The media's coverage of the Iran War.

Good morning and welcome to the Vic Eldred Cast.

Thoughts of Easter Dinner on this Good Friday morning.

how dare those commie teachers go over trump's head to appeal to his lord, master, and lover putin ... 

The hammer and sickle in the photo is the blanket Trump uses at his Maralago canopy bed.

You can't joke your way out of it. The Communist party were a big part of the highly paid for "No Kings March."

The Communist party were a big part of the highly paid for "No Kings March."

Just like a mob "destroyed most of downtown Chicago".

The Communist Party (referring to that of Stalin, Mao, Castro, et. al.) was demonstrably horrible.  Continuing those ideas is as wrong as continuing the ideas of Nazism.

But even if they did fund part of the No Kings protest, that does not change the point of the protest:   Trump is behaving as if he were above the law, as if he were the law.   We have a rule of law, not rule of man.   No Kings.

But even if they did fund part of the No Kings protest, that does not change the point of the protest:   Trump is behaving as if he were above the law, as if he were the law.   

Then the protests were an overwhelming success. There is no king.

My point, on the other hand is that there is nothing "grass roots" about these protests.

Just like a mob "destroyed most of downtown Chicago".

No matter how much destruction they caused, they were able to do it with little restraint from the Chicago police.

My point, on the other hand is that there is nothing "grass roots" about these protests.

You make the claim, but you offer no substance to back it up.

My point is that Trump's behavior in his second term is unchecked.   He routinely acts as if he were above the law and above the CotUS.   That is what is meant by acting as if he were King.

He is not a King, he does not have the powers of a King, but he is acting as though he were, and his sycophant cabinet and spineless Congress are allowing him to do so.   The only part of our system keeping Trump in check is the judicial branch.   This is a precarious position for the USA (and the world) because the lunatic you support is in charge of the most powerful military in history and is abusing it irresponsibly.    Worse, Trump's abuse of presidential powers in general grows worse the longer he is in office.   He is apparently emboldened by the lack of push-back.

That you do not see what is happening is dangerous since you are not alone in this cultish support of an unhinged, out-of-control PotUS.

You said the mob destroyed most of downtown Chicago. Are you ready to say you were grossly misinformed by far right media ? 

You can't joke your way out of it. The Communist party were a big part of the highly paid for "No Kings March."

Calling BS on your post and photo.

Show three independent, attributed sources (not reposts) that consistently depict a sizable, persistent cluster, plus any evidence of payment of the No Kings protests or protestors.

The only people out there getting paid were the Fox News film crew desperately trying to find violence and vandalism that sells so well to their elderly senile rightwing conservative viewers. If they can get one garbage can on fire, they can run that clip and fill at least 60 hours of their broadcast over the course of a month.

My God it has only been 4 weeks. Obama went at Libya for 7 months.

Did Obama (or, for that matter, any head of state in any first-world nation) ever write or say anything as unhinged as this?:

This should worry everyone, Vic.   This is the very definition of unhinged.  This lunatic is in charge of the most powerful military force in history and is threatening war crimes!

I asked ChatGPT to compare the Libya and the 2026 Iran strikes:

On the issue of escalation, target selection, and threats against civilian infrastructure , Obama’s Libya operation was materially more restrained and more legally bounded than Trump’s 2026 Iran campaign . Libya had a U.N. civilian-protection mandate and Obama publicly argued against expanding the mission into regime change by force because that would splinter the coalition, require ground troops, and raise civilian risk. By contrast, Trump’s 2026 campaign was launched as a broad offensive to “eliminate” Iran’s nuclear threat, destroy its missile arsenal, cripple its navy, and degrade its wider military-industrial capacity, and Trump later threatened to hit bridges and electric power plants. That is a much more escalation-prone posture. ( United Nations Main )

Libya’s legal frame was narrower from the start. U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 authorized force to protect civilians and establish a no-fly zone, and Obama described the intervention as a response to an imminent massacre in Benghazi. He also said explicitly that broadening the mission to regime change by force “would be a mistake,” because it would fracture the coalition and likely require U.S. troops on the ground or increase civilian deaths from the air. That did not eliminate all Libya-related legal objections, but it did give the operation a built-in logic of restraint. ( Global Centre for R2P )

The 2026 Iran campaign has the opposite structure. The White House described Operation Epic Fury as a “precise, overwhelming military campaign” to eliminate an “imminent nuclear threat,” destroy Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, degrade proxy networks, and cripple naval forces. A later White House release repeated that the campaign’s objectives were to “obliterate” Iran’s missiles and production, “annihilate” its navy, and dismantle its defense-industrial infrastructure. Even before you get to Trump’s infrastructure threats, that is a broad coercive war plan, not a tightly cabined civilian-protection intervention . That breadth makes escalation more likely because it expands both the target set and Iran’s incentive to retaliate regionally. ( The White House )

