How Trump Bullied Israel Into A Ceasefire

It's Friday, April 17th.

I'm Jane Kostin, and this is What Today, a show that does not share Treasury Secretary

Scott Besson's sunny appraisal of the economy.

Here's what he told a reporter on Thursday when asked why people aren't happy about how

things are going.

Well, look, in the heart of heart, they feel good.

I'm not sure what they're telling the survey people.

Trump Administration to America.

You're fine, and you're lying.

On today's show, Texas Attorney General and candidate for the Senate Republican

Primary, Ken Paxton, is coming for your Lululelements.

And as President Donald Trump can to use to beef with the Pope, Secretary of Defense

Pete Higgseth recites a fake prayer he learned from Quentin Tarantino.

But let's start with Lebanon, Israel, and Iran.

Trump announced Thursday, Israel, and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, ending weeks

of fighting between the Israeli government and Hezbollah, and Iran-backed Lebanese militant

group.

The agreement came after the two countries held their first direct talks since 1993.

As always, Trump gave all the credit to himself.

Here he is on the White House lawn, speaking to reporters Thursday.

Today, they're going to be having a ceasefire, and that'll include Hezbollah.

And I think it could be number 10 for me.

By the way, when he says I think it could be number 10 for me, he means that he thinks

he ended 10 wars.

Obviously, he claimed he ended eight wars.

He hasn't.

And no, I don't know what war number nine was.

Moving on.

There's still a lot we don't know about the ceasefire.

For one thing, a statement from Hezbollah said the group acknowledged the ceasefire but

didn't mention accepting it.

But the bigger question for me is what does this mean for America's war in Iran?

According to Trump, the U.S. and Iran might meet for talks as soon as this weekend.

Here's the President responding when asked if he's going to extend the ceasefire with Iran.

I'm not sure it needs to be extended.

You got to just say you know, Iran wants to make a deal.

And we're dealing very nicely with them.

Of course, everything is coming up.

Trump.

He also claimed that Iran had agreed to hand over, quote, nuclear dust buried by last year's

airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, but Iran hasn't confirmed any of that.

So to talk about what this means, as well as how Democrats are trying to limit weapons

sales to Israel, I spoke with Tommy Vittor, co-host of Crooked Media's Pod Save the World.

Tommy, welcome back to what today.

Thank you, good beer.

The President announced that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire that begins Thursday

and would last for 10 days.

Israel was down to announce its agreement.

Why would they agree to this when they've been dominating so much of Southern Lebanon

and there's been some reporting that the Israeli parliament was not happy about this at all?

Yeah, it sounds like Trump just forced this on Netanyahu and then announced it before

the National Security Cabinet even had a chance to vote on it.

So I would imagine there's some folks within the Israeli government that are mad.

I think that this is an instant of Donald Trump telling Netanyahu what he wanted and then

making it so.

So the complicating factor here is that this is a deal between Lebanon and Israel.

As we're talking right now, Hezbollah has not weighed in.

Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based Iran-backed militant organization that acts as we've talked

about as a government in Southern Lebanon, but is not controlled by the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah is the party fighting Israel.

Do you think that Iran is pushing Hezbollah to accept this?

What do you think the relationship is between Iran and its proxies in this moment?

It's a great question because to your point, I don't think that the Lebanese government

can deliver on a Hezbollah if Hezbollah doesn't want it.

They don't have a military that's nearly as powerful as what Hezbollah has.

So Hezbollah has all the cards.

So it's a big question of whether the Iranians and their proxies will want a Hezbollah

in this moment.

I mean, maybe the Iranians will say, okay, let's do 10 days to overlap with the current

Hezbollah.

We've agreed to and then things blow up all bets are off and we're back to fighting.

But it's important to note that it's not like Israel is withdrawing troops.

Israel is sovereign and Lebanon is still occupying in.

Right.

What do you think that says about what Israel wants to do in Lebanon after the ceasefire?

I think it's clear that it's likely that the war in Lebanon will continue long after

the war with Iran ends.

Netanyahu, I'm almost positive, will seek to annex and fully occupy a whole bunch of

territory in southern Lebanon.

