Mar 24 2026

Who do You Believe


Posted originally on Mar 24, 2026 by Martin Armstrong |  

shutterstock_2757826197

President Donald Trump on Monday said the United States has engaged in “very strong talks” with Iran and reached “major points of agreement” that could end the war, which Iranian officials have firmly denied.He then claimed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner spoke with a leader in the Iranian regime on Sunday and would continue talks by phone on Monday.

“They want very much to make a deal. We’d like to make a deal, too.”

Trump added that if negotiations fall apart,  “we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.”

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, on Monday said “no negotiations have been held with the US.” Iran’s foreign ministry also denied Trump’s claims about negotiations, according to Iranian state-run media.

In response to Trump’s threats, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that the conflict and its impact on Hormuz has threatened global energy security as well as China’s oil supplies. He warned that Trump’s “use of force will only lead to a vicious cycle.” He added:

“If the war expands further and the situation deteriorates again, the entire region could be plunged into an uncontrollable situation.”

Beijing is a partner of Iran, which has been the victim of this war of aggression launched at the insistance of Netanyahu. China has, however, objected to Tehran’s retaliatory strikes against Gulf States housing US military bases, which has triggered a widening regional war and threatens a major energy and debt crisis.

Churchill on Truth

The real concern is that Trump realized that bombing their energy sector would only result in a retaliation against the Gulf States taking out their production capacity and refineries. Doing that will send oil prices dramatically high for this is not sinking a mere tanker which is no more than a rounding error in global finance. Take out the production leaves a structure crisis more akin to the ’70s.

Moreover, there is also a fear here is that Trump is not a man of his word and he has turned and bombed in the middle of negotiations. The concern here is that this is a story to delay any bombing in 48 hours without admitted that there was no negotiation raising fears that he could then just claim the negotiations fell apart and then bomb then next week.

Vide

The grandfather of Neocons after John McCain died, became Senator Lindsey Graham, who is now boasting about this war with Iran with zero comprehension of how this war impacts the world economy unlike that of Ukraine or even Taiwan. He has expressed support for the U.S. invasion and even seizing Iran’s Kharg Island. Of course, he speaks from the typical neocon arrogance that stems from their delusion that the US has the biggest military and that means they are invincible.

He has zero understanding of the world financial markets and never considers that the Dow Jones Industrials can still fall to the 43,900 level even by next week. Such a move could also send crude oil to $175 by next week.

Mar 24 2026

Is Iran more of a Threat than North Korea?


Posted originally on Mar 23, 2026 by Martin Armstrong |  

Never Trust Netanyahu 3

QUESTION: You have provided a real history of this constant threat that Iran will have a nuclear weapon, with Netanyahu’s personal obsession with attacking Iran for 40 years. My question is what is the difference that Iran would have a nuclear weapon and that of North Korea or Pakistan? They have nuclear weapons, but that does not mean they use them. It seems to me that the threat means that Netanyahu cannot invade Iran. Am I missing something?

RK

ANSWER: No. This seems to be an obsession of Netanyahu’s. Iran would not suddenly use it to attack Israel, for they know they would be annihilated in return. That is why Pakistan and North Korea do not use them. They are more of a deterrent. You could have done the same to North Korea to “prevent” it from developing a nuke. I have zero respect for Netanyahu, and I believe he is the most dangerous threat to Israel.

Mar 24 2026

Supreme Court Oral Argument on RNC Challenge to Post-Election Day Mail in Ballots


Posted originally on CTH on March 23, 2026 | Sundance

Earlier today the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Watson v. Republican National Committee, the RNC’s challenge to a Mississippi law allowing mail-in or absentee ballots to be counted up to five days of Election Day.

Many observers have noted the court seems likely to rule that ballots for federal elections must arrive on/before election day itself.   The full oral argument is below.  LISTEN:

.

Mar 24 2026

President Trump Visits Graceland – Elvis Presley Home


Posted originally on CTH on March 23, 2026 | Sundance

During his visit to Memphis, Tennessee, President Trump took a detour and stopped at Graceland the former home of Elvis Presley for a tour of the estate.  A few videos are included below.

President Trump signs a replica guitar to memorialize his visit.

.

.

.

Mar 24 2026

President Trump Delivers Remarks During Memphis Safe Task Force Roundtable Event


Posted originally on CTH on March 23, 2026 | Sundance 

resident Donald Trump travelled to Memphis, Tennessee for a roundtable discussion on the DOJ task force operations. The beginning of the remarks touch on the Iran conflict.  Video Below:

.

