Americans Furious Over TSA Shutdown, Republican Senator Admits it is Trump’s Fault, Major Potential Market Manipulation Over Iran

Aaron Parnas
Mar 23

There is a significant amount of news to cover. Republicans are now openly acknowledging that the ongoing government shutdown—impacting agencies like the TSA—persists because Donald Trump has instructed them not to negotiate with Democrats, placing responsibility squarely on him.

At the same time, serious concerns about potential market manipulation are emerging after traders placed massive oil bets shortly before Trump’s announcement regarding Iran. Meanwhile, ICE has detained a woman at San Francisco International Airport, and Markwayne Mullin is facing renewed scrutiny over a newly surfaced video.

According to the Financial Times, traders placed about $580 million in oil futures bets roughly 15 minutes before a social media post by Donald Trump about Iran talks, which later caused oil prices to drop sharply. The unusual timing of the trades, along with a spike in trading volume, raised questions about whether some investors anticipated the announcement. After the post suggested progress in U.S.–Iran discussions, crude prices fell while stock markets, including the S&P 500, rose. However, Iran’s parliament speaker later denied that any negotiations had taken place.

GOP Senator John Kennedy says Republicans rejected a Democratic deal to fund DHS (including TSA) because Trump opposed any agreement, stating, “The Democrats offered to open up everything but ICE. Ted and I said, “Okay, let’s accept their offer… That way DHS is back open.” Senator Thune submitted that to Trump; he said, ‘No.’ No deals with the Democrats.’ So, we’re back to square one.”

Republicans have rejected a Democratic bill to fund the TSA for the eighth time today:

The White House is delaying DHS funding negotiations until Senator Markwayne Mullin is confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary, believing he should participate in talks. Meanwhile, negotiations to end the DHS shutdown remain stalled, with Trump opposing a deal unless Republicans’ elections bill is passed. Some GOP senators are attempting to meet with Trump to discuss funding options, including partial funding plans. The ongoing standoff risks prolonging the shutdown to a record length.

ICE officers arrested two members of a family at San Francisco International Airport due to a longstanding deportation order, with officials saying one person resisted during the detention. Authorities described the incident as isolated and not part of broader immigration enforcement at the airport. The arrests were also unrelated to plans to deploy ICE agents at airports to assist TSA staffing shortages. Local officials emphasized that airport operations were unaffected and that local law enforcement was not involved in the immigration action.

Donald Trump claimed the U.S. had “productive” talks with Iran and suggested a potential deal to end the conflict, even extending a military deadline. However, Iran denied any direct or indirect negotiations, contradicting Trump’s statements. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing military strikes and rising tensions across the region. Diplomatic efforts may be happening indirectly through third-party countries, but no confirmed talks have taken place.

According to Politico, the Trump administration is exploring Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as a potential negotiating partner or future leader as it seeks a diplomatic path to end the conflict. Officials say they are still “testing” multiple candidates and have not committed to any one figure. The effort reflects a shift toward negotiations amid ongoing war and economic concerns, including oil markets. However, skepticism remains about whether Iran would cooperate or accept U.S. influence over its leadership.

Trump appeared to shift blame for the war onto Pete Hegseth, saying: “Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up. You said, ‘Let’s do it.’”

According to CBS, U.S. intelligence indicates Iran has placed at least a dozen naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about global oil shipping. The development comes amid heightened tensions and ongoing conflict, with the U.S. targeting Iranian mine-laying capabilities. Trump has paused military escalation while claiming potential diplomatic progress, though Iran denies direct talks. The situation is impacting global markets and fueling concern over energy supply disruptions.

U.S. intelligence officials reportedly believe it is unlikely the war will achieve key goals like overthrowing Iran’s regime or permanently eliminating its nuclear threat, according to a Washington Post report.

The USS Tripoli, USS New Orleans, and about 2,200 Marines from the 31st MEU are set to arrive in the Middle East on Friday—timed with the end of Trump’s 5-day delay and market close, per the Wall Street Journal.

Trump dismissed criticism by reframing the conflict, saying Democrats call it a “war” while he describes it as a “military operation.”

Trump suggested a vague and controversial plan for controlling the Strait of Hormuz, saying it could be “jointly controlled” by him and a future Iranian leader, adding, “Maybe me. Maybe me. Me and the next ayatollah, whoever that is… There will also be a serious form of regime change. Look at Venezuela.”

Past remarks by Senator Markwayne Mullin describing physically disciplining his children and threatening his daughter’s boyfriend have resurfaced amid scrutiny over his fitness to lead DHS. He openly endorsed spanking and recounted detailed stories of punishing his children, drawing criticism about his temperament. The controversy adds to prior incidents, including a near physical altercation during a Senate hearing and comments appearing to justify violence. Lawmakers are now debating whether his behavior is appropriate for overseeing federal law enforcement agencies.

An Air Canada regional jet collided with a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of passengers and crew. The crash appears to have involved a possible air traffic control error, with recordings suggesting the truck was cleared to cross before being told to stop. Passengers described a chaotic, terrifying scene but credited the pilots with slowing the plane and saving lives. Investigators are now examining the incident, including potential communication failures and human error.

Early reports suggest a lone air traffic controller, managing both air and ground traffic, may have been overwhelmed before the deadly LaGuardia crash involving a plane and fire truck. The situation was complicated by a separate emergency involving another aircraft, creating a cascade of coordination challenges. Audio recordings captured the controller admitting “I messed up” after the collision. The incident highlights concerns about system strain and staffing pressures in air traffic control.

Trump joked about fighting Elvis, asking if he could win, and was told the singer “would’ve been respectful enough to let you win.”