They will say it's a national security need because you need to prevent rocket fire

from Hezbollah into northern Israel.

But it's important to note that Hezbollah was born out of the last Israeli occupation

of Lebanon.

So we're going to see some sort of blowback from this, but it doesn't seem good.

Let's stick with Israel for a second and the Iran war and the second front of that war,

which is in Lebanon.

This week Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders rallied Senate Democrats to halt

sales of weapons and bulldozers to Israel.

Those measures failed, but what got me was that it got like 85% of Senate Democrats,

including a bunch of names.

I mean, I think you could have expected Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, but

you may not have expected Connecticut Democratic Senate Chris Murphy, New Jersey Senator Cory

Booker, a host of people for whom it's clear that they were kind of looking at the tea

leaves on this issue and they made a decision.

This seems like a big political moment for how the Democratic Party views Israel.

How do you explain the vote?

Yeah, I mean, this was a vote on what it was, it was like armored bulldozers and 1,000

pound bombs.

Right.

So it feels like something that you know, you would imagine would be pretty easy to vote

no on.

I mean, why does Israel need an armored bulldozer to defend itself against Iran?

They don't.

They get used to annex territory in the West Bank, for example.

What this tells me though is that Democratic elected officials are feeling enormous pressure

to get tougher on the Israeli government, specifically in the United States administration.

I mean, that whip count was it 40 dams voted yes?

40 out of 47.

Thinkable five years ago.

Now, I think a lot of folks in the base would say, it's still slow.

Yeah, we still want more.

Yeah, but the elected officials are clearly like a lagging indicator here and they're

reading the same polls you and I are that show Israel is wildly unpopular with young people,

with progressives and increasingly the rights, especially, you know, non evangelical conservatives.

I have to ask just to back up for a second, because this has always been a question that

you see posted online and one that I actually have.

Israel's a pretty strong economy.

It's actually doing very well since the war in Iran began.

There's been, you know, their economy is booming.

Why exactly do they need so much military support from the United States?

I understand their positionality in the Middle East.

I get it.

I understand that.

But like thinking economically, why do they need so much from us?

I think a lot of people would argue that they don't even see like Ben Shapiro, a huge defender

in fan of Israel says they should cut off US military aid and just not deal with the

problems that causes.

I mean, you're right.

It's like a rich country.

They have an advanced military.

They have an industrial base of their own.

I think a lot of people would point out that money is fungible.

If we are supporting Israel by providing them weapons or missile defense systems, they

can then use that for universal healthcare for their citizens, something we might like

back home.

So I think they answer your question is they don't need our money.

It's just sort of become a thing.

It's become an article of faith over time.

Barack Obama signed a 10-year MOU that provided billions and billions of inmates to Israel.

It was a different time.

I think Ben, it was more of an argument about helping defend Israel from Iranian attacks,

which obviously we've seen play out.

But I think at the time has passed for that policy to change.

The US House held another vote to rein in Trump's power to wage war in Iran.

It went down by just one vote.

This is the third time the House stepped back from challenging Trump on the war.

They say the third time is the charm.

I would say, is this Congress going to just give up on pulling the war?

Is this going to be pulling Trump back?

I know.

It's so depressing.

I mean, the good news on this is that there were three Democrats who had voted against

a previous war power's resolution.

Henry Kware, Greg Lansbane in 1 Vargas, they flipped their votes.

And now they're in favor of the war power's resolution ending the war.

We still lost another Democrat, Jared Golden, who's resigning.

Thomas Massey of Kentucky, a Republican voted in favor of it.

But it is exhausting and infuriating that Congress has just decided that constitution

be damned.

I guess they think they have no role in deciding when we go to war.

Because this isn't new exactly.

Like what requires a war power's resolution?

Because this happened under the Obama administration, in terms of guard to Libya.

Like we've seen this for the last 15 years or so, that when we go to war seems to be

a decision now made by the executive branch and not by the legislative branch.

How did that happen?

Look, I mean, I think every president over time has argued some version.

Of the case that the War Powers Act is unconstitutional.

