Loading summary
Transcript46 lines
- [00:01]
Bloomberg Host
Some follow the noise. Bloomberg follows the money. Whether it's the funds fueling AI or crypto's trillion dollar swings, there's a money side to every story. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe now@bloomberg.com
- [00:18]
Will, IQ Bar Founder
this podcast is sponsored by IQ Bar. I've got good news and bad news. Here's the bad news. Most protein bars are packed with sugar and unpronounceable ingredients. The the good news? There's a better option. I'm Will and I created IQ Bar Plant protein bars to empower doers like you with clean, delicious, low sugar, brain and body fuel. IQ bars are packed with 12 grams of protein, brain nutrients like magnesium and Lion's Mane and Zero Weird Stuff. And right now you can get 20% off all IQ bar products plus free shipping, clean ingredients, amazing taste and you'll love how you feel. Refuel smarter, hydrate harder. Caffeinate larger with IQ Bar. Try our delicious IQ Bar Sampler Pack with nine plant protein bars, eight hydration mixes and four mushroom coffee sticks. And now you can get 20% off all IQ Bar products plus free shipping. When you go to iqbar.com today and enter promo code BAR20 to get this exclusive offer for our listeners. That's iqbar.com promo code BAR20 to get 20% off plus free shipping. Iqbar.com code BAR20 Donald Trump is panicking
- [01:20]
Midas Touch Network Host
as Iran is preparing its nuclear site in Isfahan. Iran is preparing for an imminent joint US Israeli invasion of the Isfahan facility. Iranian state media announced that Isfahan would be undergoing quote, controlled explosions in the northern area. This is like the main nuclear site in Iran that was targeted back last June in Operation Midnight Hammer. The Trump regime plotting Operation Sledgehammer is what they're calling it. And the Iranian regime is preparing itself to protect this Isfahan nuclear facility. And they are doing these coordinated detonations as well that if the United States and Israeli troops enter, they will blow up the entire area. And that could cause massive nuclear fallout as well. You know, this comes at the same time that an Israeli TV channel just in the past 24 hours, their channel 14, which is their right wing channel, think they're fighting Fox News. That's how I think about it. They just leaked information about this joint Israeli US Invasion of the Isfahan site. And this passed the Israeli military sensors. And this caused kind of massive panic in Israel because I think this thing was planned to be pretty imminently executed. And so there was this emergency session that just took place in the Knesset Foreign Affairs Defense Committee and they Were, were like, what in the world is going on right now? How did this information leak? And according to the plans that leaked to channel 14 that there was going to be this potential deception strategies, including ground invasion, landing on Isfahan. There's apparently already been these joint drills that have been conducted between the United States and Israel. Pilots are working as well with these teams to work to extract the enriched uranium material that's there. This also is in line with what we're hearing in the latest Wall Street Journal report that upwards of 1,000 personnel could be required on site to secure the Isfahan facility, dig through rubble for near weapons grade nuclear material amid Iranian missile and drone fire. And so I believe that these coordinated detonations that we're seeing at this nuclear right now are preparing for precisely that right now. This invasion which could happen any moment right now and right now when America, this is what will happen. When Americans and Israeli fighters jet bombed these nuclear sites, the regime was believed to have had some 440kg of 60% enriched uranium. A short step away from weapons grade material. That's enough for an estimated 10 nuclear bombs. Another, almost 200 kg at 20% enriched were also believed to be in the regime's possession. Weapons grade uranium is 90% enriched. And Iran saying, look, we were always going to use this for civilian purposes only, but now we're seeing as Donald Trump allowed Kim Jong Un to get nuclear weapons and everyone leaves them alone. Why wouldn't we get nuclear weapons as well? You know, with all of this happening right now. Khan News out of Israel and Channel 12, they're announcing that Israel has assessed that Donald Trump, Trump has decided to attack Iran. