Top Trump Officials Collapse Under Cross-Exam on War

Summary

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The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode Title: Top Trump Officials Collapse Under Cross-Exam on War
Date: March 19, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Episode Theme:

This episode critically examines a heated Senate Intelligence Committee hearing where top Trump officials—Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe—were grilled under cross-examination over the Trump administration’s justification for its war in Iran. The podcast breaks down the shocking gaps, evasions, and contradictions in their testimonies, exposing the administration's lack of transparency and the grave implications for democracy and national security.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing

• The focus is Trump officials’ cross-examination regarding the “imminent nuclear threat” cited as justification for launching a war against Iran.
• Senators including Jon Ossoff, Chris Kelly, Mark Warner, and Angus King probe top intelligence and CIA officials on intelligence assessments, presidential briefings, and the credibility of the administration’s claims.

Senator Jon Ossoff Grills Tulsi Gabbard

• Repeatedly asks whether the intelligence community assessed an “imminent nuclear threat” from Iran at the time of the strike (04:34–07:12).
  • Gabbard refuses to give a direct answer, asserting, “The only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the President.” (05:17)
  • Ossoff presses: “You are here to represent the IC’s assessment of threats... Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that... there was an imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime? Yes or no?” (06:03)
  • Gabbard continues to deflect: “The intelligence community has provided the inputs that make up this annual threat assessment.” (06:49)
  • Ossoff rebukes: “You’re evading a question because to provide a candid response to the committee would contradict a statement from the White House.” (07:14)

Contradiction Over Status of Iran's Program

• Ossoff makes Gabbard confirm that, according to her own testimony, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated by last summer’s airstrikes and there had been no effort to rebuild it.
  • “Is that in fact the assessment of the intelligence community?” – Ossoff (08:02)
  • “Yes.” – Gabbard (08:04)

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2. Senator Chris Kelly’s Line of Questioning

Trump’s Fundraising and Briefings

• Senator Kelly references a fundraising email from Trump offering “private national security briefings” to donors and asks if this is legal or appropriate (08:44–10:10).
  • John Ratcliffe: “Regardless of what that... That I don’t know that document is. But regardless of what it says, it didn’t happen.” (09:34)
  • Kelly pushes Gabbard: “Do you have any comment on whether unfiltered updates of private national security briefings should be made to individuals that donate to the President?” (09:51)
  • Gabbard demurs: “I'm not familiar with that document.” (10:06)

China and Oil Shipments from Iran

• Kelly asks if China and India are still receiving oil from Iran despite the conflict.
  • Gabbard: “There has been some reporting... (but) it is unclear the volume or the measure of that.” (10:46)

Are Officials Briefing Trump?

• Kelly aims for clarity: “Do you even brief Donald Trump? Do you know what your role is at the CIA as the Director of National Intelligence?” (11:03)
• Both Gabbard and Ratcliffe dodge specifics on presidential briefings.
  • Gabbard: “I'm not going to comment on what the President did or didn't ask me on any topic.” (12:16)
  • Ratcliffe: “...Typically, when we get intelligence that we want the President to be aware of, the intelligence community brings that to the President.” (12:36)

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3. Senator Mark Warner’s Cross-examination

Evasive Testimony and Revelations

• Warner references Gabbard’s written testimony, which admits “no efforts by Iran to rebuild their nuclear enrichment capabilities since the prior strikes last June, and thus they posed no imminent threat,” but notes she omitted this in her oral statement (15:05–16:15).
  • Warner: “You omitted that paragraph from your oral opening. Was that because the President said there was an imminent threat two weeks ago?” (16:02)
  • Gabbard pleads time constraints: “I recognized that the time was running long and I skipped through...” (16:06)
  • Warner: “Chose to omit the parts that can contradict the President.” (16:11)

On the Strait of Hormuz and Briefings

• Warner presses whether Gabbard briefed Trump that Iran might retaliate by closing the Strait or targeting Gulf states:
  • Gabbard: “I have not and won’t divulge internal conversations. I will say that... we continue to provide the President with all of the best objective intelligence...” (19:08)

