Steve Martin and John Belushi once conspired to get the “Saturday Night Live” star to appear on “The Tonight Show.”In his book, “Love Johnny Carson,” author Mark Malkoff described how the “Father of the Bride” star snuck Belushi onstage while he was guest hosting “The Tonight Show” in August 1977.”At the time, Carson refused to book current ‘SNL’ cast members due to his dislike of the show,” Malkoff wrote. “Carson found the show’s humor cruel. [Chevy] Chase, who had left ‘SNL’ and Carson had gotten into a war of words, but Chase had recently sent Carson an apology letter. So, Carson lifted the ban on Chase. But the ban remained on the existing ‘SNL’ cast- including Belushi.” Malkoff writes that Johnny Carson’s ban on “SNL” cast members was in effect by the late 1970s, as he was not a fan of the show and the many sketches it did that mocked his show.MERV GRIFFIN AND JOHNNY CARSON WERE BITTER RIVALS WHO FOUGHT OVER CELEBRITY GUESTS FOR YEARSTo get around the ban, Chevy Chase and Martin “hatched a secret plan” to have Chase introduce his wife who was supposedly sitting in the audience, only Chase wasn’t married at the time.”When the camera cut to Chase’s supposed wife, it was revealed to be John Belushi sitting in the studio audience,” Malkoff wrote. “The audience erupted in applause at the surprise. Since Belushi wasn’t a seated guest on the couch, Martin and Chase got away with the spectacle. Belushi, who achieved his goal of finally being on the ‘Tonight Show’, was delighted.” Belushi’s “SNL” cast members, including Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin and Bill Murray, were later invited to be guests on the “Tonight Show,” however Belushi himself never did as he tragically died in March 1982 at the age of 33 due to a drug overdose.The legendary comedian was part of the original cast of “Saturday Night Live,” which also included Chase, Radner, Aykroyd, Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris.Carson’s issues with the popular sketch comedy show stemmed from the way he was portrayed in the skits, which often painted him as “old and out of touch,” with some insinuating “that Johnny was losing his grip.”CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER”In 1977, Jane Curtin joked on ‘Weekend Update:’ ‘In a sudden policy shift, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson will not be broadcast live, starting next week, as previously announced,” Malkoff wrote. “‘The decision was based on California’s new euthanasia law, which states that ‘A program does not have to be kept alive by artificial means and has the right to a dignified death.’”Malkoff writes in the book that Jay Leno heard Carson tell his staff that if “SNL” was going to keep poking fun at him, then it was “time to go.”Two days after Carson allegedly made that comment, Malkoff wrote, “SNL” aired the “Carsenio” sketch, in which Dana Carvey portrayed Carson as if he were channeling rival talk show host Arsenio Hall. Five days after the sketch aired, Carson made the announcement that he was stepping down and that his last show would be in May 1992.As the day of his final show got closer, Carson began fighting back against the jokes made at his expense on the show.LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS”But Johnny had the last laugh,” the book states. “In his monologue on May 20, two days before his final show, he said, ‘We’ve been with this network for thirty years, and this fall — I saw the [new] schedule, and they’re coming up with some real great, innovative programming. They’re going to try a comedy version of Saturday Night Live.'””The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson” aired its final episode on May 22, 1992, and out of respect for the legendary talk show host, Malkoff wrote that Comedy Central went dark for the full hour of his show, and Arsenio Hall ran reruns of his show all that week.Fox News Digital has reached out to Martin and Chase’s reps for comment.
