Move Over Fantastic Man... Negotiations Are Serious – Top 3 Takeaways – May 19th, 2026
Takeaway #1: Meanwhile in Iran...
What is your expectation for what happens with Iran? Do you believe there’s any resolution to the conflict that doesn’t come with additional conflict? Do you think there’s any way oil will smoothly flow through the Strait of Hormuz if there aren’t boots on the ground at some point? Do you feel that Iran has simply been stalling with 14-point plan, after 14-point plan, like the one sent over through The Fantastic Man (Pakistani mediator) in the morning yesterday? If you do, you might be wondering what it is that Iran is doing while attempting to stall the United States from taking next steps to permanently resolve things militarily. One of the answers is arming citizenry. What’s been clear since the onset of the Iran war is that the IRGC, or whomever is really running things, is particularly adept at media manipulation. This includes messaging through Iran’s state media that’s intended directly for you and me, like for example when Iran’s Parliament Speaker recently said, “enjoy the pump figures, you’ll soon be nostalgic for $4-$5 gas”. Surely Iran knows that they can’t defeat the U.S. militarily, however it’s apparent they do believe they can defeat President Trump in the court of public opinion. That appears to have been part of the country’s focus militarily during this ceasefire as well. Iranian media has been encouraging its citizens to take up arms against the Americans. This includes pop up kiosks with AK-47's being distributed throughout the country with IRGC instructors distributing the weapons and teaching its citizenry how to use them. Notably, this commonly includes women and children. It’s clear that part of Iran’s plan, should we have U.S. boots on the ground, is not only to cause as many American casualties as possible, but to have the narrative reflect that American soldiers are killing women and children while invading Iran. You know how that would be reported around the world. You know what GSS News would do with that narrative too. Iran is preparing for next steps in the war with propaganda as integral as its military strategy. This is all part of what President Trump must consider as he’s in the Situation Room today being presented with military options for potential next steps. Iran is banking on a strategy that the American people won’t have the stomach to allow President Trump to finish what he started. But hold the door because rather than boots on the ground in Iran now we have...
Takeaway #2: Serious Negotiations
It was just past three in the afternoon yesterday that after five plus weeks of a ceasefire we now have serious negotiations. President Trump announced it with this post on Truth... I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond. This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN! Based on my respect for the above mentioned Leaders, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached. So, I’m not sure what kind of negotiations we were having before but now this is serious... So, the question is this...are the aforementioned leaders of the middle eastern countries who requested that our military action be held off for serious talks for real? Do they hold the key to solving this thing, or is this simply a different version of a similar thing to continue stalling?
Takeaway #3: Primary Season in full swing
Today’s primary day marks the most active of the midterm election season to date. Six states, including two that border our state are holding their primary elections today - Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The storylines are many as Alabama has an open senate seat – and Kentucky does too as former Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell’s successor will begin to come into focus. Georgia has an open gubernatorial race and a hotly contested Republican primary for senate in the state to face off against Democrat Jon Ossoff in November – in one of the best GOP pickup opportunities this year. But the biggest news nationally will probably involve the House race involving Kentucky’s GOP Trump nemeses in Thomas Massie. If you’ve checked in on President Trump’s Truth Social feed recently you’ve come across a steady dose of messaging like this: Third Rate Congressman Thomas Massie, a Weak and Pathetic RINO from the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, a place I love, and won big SIX TIMES, including all Primaries, must be thrown out of office, ASAP! He is the Worst “Republican” Congressman in History, voting against Tax Cuts, the Wall, Law Enforcement, and in favor of the Transgender Mutilization of our Children, Men playing in Women’s Sports, and so many more horrible things. Declaring Massie to be the worst GOP member of Congress in history is about as strong of a statement as one can make. And so, the question will be whether President Trump’s streak of upending the political careers of GOPers who haven’t been onboard with his agenda can continue (most recently Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy’s on Saturday). Massie is a seven-term congressman who won his previous primary election with 76% of the vote, and the previous general election with 99.6%! of the vote. Primary season is now in full swing as is President Trump’s campaign to rebuild the GOP with friendlies. As recently as last week prediction markets priced in Massie with a 79% chance of winning. Today’s effort by the president to oust him might be the biggest test of the bending of the will of Republican primary voters his way to date.