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. With joint US Israeli preparations fully complete, you see how all of this is kind of all lining up together right now. Israel is now on its highest alert since this fake cease fire started and says it must strike first or risk a preemptive Iranian attack. Like we're back to that. We must strike first or we will get a preemptive attack by Iran. We must strike you before you strike us. And then we will say we all needed to destroy you in the first place. I mean, they're literally doing the same shtick again. Israel held a five hour security meeting last night with IDF chief and air force commanders. And Netanyahu requested to cancel his court testimony, which is now today. So that gets canceled because of the security developments. You know, he's in a criminal trial, this guy. In addition to his war crimes in Gaza and elsewhere. He's a criminal and in my opinion, of course, and he's being tried for his crimes and he always uses this as an excuse to delay his criminal trial. Sound familiar? So at the same time that's happening, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and CENTCOM commander, Chairman of the Joint Chief Dan Kane and CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper, they landed at the US CENTCOM headquarters in Florida. This follows Brad Cooper's disastrous appearance before the House of Representatives. Remember that horrible appearance he did yesterday that I covered as they are preparing it seems to do this mission, which I think would be absolutely a catastrophic mission in Iran's nuclear site and then potentially also in Kharg island as well. I think things are going to escalate very, very, very quickly. Here's what the Iranian social media accounts are posting. Quote, for us, surrender means nothing. We either win or we martyr. Literally, this means being epic, not that so called epic fury which cowardly murdered schoolgirls in Manob. Also, in response to Donald Trump previously saying earlier this week, serious negotiations are taking place. And we've heard from Qatar and we've heard from UAE and Saudi Arabia and they're telling me we've made really good progress on negotiations with Iran. We're very close to making a deal. The Iranian social media accounts are saying, cool story. Your threats are older than your hairs. But let us remind that we don't negotiate with tweets. Try us and the result will be the same or worse. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for legal and International Affairs, Ghara Bhati writes, America says it has temporarily halted its attack on Iran to give negotiations a chance. But at the same time, it speaks of readiness for a massive assault at any moment. This means calling threat by the name of opportunity for peace. Iran united and resolutely is prepared to confront any military aggression. For us, surrender holds no meaning. We either triumph or become martyrs. As martyr Rajab Bigi said, we are a great nation. Engraved our name in history. From among all colors, we have chosen red. And from among all deaths, we have chosen martyrdom. Okay, that's what they're saying in Iran right now. You also have their National Security Council. One of their National Security Council top advisors, Abraham Azizi, say Trump's hesitation for a new, adventurous action is solely due to his fear of the decisive response from the armed forces and the unity of the Iranian people. It is clear that he does not attach any value to the mediation of the leaders of the Persian Gulf countries. Now, we've been reporting here on The Midas Touch network over the past week, particularly how we always know there wasn't really a cease fire, but we've been pointing to as well these explosions in the United Arab Emirates nuclear plant, purported drone strikes in Saudi Arabia, an Israeli nuclear facility exploding with a giant mushroom cloud there, an MQ9 Reaper drone belonging to the United States being shot down. Iran being able to detect lots of US Planes over Keshen Island. Reports that the US Was actually stunned about Iran's ability to detect these US Planes and potentially shoot them down. The pressure being applied by Arab nations on Donald Trump that you better be prepared to protect us if you and Netanyahu do this again, because otherwise we're not going to let you use our air bases and our airspace. So you have all of that taking place at the same time right now. And by the way, is barely getting any coverage anywhere at all. And it's not a coincidence that Putin is with Xi Jinping right now. Why? Donald Trump shows up. Xi Jinping. Xi Jinping gets the information from Donald Trump. Putin shows up where they basically plan together and sign actual documents regarding their alliance. Or while Donald Trump gets played. I think Donald Trump begged Xi Jinping, is there anything we can do with the icc, the International Criminal Court? Like, could we destroy it together? Me, you and Putin? Could we be a team? Donald, Xi Jinping and Putin do not like you. They're not your friends. Your friends were NATO. You had allies in Asia and you threw them all away. And you have now turned America first into America alone. Oh, yeah, Donald, guess what? Putin got the same, if not a better greeting than you did. He