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4. Senator Angus King’s Probes

Russia-Iran Intelligence Sharing

• King pushes for confirmation of Russian intelligence support for Iran (19:51):
  • Gabbard: “If there is that sharing going on, that would be an answer that would be appropriate for a closed session...” (19:59)
  • King pushes: “It’s in the public press... Is it occurring?”
  • Gabbard: “If it is occurring, that would be an answer for closed session. What I can tell you... (it) is not inhibiting their operational effects.” (20:19)
• King: “That’s sort of the first cousin of a yes, I guess.” (20:38)

Did the President Ignore Predictable Intelligence?

• King asks if Trump was briefed about easy-to-predict Iranian responses (21:17–22:56).
  • Ratcliffe: Details preexisting intelligence but dodges whether Trump was briefed.
  • Gabbard: “This has long been an assessment... that Iran would likely hold the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.” (22:39)

Direct Presidential Daily Brief

• King: “Does the President take a daily brief from the intelligence community? Yes or no?” (26:28)
  • Ratcliffe: “...On average, my interactions where I'm briefing the President... happens probably... 10 to 15 times per week.” (26:38)
  • King: “Thank you.” (27:18)

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5. Other Notable Moments

Gabbard’s Georgia Presence

• Warner questions Gabbard’s role in an FBI operation in Georgia regarding ballot seizure (23:52–24:17).
  • Gabbard: “I did not participate in a law enforcement activity, nor would I because that does not exist within my authorities.” (23:52)
  • Warner: “You were present on the scene. Are the photos of you on the scene?” (24:04)

Russia Profits from Sanctions Relief

• Senator Kelly brings up loosening of Russia sanctions due to the war has meant “billions of dollars in additional oil revenue” for Russia (24:53–25:35).
  • Gabbard: “That is what has been reported. I defer to... Treasury and Energy for details.” (25:28)
  • Ratcliffe: “...sometimes there are decisions made that will benefit adversaries.” (25:37)
  • Kelly: “Clear. I think we'd all agree that sanctions were loosened and that means more money into the coffers of Vladimir Putin.” (25:49)

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Notable Quotes

• Senator Jon Ossoff (to Gabbard):
  “You’re here to provide the IC’s assessment of threats... Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that... there was an imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime? Yes or no?” (06:03)

• Tulsi Gabbard (deflecting):
  “The only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the President.” (05:17)

• Senator Mark Warner (on testimony omitted):
  “You omitted that paragraph from your oral opening. Was that because the President said there was an imminent threat two weeks ago?” (16:02)
  “You chose to omit the parts that can contradict the President.” (16:11)

• Senator Chris Kelly (on Russia sanctions):
  “Clear. I think we'd all agree that sanctions were loosened and that means more money into the coffers of Vladimir Putin.” (25:49)

• Senator Angus King (on briefing frequency):
  “Does the President take a daily brief from the intelligence community? This is a yes or no question.” (26:28)
  John Ratcliffe: “...on average 10 to 15 times per week...” (26:38)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• 04:34–07:14: Ossoff Grills Gabbard About "Imminent Threat" Claims
• 08:44–10:10: Kelly Presses Officials Over Trump Fundraising, Briefings
• 11:36–13:07: Are Officials Briefing Trump at All?
• 15:05–16:15: Warner Catches Gabbard Omitting Key Testimony
• 19:51–20:38: Russia-Iran Intelligence Sharing Discussed
• 21:17–22:56: Were Predictable Consequences Of Iran War Communicated?
• 23:52–24:17: Gabbard's Role in FBI Operation Questioned
• 24:53–25:49: Russia Benefits from U.S. Sanctions Relief Due to War
• 26:28–27:18: Is Trump Actually Getting Daily Intel Briefs?

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Conclusion

The episode exposes deeply troubling evasions, contradictions, and potential deceptions from top Trump security officials under cross-examination about the Iran war. The brothers underscore the devastating impact of politicized intelligence and lack of accountability in U.S. foreign policy, calling listeners to stay vigilant in defense of democracy. Throughout, the Meiselas brothers combine cutting analysis with irreverent banter and obvious frustration over the officials’ obfuscations.