The sharpest difference is civilian infrastructure . Under the law of armed conflict, civilian objects are protected unless and for such time as they are military objectives, and objects indispensable to civilian survival are specially protected. Reuters noted that the Geneva framework forbids attacks on civilian objects and on sites essential for civilians, while the ICRC warned in March 2026 that deliberate attacks on essential services and civilian infrastructure can amount to war crimes. So threatening to bomb bridges and electric power plants is not a small rhetorical excess. Legally, it is far more problematic than the Libya posture because those are presumptively civilian or dual-use targets, and they cannot lawfully be attacked merely to punish, coerce, or impose economic pain. They would need a concrete military justification and the strike would still have to satisfy necessity and proportionality. ( Reuters )

That is also why the escalation risk is worse in Iran . Reuters reported Trump saying “Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants,” while AP reported Trump threatening “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day” if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters also reported that these threats put traders on edge over reciprocal Iranian attacks in the Gulf, and AP described ongoing retaliatory strikes on regional infrastructure and soaring casualties. In other words, the target rhetoric itself is feeding a reciprocal infrastructure war. Libya did not have that same built-in escalatory spiral in the U.S. public rationale; Obama’s public case was to stop an imminent massacre and avoid a larger war. ( Reuters )

So the clean comparison is this:

Libya
Obama’s operation was easier to defend as a constrained use of force because it had a U.N. mandate, a civilian-protection rationale, an explicit no-occupation frame, and a publicly stated refusal to expand into regime change by force . The main legal criticism was that the mission later stretched beyond that narrow frame and raised War Powers problems. ( Global Centre for R2P )

Iran 2026
Trump’s campaign is more escalatory and more legally exposed because its aims are broader from the outset, its authorization is not rooted in a comparable U.N. mandate, and threats to hit bridges and power plants move the campaign toward targets whose civilian character makes them highly sensitive under international humanitarian law. That does not make every strike automatically unlawful, but it does make the legal case much harder and the escalation danger much greater. ( The White House )

My bottom line: Libya was a limited intervention that risked mission creep; Iran is a broad coercive war that risks normalization of attacks on civilian infrastructure . On the specific point you raised, Trump’s threats regarding power plants and bridges are a much more serious escalation marker, and a much more alarming legal signal, than Obama’s Libya posture ever was. ( whitehouse.gov )

Note, I am not critical of Trump's 2025 strikes on Iran.   My criticism is what he is doing with Iran now .

My God it has only been 4 weeks. Obama went at Libya for 7 months.

Trump said we won the war on day 2... He also said the war would be over in 1 month. 

What else ya got?

It wasn't shot down by either Iran's navy or air force. So, trump was correct.

[deleted][✘]

Grenada would have been the worst military disaster in American history if modern progressives were around then . 

I recall that even back then before the hard-core progressives, Castro's claim that he only had workers to defend the airstrip was widely reported without noting that the so-called workers were army construction engineers, fully trained and equipped for combat.

grenada was the last war republicans ever started and actually won. a country smaller than any county in my state.

So what should the media be reporting about the US war on Iran?  Pete Hegseth has been slavering over bombing Iran back to the Paleolithic.  Hegseth has been announcing the next day will be decisive for over a month now.  But the Iranians are not surrendering.  Why?

We've seen the rockets red glare and bombs bursting air.  But all through the night the Iranian flag is still there.  Why?

The Trump administration has been reluctant to provide information about war progress other than "Hey, we're really kickin' ass."  The real world hasn't matched the narrative told by the Trump administration.  

So, what should the media be reporting?  Facts?  Fiction?  Wishful thinking?  Republican political stump speeches?  

But the Iranians are not surrendering.  Why?

Because they are ideologues.

Do you remember how a battalion of the SS held off the entire Red Army at the Reichstag building until all were killed:

"Fierce fighting raged across Berlin, with every building contested. The capture of the Reichstag — one of the Nazi Germany’s main symbols — held special significance. The building was heavily defended: all approaches were swept by fire from all types of weaponry. But the resistance was overcome, and at around 3 a.m. on 1 May, Red Army soldiers Mikhail Yegorov and Meliton Kantaria, under the command of Alexei Berest, hoisted the Victory Banner on the roof of the Reichstag. For this act of heroism, Yegorov and Kantaria were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 8 May 1946."

The Victory Banner hoisted on the Reichstag building - 80 years ago

It was an incredible thing.

Either we are going to have to kill every member of the regime, or we have to arm the Iranian people so they can do it, but we will win.

