SMOTRICH: ‘WHOEVER TRIED TO CRASH A PLANE AND MURDER 180 ISRAELIS MUST PAY’

Israeli Finance Minister said the perpetrator and any state or terrorist organisation that sent him must pay, while vowing to ‘pursue my enemies and destroy them’ after the FlyDubai incident.

BREAKING: U.S. Ends Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq After Twelve Years

The current administration did not get us into this war, but it has made the right decision to formally end Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq today. After twelve years, Iraq must take responsibility for its own security. American troops carried out the mission they were given. They fought ISIS, endured repeated deployments, and paid a price that their families understand far better than most people in Washington ever will. Their service deserves our respect, and their sacrifice places an obligation on those who decide where and when we fight.

The departure of coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base concludes this wartime mission. It does not eliminate every threat in Iraq. ISIS remnants remain, and Iran-aligned militias continue to undermine Iraqi sovereignty. The Iraqi government must confront those threats rather than depend indefinitely on Americans to bear the risk.

Any continuing U.S. training or intelligence support must have a defined purpose, serve American interests, and stay within clear limits. We should not announce the end of a combat mission only to allow expanding advisory commitments to draw us back into it.

Washington has too often treated the danger of leaving as sufficient justification for staying, without adequately accounting for the cost of staying or explaining what would finally permit departure. That reasoning can keep troops committed for another decade.

Ending this mission is the right decision. Now we must have the discipline to hold Iraq to its responsibilities and ensure that any future commitment of American forces comes with an objective and a clear end state.

Thursday, October 1, 2026 3:46 CDT
POTUS quotes:
When asked if he would ask European nations to release some of their diesel stock to try and bring prices down, Trump said: "We may do that." He then said that "prices are coming down."
 
Asked about his visit to Oklahoma, Trump said it will be a "speech on how well we are doing."
 
He added that Republicans have done a "bad public relations job, but a great management job." 
 
Asked about the botched execution last night in Tennessee and whether he plans to push for any changes for capital punishment, Trump said it was an "interesting situation."
 
"We are going to have to speak to Tennessee about it," he said. 
 
Asked about Latino voters who dismayed by his policies and what message he plans to send them, Trump said: "We have to do what we have to do."
 
When asked which competitive districts he plans to visit, he did not say. He did, however, said he is going to Oklahoma, Alabama and Texas to "say thank you."

Thursday, October 1, 2026 5:07 PM CDT

The president told workers at the Peterbilt Motors facility that they need to vote for Ken Paxton. 

"It's such a big race," Trump said. He called him one of the "most loyal people." "I have to always remember that because he can be a pain in the ass sometimes. I'll be honest." 

"We need Ken so badly, that's why I am here." 

Trump said it would be a "horror" if Paxton lost to Democrat James Talarico.

"To put a guy, a freak like that in there would be such a horror to your state, and such a horror to the country," he said. "We need the votes and I'm here for that, and I think we're going to win." 

Talking about the midterms, POTUS said his "heart is in it like never before." 

Friday, October 2, 2026 4:32 PM

Here are some POTUS quotes from the gaggle prior to his M1 departure, with thanks to fellow pooler Ana Ceballos for her help.
 
On the diesel export ban and the G7 release of diesel reserves
"It was never really on the table but what Europe did is a great thing"
 
"We are not going to be doing the export ban. We are going to be doing what we are supposed to do... We are going to have a lot of oil."
 
"We have a very good relationship with Europe,  and they wanted to do it because they have a lot of diesel, they use diesel. They have a lot of diesel and I said “it would be great if you put it out to the market”. 
 
On the midterms
 "We’re making a lot of progress - when I go there we win, if I don’t go there we would not do as well"
POTUS added that Republicans get "44 per cent more" when he runs.
"We want to pretend I’m running"

On Brazil's election
POTUS said he is "watching that election very closely." 
 
On Iran
POTUS was asked about his next step on Iran. "If I told you you'd have a major story right? But you'll see, it's working out very well, Iran is not doing well".
 
Ballroom
POTUS pointed to the construction of the ballroom on White House grounds . "That’s one of the biggest cranes in the world that lifts up the steel from the roof, pretty cool right?"

Cornell/Letitia James
POTUS accused Letitia James, the NY state attorney-general, of being a "corrupt person" after she was appointed special prosecutor in the Cornell rape case. 
"I feel badly for whoever she is looking at because they won’t get a fair shake" —pool

HEGSETH: He told me, ‘PETE GIVE ME WARRIORS NOT WOKESTERS’.

HEGSETH: ‘More oil going through Strait of Hormuz today than before conflict even started’

Today In History

https://mwi.westpoint.edu/urban-case-study-9-the-battle-of-mogadishu/

HEGSETH: Send me to fight the Redcoats. Send me to fight the Communists. Send me to fight the Nazis. Send me to fight the Islamists

HEGSETH: Tough for Iran to control Strait of Hormuz when they don't have a navy. They don't have fast boats, and they've got no Air Force.