@amanbatheja.bsky.social
Senior Political Editor at TIME Magazine. Background in economics and TX politics. Formerly New York Times, Texas Tribune. Dad. #washingtondc @nytimes.com Signal: @amanbatheja.46
Reuters Exclusive
"U.S. military investigators believe it is likely that U.S. forces were responsible for an apparent strike on an Iranian girls' school."
"The strike would rank among the worst cases of civilian casualties in decades of U.S. conflicts in the Middle East."
“No other modern American leader has directed assaults in as many countries in such a short span of time…In 2025 alone, he approved more individual airstrikes than his predecessor did over four years.”
time.com/7382697/trum...
In all his years in Congress, Markwayne Mullin has never served on either the House Homeland Security Committee or the Senate Homeland Security Committee
time.com/7382769/mark...
Kristi Noem’s tenure has been one of the biggest flameouts of Trump's second term so far.
"At first a favorite of Trump, Noem’s decline came in short order as her personal life, living situation, cratering morale, and leadership feuds all made her a liability."
time.com/7382737/kris...
Trump on Iran: "They can’t have a nuclear weapon. That’s number one, two, and three. Number four, no ballistic missiles." Another objective: installing “somebody that is rational and sane” as leader.
Trump's timeline: “I have no time limits on anything. I want to get it done.”
Trump, when asked by TIME’s Eric Cortellessa if Americans should be worried about retaliatory attacks at home:
“I guess. But I think they’re worried about that all the time…We plan for it. But yeah, you know, we expect some things. Like I said, some people will die.“
time.com/7382697/trum...
TIME cover shows a series of red MAGA hats. The front one says “Make Iran Great Again” The others have different countries
TIME’s latest cover
time.com/7382697/trum...
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the chairman of the Senate panel that was holding the hearing, yelled at Mullin to sit down after he challenged O'Brien to a fight. Mullin had stood up from his seat at the dais and appeared to start taking his ring off. "This is the time, this is the place," Mullin told O'Brien after reading a series of critical tweets O'Brien had sent about him in the past. "If you want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here."
Markwayne Mullin, the new Homeland Security secretary, is a former Mixed Martial Arts fighter who in 2023, during a committee hearing, almost came to blows with Teamsters President Sean O'Brien.
"If you want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here," he said
Just like he did with Mike Waltz after SignalGate, Trump isn't firing Kristi Noem but reassigning her. She's now going to be "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas," a new Western Hemisphere security initiative
05.03.2026 18:46 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Yikes, the D.C. Court of Appeals decision is pretty withering in its assessment of the Public Service Commission's decision not to have a trial-like evidentiary process on Pepco's multi-year rate increase.
05.03.2026 17:54 — 👍 9 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
New: From Washington, D.C. to Ukraine to Taiwan, there’s growing concern that the U.S. war in Iran is depleting stocks of sophisticated weapons systems that protect allies around the globe from missile attacks.
time.com/7382582/trum...
New: From Washington, D.C. to Ukraine to Taiwan, there’s growing concern that the U.S. war in Iran is depleting stocks of sophisticated weapons systems that protect allies around the globe from missile attacks.
time.com/7382582/trum...
We'll see but do note that Trump endorsed the incumbent TX Ag guy who lost yesterday, and also endorsed Tony Gonzales, who is in a runoff but finished second. His endorsement is useful, but it ain't magic.
04.03.2026 19:58 — 👍 8 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Trump posts he's endorsing in Texas Senate race soon:
"Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough...I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I don’t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! Is that fair? We must win in November!!!"
Later today, the Senate is poised to take up its first War Powers vote since Trump began military strikes on Iran.
"The measure has the backing of most Democrats in the Senate and at least one Republican...But it is all but certain to fail."
time.com/7382503/trum...
RFK: “We’re going to ask Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, ‘Show us the safety data that show that it’s OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it.’l
“The Health and Human Services Department did not respond to a request for further explanation.”
"The vice president already has a reputation as a political chameleon, not least because he serves at the side of a president he once likened to Hitler."
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/u...
Oil prices surged upon Trump’s attack on Iran, and Americans are already seeing the effects at the gas pump.
My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart
New: Why James Talarico’s Win Puts Texas in Play For November
Democrats’ statewide losing streak in Texas is longest in the U.S.
“Democrats cannot win in Texas without a few Republicans and independents…Talarico’s pragmatic facade creates what party strategists call a ‘permission structure’”
praying they don't fix the headline
www.kctv5.com/video/2026/0...
“[Talarico] showed up in GOP strongholds he was unlikely to win in a general election but where Democrats told me they had not seen a candidate show up in ages.”
04.03.2026 13:40 — 👍 14 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 1
New: Why James Talarico’s Win Puts Texas in Play For November
Democrats’ statewide losing streak in Texas is longest in the U.S.
“Democrats cannot win in Texas without a few Republicans and independents…Talarico’s pragmatic facade creates what party strategists call a ‘permission structure’”
“Talarico’s events were packed and disparate, while Crockett favored the viral moment…While the pair mostly shared a progressive footing, their styles were unmistakably unique to their candidacies. No one could say each was not authentically Texan.”
04.03.2026 13:19 — 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0How’s the hand counting going?
04.03.2026 11:15 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
“The Texas Supreme Court late Tuesday ordered Dallas County to separate any votes cast by voters who were not in line by 7 p.m.”
“The temporary order creates new uncertainty on whether votes cast by people who arrived after 7 p.m. will be part of the final tally”
Senator Richard Blumenthal, after leaving a classified briefing on Iran: "I am more fearful than ever, after this briefing, that we may be putting boots on the ground"
03.03.2026 22:56 — 👍 597 🔁 197 💬 19 📌 6
"No. Your statement is false,” Rubio told a reporter on Tuesday who was summarizing his comments from Monday
time.com/7382385/iran...
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted a video Tuesday morning telling stranded Americans that they can call a State Department hotline for assistance. But Americans who call the hotline are currently receiving the message that there is no travel help available.”
03.03.2026 20:12 — 👍 13 🔁 8 💬 3 📌 1
"[Pentagon policy chief Elbridge] Colby sought to distance the U.S. from the killing of Irans’ supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as 'Israeli operations,' and said America’s focus was on protecting U.S. troops in the region and degrading its missile, drone and naval capabilities."
03.03.2026 19:38 — 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0🎊🎊 Happy Texas Primary Day yall! I’m celebrating by tracking whether far-right candidates continue a years long electoral hot streak. A 🧵🧵 of storylines I’m watching, replete with all the color and wackiness you’d expect from our most colorful and wacky state:
03.03.2026 16:58 — 👍 78 🔁 20 💬 1 📌 5