Mar 24 2026

USDA Rural Announces a $115+ Million Investment to Expand USA Sawmills and Timber Development


Posted originally on CTH on March 23, 2026 | Sundance

This is one of those small stories that carries the potential for significant domestic economic gains.

As many are aware, the U.S. imports a lot of softwood lumber from Canada. Combined with the energy products the lumber sector represents the top two U.S. imports from Canada.  With Venezuela now potentially positioned to replace the former, USDA Rural Development now stimulates domestic lumber development potentially positioned to replace the latter.

Taken as a whole, these two approaches significantly weaken the Canadian leverage that could be deployed in a Free Trade Agreement negotiation.  Assuming, of course, the USMCA is dissolved in favor of two bilateral FTAs.

USDA Press Release – At the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference today, U.S. Department of Agriculture Administrator for the Rural Business and Cooperative Service J.R. Claeys announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is guaranteeing $115.2 million across eight states through the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP) to ensure sawmills and other wood processing facilities have the necessary funding to establish, reopen, expand, or improve their operations.

Today’s announcement includes recipients in the states of California, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

These investments represent a commitment by the Trump Administration to expand American timber production by 25%, reduce wildfire risk, and save American lives and communities by strengthening domestic wood processing capacity.

“We cannot allow wildfires to devastate and destroy our rural communities,” said Administrator Claeys. “That’s why the USDA is taking bold action to stop the destruction of our forestlands by investing in sawmills and wood processing facilities that support sustainable timber harvesting. These actions strengthen local businesses, support rural prosperity, and create jobs for hardworking Americans.” (source)

This is not to say that expanded U.S. sawmill production would completely eliminate Canadian softwood lumber imports. However, it does create inventory and a stronger domestic supply chain that would diminish any applied leverage that Canadian trade negotiators would seek to deploy.

Without pipelines flowing East or West, Canada is stuck pumping their heavy oil south for processing.  Nothing about that is likely to change in the next few years, even if Canada abandoned their climate change policy (highly unlikely).

Then comes the cross-border auto manufacturing industry, and the realization that -sans USMCA- both U.S. and Japanese automakers are likely to stick with the manufacturing center where their greatest customer base exists, the USA.

Now overlay softwood lumber, and you can see the top three economic dependencies of the U.S and Canada are slowly being uncoupled, simultaneous with the trilateral USMCA provisions being reviewed starting with the U.S. and Mexico having direct conversations.

We keep watching.

Mar 24 2026

Air Canada Flight Attendant Found Alive, Outside Aircraft Wreckage, Still Strapped to Her Seat


Posted originally on CTH on March 23, 2026 | Sundance 

Video of the horrific crash has been released to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the footage also found its way into social media.   The Air Canada jet was landing when it hit an emergency firetruck that was crossing the runway.  WATCH: 

According to a CNN update, one of the flight attendants was thrown out of the plane during the incident and was found alive still strapped to her seat.

(VIA CNN) A flight attendant survived the deadly Air Canada plane crash after she was found outside the aircraft still strapped in her seat, a law enforcement source told CNN.

Two people — a pilot and a first officer — were killed in Sunday night’s crash, Air Canada said. But the airline said it could not confirm the exact number of injuries or deaths early this morning. (Live Updates)

Mar 24 2026

President Trump Holds an Impromptu Press Availability Following Announcement of 5-Day Pause on Iran Strikes


Posted originally on CTH on March 23, 2026 | Sundance 

President Trump delivers remarks and takes questions from reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, before boarding Air Force One en route to Memphis, Tennessee.  President Trump emphatically stated that continued negotiations with ‘leadership’ within Iran continues and reaffirms the conditions for a cessation of hostilities.

The military leadership within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. (IRGC), do not recognize any political representation over their military control of Iran.  This fracture within the political structure of Iran is what seems to create the conflict with U.S. negotiations with political entities the IRGC refuses to recognize.

President Trump is confident the presentation of terms now being discussed with Iranian political leadership will be agreeable to both Israel and U.S. interests.  Additionally, President Trump discusses the issue and circumstances around former NTSC Director Joe Kent and his view on the controversy that have flowed since Kent’s resignation.  WATCH:

.