Photos show Athena Strand kidnapping truck as jurors weigh death penalty for killer FedEx driver
Jurors in Tanner Horner’s murder trial saw photos of his FedEx truck, the grim vessel prosecutors say was used to snatch 7-year-old Athena Strand from her own driveway and, ultimately, to end her life.On Friday, prosecutors showed the jury a series of pictures from inside the truck where Athena was murdered by Horner, 34, in Texas on Nov. 30, 2022. Horner pleaded guilty to the murder and is waiting for the jury to decide if he will be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty.Jurors were shown images of bungee cords and bands found inside the truck, along with photos of investigators testing the vehicle for biological substances.Horner initially claimed he had accidentally hit Athena with his delivery truck, but he has since admitted to strangling the girl after abducting her while delivering a Christmas package to her father’s home in Paradise, Texas.Alise Amey, a former crime scene investigator for the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, said that it was recommended that they remove the floor from the truck because Athena had markings on her face that matched the pattern on the truck’s floor.”There were markings on the victim’s face that were consistent with the floor,” Amey testified.Once they were removed, Amey said they were bagged in brown paper because they were so large.FOX 4 Dallas reported that as additional crime scene photos were shared with the jury, the court’s video feed to be blurred.GOT A TIP?The hours of evidence shown to jurors throughout the week came as prosecutors used opening statements to paint Horner as calculating, violent and remorseless in the killing of Athena.”First thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up, puts her in that truck, leans down, and he says, ‘Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you,’” prosecutor James Stainton told jurors in opening statements Tuesday.FOLLOW US ON X”I’m going to tell you right now. One thing you’re going to hear that is something you can’t unhear is the level of fight that a 7-year-old girl has. When she’s facing down a certain death.”WATCH: Tanner Horner pleads guilty to killing Texas 7-year-oldOn the first day of the trial, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. In the punishment phase, the jury will decide if Horner will receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole.”Mr. Horner, to the charge of capital murder, you may plead guilty or not guilty. What is your plea?” the judge asked.CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS”Guilty, your honor,” Horner replied.”Thank you. I will accept your plea,” the judge said.GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAILAuthorities said Horner was delivering a package containing Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift for the 7-year-old when he abducted and killed her.Her body was found less than 10 miles from the home after a massive search involving law enforcement officers, volunteers, dogs, horses and off-road vehicles.
Actress Natasha Lyonne Claims ICE Detained Her After Being Booted from Delta Flight for ‘Taking a Sleeping Pill,’ DHS Denies Any Involvement
Actress Natasha Lyonne, star of Russian Doll, Orange Is the New Black, and the current season of HBO’s Euphoria, has claimed she was “detained” by ICE after she was removed from a red-eye Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York City, but the Department of Homeland Security has flatly rejected her tale.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, hours after Lyonne attended the Season 3 premiere of Euphoria in Hollywood.
According to multiple eyewitness accounts first reported by
What lawmakers say about virologist calling out Fauci, NIH on COVID-19
Remarks from a virologist calling out former National Institutes of Health leaders—Dr. Francis Collins and Dr. Anthony Fauci—have sparked renewed interest on Capitol Hill about the government’s handling of COVID-19.
Virologist Simon Wain-Hobson, a professor at the Paris-based Institut Pasteur, accused Fauci and Collins of “professional failure” in the COVID-19 pandemic and the lead-up to it when speaking in March to more than 100 NIH officials.
“Anthony Fauci and Francis Collins are guilty of offenses far worse than ‘professional failure,’” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, told The Daily Signal.
“They were clearly involved in a purposeful cover-up of their support for and funding of dangerous gain-of-function research that more than likely produced the coronavirus and allowed them to unleash their mRNA injection on an unsuspecting global population,” Johnson added.
Fauci, Collins, and other NIH officials have denied conducting gain-of-function research or that such research led to the COVID-19 pandemic. The term “gain-of-function” describes a risky research process of making a pathogen more dangerous or contagious for the purpose of studying a response.
Paul D. Thacker, an independent journalist and former Senate staff investigator, first reported on his Substack, The Disinformation Chronicle, on the private remarks by Wain-Hobson to NIH officials.
1) EXCLUSIVE: Virologist Simon Wain-Hobson spoke w/ over 100 NIH officials in a private talk, berating former NIH officials for obfuscating about dangerous gain-of-function studies.
“Scientists have to be educated because they are totally out of touch.”
Fauci regime is erased. pic.twitter.com/7HzeqqxfjS
— Paul D. Thacker (@thackerpd) April 9, 2026
The virologist’s remarks should be reviewed, Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., a doctor who was a member of the former House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, said.
“I’ve continually said that questions regarding the origins of COVID-19 and gain-of-function research should always be addressed with transparency and seriousness,” McCormick told The Daily Signal. “If a respected virologist like Simon Wain-Hobson raises concerns about past leadership at NIH, those concerns should be carefully reviewed.”
