jonathan friedman

White House: the witness’s allegations are “completely baseless” and “backed by zero credible evidence.”

Fact: FBI found her credible enough to interview repeatedly, and she received a financial settlement from the Epstein estate.

So let me get this straight ...

1. US bombs Iran
2. Oil price goes up a bit, benefitting Russia's petrostate
3. Russia gives Iran targeting info
4. Oil price shoots WAY up
5. US unsanctions Russian oil

There have been some very bad developments today.

This is one of the most jaw dropping moments of Trump’s presidency. Up there with brainstorming about injecting bleach and shining light up orifices to cure COVID.

They're going to write books about all the big brain moves of this gang of imbeciles and among them will be "Spending a year trying to kill renewable energy and then launching a war that sends oil prices soaring"

“.. The idea the labor market has turned a corner implodes with this report,” said Samuel Tombs, chief US economist at Pantheon ..

@bloomberg.com #NFP
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Four-byline alert: 🚨

“.. Trump has privately expressed serious interest in deploying U.S. troops on the ground inside of Iran, according to two U.S. officials, a former U.S. official and another person with knowledge of the conversations.”

@nbcnews.com
www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...

A refreshing reminder of what real leadership looks like… don’t skip past this clip:

Strange!

> @edwardluce.bsky.social

Patients say measles 'worse than expected' as Utah hits 350+ infections, doctors say Health officials plead with residents to vaccinate against measles as Utah hits 358 infections.

Over 120 people have been hospitalized due to measles in Utah alone. "It is, at this time a real threat in our state and something we can do to stop it," said Dr. Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist… pleading for people to get themselves and their children vaccinated.” @jackiantonovich.bsky.social

By moving right on immigration & other key issues, and generally coming off as incompetent (esp on cost of living), UK Labour is losing vote share to left-wing parties AND to right-leaning ones. This is what happens when a party appeases its opponents & loses its core identity.

The Most Chilling Detail in the U.S. Attack on an Iranian Naval Ship The Iranian warship was taking part in an international exercise with many other countries—including the United States.

This is a chilling crime. A shame on our country. The Iranian ship was unarmed. The US knew this. The sailors were murdered by our navy, and the survivors were left to die at sea.
newrepublic.com/post/207429/...

ICE arrested an Oregon shop owner who had her green card in her pocket: ‘They didn’t care’ Juanita Avila later helped expose ICE’s ‘arrest first, justify later’ tactics in a lawsuit that won a major victory for immigrants’ rights

NEW: ICE tackled + arrested Juanita Avila, an Oregon shop owner who is a legal permanent resident and had her green card in her pocket.

When she asked through sobs why they didn't believe her, one masked agent replied: “Because they lie all the time.”

Video + interview with her and her daughter:

An advance look at the cover for next week’s issue: “War-a-Lago,” by Barry Blitt. #NewYorkerCovers

Unfortunately, “Yo brother, legal team confirmed we can’t work with minors rn” is an instant classic

Children with no morals at the wheel of a giant death machine

Mamdani Deputy Mayor On Charging For Street Parking: 'It's Not a No' - Streetsblog New York City Dean Fuleihan said on Thursday that the city is discussing charging fees for currently free on-street parking.

NEW: Mamdani's City Hall is discussing charging fees for currently free on-street parking — a policy change that would not only create a new revenue stream but also seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the streetscape. buff.ly/9C0Iq34

"He talks about these issues very differently...but he has the same hypothesis, which is the fundamental issue in our country right now is the consolidation of power and wealth at the very top, and everyone else is being screwed."

Morris Katz on why Talarico won the Texas primary.

(FT) - Qatar’s energy minister has warned that war in the Middle East could “bring down the economies of the world”, predicting that all Gulf energy exporters would shut down production within weeks and drive oil to $150 a barrel.

@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/be12...

What THE PITT manages to do week after week is extraordinary

Riveting, emotional, technically impressive… a perfect execution of a simple concept

A showcase of our busted healthcare system and the unsung heroes who defy odds to make it function

An absolute triumph #goodtv

"We are aware that stuff is happening that we should care about, but the fog of bullshit surrounding this stuff is so thick that we can barely make out its shape or heft..." www.newyorker.com/news/fault-l...

Justice Department publishes some missing Epstein files related to Trump The Justice Department has published additional Epstein files related to allegations that President Trump sexually abused a minor after an NPR investigation found dozens of pages were withheld.

NEW @npr.org: The Justice Department has published additional Epstein files related to allegations that President Trump sexually abused a minor after an NPR investigation found dozens of pages were withheld.

But 37 pages of records are still not public.

More:

"Trump Says 'I Guess' Americans Should Worry About Iran Retaliating on U.S. Soil: 'Like I Said, Some People Will Die'

Quite the headline from People.com

people.com/trump-says-i...

ICE detains reporter Estefany Rodríguez in Nashville - Nashville Banner Reporter Estefany Rodríguez, detained by ICE with no arrest warrant, may face deportation. Her attorneys seek immediate review of the legality of her case.

ICE has arrested and detained a Nashville journalist who reported stories critical of ICE. She’s married to a U.S. citizen and has been seeking asylum here after fleeing death threats in Colombia because of her journalism there.

They’ve already sent her to Louisiana.

There’s tons of LA that is historic and should be maintained as such

And then there’s tons of LA that should be reimagined… the Westside Pavilion becoming this beautiful UCLA hub is one phenomenal example

“.. Asked whether Americans should be worried about retaliatory attacks at home, Trump acknowledges the possibility. ‘I guess,’ he says. .. ‘Like I said, some people will die. When you go to war, some people will die.”

@time.com
time.com/7382697/trum...

“They don’t do their own distribution, Amazon does it” — what is Gerry referring to here?

A month in, TrumpRx falls short of president’s grand promises Trump wants to focus on his efforts to lower drug prices, but the TrumpRx website is falling short of his promises.

We told you Trump Rx was going to suck the day it was announced. Now it's been launched, there are barely any drugs on the platform, and most of them are cheaper elsewhere and only help a narrow group of people.
www.statnews.com/2026/03/05/t...