Do you remember how a battalion of the SS held off the entire Red Army at the Reichstag building until all were killed:

So, the media is supposed to be reporting on the Soviets killing the the Nazi SS, to the last man, to explain why Iran is not surrendering?  I could possibly see some relevance to Ukraine but moving the Reichstag to Tehran seems like a leap too far.

Either we are going to have to kill every member of the regime, or we have to arm the Iranian people so they can do it, but we will win.

Who is the damned regime?  How many layers has to be killed?  Trump and Hegseth brag about killing the leadership but Iran is not surrendering.  The professional military (not the IRGC) is not deserting or surrendering; otherwise Hegseth would be bragging about that. 

Who is the damned regime?

You know, the people Jimmy Carter allowed to take down the Shah.

A sudden sand-storm shouldn't define Carter's presidency. The plan to rescue the hostages was solid.

You know, the people Jimmy Carter allowed to take down the Shah.

Trump  is friends with the Saudi's, you know, the people that took down the twin towers? But that's ok, right?

President Trump had to fire Pam Bondi before he was forced to fire Bondi.  Bondi violated the Epstein File Transparency Act.  The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Bondi to make a sworn deposition on April 14th. 

Trump doesn't have an abundance of political capital to expend on trying to save Bondi.  Trump is still trying to hide something in the Epstein files.  

President Trump had to fire Pam Bondi before he was forced to fire Bondi.  Bondi violated the Epstein File Transparency Act.  The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Bondi to make a sworn deposition on April 14th. 

Sorry Nerm, but I have to call it BS. She made it a political issue. That was the problem, among others.


Trump is still trying to hide something in the Epstein files. 

That is impossible!  Those files were in the hands of Merrick Garland and the radical left for 4 years. If there was anything to get Trump with they would have dropped everything else to do it. They would have killed their own mothers to get Trump.

That is impossible!  Those files were in the hands of Merrick Garland and the radical left for 4 years. If there was anything to get Trump with they would have dropped everything else to do it. They would have killed their own mothers to get Trump.

So, why has Trump thrown up so many obstacles to releasing the files?  Has Trump been blackmailing people?  Has Trump been demanding quid pro quo protection?  Has Trump been doing his 'art of the deal' crap and using the Epstein files to threaten people?

Is Trump afraid of losing his leverage?  How the hell else could Trump obtain donations for the East Hole of the White House?  Is that why Trump refuses to release the files?

So, why has Trump thrown up so many obstacles to releasing the files? 

Who knows why Trump does the things he does?

Has Trump been blackmailing people?  Has Trump been demanding quid pro quo protection?  Has Trump been doing his 'art of the deal' crap and using the Epstein files to threaten people? Is Trump afraid of losing his leverage?  How the hell else could Trump obtain donations for the East Hole of the White House?  Is that why Trump refuses to release the files?

All possibilities as is he is just being an asshole.

You keep asking why Trump wouldn't want them released

 Trump and his AG made it a promise. They didn't have to do that. Did they meet resistance? Was there anything not yet uncovered in the files? Those may be the right questions.

I'm sure that the President got calls from donors asking him to shield them, though I doubt he did anything for them. I also think Pam Bondi thought there was more in there than there actually was. She bet on it as a matter of fact. It cost her a high position.

That is impossible!  Those files were in the hands of Merrick Garland and the radical left for 4 years. If there was anything to get Trump with they would have dropped everything else to do it. They would have killed their own mothers to get Trump.

Nonsense. Garland didnt even want to investigate Trumps role in trying to steal the 2020 election and start a riot at the Capitol building. He was never much interested in getting Trump. 

Trump and his AG made it a promise. They didn't have to do that. Did they meet resistance? Was there anything not yet uncovered in the files? Those may be the right questions.

No.  Congress enacted legislation to force release of the files with a veto proof majority.  And, yes, the forced release has included material that had not been previously reported or seen.

I'm sure that the President got calls from donors asking him to shield them, though I doubt he did anything for them. I also think Pam Bondi thought there was more in there than there actually was. She bet on it as a matter of fact. It cost her a high position.

The heavy redactions on released material suggests otherwise.  The circumstantial evidence really does suggest Trump is hiding something for unknown reasons.

Obviously keeping the information hidden is more important to Trump than releasing the information.  Why?

Who knows why Trump does the things he does?

As we've seen, the left thinks they know.  

Congress had no interest whatsoever in the Epstein files for 4 fucking years.

Maybe they think since he lives in their collective heads they understand how he thinks.  Personally I would be worried if I understood the inner workings of his mind.

he heavy redactions on released material suggests otherwise.  The circumstantial evidence really does suggest Trump is hiding something for unknown reasons

Lol. You think that information, prepared by  the FBI and DOJ over the last 15 plus years, contains "secret information" that would bring Trump or anyone else down?  