had the kids jumping up and down. It's the same show that Xi Jinping puts on for lots of world leaders. And Putin got a better one than you did. Wang Yi. Wang Yi. Donald was the person who met Putin when he the foreign minister. You didn't get the foreign minister to meet you. You got like a retired vice president who showed up and met you. As I noted earlier, Iran is very much focused on Isfahan. They're prepared. They know that that's basically Normandy. The United States has and Netanyahu have choreographed it. It's one of the reasons why that Knesset held this emergency meeting, because their version of Fox News, their Channel 14, leaked the plan. And Iran knows it's coming. Iran is activating its defense systems, its air defense systems in and around Isfahan. They're ready to go. And they're saying that the active same way they activated air defense around Kesham. They are prepared. We've learned from the mediators who have been involved in these discussions between the United States and Iran that no progress is being made. What Iran wants is an end to hostilities, financial relief, and they still want some role in the Strait of the of Hormuz. And they're rejecting the US Demands because they said, hey, the only reason that there's a ceasefire is because Donald Trump said that he was going to blow us all up. He backed down. He caved when he said, I'm going to blow you into the, I'm going to blow you up into the Stone Age and blow up all of your bridges. You know, he threatened all of that. And then he announced the ceasefire, agreeing to the 10 point framework of, of Iran. And then he didn't want to abide by it. And then he keeps on making up fake deals. Fake deals. This Iran's agreed to this Iran's agreed to that. And Iran's like, we're not agreeing to any of this. We are. We've always been saying for months now what our negotiating framework is. We control the Strait of Hormuz. We don't give up our missiles. You give us reparations, security guarantees for us and Hezbollah and the Houthis and our militia groups in Iraq. We want all sanctions removed. Agree to all of that and then we can have discussions. They've been at least consistent with saying that over and over again. And so there was this moment yesterday where we had Democratic Congressmember Adam Smith, who's the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, and he was examining Assistant Defense Secretary Zimmerman and Smith, Democratic Congressman Smith's like, why is it your, is this like a strategy where you all just make up fake deals with Iran that aren't happening? Don't you think this makes us look like clowns? When you keep announcing fake deals with Iran, don't you think that this is not helpful because Iran doesn't agree to these things? And then it just shows that we're a bunch of losers. Don't you think so? And then you had this idiot guy, this Defense Secretary Zimmerman, this MAGA hack, he's like, donald Trump is taking the initiative. This is how we do it. What are you talking about, man? You just seem like a loser. Why are you making up fake deals when it's not happening? Don't you realize that shows complete and utter weakness? Here, I'll play this clip.
- [14:12]
Congressman Adam Smith
Mr. Zimmerman, can you explain to me how it works, why it is considered to be intelligent for the President, day after day after day to keep saying that Iran has agreed to things that very clearly they have not agreed to, which then becomes obvious to the entire world within some 24 to 48 hour time period. Help me out here. What is the strategy of the President standing up and saying, we have defeated them, the war is over, they've agreed to everything. I mean, doesn't that just make us look like a bunch of clowns past a certain point when it becomes obvious that that's not the case?
- [14:50]
Midas Touch Network Host
Congressman, the President's willingness to act decisively to protect Americans and our partners and allies has advanced U.S. credibility. It has not. It has not sunk U.S. credibility.
- [15:02]
Congressman Adam Smith
Well, but addressing this specific issue, we could have that debate in a different direction. But he has repeatedly said that Iran has agreed to things that they obviously have not agreed to. Let me ask the question this way. Is the President misinformed? Are people doing a bad job of informing him about what's going on? Is he that ignorant about the circumstances or is he just making it up as part of some, I don't know, six dimensional stress, sorry, chess strategy here?
- [15:31]
Midas Touch Network Host
So why the President has the best information available to any head of state,
- [15:37]
Congressman Adam Smith
why does he keep getting it wrong then?
- [15:40]
Midas Touch Network Host
The President does not keep getting it wrong. The White House is leading these negotiations to find a long term solution.
