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    More War Fallout and Another Epstein Fight - “The…
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    More War Fallout and Another Epstein Fight – “The…

    More War Fallout and Another Epstein Fight – “The Sunday Political Brunch” — March 22, 2026

    Secretary Pete Hegseth PHOTO: DOW Press Conference

    It appears that U.S. military action around the globe may be expanding rather than reducing. There is also a potentially significant development in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, along with other election headlines. Let’s “brunch” on all of that and more this week:

    “Strait of Hormuz Update” – President Donald Trump tried to get U.S. allies to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, but he failed to secure any help. Twenty percent of the world’s oil flows through that waterway. Trump fumed on Truth Social, “I am not surprised by their action, however, because I always considered NATO, where we spend Hundreds of Billions of Dollars per year protecting these same Countries, to be a one-way street.” Trump added, “We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need.” But the European Union’s top policy chief Kaja Kallas, said, “This is not Europe’s war. We didn’t start the war. We were not consulted.” Trump countered by saying the U.S. may leave NATO. Trump said, “It’s certainly something we should think about.” By week’s end, three more military ships with 2,500 more Marines, were headed to the Mideast.

     

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    “The Cost of War” – The U.S. has already spent $18 billion on the war, and now the Pentagon is asking for an additional $200 billion dollars. Meanwhile, the average price of gasoline is $1 more per gallon than it was a month ago. The Dow Jones plummeted more than 1,000 points on late in the week. And the Federal Reserve Board of Governors met Wednesday, but declined to lower interest rates. Seven more states will hold primary elections in the next month and a half, so we may soon see voter dissatisfaction play out, well before the midterm elections in November.

     

    “Big Resignation” – As the war enters its fourth week, there was a high-level defection from the White House. Counterterrorism chief Joe Kent resigned in protest over the attacks on Iran. Kent issued a statement saying Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” He added, “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran.” Trump called Kent, “a nice guy,” but added, “I always thought he was very weak on security.”

     

    “Preventing an Invasion of Cuba?” – President Trump has hinted that the next nation he may strike is Cuba. He said, “I do believe I’ll have the honor of taking Cuba.” Democrats in the U.S. Senate are taking steps to try to block the president before he even strikes, by offering another War Powers Act resolution. Sen. Tim Kaine (D) Virginia wrote the joint resolution, which reads: “To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Republic of Cuba that have not been authorized by Congress.” Trump, of course, says as Commander-in-Chief, he can deploy military action, as he did in Iran. I suspect he will do the same with Cuba, regardless of whether Congress is on board or not. Some Congressional Republicans say it is too soon to debate War Powers. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R) Wyoming said, “I think we have to let the objective play out as far as we can, and if then the effort gets murky on how to get to the objective, that might be a good time to have some hearings, but it’s too early.”

     

    “Cuba Goes Dark” – Speaking of Cuba, the island nation is having massive energy problems. On Monday, Cuba experienced a total mid-afternoon blackout, leaving 11 million people in the dark. While Cuba produces forty percent of its own energy, it relies on a majority of oil imported from Venezuela. But those shipments were halted after the U.S. captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on drug trafficking charges. A U.S. blockade ended any further oil sold to Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is Cuban-American, said the current leadership there has to go. Rubio said Cuba “has an economy that doesn’t work in a political and governmental system. They can’t fix it.” He added, “So they have to change dramatically.”

     

    “Bondi on Epstein” – As promised, the House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the investigation of the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The chairman, Rep James Comer (R) Kentucky, wrote a terse letter to her saying, “The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Committee) is reviewing the possible mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell, the circumstances and subsequent investigations of Mr. Epstein’s death, the operation of sex-trafficking rings and ways for the federal government to effectively combat them, the ways in which Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell sought to curry favor and exercise influence to protect their illegal activities, and potential violations of ethics rules related to elected officials.” She is scheduled to testify on April 14, but the hearing will be closed to the press and public.

     

    “Kennedy Vaccine Ruling” – Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been dealt a major legal setback. A federal judge in Boston is blocking changes Kennedy made to the nation’s child immunization protocols. Judge Brian Murphy said, “There is a method to how these decisions historically have been made – a method scientific in nature and codified into law through procedural requirements.” Murphy added. “Unfortunately, the Government has disregarded those methods and thereby undermined the integrity of its actions.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche promised the White House would fight on, saying, “How many times can Judge Murphy get reversed in one year?” Blanche added, “We will keep appealing these lawless decisions, and we will keep winning. The question is, how much embarrassment can this Judge take?” This will likely land at the U.S. Supreme Court.

     

    “Illinois Primary a Foreshadowing?” – The Illinois Primary was held on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17. The marquee race was the ten-person Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate. Longtime Sen. Dick Durbin (D) Illinois chose not to seek reelection. Gov. JB Pritzker (D) of Illinois is considering running for the White House in 2028, so who won the Senate primary could be a key factor. It was a nasty and expensive race. Gov. Pritzker backed his Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who won with 40 percent of the vote, beating back serious challenges from two sitting members of the U.S. House. If she wins in November, she’ll become only the sixth Black female to serve in the U.S. Senate. She potentially could deliver a lot of votes for Pritzker if he indeed runs for president.

     

    “UF Republicans in Hot Water” – I am a proud graduate of the University of Florida, having received my M.A. there in 1986. But I am saddened by a recent “black eye” my alma mater received. For now, UF has shut down its chapter of the Florida Federation of College Republicans, known as FFCR. In a statement on X, the school said, “This request is based on the FFCR’s findings that some Local CR members engaged in a pattern of conduct that violated its rules and values, including a recent antisemitic gesture,” which referred to the use of Nazi salutes. I hope the school can identify the individual students responsible and expel them. And then, I hope that the Republican group is reinstated if it condemns the activities of what may have been a few bad apples. Vigorous political debate from both parties should be vibrant, but respectful, regardless of what your politics are, on any college campus. There is no room for hate speech.

     

    “Minting History?” – A U.S. arts commission has approved minting a two-dollar coin to commemorate this year’s 250th anniversary of the United States. The coin will depict President Trump, even though there is a law that prohibits a living president’s likeness from being on U.S. currency. The late President Gerald R. Ford did no such thing when he presided over the bicentennial in 1976. I can’t wait to hear the public reaction and legal challenges.

     

    “Trump Chief of Staff Has Cancer” – No matter what your politics, I hope people will stop and say prayers for White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The 68-year-old was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. She intends to stay on the job while being treated. It is highly treatable when caught early, and can have a relatively long survival rate. In a statement, Wiles said, “Nearly one in eight women in the United States will face this diagnosis. Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work, and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks.” Cancer is something that touches all of our families at one time or another. Cancer is not black or white. It is not Republican or Democrat. I pray for all who have it and hope we find a cure soon.

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    Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™

    Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is a South Florida-based political writer and analyst who has covered news and politics all across the nation, including New England, for the past 48 years. Most recently, he was the Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations covering West Virginia, its five neighboring states, and the entire Washington, DC media market. He remains a MINDSETTER™ Contributing Political Writer and Analyst for www.GoLocalProv.com and its affiliates.

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