“Early publications associated with NIH leadership, including Dr. Fauci, shaped the initial narrative and may have limited broader scientific debate,” McCormick continued. “Transparency and accountability at the NIH are essential for public trust. The whole point of science is to have robust debate, and the minute you sterilize that debate, it is no longer science.”
Collins is the former director of the National Institutes of Health. Fauci is the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
During his remarks, Wain-Hobson pointed to a 2011 Washington Post commentary by Fauci and Collins that defended controversial research.
“We can’t have the safety of society being dictated without discussion,” Wain-Hobson said. “I think that was a professional failure.”
He further accused the American Society for Microbiology of “obfuscating” how dangerous gain-of-function research is. The society did not respond to inquiries for this story.
After retiring, Fauci became a professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and a professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy. The Daily Signal contacted the media relations office at Georgetown University to seek comment from Fauci. The Daily Signal also contacted Leading Authorities Inc., a speaking bureau that books Fauci for public speeches. No one responded by publication time.
The Daily Signal also reached out for this story to the Harry Walker Agency, which books Collins’ speaking engagements; to AAE Speakers, which lists Collins as one of its speakers; and to an email address still listed for Collins on the NIH website. No one responded by publication time.
[Editor’s note: This story originally was published by The Daily Signal.]
An $18 billion reason to own this 147-year-old dividend stock
Most investors chase the next hot stock. They want the big pop, the explosive earnings beat, or the name everyone’s talking about at dinner.But the investors who actually build lasting wealth? They tend to think differently.They look for companies that show up every year and quietly put money back in their pockets. These are companies with decades of proof behind them, not just a few good quarters.Vanguard’s Sharon Hill, who manages the firm’s Equity Income Fund, puts it plainly: “Whether an investor needs income and/or simply values the attributes of higher-dividend-paying companies, an active fund that seeks high-quality companies with stable dividend yields may be suitable.”That kind of thinking points directly to Chevron, a Dividend Aristocrat founded in 1879 that has spent nearly 150 years building the sort of business that income investors dream about.Chevron is a top dividend stock Chevron (CVX) is one of the world’s largest integrated energy companies. It finds oil and gas in the ground, moves it across the globe, and refines it into the fuel that powers your car and the chemicals in everyday products. It operates on every continent and across every stage of the energy value chain.This massive scale gives Chevron pricing power, geographic diversification, and the kind of financial firepower most companies can only wish for.Chevron has now increased its dividend for 39 consecutive years, placing it firmly among the elite group known as Dividend Aristocrats, of which there are currently only 69 members trading on U.S. exchanges.In 2025, the energy behemoth delivered on that promise again with record production and record U.S. output.
Bloomberg/ Getty Images
And for the fourth year running, it returned record cash to shareholders. CEO Mike Wirth said it plainly on the company’s Q4 earnings call: “We’re entering 2026 from a position of strength and will continue building on our momentum in the years ahead.”$18 billion in capex sets the stage for more dividend hikesHere’s what makes Chevron interesting right now: the company isn’t slowing down. Chevron is expected to invest roughly $18.4 billion in capital expenditures in 2026. That money is going into high-return projects: offshore platforms in Guyana and the Gulf of America, natural gas expansions in the Eastern Mediterranean, and continued development at its massive Tengiz operation in Kazakhstan.Related: Chevron stock sends loud message as oil panic grips Wall StreetCFO Eimear Bonner told analysts the company anticipates production growth of 7-10% year-over-year, driven by project ramp-ups and a full year of assets from its Hess acquisition. That kind of volume growth is what supports a rising dividend over time.And the growth isn’t just coming from production. Chevron’s structural cost-cutting program delivered $1.5 billion in savings in 2025. The company now aims for $3 billion to $4 billion in total savings by year-end 2026, with over 60% expected to stick around as permanent efficiency gains.Put it together: more production, lower costs, and a $18 billion investment program — all pointed in the same direction.More on dividend stocks:Down 76% from high, Nike stock offers dividend yield of