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For those who missed the episode:
This summary captures the relentless Senate grilling, Trump officials’ non-answers, and the broader implications for intelligence integrity and U.S. democracy. The episode offers a must-hear window into the dysfunction at the heart of the administration and the determined oversight efforts by key Senate Democrats.

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Transcript

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Shh. Learn [e-mail] Mochi members have access to licensed physicians and nutritionists. Results may vary. Wow. Donald Trump's top officials just collapsed under cross examination during a United States Senate hearing regarding Trump's unlawful war in Iran. During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard and Donald Trump's Director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, were cross examined about the justification for this unlawful war and whether they had briefed Donald Trump about the dangers of this war and that it could spiral out of control. Precisely what is happening right now. I want you to watch what took place at this Senate hearing. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff cross examined Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Watch how she responded.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Play this clip the White house stated on March 1st of this year that this war was launched and was, quote, a military campaign to eliminate the imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime. End quote. That's a statement from the White House, quote, the imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime. Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was an imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

The intelligence community assessed that Iran maintained the intention to rebuild and to continue to grow their nuclear enrichment capability.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was a, quote, imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Yes or no, Senator? The only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the President.

[Senator Angus King]

False.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

This is the worldwide this is the Worldwide Threats hearing where you present to Congress national intelligence, timely, objective and independent of Political considerations. You've stated today that the intelligence community's assessment is that Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated and that, quote, there had been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability. Was it the intelligence community's assessment that nevertheless, despite this obliteration, there was a, quote, imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime. Yes or no?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

It is not the intelligence community's responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat.

[Senator Mark Warner]

That is up to.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Based on a volume.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

No, it is. It is precisely that he received. It is precisely your responsibility to determine what constitutes a threat to the United States. This is the worldwide threats hearing where, as you noted in your opening testimony, quote, you represent the IC's assessment of threats. You are here to represent the IC's assessment of threats. That's a quote from your own opening statement. And so my question is, as you're here to present the IC's assessment of. Of threats, was it the assessment of the intelligence community that, as the White house claimed on March 1, there was a, quote, imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime? Yes or no?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Once again, Senator, the intelligence community has provided the inputs that make up this annual threat assessment.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

You won't answer the question.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

The nature of the imminent threat that the President has to make that determination based on a collection and volume. You're here to information intelligence that he is provided with.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

You're here to be timely, objective and independent of political considerations.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Exactly what I'm doing.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

No, you're evading a question because to provide a candid response to the committee would contradict a statement from the White House. Let me ask you about.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Very pathetic indeed. Great cross exam there by Democratic Senator John Ossoff. More cross exam right here from John Ossoff. Let's play it correct.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Yes.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

And you noted in your opening statement you're here fulfilling a statutory responsibility and that your testimony, quote, represents the IC's assessment of threats. Correct. That opening statement, as submitted to the committee in advance of this hearing, stated that as a result of last summer's airstrikes, quote, Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated, end quote. Correct?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

That's right.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

And is that in fact the assessment of the intelligence community?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Yes.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

So the assessment of the intelligence community is that Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated by last summer's airstrikes.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Yes.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

In the opening statement you submitted to the committee last night also stated, quote, there has been no effort since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability, end quote. Correct?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

That's right.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

And that's the assessment of the intelligence community?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Yes.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

The White house stated on March 1.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Next, you have Democratic Senator Kelly cross examining John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, and Tulsi Gabbard. Here are their responses to his very basic questions. Let's play this clip.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

Or did he just disregard it? And I just want to point out something that was released about six days ago. This is a fundraising email from the President. From the President of the United States. And in this email here, where there's multiple links to donate money, it says, as a national security briefing member, you'll receive my private national security briefings. Director Gabbard or Director Radcliffe, do you think the public should be able to. Supporters of the President should be able to pay and receive his private national security briefings. I assume these are briefings, Director Radcliffe, that you provide to the President that is now going to be provided to somebody who makes a.

