The Patriot Post® · Monday Executive News Summary
Trump’s (profane) threat to Iran: Yesterday, Donald Trump failed to enter into the spirit of the Easter celebrations with a vulgar post on Truth Social. “Open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy bast*rds, or you’ll be living in Hell” is far from the traditional greeting exchanged on Resurrection Sunday. Perhaps the president was caught up in the excitement of rescuing the second crewman from a downed F-15E inside Iran just a few hours earlier. Trump threatened that Tuesday, the day of his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, would be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day” if no deal is made, implying he would strike those targets across Iran. But as Mark Alexander notes, “If Trump orders systematic strikes against Iran’s power plants, that will impact the lives of non-combatant civilian men, women, and children, and the resulting optics will not support Trump’s war on Iran.”
Easter greetings from Artemis II: On Sunday, as most Americans were putting on their pastels and attending church services, four astronauts were hurtling toward the moon at terrific speed. Pilot Victor Glover responded to a question about the Easter celebration by reminding everyone back home how special they are. Earth “was created to give us a place to live in the universe,” he said. “Maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special, but we’re the same distance from you, and just trust me, you are special.”
A healthy jobs report: The March jobs report was released on Friday, and it showed a significant reversal from February’s numbers. An estimated 178,000 jobs were added last month, representing the best monthly total in over a year. The healthcare industry led job growth, adding 76,000 jobs, followed by ambulatory healthcare services, which added 54,000 jobs. Much of this healthcare job growth was tied to the end of a workers’ strike in the industry. Construction added 26,000 jobs, and transportation and warehousing added 21,000. Manufacturing also created 15,000 new jobs, reversing the 3,000 jobs lost over the prior two months. Wage growth is also outpacing inflation, rising 3.5% year over year. This is all good news for the American economy, but there are still major concerns about the impact of spiking oil and gas prices.
Firearms on military installations: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced that the 1992 policy that turned U.S. military installations into gun-free zones is over. Noting a number of military base attacks, which resulted in higher losses of life due to service members being unarmed, Hegseth said, “The memo I’m signing today directs installation commanders to allow requests for personal protection to carry a privately owned firearm with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection.” The new policy further places the onus for denial of requests on installation commanders, requiring that it be given in writing and detailing the specifics of such a denial. “The presumption is service members will be able to have their amendment right on post,” Hegseth explained. “Not all enemies are foreign, nor are they all outside our borders.”
IDF strike kills Iranian intel chief: The Israel Defense Forces have taken out more senior Iranian military leadership. Major General Seyed Majid Khademi, intelligence chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was killed in an overnight strike. An IDF report stated, “Khademi was one of the IRGC’s most senior commanders and had accumulated extensive experience over many years. Khademi worked to advance terrorist attacks worldwide, and was responsible for monitoring Iranian civilians as part of the regime’s suppression of internal protests.” The IDF also reported that Kamil Melhem, a leader tied to the Hezbollah-linked Iranian militia, was eliminated in a separate strike. It is clear that the IDF is systematically eliminating the Islamic regime’s military leadership.
State Dept. revokes Soleimani family visas: Relatives of Iranian regime terrorist leaders live in luxury across the West. Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and Sarinasadat Hosseiny, the niece and grandniece of terminated Iranian leader Qasem Soleimani, were living in Los Angeles until late last week. Afshar arrived in the U.S. in 2015 on a tourist visa and was granted asylum in 2019. Last July, she applied for citizenship before it was revealed that she had traveled four times to Iran, the country from which she allegedly needed asylum since 2021. Afshar enjoys the lifestyle in LA, where she worked as a model, but she also supports the Islamic regime in Iran, celebrates attacks against the U.S., and calls America the “Great Satan.” The U.S. State Department under Marco Rubio revoked Afshar and her daughter’s status and arrested them. Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the loyal daughter of another Iranian leader, was also deported with her husband.
Department of Education celebrates America, leftists lose it: Education Secretary Linda McMahon has launched a “History Rocks!” tour that will visit schools in all 50 states. The tour is meant to “promote a shared understanding of the principles that shaped” our nation, but, naturally, the Left is calling out the protesters. Four stops have been canceled, and protests have met several more. At a recent stop in Wisconsin, where department official Murray Bessette praised that state’s advancements, even the local NPR affiliate had to admit that his remarks were politically neutral. The tour is meant to promote America for its 250th anniversary, but the Left needs controversy because it’s happening under the Trump administration, and it’s patriotic. Former Secretary Miguel Cardona hosted a similar, although less neutral, “back to school” bus tour in 2024, and the Leftmedia had little to say about that.
A growing number of companies are microchipping employees: First adopted by the Wisconsin-based software company Three Square Market in 2017, employee microchipping has grown in popularity and also raised objections. At least 13 states have passed legislation limiting the technology, banning employers from requiring or coercing employees into receiving it. Washington State Rep. Brianna Thomas warns that technology “creates an opportunity for employers to track employees during work hours and at home,” which is “scary.” Yet the convenience of the technology, which allows an employee to enter a secure building, log on to a computer, or purchase vending machine products with a simple wave of their hand, has led to growing interest among companies and workers in adopting it. As Three Square Market CEO Todd Westby observed, “The vast majority of our employees absolutely love the conveniences this chip brings to them. It’s really a huge convenience factor.”
Headlines
Three generals ousted as Pentagon shake-up hits war command (Military.com)
Massive DC sewage spill caused by environmental review that dragged on for years (Hot Air)
Obama Presidential Library says only U.S. citizens, legal residents can win free tickets (Not the Bee)
Final charge dismissed against David Daleiden for exposing Planned Parenthood (LifeNews.com)
King Charles ditches Easter message after Ramadan post (Fox News)
The Executive News Summary is compiled daily by Jordan Candler, Thomas Gallatin, Sterling Henry, and Sophie Starkova. For the archive, click here.