about 4%$1,000 of AVGO stock from 2016 is worth this much with dividendsEarly Apple stock investors now earn a 5.2 percent dividend yieldChevron’s board declared a 4% increase in the quarterly dividend to $1.78 per share in early 2026, positioning the company to raise its annual dividend payout for the 39th consecutive year.Key Chevron stock dividend ratios:Here’s a summary of the most important dividend metrics for CVX:Annual dividend per share: $7.12Quarterly dividend per share: $1.78Dividend yield: ~3.8% 10-year dividend growth rate: ~5.6% annuallyConsecutive years of dividend increases: 39 (Dividend Aristocrat)Dividend frequency: QuarterlyChevron’s dividend expense is around $13 billion while its free cash flow is projected over $28 billion this year, indicating a sustainable payout ratio of below 50%. Wall Street still likes what it seesAmong the 22 analysts currently covering Chevron stock, 17 recommend “buy” and five recommend “hold”. Wall Street has an average 12-month price target of $209 for CVX stock, indicating an upside potential of over 10%. Notably, Ryan Todd at Piper Sandler, has a stock price target of $242 for CVX, almost 27% higher than the current price. That optimism is grounded in fundamentals. Chevron’s breakeven, the oil price it needs to cover its dividend and capital spending, is below $50 per barrel of Brent. In a world where Brent crude has been trading well above that level, Chevron generates significant excess cash.In 2025, Chevron returned$27.1 billion to shareholders, including $12.1 billion in share repurchases, $12.8 billion in dividends, and $2.2 billion in early Hess share purchases.The bigger picture for income investorsIt’s easy to get distracted by volatility — oil prices swinging on Middle East headlines, tariff fears rattling equity markets, recession talk cycling back into the conversation. In times like these, Chevron’s track record is worth remembering. The company has navigated oil busts, financial crises, and global pandemics without cutting its dividend. That consistency is rare. And in a market where investors often sacrifice income for growth, a dividend stock that does both — pays and grows — is exactly the kind of holding that anchors a portfolio.Related: 147-year-energy behemoth expected to raise dividends as oil surges past $90
UFC Tonight: What Time Does The UFC 327 Fight Card Start?
Everything you need to know about tonight’s UFC 327 fight card which is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg.
Crypto Clarity bill has 30% chance of passing this year, Wintermute’s Hammond says
Wintermute’s head of policy Ron Hammond pegs chances at 30%, citing political friction, stalled negotiations and shifting timelines despite signs of progress.
Bitwise files updated S-1 for Hyperliquid ETF as HYPE fund race heats up
HYPE has surged around 200% over the last 12 months. Other asset managers including Grayscale, 21Shares, and VanEck are also eyeing HYPE-linked ETFs.
Mamdani’s First 100 Days Aren’t Getting High Marks From Voters
Mamdani’s First 100 Days Aren’t Getting High Marks From Voters
Zohran Mamdani rode a wave of progressive enthusiasm and sweeping promises to become the Mayor of New York City.
Now, as he closes in on his first hundred days in office, he’s learning that governing is a lot harder than campaigning, and a new poll suggests New Yorkers are starting to be skeptical about what they voted for.
Some of Mamdani’s campaign promises won’t be fulfilled because Gov. Kathy Hochul is refusing to subsidize them. Earlier this year, snow and trash removal problems became major issues, as residents were forced to endure eight-foot-high piles of garbage on the street and rat infestations, all while the area around Gracie Mansion was kept perfectly clean. The brutal winter also resulted in a cold-related death toll of 29. These kinds of crises test political leaders quickly, and he failed.
Then came Monday, when Mamdani held a public event to congratulate himself for New York City filing its 100,000th pothole since he took office in January.
The reaction was swift and unkind.
“Taking credit for filling potholes is like taking credit for changing a lightbulb. It’s what you’re supposed to do,” scoffed Councilman Frank Morano (R-Staten Island) told The New York Post.
A Marist College survey released Wednesday puts Madani’s approval rating at 48% — a number that tells an incomplete story, but not a flattering one.
Mamdani won his election in November with just over 50% of the vote, with Andrew Cuomo coming in second at 41.6% and Curtis Sliwa at 7%.
Clearly, Mamdani is struggling to convince even progressive voters who didn’t vote for him that he’s doing a good job.
But the numbers are even more devastating when you add more context.
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams had a 61% approval rating at the same point in his term, proving that Mamdani is having a harder time convincing New Yorkers he’s doing a good job than his predecessor did.