- [15:48]
Congressman Adam Smith
I'm Sorry, you have 20 seconds left here. But he doesn't keep getting it wrong. He says, literally, the strait is open. Iran has agreed to give up their nuclear weapons. Iran has agreed to give up their ballistic missile programs. That's your basic question. Is the Strait of horror movies opened? Has Iran given up their nuclear weapons?
- [16:06]
Midas Touch Network Host
The Strait of Hormuz is a complex situation right now where you have a severely degraded look.
- [16:14]
Congressman Adam Smith
I hope you look back at this and understand how bad this is making you look. I mean, look, you can answer question, you can challenge me in a thousand different ways, but to just pretend that reality isn't reality and say it over and over again in a public hearing, I'm sorry, that's not helping our credibility. Thank you for the indulgence, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
- [16:33]
Midas Touch Network Host
And then even by the way, on Fox, our state regime Media, our Channel 14, if you will, they're confirming basically that Tehran has taken the initiative in this war. Play this clip.
- [16:46]
General Keane
But I think in the final analysis, I mean, what we're discussing here is breaking the will of your opponent. Iran is attacking the Gulf states because they want that pressure put on the administration to stop the war. They got a cease fire out of it and now they're extending the cease fire some six weeks. And they're, they're absolutely convinced if they string this out closer to the midterms and oil prices continue to rise as a result of it, that the President may just wash his hands of the whole thing and declare victory. That's kind of what their objective is here. And, and I understand that objective, and I think we have to see it for what it, what it really is. War is fundamentally about breaking will here, and they want to break our will, and they use your public support as the vehicle to achieve that. Our adversaries, because we're open democracy, while we're always at war with their militaries, are also always trying to break the will of the American people. Support for that war. And that's the reality of the Iranians, are certainly no exception to that. And that is.
- [17:49]
Midas Touch Network Host
Yeah, that was General Keane. It's one of the, one of the, one of Fox's, you know, host who's, you know, I pretty much a pro maga guy. You then had us Colonel Mike Jennergan, same thing. You listen to what he has to say. Play this clip.
- [18:04]
Bloomberg Host
And one last one for you. Kind of adjacent topic. Iran reportedly activated its air defense systems on Kashim island near the Strait of Hormuz last night. And state media are reporting the Revolutionary Guard heard explosions and saw drones flying. What do you make of it?
- [18:22]
Midas Touch Network Host
You know, there's several things to make of that. I think the, the, the interested parties in the region. United Arab Emirates comes to mind. Saudi Arabia comes to mind. Qatar, Bahrain, all of those have been attacked in this recent engagement with Iran. And nine ports have been damaged. Six liquid natural gas fields have been damaged. So it wouldn't surprise me if some of the locals in the area are starting to do some of their own attacks against Iran.
- [18:49]
Bloomberg Host
Interesting. Colonel Jernigan, always great to have you. Appreciate you being with me for the breaking news. Thank you.
- [18:54]
Midas Touch Network Host
And then it's just more of the same from Donald Trump. The war is going to end soon. Oil prices will come down. Just you wait. Here's what he says. Play this clip.
- [19:03]
Donald Trump
We're blowing it away. We're blowing everything away, and we're going to end that war very quickly. They want to make a deal so badly, they're tired of this should have happened for 47 years. Somebody should have done something about it. And it's going to happen and it's going to happen fast. And you're going to see oil prices plummet. They're going to come down. There's so much oil out there, they're going to Come plummeting down.
- [19:26]
Midas Touch Network Host
Then Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who told us that we would have $2 gas this summer. Remember, he promised us $2 gas, everybody. And Donald Trump said, your energy prices will go down 50%. I guarantee it. I guarantee it. Big money, big prizes. I remember that game. Here's what Chris Wright had to say. Here, play the split.
- [19:48]
Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Thanks for having me, Martha.
- [19:50]
Bloomberg Host
So where do you expect the prices to go over the summer? What's your assessment? You know, given supply and demand over the summer, are they going to go higher?
