.social) March 8, 2026 at 8:02 PM
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‘Absolutely apocalyptic scene’: CNN on the ground at burning oil depot in Tehran, CNN video, March 8, 2026
Hard to believe the guy bankrupted a casino.
— Robert McNees (@mcnees.bsky.social) March 8, 2026 at 10:32 PM
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It’s only day nine and the war is “dragging on.” I’m old enough to remember when a previous Iran crisis lasted 444 days and cost Jimmy Carter his reelection.
— Sanho Tree (@sanho.bsky.social) March 9, 2026 at 6:34 AM
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Trump's decision to bomb Iran is now the greatest windfall to the Russian war effort on record. If it continues, it might save the Russian war economy.
— Phillips OBrien (@phillipspobrien.bsky.social) March 9, 2026 at 12:24 AM
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Vance, Rubio and others in Trump’s inner circle preached caution on Iran. Now they’re on board, Adam Cancryn, CNN, March 8, 2026
Leavitt: "The overall mission in this operation is to ensure that Iran can never again possess a nuclear weapon. That was the real imminent threat that was posed by Iran." (Iran never had a nuclear weapon!)
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 6, 2026 at 1:10 PM
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Oh my god: this is *daytime* in Tehran.
— Nathan Kalman-Lamb (@nkalamb.bsky.social) March 8, 2026 at 9:13 AM
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France sends two warships to the Red Sea. (YouTube)
AP: who blew up the Iranian ship? US or Iran? no one knowsOn March 8 on CBS 60 Minutes, Pete Hegseth said: "No one’s putting us in danger. We’re putting the other guys in danger. That’s our job. So we’re not concerned about that.” He added: “The only ones that need to be worried right now are Iranians that think they’re going to live.”
Iranian missiles intercepted over Turkey, UAE and Qatar, as oil price passes $100 a barrel, BBC, March 9
By March 9, they've given 17 different reasons...
9 days in, the most basic question about the Iran war remains unanswered In just over a week, Trump and top administration officials have given at least 17 different responses about why the war began Judd Legum, Popular Information, Mar 09, 2026
The guy who voices Master Chief from the video game "Halo," who was featured in a White House meme video showing missiles blowing people up in Iran, calls it "disgusting and juvenile war porn" wapo.st/3NhffGm
— Drew Harwell (@drewharwell.com) March 9, 2026 at 10:43 AM
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