The Marist poll, conducted March 26-31 among 1,454 New York City adults with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points, reveals a city that remains skeptical but is still forming its verdict. While 30% disapprove of Mamdani’s performance. 23% remain undecided — a number that Marist polling director Lee Miringoff flagged as a meaningful vulnerability. “There are a lot of people still on the fence. The jury is out,” Miringoff told The New York Post.
The sharpest drag on Mamdani’s numbers comes from a specific and politically significant corner of the electorate: Jewish voters. Only 38% of Jewish residents view Mamdani favorably, while 55% view him unfavorably, putting him underwater with Jewish New Yorkers by 17 points. They are the only religious group in the poll giving him a net-negative rating.
Miringoff noted Mamdani’s continued unpopularity in this community directly.
“Mamdani is going to have to pass the test of time with the Jewish community,” he said.
“Jews are the voters least likely religious group to give Mamdani the benefit of the doubt.”
It’s easy to understand why.
Mamdani has accused Israelis of genocide in Gaza, publicly backed the BDS movement, and aligned himself with left-wing activists — including Hasan Piker — whom many Jewish voters view as antisemitic. Mamdani’s wife has also come under fire for liking posts on social media celebrating the October 7 attacks in Israel.
Still, the broader portrait from the Marist poll is complicated.
Despite having an approval rating below 50%, the poll found 55% of registered voters hold a favorable view of the mayor, and 60% believe he’s fulfilling his campaign promises. Fifty-six percent say the city is moving in the right direction, and 52% think he’s changing New York for the better. Nearly 75% say he works hard. These are not the numbers of a mayor in collapse. They are, however, the numbers of a mayor who hasn’t yet closed the sale.
When asked about the poll at a Brooklyn press conference, Mamdani deflected with characteristic self-assurance.
“You know, I will always leave the grades to New Yorkers themselves,” he said.
“What I will say is that we are coming to the end of a hundred days in office, and we have sought to make this period one where we provide New Yorkers with a glimpse as to what these next four years will look like.”
Tyler Durden
Sat, 04/11/2026 – 09:55
Several US Warships Reportedly Transit Strait Of Hormuz As Pakistan Talks Led By Vance Start With Indirect Format
Several US Warships Reportedly Transit Strait Of Hormuz As Pakistan Talks Led By Vance Start With Indirect Format
Summary:
Axios reporting that ‘several’ US Navy warships crossed the Hormuz Strait on Saturday without coordination with Tehran in a huge, surprising development.
Peace talks in Pakistan begin in indirect format, led by Vance and on Iran side – Ghalibaf, Arachchi.
Saturday sees more Israeli strikes on Lebanon, with Hezbollah supporting Pakistan talks but rejecting ‘separate deal’ directly with Israel.
Trump on talks and potential bigger future attacks on Iran: “You don’t need a backup plan” as Iran’s “military is defeated”.
Will the U.S. invade Iran before 2027?
Yes 31% · No 70%View full market & trade on Polymarket * * *
Several US Warships Cross Hormuz Strait: Axios
Just as indirect talks kick off in Islamabad, a shocking and surprise development is being reported by Axios’ Barak Ravid, though this is not confirmed:
🚨🇺🇸🚢Several U.S. navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, U.S. official says
🚨🇺🇸🚢The move was not coordinated with Iran. It’s the first time this happens since the beginning of the war
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) April 11, 2026
If accurate, are we witnessing Trump suddenly pile on more leverage before negotiations even get off the ground? It seems like the Iranians would have noticed several US Navy warships passing. Either they held off attack for the sake of pursuing peace, or this was truly done ‘stealthily’ and Iranian capabilities are degraded to the point they may have ‘missed’ it. Or is this an attempt to muddy the negotiations? Sabotage? Ravid after all has long stood accused of pushing an Israeli agenda in his reporting.
Talks Begin with Indirect Format Mediated by Pakistanis
By Saturday afternoon (local), the highest-level US-Iran-related talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution have kicked off in Islamabad. Vice President JD Vance met Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif just ahead of the negotiations, and also senior Iranian officials were greeted by Sharif and other Pakistani leaders. Iran’s delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The engagement by each side has begun indirectly.