- [20:01]
Energy Secretary Chris Wright
Hey, I don't make projections, particularly about the future, Martha, but I will say that under President Trump's leadership, you know, we're at record US Oil production today, record refining capacity. We changed the blending requirements this summer to allow us to produce even more gasoline than we would normally produce for the peak summer driving season. And with 30 other nations around the world, we've released extra crude in the market during this disruption because, yes, there is a disruption. Prices are higher than they would otherwise be. But I think President Trump summarized it well, this is a price we're all having to pay, but the cost of inaction is vastly, vastly larger than this price.
- [20:44]
Midas Touch Network Host
And then finally you had. I didn't show this in the video yesterday, but I thought this was pretty powerful. Part of the cross examination of Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, by Seth Moulton. This is another part of it that I haven't showed you yet. Here, let's play it.
- [20:59]
Seth Moulton
I will actually give you credit for regime change. I know that was part of the plan. You've replaced an 86 year old in failing health with a fatwa against producing nuclear weapons with a more hardline guy in his 50s who, in case he wasn't hardline enough, you killed his immediate family. Was that part of the plan? Is that the regime change you wanted, Congressman?
- [21:20]
Admiral Brad Cooper
We were given very specific military objectives to degrade Iran's power projection capability. That's exactly what we did.
- [21:26]
Seth Moulton
Okay, so in the course of doing that, you also lifted the oil sanctions on Iran, giving them about 14 to 16 billion dollars. They can buy a lot of ballistic missiles for that. Was that part of the plan, lifting oil sanctions on them in the course of the conflict? They kill 14Americans, we lift oil sanctions on them.
- [21:47]
Admiral Brad Cooper
As you know, sir, the US Military does not lift sanctions. That's a policy decision.
- [21:51]
Seth Moulton
Okay, I'm just trying to figure out where it was part of the plan. On March 5, you know, you talked about how you have, you built the most integrated air defense system in the Middle east, and yet well into the war, you had to ask Ukraine for help with defenses against drones.
- [22:08]
Admiral Brad Cooper
That's not accurate.
- [22:09]
Seth Moulton
Okay, what about oil prices, gas prices? Was oil prices going up 56% part of the plan?
- [22:18]
Admiral Brad Cooper
Congressman, as you know, from a military perspective, we don't deal in oil and gas prices. I defer to the appropriate authorities within the government.
- [22:24]
Seth Moulton
Okay, so, so. So since none of this seems to be part of the plan, what's the plan now? What's the plan now to actually win this war? Cause it feels like we're losing. We don't have a nuclear deal. We don't have the strait open. The President has called for unconditional surrender. Is that part of the plan?
- [22:41]
Admiral Brad Cooper
Congressman, we achieved all our military objectives. We're presently in a ceasefire, we're executing a blockade, and we're prepared for a broad range of contingencies.
- [22:50]
Seth Moulton
Well, it doesn't seem to be going well. And I would like to know how many more Americans we have to ask for to die for this mistake.
- [22:55]
Admiral Brad Cooper
Do you know, I think it's an entirely inappropriate statement from you, sir,
- [23:01]
General Keane
with all do.
- [23:02]
Seth Moulton
It's not a statement, it's a.
- [23:03]
Donald Trump
Sure, not recognizable.
- [23:04]
Midas Touch Network Host
There you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Keep you posted every step of the way. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. You may think you're subscribed, but you may not actually be subscribed. Let's get to 7 million. Thanks for watching. Thanks for watching. Be sure to add the Midas touch podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast for new updates every single day.
- [23:29]
Seth Moulton
Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for
- [23:52]
Midas Touch Network Host
3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full terms@mintmobile.com Ready or not, summer is coming and Wayfair's Memorial Day clearance is on now. Right now through May 25th. Get up to 70% off everything home at Wayfair. Plus score amazing doorbuster deals all sale long and surprise flash deals on the Memorial Day. We're talking thousands of products at every style and budget. Now is the time to save big on must haves for your patio, backyard, and beyond. These savings won't last, so don't wait.
- [24:24]
Will, IQ Bar Founder
Shop.
- [24:24]
Midas Touch Network Host
Wayfair's Memorial Day clearance, now through May 25th.
- [24:27]
Bloomberg Host
Wayfair Every style, every home.