[John Ratcliffe]

Regardless of what that. That I don't know that document is. But regardless of what it says, it didn't happen.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

Although this was new.

[John Ratcliffe]

But what I'm telling you is that the Hatch act would prevent me from an apolitical role, from engaging in that. I'm not aware that anything like that happened.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

Yeah. This says unfiltered updates. So, Director Gabbard, do you have any comment on whether unfiltered updates of private national security briefings should be made to individuals that donate to the President?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

I'm not. I'm not familiar with that document. And it's.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

It's been made very public six days ago. We'll. We'll get you a copy here because I agree with you, Director, Director Ratcliffe, that the Hatch act should prohibit this type of conduct. Thank you, Senator Lankford.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

More from Senator Kelly right here. Let's play it.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

Okay. And is it accurate that China is continuing to receive preferential oil flows from Iran despite the conflict, as Iran allows its own tankers to transit the straight. Director Gabbard, I'm going to go back and forth between the two of you.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

There has been some reporting of China, India and other countries being able to move their tankers through the strait. However, it is unclear the volume or the measure of that.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

Okay, so it sounds like it's accurate. Thank you. I'm going to move on, Director.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

And here, Senator Kelly just wants to understand at a very basic level whether Donald Trump is even getting intelligence briefs at all. Do you even brief Donald Trump? Do you know what your role is at the CIA as the Director of National Intelligence? You're claiming that you don't give threat assessments and that you can't share whether or not your threat assessments are valid or not. Are you sharing information with Donald Trump? Is he even asking you?

[Senator Chris Kelly]

Let's watch this clip on Director Gabbard. You tweeted yesterday that President Trump concluded there was an imminent threat and made a decision to attack Iran after carefully reviewing all of the information before him. I think the country deserves to know what the information was. I'm going to ask a series of questions and just want a yes or no. We don't need any explanation, just yes or no, starting with were you asked? I'm not asking if you did brief this. Were you asked to brief on whether Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

I'm not going to comment on what the President did or didn't ask me on any topic.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

I'm not even. I'm not asking if you briefed it. I'm just asking if there was a request. I understand by the White House. Director Ratcliffe, were you asked to brief on whether Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz?

[John Ratcliffe]

The briefings to the, to the President, the White House typically don't come at the request of the White House. So typically when we get intelligence that we want the President to be aware of, the intelligence community brings that to the President.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

Did you produce the analysis for the Straits of Hormuz?

[John Ratcliffe]

There has been and continues to be analysis with respect to that.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

We asked a brief on how our adversaries and allies would respond to the war in Iran. I imagine I'll get the same answer. So it's just a point out here. It's challenging to forget about actually what was in the brief for a second. We're having a hard time finding out not only if you briefed the President on something, but even if the White House asked if they could be briefed on something or if analysis was produced. So I just.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

And we have Senator Reid cross examining Tulsi Gabbard. Let's play this clip.

[Senator Mark Warner]

Regime in Iran now trying to

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

promote

[Senator Mark Warner]

the deceased Ayatollah as a martyr who should be followed. And does that help them consolidate support?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Senator, the Iranians are certainly using that as a call to action. The effects of that from an intelligence standpoint remain to be seen.

[Senator Mark Warner]

There is a tradition in Shia, though, to honor martyrs. One of their greatest celebrations is the martyrdom of the grandson of Muhammad. Is that correct?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

That's right.

[Senator Mark Warner]

So he might have played into their cultural biases erroneously.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Then we hear from Democratic Senator Warner, and he's wondering why Tulsi Gabbard in your printed remarks, you stated you didn't read this during your opening remarks, but it's written in your printed statements that there has been no efforts by Iran to rebuild their nuclear enrichment capabilities since the prior strikes last June, and thus they posed no imminent threat. It says that in your written report. So why did you not read it when the cameras were on you? Did you not think that we were going to ask you about it? Here, play this clip.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

I do not.