And as asserted, there are authority under Article 2 to do things to defend the country.

I think Obama got to keep by half during the Libya resolution when the argument from

the lawyers is basically the US didn't have troops in hostilities because it was an

entirely an air campaign.

I suspect the Trump people are making a similar kind of argument now.

Although of course there was just a massive ground mission to rescue these pilots who were

downed in Iran.

So, you have had boots on the ground.

But yeah, I mean, look, this is a fight between the executive branch and the congressional

branch.

I wish the congressional branch would fight a little harder for their own authority or

else.

Why do we even have them?

Yeah, what would it take for Congress to step in?

It seems to me that like if you believe that you are a co-equal branch of government,

why are you afraid of the branch to which you are equal to?

Agreed.

I mean, there are some members of Congress who have been quite consistent.

Some of them I like a lot, like Tim Cain, Senator from Virginia.

Some I disagree with on most things, right?

Like Thomas Massey, you, Rand Paul and Kentucky.

But I do think we need more members of Congress who like their power and want to use it.

Tommy, as always.

Thanks for joining me.

Thanks for having me.

That was my conversation with Tommy V. Tour, co-host a pod save the world.

We're heading into the weekend, but there is more news ahead.

Thanks for listening.

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Here's what else we're following today.

Head Alliance.

Joining me is Crooked's news editor, Greg Walters, to talk about the big stories.

Hey, Greg.

Greg, if you wondered if Trump had ended his beef with the Pope, fear not.

The president of the United States still has a lot of thoughts on the pontiff.

Here he is outside the White House on Thursday answering questions from reporters.

Are you deciding with the Pope?

Can I get a report?

Are you setting your name on the board?

No, no, I have to do what's right.

The Pope has to understand that very simple.

I have nothing against the Pope.

His brother's magga all the way.

I like his brother, Lewis.

I'm not fighting with the Pope made a statement.

He says, Iran can have a nuclear weapon.

I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

And if the Pope looked at the 42,000 people that we killed over the last two or three months

as a protester with no weapons, no nothing, I mean, you take a look at that.

So I can disagree with the Pope.

Now see, a reporter corrected Trump saying, quote, he didn't say that, referring to

Pope Leo, which is correct, because the Pope did not say Iran can have a nuclear weapon

because he's the Pope, Greg.

I don't think the Pope wants anyone to have a nuclear weapon.

And Trump had much more to say about Pope Leo on Thursday, adding that he would not

meet with the pontiff because, quote, I don't think it's necessary.

And adding that he supported the Pope preaching the gospel because, quote, I'm all about the

gospel.

I'm about it as much as anybody can be.

So then he added that Iran could not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.

Greg, I'm just going to go out in the lim here and say, I do not think Donald Trump is

all about the gospel.

All contraire, Jane, the Bible is extremely personal to Donald Trump.

Do you remember that time back in 2015 when Trump went on Bloomberg politics and he was

asked about his favorite Bible verse?

It's a classic.

I'm wondering what one or two of your most favorite Bible verses are.

I wouldn't want to get into it because to me, that's very personal.

You know, when I talk about the Bible, it's very personal.

So I don't want to get into graces.

I don't want to get into.

No, I just mean to you that you think a better site.

The Bible means a lot to me, but I don't want to get into specifics.

Even to sight of verse.

No, I don't want to do that.

I mean, Old Testament guy or New Testament?

Probably equal.

He's talking about the New Testament versus the Old Testament.

Like you can't decide between the Godfather Part 1 and the Godfather Part 2.

You're like, eh, they're both great.

I mean, first Godfather Part 1, obviously.

Anyway, the Pope has lots of things to do.

He's the Pope.

So he is currently on a four country tour of Africa.

