Iranian regime offers to reopen Strait of Hormuz if US regime ends blockade

Source: New York Post

“Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a seven-day period if the US agrees to end its blockade and military pressure campaign, according to a report. The pitch was conveyed to US officials last week as both sides explored whether they can revive peace talks as their leaders converge on New York City for the United Nations General Assembly, Reuters said. … US officials have insisted that despite Iran’s efforts, they are getting oil through the Strait of Hormuz by using routes close to the shores of Oman, with Central Command claiming last week to have gotten 1 billion barrels through within the past several months. But passage through routes close to Iran’s shores has been seen as perilous because of concerns about mines and the theocratic regime carrying out drone attacks on the oil vessels.” (09/22/26)

https://nypost.com/2026/09/22/us-news/iran-offers-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-if-us-ends-blockade-golden-opportunity/

Trump’s tariffs are a political loser

Source: Washington Post
by Scott Lincicome

“In their words and deeds, American politicians of both parties have confirmed what the polls show: Trump’s ‘populist’ tariffs are historically unpopular. Several lessons emerge. First, after winning on an affordability message in 2024, Trump’s early-term decision to repeatedly embrace a policy that, in both design and result, raises domestic prices was an epic political blunder. Voters now widely distrust Republicans’ handling of the economy. And defending tariffs by deriding inflation-weary Americans’ desire to have cheap and abundant goods added literal insult to injury. Second, voters’ hostility toward tariffs today reflects an important policy reality: Things that might sound good in a theoretical vacuum are often rejected when their real and predictable trade-offs become apparent.” (09/22/26)

https://archive.is/Xq1Nl

In Court Filing Defending Media Ban, White House Says Access Is a “Privilege”

Source: New York Times

“White House officials said in a court filing Tuesday that President Trump had determined that CNN, MS NOW and Politico had breached standards of conduct, leading to their expulsion from the grounds of the White House. The alleged violations, said the filing, include ‘trafficking in verifiable falsehoods about national security and other issues, and publishing sensitive or classified information.’ ‘Access to the White House is a privilege — not a right,’ reads the filing, which argues that Mr. Trump’s action against the three news outlets does not violate the First Amendment and aligns with a long history of presidents favoring some journalists over others. The filing, furthermore, claims that the White House’s denial of access is a preliminary matter and that the outlets have until Friday to contest the decision.” (09/23/26)

https://archive.is/5bsWr

When Everything Becomes a National Security Threat

Source: Rutherford Institute
by John & Nisha Whitehead

“Given the judiciary’s longstanding reluctance to second-guess presidential power grabs involving national security, the national-security state has repeatedly used that deference to expand both its own reach and the power of the presidency. Call something a matter of national security and the normal rules start disappearing: Courts defer. Congress retreats. Secrecy expands. Executive power grows. ‘National security’ has been used as the justification for surveillance, secret courts, classification, warrantless spying, military intervention, watchlists, detention, border searches, censorship claims and the concealment of government misconduct. That game is hardly new. Nixon played it. Bush played it. Obama played it. Biden played it. Trump may not have invented the national-security dodge, but he has taken it to increasingly absurd extremes.” (09/22/26)

https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/when_everything_becomes_a_national_security_threat

Ukraine: Russian attacks injure seven

Source: News 10 ABC

“Russia launched strikes at businesses and storage facilities in Ukraine overnight, injuring seven people across the country, according to local authorities. The Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its forces overnight carried out ‘group strikes’ using drones on Ukraine’s ‘military-industrial and energy sector facilities, logistics centers and maritime vessels.’ In Kyiv and the surrounding region, a storage facility and an industrial facility used for storing and making drones were hit, the ministry said.” (09/23/26)

https://www.news10.com/news/ap-russian-attacks-injure-7-across-ukraine-and-damage-structures/

Trump to MBS: We’re Not Your Yemen Yes-Men This Time

Source: Garrison Center
by Thomas L Knapp

“If Iran’s near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz is a knife to international oil shipping’s throat, Houthi control of the Bab el-Mandeb is a firm grip on international oil shipping’s testicles. US president Donald Trump, it seems, would rather the Houthis didn’t squeeze. Or maybe he’s just trying to conserve limited military resources for continued war with Iran. Either way, when Saudi terror kingpin … er, Crown Prince … Mohammed bin Salman requested a new round of US airstrikes, the answer was ‘no, not this time.’ And either way, that’s the right answer.” (09/22/26)

https://thegarrisoncenter.org/archives/20905

ShinyHunters hackers say they breached FBI

Source: CNBC

“The digital extortion group known as ‘ShinyHunters’ said on Tuesday that it had breached the Federal Bureau of Investigation and stolen [sic] data on a huge number of current and former FBI employees. The bureau did not respond to repeated messages seeking comment on Tuesday. In a statement posted to its dark-web site and during an online chat with Reuters, ShinyHunters said it had targeted the FBI in response to a May 2026 agency announcement that detailed ShinyHunters’ methods and advised targets not to pay. It said it had stolen [sic] data ‘on almost ALL FBI Agents, and individuals who filed an application with the FBI for a job.’” (09/22/26)

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/22/shinyhunters-hack-fbi-stole-data.html

US regime to build two military bases in Greenland under new deal with Danish regime

Source: BBC News [UK state media]

“The US, Denmark and Greenland have signed a defence deal that allows Washington to build two new military bases in the Arctic territory, while reaffirming Copenhagen’s sovereignty over it. Before a signing ceremony at the UN General Assembly in New York, US President Donald Trump said ‘we will immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate locations’. … The deal amends and updates a 1951 defence agreement between Denmark and the US.” (09/22/26)

https://archive.is/fejT7