It's such a silly conspiracy.

Congress had no interest whatsoever in the Epstein files for 4 fucking years.

That's true.  Joe Biden and the Democratic Congress did not push for releasing the Epstein files. 

MAGA was demanding release of the Epstein files for four years.  Trump was telling MAGA releasing the files would 'get Clinton' and hurt Democrats.  The promise was the electing a Republican Congress and returning Trump to the White House would open the Epstein files.  Marjorie Taylor Greene led the charge to enact the Epstein Files Transparency Act.  The Epstein files have divided the MAGA base; not the Democratic base.

Trump turned TACO as soon as he was elected.  What the hell is Trump trying to hide?

Lol. You think that information, prepared by  the FBI and DOJ over the last 15 plus years, contains "secret information" that would bring Trump or anyone else down?  

Obviously there is nothing in the Epstein files that would bring Trump down.  So Trump's motivation for hiding the Epstein files would appear to have something to do with his 'art of the deal' philosophy.  Blackmail, extortion, threats, and leverage are Trump's tools for deal making.  Trump did use the Epstein files to threaten Bill Clinton and Democrats.

Maybe they think since he lives in their collective heads they understand how he thinks.

I doubt that is the case.  I don't think they understand how THEY think.  I imagine the acoustics inside their heads is amazing.

Personally I would be worried if I understood the inner workings of his mind.

I agree. 

All possibilities as is he is just being an asshole.

Thus a rational, responsible, patriotic stance would be to criticize his idiotic, damaging acts rather than make excuses.

Congress had no interest whatsoever in the Epstein files for 4 fucking years.

Trump's base is certainly interested.   That is the main reason this is such a problem for Trump.   Those who do not support him are already irrelevant to Trump.   Those who matter are his supporters.   And he apparently is losing them.   Which raises the question as to why you continue to support this lunatic.

Thus a rational, responsible, patriotic stance

Yes, and I am my own judge as to when he should be called out instead of listening to others that find fault even when it is spun bullshit.

If you find "spun bullshit" then rebut it with facts and logic.

So much bullshit and so little time.

So much bullshit and so little time.

Yes, rightwing conservatives here do produce a lot of that quite quickly. It's almost like bullshit is their native language.

Merrick Garland

He's not the AG, is he?

Trump is as big a child rapist as Epstein was. Trump has a long history of paying women/girls and demanding NDAs. HOW THE HELL IS THIS EVIL RAPIST ASSHOLE STILL PRESIDENT?!

Trump is as big a child rapist as Epstein was. Trump has a long history of paying women/girls and demanding NDAs. HOW THE HELL IS THIS EVIL RAPIST ASSHOLE STILL PRESIDENT?!

Thank Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff.  

Trump has a long history of paying women/girls and demanding NDAs

You mean progressive darling Eric Swalwell? 

How sad is it that the smartest Democrat is the one that had a stroke?

But is the media covering the magnificent Grand Ballroom bigger than the White House with a doubled in size underground military complex!!!!

While Trump "claims" the Ballroom is privately funded, he NEVER mentions the taxpayer cost for a new underground bunker! 

There is NEVER any mention of how much TAXPAYERS will be on the hook for endless MAINTENANCE!!! It won't be cheap!!!

And MAGA never asks why is Trump broadcasting that there will be a new underground bunker?? For security reasons he should say the bunker will be elsewhere at an undisclosed location.

Anybody who believes anything that Trump has ever said in his whole life is a fool. His parents sent him to military school because he was a compulsive liar and a compulsive rapist. Nothing has changed with this world-class conman/asshole/rapist.  

compulsive rapist

How about showing....for once...proof of what you claim in a post?

Have to wonder about the morality of the secret service agents who protect Trump. Robots with Uzis.

Was once a student at Executive Security International. They sent me to be a strong-arm strike breaker once. I ended up on the side of the strikers. So much for ESI.

All I wanted was to be a bodyguard for beautiful starlets.

It's a matter of public record. There have been many documentaries about the misspent, evil life of Donald Trump.[✘]

[✘]

[✘]

“The media’s selective coverage rewards and reinforces Iran’s strategy,” he said. “Media amplifies the 1% chaos Iran creates, while ignoring the 99% of Iran’s beatdown.”

STFU with these invented, fantasy, bullshit percentages. Here are some real ones:

Since President Dickhead attacked Iran, the price of gasoline is up over 35%. Diesel is up almost 50%.

And that’s just fuel. The price of everything that is produced or transported with oil or gas will also go up.