But during a visit to Cameroon on Thursday, the Pope said, quote,

quote, quote, quote, quote, quote, quote, quote, quote, quote,

quote, quote, quote, quote, quote, quote, quote, quote, quote, quote,

quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote quote

win. It remains to be seen whether Trump made that mistake in Iran, but in this case, it

really looks like the guy who can't name a single Bible verse because they're so personal

has made the extremely optional decision to get into a Sunday school throwdown with his

holiness, the Bishop of Rome. And when it comes to a contest over religious and moral authority,

my money is on the Holy Father. Now speaking of people using Christianity as a shield for their own

weird thing they're into, Secretary of War slash a little boy Pete Hegseth held a prayer

event on Wednesday at the Pentagon. Now Hegseth said he was reading a prayer commonly recited to

search and rescue crews ahead of their missions, like a recent effort to find two US Air Force crew members

shot down over Iran. Hegseth said the prayer was from Ezekiel 2517, which reads, quote,

quote, and I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes. And they shall know that

I am the Lord when I shall lay my vengeance upon them. But that's not what Hegseth said. Instead,

he went full royal with cheese with the prayer that will sound extremely familiar to Quentin

Tarantino fans. Okay, here is Hegseth on Wednesday, remixed alongside the great Samuel L. Jackson

in a scene from the 1994 classic pulp fiction. They call it Cesar 2517, which I think is meant to

reflect Ezekiel 2517. So the prayer is Cesar 2517 and it reads and pray with me, please.

The path of the down aviator is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny

of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of camaraderie and duty shepherd the loss through the

valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I

will strike down upon me with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and

destroy my brother. And you will know my call sign is San D1 when I lay my vengeance upon him.

Now, number one, Greg, great movie pulp fiction, fantastic movie. Though now, again,

I'm very worried as to what Pete Hegseth thinks that movie is about. Like I would love to hear,

I actually want to hear more of his thoughts on pulp fiction, not less more.

Honestly, Jane, I'd be a lot more into politics if they would just always speak in film quotations.

I mean, imagine if Treasury Secretary Scott Besant gets up to give a speech about government

bonds and instead we just get a few quotes from the Big Lebowski or snakes on a plane. I for one

think that would be an improvement. But Jane, let's take a break from earthly politics for once and

get into some leggings politics. Now, Attorney General Ken Paxton, you don't listen to this show.

I know you don't, but you have entered my dojo. A dojo made out of wonder train leggings.

Here's CBS 19 on Tuesday. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is launching an investigation

into a major athletic work company, Lulu Lemmon. Baxon says his office is looking into whether

the brand of misled customers about the safety of its products. The investigation will focus on

whether Lulu Lemmon's clothing contains PFAS known as forever chemicals, which have been linked

to serious health concerns. Yes, that is correct. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is currently

locked in a tight runoff race for the GOP Senate nomination in Texas with Texas Republican Senator

John Cornyn, has decided to take on the real enemy, the leggings I wear to work out in every day.

This is not new for Paxton, the scandal prone Attorney General of Texas. In the past, Paxton has

investigated skittles for chemicals, Colgate toothpaste for fluoride use, and Tylenol. After

Trump and RFK Jr claimed the over-the-counter pain reliever was a potential cause of autism.

Now, Lulu Lemmon says their products have not contained any forever chemicals since 2023.

But this is obviously a clear effort by Paxton to really garner favor with the maha audience,

but Greg, he's gone after me. This is about me. This is about you, Jane. And I say,

Ken, leave Jane and her yoga pants alone. I guess he thinks there is some in Texas that there's

some kind of like take your yoga pants away demographic that's going to help him squeeze into the Senate.

But if you will excuse me, Jane, for saying this in a story about yoga, I think that's a bit of a stretch.

I would, however. Ben DeVar backwards for you, Greg. Thanks for hanging out.

Good to see you, Jane. And that's the news.

Before we go, on this week's hysteria, Alissa and Aaron dig into the sexual assault allegations

against former representative Eric Swahwell, while Vice President JD Vance continues his ongoing

campaign to lose the plot in real time. Ben, Kathy Griffin drops in to talk about hosting the

perfect salon, surviving straight white guy menaces, and white life in the D-list is actually where

the stories are. Tune into hysteria wherever you get your podcasts.

That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review,

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Like me, what today is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and subscribe at crooked.com slash

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What today is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded in a mix by Desmond Taylor. Our

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