The Patriot Post® · Monday Executive News Summary
Opening the Strait of Hormuz: Operation Epic Fury has effectively ended oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran declared the Strait closed to shipping before the U.S. bombed Kharg Island, home of Iran’s export industry. The U.S. destroyed all the military assets on the island but spared the economic infrastructure for now, warning Iran to reopen the Strait. Iran now claims shipping not associated with the U.S. or Israel is allowed to pass through the Strait, which would be the vast majority of the traffic. Of course, since Iran has been laying mines in the shipping lanes and the situation is fragile, many ships are unwilling to make the transit. The U.S. has promised to begin escorting ships through the Strait, but that process cannot begin until later in the week.
Iran missile production goes boom: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. has eliminated Iran’s “entire ballistic missile production capacity,” saying that “every company that builds every component of those missiles has been functionally defeated.” Hegseth noted that the U.S. is systematically targeting and destroying Iran’s missile stockpiles, striking over 6,000 targets since Operation Epic Fury began two weeks ago. He says the Islamic Republic’s “production lines, their plants, their defensive innovation center,” and “factory lines all across Iran” have been destroyed. Iran’s missile launches have diminished by 90% since the joint U.S.-Israel operation began. Meanwhile, Hegseth said that Friday marked “the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran.” From a military perspective, Iran is effectively dead in the water.
Tucker Carlson is a friend of Iran: Tucker Carlson, it seems, will settle for nothing less than total American isolationism from the world. The problem, of course, is that America is a part of the world. The podcaster knows that well, as he has made well-documented trips to Muslim-majority nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar recently, where he spoke favorably of those Muslim societies. He also knows Iran fairly well; evidently, he has been speaking via text to Iranian officials. Now he claims that those texts were being monitored by U.S. intelligence, which is now preparing a criminal complaint against him. Of course, there are any number of ways in which an American might run afoul of U.S. national security interests while texting with an official of an enemy government. Whether this alleged complaint will ever appear outside of Tucker’s own show remains to be seen.
FCC chair threatens broadcast networks over Iran coverage: On Saturday, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr posted on X, “Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news — have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.” He added, “The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.” Carr’s warning came on the heels of President Donald Trump blasting legacy media over its coverage of Operation Epic Fury. Carr’s warning raised bipartisan objections from lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Johnson, who stated, “I am a big supporter of the First Amendment. I do not like the heavy-handed government, no matter who is wielding it. … I would rather the federal government stay out of the private sector as much as possible.”
Schumer vows to stop SAVE Act from ever passing: Requiring voter ID is a bridge too far for Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer, who has vowed to stop it from “ever” passing. If only those with an ID can vote, how will all the illegals cast their votes? Senate Republican Leader John Thune opined that the commonsense measure to require photo ID should “get an automatic ‘yes’ vote from literally every member of this body.” Currently, the SAVE Act would require 60 votes to pass the Senate, and Republicans only hold 53 seats. Our Thomas Gallatin has explained that even measures such as reworking the Senate filibuster would be unlikely to guarantee passage of the bill. Americans across party lines support voter ID requirements. If upholding the will of the people is impossible for the Senate, it is a judgment on that legislative body.
Major medical equipment deregulation: In a significant deregulatory move, the EPA announced on Friday that it will rescind Biden-era regulations that severely limit the use of ethylene oxide, which the healthcare industry has used for decades to sterilize medical equipment and devices. The EPA issued a rule in 2024 mandating that almost 100 specialized medical sterilization facilities eliminate over 90% of their ethylene oxide emissions by either installing expensive pollution-control equipment or shutting down. By reversing course on this onerous and costly regulation, the medical device industry will save some $630 million over the next 20 years, while also reducing costs to healthcare providers, which, in turn, are passed on to patients. Furthermore, as the American Hospital Association warned, the Biden-era regulation ironically put protecting human health at risk.
Powell subpoenas blocked: Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg blocked Justice Department subpoenas for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in its investigation into the management of the Fed’s building renovation. “A mountain of evidence suggests that the Government served these subpoenas on the Board to pressure its Chair into voting for lower interest rates or resigning,” Boasberg wrote. “The Government has produced essentially zero evidence to suspect Chair Powell of a crime; indeed, its justifications are so thin and unsubstantiated that the Court can only conclude that they are pretextual.” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro blasted Boasberg as an “activist judge,” saying he “has put himself at the entrance door to the grand jury, slamming that door shut, irrespective of the legal process and thus preventing the grand jury from doing the work that it does.” She promised to appeal the ruling.
Trump admin to take 200,000 foreign truck drivers off the road: As stories continue to mount of illegal immigrants with commercial driver’s licenses causing fatal car wrecks, the Trump administration is removing trucking privileges for 200,000 immigrants. A new Transportation Department rule bars asylum seekers, refugees, or DACA recipients from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses and will roll out the expiration of CDLs already granted. The Transportation Department’s move is welcome after organized “chameleon carriers” have been identified committing fraud to enable drivers to continue trucking after causing accidents. Over 3,000 driver training centers lost accreditation in December for failing to meet federal standards.
Sinema admits to affair while in office: Former Arizona Democrat Senator Kyrsten Sinema is facing an “alienation of affection” lawsuit filed by her bodyguard’s ex-wife, Heather Ammel. Sinema has admitted to having an extramarital affair with her former bodyguard, Matthew Ammel, that began while she was still in office in May 2024 and lasted several months. Ammel was married with three children at the time of the affair, but separated as a result of the unfaithfulness in November 2024. His wife claims in her lawsuit that Sinema purposefully seduced her husband and engaged in “intentional and malicious interference” in their marriage. North Carolina law allows spouses to sue for willful damage to a marriage to receive compensation, and Ms. Ammel is demanding $25,000 from Sinema. The former senator counters that the relationship “occurred exclusively outside of North Carolina,” meaning the charges should be dropped.
Headlines
Six U.S. service members killed in refueling plane crash identified (NewsNation)
Iran’s late supreme leader was wary of his son taking power (CBS News)
Captain of Iranian women’s soccer team is latest to withdraw asylum bid (NY Post)
Protesters torch Communist Party HQ in Cuba (Fox News)
The Executive News Summary is compiled daily by Jordan Candler, Thomas Gallatin, Sterling Henry, and Sophie Starkova. For the archive, click here.