Mar 24 2026

Regional Election in Center of German Auto Manufacturing Reflects Major Gains for AfD Nationalist Party


Posted originally on CTH on March 23, 2026 | Sundance 

Within Germany the Rhineland-Palatinate regional parliament election was held yesterday. The region is the heart of the German industrial sector and home to the massively important auto-manufacturing sector.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative party the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won the biggest portion of the election, defeating the Social Democratic Party (SPD) who lost ground in the western area bordering France. However, the biggest electoral gains were for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with gains that more than doubled its previous vote share.

There is intense interest throughout Europe on the ideological shift in political sentiment mostly driven by economic concerns as well as rising nationalistic sentiment against the elitist minds in Brussels.  Essentially those being ‘ruled’ are increasingly fed-up by those doing the ‘ruling.’   The AfD party is akin to the pragmatic MAGA base more focused on economic nationalism than all the nonsense associated with multiculturalism, green energy programs and terrible immigration policy.

The ideological battle within Europe is ongoing, with some gains by nationalist parties over the collective mindset of the European elites.  However, the European Commission doesn’t just have a finger on the scales, they have full control over the mechanics of the elections themselves.   Yes, AfD more than doubled their share of votes to 20%, but CDU at 31% and the socialists at 26% is akin to mainstream corporate republicans and progressives respectively controlling 57% of the support base.

The biggest election to be held in Europe in the last decade or more, is going to be the election in Hungary which takes place April 12, next month.

The European Commission is going all-in to try and manipulate the Hungarian voting base against Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Fidesz party who is/are viewed by Brussels as standing in the way of their scheme to fund the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Orban’s reelection campaign has been under relentless assaults from restrictions on EU social media, to outright propaganda and financing for his opposition Péter Magyar and the Tisza party.

Prime Minister Orban is strongly supported by President Donald Trump and the Trump administration; however, the scale of opposition to both of them is intense.

Former leftist USAID Administrator Samantha Power spent time inside Hungary organizing the Tisza party to oppose Viktor Orban, and the totality of the European opposition to Orban cannot be underestimated.

Every element of every political construct within the Europe Union is aligned to try and defeat Orban and the Fidesz party.  Additionally, the government of Ukraine is actively working all intelligence angles to defeat Orban due to the $90 billion EU loan scheme that Hungary is blocking.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban winning reelection this time in 2026 would be akin to Trump’s victory in 2016.

Do not underestimate the power of the U.K/European control system and the alignment of all their collective interests.  Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Germany), President Emmanuel Macron (France), Prime Minister Keir Starmer (UK) along with the governing elites of Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Netherlands and many more, have all publicly taken positions against Hungary.

As we saw in Romania, Moldova and Georgia, it is not simply a matter of what the Hungarian voters want that will determine the outcome of the Hungarian election, the European Commission has many tools and techniques to shift the outcome.

This single small Hungarian election is the most critical election for the EU since Brexit.

There are trillions at stake!

Mar 24 2026

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper Gives Update and Overview Interview


Posted originally on CTH on March 23, 2026 | Sundance

The noise can seem overwhelming at times.  There are those who say the U.S-Israeli joint military operation against Iran is a catastrophic miscalculation.  There are those who say the operation is strategically succeeding.  Many interests even appear to be cheering for the military operation to fail; others want the operation to escalate.

It is difficult to find pragmatic facts about the events without shaped information to promote specific narratives.  However, accepting there is a psychological component to the information flow, it seems like the best option to listen to the experts who are conducting the operation.

Giving his first interview since Operation Epic Fury began, CENTCOM Commander Bradley Cooper outlines the current status of the conflict and the elements he notes are of most importance.  According to Adm. Cooper, Iran is “operating in a sign of desperation… In the last couple of weeks, they’ve attacked civilian targets very deliberately, more than 300 times.”

“The Strait of Hormuz is physically open to transit,” he said. “The reason ships are not transiting right now is because the Islamic Republic is shooting at them with drones and missiles.”  WATCH:

“I’d like everyone to note is I’ve watched this over the last week, this extraordinary contrast between the comfort and protection that you’re seeing with the senior generals in the Islamic Republic, at least those that are still alive, who are up in deep bunkers and facilities in and around Tehran. And contrast that with the soldiers who are down on the ground who are unprotected. The generals are protected. The soldiers are not protected.”

“They’re launching missiles and drones from populated areas and you need to stay inside for right now,” he said. “There will be a clear signal at some point, as the President has indicated, for you to be able to come out.”