Pakistan has made clear it is working to facilitate direct negotiations between the US and Iran to fully bring to an end the six-week war in the Middle East. Sharif hailed both sides’ commitment to engaging constructively, and “expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region,” his office stated in a news release.
“Vance was joined for the bilateral meeting by special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner,” CNN reviews. “Sharif was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sen. Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with Interior Minister Sen. Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, according to a news release from the Pakistani prime minister’s office. There was no press coverage of the meeting.”
CNN also has this interesting detail on just how many officials have traveled with the Iranian side: “Iran’s delegation in Islamabad is made up of 71 people, including negotiators, experts, media representatives and security, Tasnim reported.” According to some of the latest:
Tehran reportedly set 2 main conditions. The issue of frozen funds being already accepted by Washington. Despite no strikes on Beirut, attacks in southern Lebanon are ongoing and are now part of the negotiations.
Below: Ghalibaf (Speaker of Parliament) – Araghchi (Foreign Minister) – Ahmadian (Secretary of the Defense Council) – Hemmati (Central Bank Governor)
Lebanon Fighting Has Not Stopped But Rare Diplomatic Contact Made
Fighting has not fully stopped in Lebanon, raising the possibility of derailing the Pakistan talks, after Tehran had earlier in the week threatened that it could pull out if Israel keeps ups its attacks. On Saturday, Lebanon’s Health Ministry raised the death toll from the Israeli surprise Wednesday strikes to 357, and suggested the figure could rise amid several days of search and recovery operations.
But one rare bright spot in terms of diplomatic contact, as international reports say the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States held a phone call in the first direct contact reported between the two countries, ahead of ceasefire talks scheduled in Washington for next week.
Meanwhile, Iran confirmed it is coordinating with Lebanon to ensure ceasefire commitments are upheld across all fronts, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on state TV from Islamabad, where senior US and Iranian officials are holding talks to end the six-week war. At the same time, Lebanese officials close to Hezbollah told Reuters the group supports the Pakistan dialogue and considers it the appropriate path, rejecting a separate round of talks planned in Washington next week.
Iranian delegation in Pakistan seeks to present ‘unity’ of government/military leadership and coordination:
I told @nytimes that the size and composition of Iran’s delegation shows “that they have not come to stonewall,” but are there with full authority and seriousness to reach a deal with the United States. Such a large delegation of experts would only be deployed if negotiations…
— Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr) April 11, 2026
Israeli airstrikes have continued on a sporadic basis: “Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reports that an Israeli air attack on the town of Kfar Sir in the Nabatieh district has killed four people, including a paramedic, and injured four,” writes Al Jazeera Saturday. “Another Israeli attack on the town of Zefta, also in the Nabatieh district, killed three people, including a member of the Lebanese Civil Defense, and wounded two.” There’s been an additional third attack on Toul and Nabatieh, killing three and injuring several more.
Trump: ‘No Backup Plan’ Needed Since Iran’s Military ‘Defeated’
“You don’t need a backup plan,” Trump told reporters Friday when asked about possible next steps of Pakistan talks fail, according to a report by The Hill as he departed Washington en route to Florida. “The military is defeated.”
“Their military is gone. We’ve degraded just about everything,” Trump added. These words suggest he sees the Pakistan peace process as a serious offramp. However, as we and others have reported, there’s an ongoing Pentagon build-up in the region. This has kicked off speculation that a bigger US attack could be around the corner, at that the Islamabad summit is cover for ongoing military preparations.
NEW: US officials tell the WSJ that jets have recently arrived in the Middle East, and 1,500 to 2,000 troops from the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne could arrive in the coming days, as well as thousands of sailors and Marines.
The USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group and 11th… pic.twitter.com/dXxG9q28N5
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) April 10, 2026
And yet, the reality is that Iran remains in control of the Strait of Hormuz, with only a tiny trickle of ‘vetted and approved’ vessels making it through, and reportedly paying hefty toll fees to Tehran, which Trump has warned against. Iran in Pakistan is asking for sanctions to be lifted. If the US grants this, Iran will be in a better position than went the war started, which will be tantamount to gains made through the fight.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 04/11/2026 – 09:55