[Senator Mark Warner]

Thank you. Let me move to Iran now. I understand and I appreciated Director Gabbard comments yesterday about agreeing that the President has sole authority, I guess, in his bones to declare whether something is an imminent threat. I didn't agree with your friend, Mr. Kent, but I didn't. Again, I agreed with him yesterday on the fact that there was no imminent threat. I guess what I'm concerned about one thing is even in your printed testimony today on page six and your last paragraph on page six, as a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated. There's been no efforts to try to rebuild their enrichment capability. You omitted that paragraph from your oral opening. Was that because the President said there was an imminent threat? Two weeks?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

No, sir. I recognized that the time was running long and I skipped through some of

[Senator Mark Warner]

the portions you chose to take of

[Tulsi Gabbard]

my oral delivered remarks.

[Senator Mark Warner]

Chose to omit the parts that can contradict the President.

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[Podcast Host / Narrator]

D A S More cross examination here from Senator Warner of Tulsi Gabbard. And notice that they continued to basically say these Trump lackeys, these Trump witnesses. Oh, we never saw that. I don't know about this. I never read this. Oh, I don't know anything about that. Here, play this clip chose to omit

[Senator Mark Warner]

the parts that contradict the President. The president continues to say as well that, you know, he had no idea, was shocked that the Iranians had moved to take over the Strait of Hormuz. Did you provide any intelligence that would say that it would be that it was not likely that the Iranians would try to move on the Strait?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

I'm not aware of those remarks and I think those of us here at the table can point to the fact that historically the Iranians have always threatened to leverage their control over the why

[Senator Mark Warner]

would the President say he was amazed?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

I'm not aware of those remarks.

[Senator Mark Warner]

What about the comments the president made that thought that he was surprised? Again, reports that Iran struck the adjacent Gulf states?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Again, I'm not aware of those remarks. We have.

[Senator Mark Warner]

Let me ask you this. Continue to did you brief the President? Did you brief the president? Did you brief the president, if he starts a war of choice, that the likely result would be that Iran would strike adjacent Gulf nations and close the Strait of Hermuth? Did you brief him on those two facts that I think have been consistently the the assumptions of the intelligence community?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

I have not and won't divulge internal conversations. I will say that those of us within the intelligence community continue to provide the president with all of the best objective intelligence available to inform his decisions.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Senator, show you some questioning from Senator King right here. Can you give us an update on whether Russia is providing information to Iran about American assets, about target to kill Americans? Does that concern you, Tulsi? And she repeats this Trump line, well, if they're doing it, they're not really doing a very good job. I'm not sure what war you're watching right now, but America's stuck in an utter quagmire right now. Here, play this clip.

[Senator Angus King]

Update us on the intelligence on Russian intelligence sharing with Iran in the current conflict.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

What do we know, Senator, if there is that sharing going on, that would be an answer that would be appropriate for a closed session well, it's been

[Senator Angus King]

in the public press, this is open source, that it's occurring. Is it occurring again?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

If it is occurring, that would be an answer appropriate for a closed session. What I can tell you is that according to the Department of War, any support that Iran may be receiving is not inhibiting their operational effects.

[Senator Angus King]

Okay. That's sort of the first cousin of a yes, I guess, according.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

More questioning from Senator King right here where he says Donald Trump's been saying publicly that nobody knew that this was never even conceived of, that Iran might strike their Arab neighbors with American bases in it if America invaded Iran or that Iran would strut shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Did you not know that? Because kind of everybody knew that. So tell us about that, Tulsi. Tell us about that. Ratcliffe, here. Play this clip.

[Senator Angus King]

I'm asking the question is there seems to be a discrepancy between what the Intelligence committee community has reported over the years and what the President has said in terms of his of this action. For example, Senator Wyden read the report from a year ago that strikes against neighboring states and action to close the Strait of Hormuz was predicted by the intelligence community. And yet the President says nobody knew. And my question is, did you tell him? Anybody want to answer that question,

[John Ratcliffe]

Senator? I'll answer the question. So with regard to briefings, the president gets briefings constantly about intelligence. Now, the comments that you talked about, I had not heard. But what I can tell you is that Iran had specific plans to hit US Interests in energy sites across the region. And that's why the Department of War and the Department of State took measures for force protection and personnel protection in advance of Operation Epic Fury? I think that's what's most important.

