Top World News
Trump put Noem in the corner during 'Shield of the Americas' special envoy debut
Mar 7, 2026 - World 
Newly appointed “Special Envoy for the Shield of Americas” Kristi Noem made her debut in Florida Saturday morning to witness Donald Trump promote his new “Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere,” but was not invited to the lectern to speak to the assembled South American dignitaries despite her lofty status.That led to MS NOW’s Ali Velshi to smirk at her exclusion because Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were invited to stand with the president, as well as speak, during the ceremonies, while Noem sat in the audience.Noem was shifted to her new position in the Trump administration after being unceremoniously fired by Trump on Truth Social and replaced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) who still faces Senate approval to take over as the new head of Homeland Security.Noem has previously expressed excitement about her invite to Trump National Doral where the gathering was held, taking to X and writing, “Thank you @POTUS Trump for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. @SecRubio and @SecWar are incredible leaders and I look forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren.”Sharing clips of the proceedings, with Noem seen speaking with some attendees, Velshi quipped, “Notably, the newly minted special envoy of the Shield of the Americas did not take the podium with the president at the summit. In case you don't know who that is, that is the newly ousted or the ousted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. She's been named the envoy to the Shield of America.""She was there by the way,” he dryly added.Noem later spoke during a group lunch with attendees. - YouTube youtu.be
Trump convenes ‘Shield of Americas’ summit with 12 Latin American leaders
Mar 7, 2026 - World 
In Miami, president calls for regional cooperation to counter Chinese economic and political interestsDonald Trump changed the channel from Iran to the western hemisphere on Saturday, convening a gathering of Latin American leaders at his Miami-area golf club to discuss regional interests and establishing what he called a “counter-cartel coalition”.“Just as we formed a coalition to eradicate Isis, we now need a coalition to eradicate the cartels,” he told 12 regional leaders gathered at what the White House called the “Shield of the Americas” summit. Continue reading...
Leaked classified report undercut Trump's Iran plans a week before he started war: WaPo
Mar 7, 2026 - World 
Three members of the Donald Trump administration have confirmed to the Washington Post that a classified document created by the National Intelligence Council poured cold water on the president’s hopes about regime change in Iran following his war launch.According to the Post, the warning was completed a week before the president gave the go-ahead for the Department of Defense, under Secretary Pete Hegseth to proceed with the bombings on February 28th.The classified report examined succession scenarios under two potential military scenarios: a targeted campaign against Iran's leadership or a broader assault on its government institutions. In both cases, intelligence analysts concluded that "Iran's clerical and military establishment would respond to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by following protocols designed to preserve continuity of power," according to those familiar with the findings.The National Intelligence Council comprises veteran intelligence analysts tasked with producing classified assessments representing the combined judgment of Washington's 18 intelligence agencies.White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly dismissed the implications in a statement to the Post, asserting: "President Trump and the administration have clearly outlined their goals with regard to Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran's ballistic missiles and production capacity, demolish their navy, end their ability to arm proxies, and prevent them from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. The Iranian regime is being absolutely crushed."Suzanne Maloney, an Iran scholar and vice president at the Brookings Institution, characterized the NIC assessment as credible, stating: "It sounds like a deeply informed assessment of the Iranian system and the institutions and processes that have been established for many years."You can read more here.
Shrinking weapon stockpiles and regime-change uncertainty: doubts shadow US-Israel war on Iran
Mar 7, 2026 - World 
Report indicates that US intelligence officials question effectiveness of strikes to produce regime change in IranMiddle East crisis – follow liveUS government reviews of the war in Iran show that the Trump administration may be ill-equipped for a regime-change war, according to reports.The Washington Post reported on Saturday morning that a classified intelligence review found that the war in Iran is unlikely to oust the Iranian establishment, despite the Trump administration’s desire to continue its attacks. Continue reading...
Four US bombers land at RAF base in UK after warning of surge in strikes on Iran
Mar 7, 2026 - World 
B-1 Lancers arrive at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after Starmer allows US to use UK as a base for ‘defensive’ action Middle East crisis – live updatesFour US bombers have landed at an RAF base in Britain to carry out “specific defensive operations” to stop Iran firing missiles into the Middle East, the Ministry of Defence has said.The B-1 Lancers, which are 45 metres (146ft) long and capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles, arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, one on Friday evening and three on Saturday morning, after Keir Starmer had granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. Continue reading...
