LIVE: MeidasTouch RESPONDS to MAJOR BREAKING NEWS - 3/23/26
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Donald Trump's social media post announcing an 'in principle' deal with Iran was released just before markets opened, preventing a predicted crash and causing futures to turn positive.
- ❖Iranian officials, including the leader of parliament, immediately denied any direct or indirect communications or deals with the US.
- ❖US force deployments, including 2,500 Marines, 2,000 sailors, and 3,000 paratroopers, are staging for a potential ground invasion, possibly targeting Kar Island.
- ❖Experts predict a US invasion of Kar Island would be a 'total and utter death trap.'
- ❖Trump's administration reportedly attempted to use JD Vance as an intermediary for talks with Iran after Witoff and Kushner were rejected, but Iran did not respond.
- ❖Iranian embassies are mocking Trump with memes, including one featuring a baby steering wheel next to a main one, referencing his 'me and the Ayatollah will control the Strait of Hormuz' comment.
- ❖The Midas Touch Network announced the hiring of Scott McFarland as Chief Washington D.C. Correspondent, aiming to build independent media platforms for reporters leaving corporate news.
- ❖Hosts criticize mainstream media (e.g., CNBC, Fox Business) for 'regurgitating Trump propaganda' and acting as 'active and willing participants' in his market manipulation.
- ❖The Strait of Hormuz remains under Iran's firm control, with Iran charging tolls in Yuan and selling oil at record profits due to removed US sanctions.
- ❖Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant's claim that removing sanctions 'jiujitsus' Iran is dismissed as illogical, as Iran is profiting and mocking the US.
- ❖Trump claimed 'almost all points of agreement' with Iran, but when pressed, could only state 'they're not going to have a nuclear weapon' without detailing mechanisms or oversight.
- ❖US troops are expected to arrive in the Middle East on Friday, coinciding with Trump's stated 'five-day' deal expiration, fueling suspicions of a timed invasion.
- ❖Apollo, a major private equity firm, capped redemptions from one of its largest private credit funds after withdrawal requests exceeded 11% of outstanding shares, signaling potential market instability.
- ❖Traders placed $580 million in oil trades and $1.5 billion in S&P 500 futures trades 15 minutes before Trump's Iran announcement, generating over $100 million in profit, suggesting insider trading.
- ❖A partial US government shutdown continues, with MAGA Republicans blocking TSA funding unless ICE receives unlimited money and unrelated demands like voter ID and transgender athlete bans are met.
- ❖Trump's economy is described as a 'house of cards,' with predictions of surging inflation and economic crisis, exacerbated by the war and his policies.
- ❖The CEO of United Airlines is preparing for $175 a barrel oil, indicating severe and lasting impacts on global supply chains and prices.
- ❖Trump made 'weird, weird, weird' comments in Tennessee, equating his relationship with the state to sexual relationships, while ignoring pressing national issues like flooding in Hawaii and wildfires in Nebraska.
Insights
1Trump's Iran Deal Claims as Market Manipulation
Donald Trump's announcement of an 'in principle' deal with Iran, immediately contradicted by Iranian officials, is framed by the hosts as a deliberate market manipulation tactic. This claim is supported by observed market reactions—futures turning positive just before opening—and specific data on massive oil and S&P 500 futures trades occurring minutes prior to his post, yielding over $100 million in profit for unknown entities.
Trump's post at , Iranian officials' denial at , $580 million in oil trades and $1.5 billion in S&P 500 futures traded 15 minutes before Trump's post at .
2Escalating US Military Presence and Invasion Risk
Despite Trump's claims of peace talks, the US is significantly increasing its military presence in the Middle East, with 2,500 Marines, 2,000 sailors, and 3,000 paratroopers deploying. This staging is interpreted as preparation for a full-fledged ground invasion, potentially targeting Kar Island, which military experts have warned would be a 'total and utter death trap.' The timing of troop arrivals coincides with Trump's 'five-day' deal expiration.
Details of troop deployments at , expert predictions of a 'death trap' at , USS Tripoli and 31st MEU arriving on Friday (the deal expiration day) at .
3Iran's Strategic Gains Amidst US Sanction Removal
The hosts highlight that Iran is making record profits from oil sales due to the United States removing sanctions during the ongoing conflict. Iran is also strengthening its alliances, accepting Yuan for tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, and receiving parts and resources from Russia, which also had its oil sanctions removed. This contradicts the Treasury Secretary's assertion that removing sanctions 'jiujitsus' Iran.
Iran selling oil at record profits due to removed sanctions at , Iran getting parts/resources from Russia at , Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant's 'jiujitsu' comment at .
4Media Complicity in Spreading Misinformation
The hosts strongly criticize mainstream financial news outlets like CNBC and Fox Business for 'regurgitating Trump propaganda' without critical analysis. They argue these outlets act as 'active and willing participants' in Trump's market manipulation schemes by uncritically amplifying his false claims, thereby misleading the public and markets.