[Senator Angus King]

Any, any predictions to the President about the strata four moves? All you got to do is look at a map and you'll see that the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz. Was that part of the briefing, Director

[Tulsi Gabbard]

Gabbard, I think Director Ratcliffe made? The point here is that this has long been an assessment of the ic, that Iran would likely hold the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.

[Senator Angus King]

My question is, was that communicated to the President in the lead up to

[Tulsi Gabbard]

this act because of that long standing assessment that the IC has continued to report that the Department of War took the preemptive planning measures that it did?

[Senator Angus King]

Well, they've stated that they did not plan for the Strait of Hormuz. The President said, who knew that was going to happen anyway? Let's move on. Does the President Take a daily brief.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

More cross exam here from Senator Warner. And Senator Warner is asking, so you know, you were involved in an FBI operation to seize ballots in Georgia. Where's the authority for you to involve yourself in domestic law enforcement activity? And she's like, oh, I, I never actually was involved in it. I was just there watching. And I was just there observing, but I wasn't actually involved in it. I don't even know what was happening here. Play this clip.

[Tulsi Gabbard]

I want to correct one of your statements that you've made multiple times, which is false. I did not participate in a law enforcement activity, nor would I because that does not exist within my authorities.

[Senator Mark Warner]

You were present on the scene. Are the photos of you on the scene?

[Tulsi Gabbard]

I was at Fulton county, sir, at the request of the president and to work with the FBI to observe this action that had.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

You were just observing and what'd you observe there, Tulsi? Why were you there, Tulsi, in the first place? What were you doing in Georgia? More questions here from Democratic Senator Kelly. Watch as he says. So you're all aware that Russia is making huge amounts of money right now from this war in Iran, right? They're the ones who are benefiting a lot from this while killing Americans. And Donald Trump's removing these sanctions against Russia so they can sell their oil and make more money while they're targeting Americans with Iranians. What. What say you here? Play this clip.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

That brings us to the war with Iran. So this has created one of the largest ever supply shocks to the global oil supply, which has sent gas prices skyrocketing for Americans. But not everybody is losing. Directors Gabbard and Ratcliffe, is it accurate that Russia has gained billions of dollars in additional oil revenue due to price spikes as a result of the war and loosens sanctions? Director Gabbard,

[Tulsi Gabbard]

that is what has been reported. I defer to the Director of Secretary of treasury and Energy on that front for details.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

Director Ratcliffe.

[John Ratcliffe]

Yeah, I'm not an economist, not going to try and do those calculations. But as I talked about earlier, sometimes there are decisions made that will benefit adversaries. At the same time, policymakers think that it will benefit the American people.

[Senator Chris Kelly]

Clear. I think we'd all agree that sanctions were loosened and that means more money into the coffers of Vladimir Putin.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Then Senator King has more questions about, you know, does Donald Trump take a daily brief from the intelligence community and then you'll notice that there is a non answer. This is a yes or no question, Senator King, is he doing daily intelligence briefing like we call him like we speak to him, like 15 times a week. They're all such despicable liars. Here, let's play this clip right here.

[Senator Angus King]

Move on. Does the President take a daily brief from the intelligence community? This is a yes or no question.

[John Ratcliffe]

Yeah. The President, I would say, Senator, in my estimation, on average, I brief the President of the United States on intelligence probably on average 10 to 15 times a week where I have conversations with him about specific discrete issues. Sometimes there are dedicated sessions that last hours in length. Sometimes I'm briefing him on specific issues, sometimes three or four times a day. But I would say on average, my interactions where I'm briefing the President on important national security matters happens probably on average 10 to 15 times per week.

[Senator Angus King]

Thank you.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Well, there you have it, folks. Let me know what you think about this all Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. Thank you all so much for watching.

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