Jordy's criticism of CNBC and Fox Business at , Brett's agreement on the need for a strong 'fourth estate' at .
Bottom Line
The US is leveraging its liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply to pressure European Union nations into a trade deal, threatening to revoke favorable access to US LNG shipments if the EU does not implement a pact that includes buying $750 billion worth of US energy by 2028. This threat comes as EU LNG prices surge due to the Strait of Hormuz closure.
This demonstrates a coercive US foreign policy, using energy as a geopolitical weapon to secure economic agreements. It could further strain transatlantic relations and leave Europe vulnerable to energy price volatility, especially if the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt global supply chains.
European nations might accelerate investments in diverse energy sources and infrastructure to reduce reliance on single suppliers, fostering greater energy independence and resilience against such geopolitical pressures.
Russia is reportedly bringing ships, potentially carrying weapons and Iranian-made drones, into Cuba, while Cuba's foreign minister states their military is prepared to fight if the US invades. This suggests a potential re-escalation of Cold War-era proxy tensions in the Caribbean.
This development could open a new front in global conflicts, drawing the US into a direct confrontation with Russia and its allies in its immediate neighborhood, diverting resources and attention from other critical regions.
Intelligence agencies and policymakers need to closely monitor Russian and Cuban military activities to prevent a new Cuban Missile Crisis-like scenario and develop diplomatic strategies to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Hungary, under Viktor Orban, is hosting CPAC and is accused of working with Russia to potentially provoke a regional war with Ukraine (e.g., faking an assassination attempt on Orban) to interfere with upcoming elections and prop up authoritarian regimes in Europe.
This indicates a coordinated effort by authoritarian leaders to destabilize democratic processes and alliances within Europe, potentially leading to broader conflict and undermining the European Union's integrity. It highlights the interconnectedness of global authoritarian movements.
Pro-democracy and pro-EU coalitions in Hungary and other European nations need robust international support and intelligence sharing to counter foreign interference and propaganda, safeguarding democratic elections and regional stability.
Opportunities
Independent Media Network Expansion
The Midas Touch Network's strategy of partnering with top reporters leaving corporate news (e.g., Scott McFarland from CBS News) to build their independent media platforms, while leveraging the network's community, presents a scalable model for counteracting corporate media narratives and fostering diverse, fact-based reporting.
Key Concepts
Baghdad Bob Effect
The hosts reference the 'Baghdad Bob' phenomenon, where official government statements are so divorced from reality that the enemy's version of events becomes more credible. This is applied to Trump's statements about Iran, suggesting his claims are so unbelievable that Iran's denials are more trustworthy.
Market Manipulation Scheme
This model describes a deliberate, coordinated effort to influence the price of a security or commodity for personal gain. The hosts apply this to Trump's Iran announcement, detailing how his false claims temporarily stabilized markets, allowing insiders to profit from pre-emptive trades.
Trojan Horse Tactic
The hosts suggest Trump's diplomatic overtures and 'five-day' deadlines are a 'Trojan horse'—a deceptive strategy to delay time and protect markets while covertly preparing for military action, as evidenced by troop deployments coinciding with the deadline.
Lessons
- Critically evaluate news from mainstream financial outlets, especially when reporting on political figures' market-moving statements, and seek out independent analyses.
- Support and subscribe to independent media platforms that prioritize factual reporting and challenge propaganda, such as Scott McFarland Reports and Katie Fang News.
- Stay informed about global geopolitical developments, recognizing how seemingly isolated events (e.g., US troop deployments, trade deals, regional conflicts) are interconnected and can impact personal finances and national security.
Notable Moments
Trump's 'relationship with Tennessee' comments
Donald Trump made bizarre comments equating his 'relationship with the state' of Tennessee to sexual relationships, stating it's 'a lot safer than relationships with other things.' This moment is highlighted for its strangeness and perceived disconnect from the serious national and international issues being discussed, underscoring the hosts' view of his 'demented' public persona.
The 'Smelly Kid in Class' Analogy
One of the hosts used the analogy of the US being 'the smelly kid in class' in terms of global trust and credibility, suggesting it will take a long time and consistent effort ('consistent showers') to regain international respect. This colorful analogy reflects the hosts' deep concern about the long-term damage to America's global standing.
Quotes
"The unsettling reality is that with this president, Americans in wartime are in the unprecedented position of having to suspect that the enemy's version of events is more likely to be true than our own. We have become Baghdad Bob."
"I'm not an opinionist. I'm not an editorialist. I'm far from a politician. I'm an enterprise reporter and have been for a quarter of a century."
"You don't platform lies. You don't platform conspiracy theories. And you don't allow for the whitewashing of history."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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