Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press to promote his character and principled superiority to all other congressional representatives, the professional political narcissist, Thomas Massie, pledges to create as much turmoil as possible in his final seven months. Video and Transcript Below:

{TRANSCRIPT} – KRISTEN WELKER: And joining me now is Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Congressman Massie, welcome back to Meet the Press.

REP. THOMAS MASSIE: Thanks, Kristen.

KRISTEN WELKER: Thank you so much for being here. I do wanna get to your race in just a moment, but I have to start with that developing news on Iran, President Trump posting on Saturday that an agreement with Iran has, quote, “largely been negotiated.” It’s unclear what exactly has been agreed to, whether any deal would directly address the issue of the nuclear program, which of course is at the center of the war with Iran. So far no final deal has been announced, but, Congressman, would you support a short-term deal with Iran?

REP. THOMAS MASSIE: Well, I was the author of the first War Powers Resolution to get us out of Iran. My constituents are hurting. Gas is almost $5 a gallon. Diesel’s almost $6 a gallon. And the farmers here in Kentucky can’t afford the fertilizer to put on their fields, so heck yes, I would support it. We don’t know what the terms of it are, but if Lindsay Graham and Ted Cruz are crashing out last night, I’d say it’s probably a pretty good deal.

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Against the backdrop of Tulsi Gabbard resigning her position as Director of National Intelligence, there is an opportunity to explain how the Washington DC Intelligence Community functions in real life.

ODNI Tulsi Gabbard has rightly been receiving a lot of praise for her efforts at removing the shroud of secrecy that is often used by an intensely territorial IC network.  Simultaneously, she has received criticism or what Machiavelli called, “the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institution”; because, in reality Tulsi Gabbard might be considered the first functional DNI.

One of the reasons Tulsi Gabbard was effective was her willingness to answer this question:

It was DNI Tulsi Gabbard who released the receipts showing how the CIA and IC ran an impeachment operation against President Trump.  CIA operative Eric Ciarmella, ICIG Michael Atkinson and HPSCI Chairman Adam Schiff all collaboratively involved.

Here it becomes more important for the next sequence of events to fully understand what it was about Tulsi Gabbard in the position of DNI that made such a big difference.  What was it about her approach to the office of the DNI that made Gabbard stand out?  This is a discussion worth having.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar hold a press conference in New Delhi during Rubio’s first official trip to India.

In continuation of President Trump’s Indo-Pacific strategy, Secretary Rubio notes that India has become one of America’s most strategic partnerships in the world.  Both nations represent the world’s largest democracies, and both nations face internal scrutiny as an outcome of their need to be open and accountable to the people they represent.  Additionally, the trade and economic partnership between the USA and India is critical to hedge against the influence by Chinese expansion.

The question and media answers begin at 16:10, with the first question asking about U.S. policy that no longer supports mass visa opportunities for Indian residents.  Rubio notes the same visa restrictions that are in place now against India are the same visa limits now in place against the entire globe.  The process to reform and/or change how immigration takes place always creates some friction points.  WATCH:

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Delivering two messages today from his Truth Social account, President Trump notes the Pakistani and Arab negotiating teams are close to terms of an agreement. However, President Trump emphasizes that any negotiated end to the conflict must include the complete elimination of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

PRESIDENT TRUMP – “If I make a deal with Iran, it will be a good and proper one, not like the one made by Obama, which gave Iran massive amounts of CASH, and a clear and open path to a Nuclear Weapon. Our deal is the exact opposite, but nobody has seen it, or knows what it is. It isn’t even fully negotiated yet. So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about. Unlike those before me who should have solved this problem many years ago, I don’t make bad deals!” ~ President DJT

EARLIER – “One of the worst deals ever made by our Country was the Iran Nuclear Deal, put forth and signed into existence by Barack Hussein Obama and the rank amateurs of the Obama Administration. It was a direct path to Iran developing a Nuclear Weapon. Not so with the transaction currently being negotiated with Iran by the Trump Administration – THE EXACT OPPOSITE, in fact! The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side. The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes! Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb. I would like to thank, thus far, all of the countries of the Middle East for their support and cooperation, which will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the Nations of the historic Abraham Accords and, who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join, as well! Thank you for your attention to this matter. ~ President DONALD J. TRUMP

It is doubtful the finalized terms will be released today.  However, Scott Jennings is reporting on some of the outlines of the agreement after he had discussions with a “senior Trump official” directly involved in the negotiations.

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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The Gulf Arab allies had been negotiating through Pakistan with Iran.

Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are now joined by Turkey in the construction of the agreement, which is important because Turkey now represents the figurative center of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The GCC and President Trump are not going to end Iranian Islamic extremism without the umbrella political organization of the Brotherhood accepting terms.

[VIA TRUTH SOCIAL] – “I am in the Oval Office at the White House where we just had a very good call with President Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of The United Arab Emirates, Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and Minister Ali al-Thawadi, of Qatar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, of Pakistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, of Türkiye, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, of Egypt, King Abdullah II, of Jordan, and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, of Bahrain, concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all things related to a Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE. An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed. Separately, I had a call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, which, likewise, went very well. Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly. In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

~ President DONALD J. TRUMP

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The White House was placed into lockdown after a series of approximately 30 shots were heard being fired near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.  Journalists and media correspondents reported hearing a series of multiple shots fired and were then told to go into the Brady Room of the White House where they were protected while secret security evaluated the danger.

Secret Service agents were seen on the White House grounds with their weapons drawn responding to the alarm.  As far as currently reported, around 6pm a single gunman approached the White House gate on West Side. The gunman brandished pistol and fired toward the White House at least six shots.  Secret Service returned fire and the shooter was taken down.  A bystander on street is also reported to have been hit.  The gunman never got through the security perimeter.

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It’s not Mexico that needs a trade deal with Europe, it’s the opposite.

For almost two decades Europe has been investing heavily inside Mexico, particularly noted in the auto industry, as they positioned themselves to take advantage of NAFTA and later the USMCA as an entry to the U.S. market.

European auto companies spent billions on assembly plants in Mexico, where they could ship EU manufactured component goods to be assembled into NAFTA/USMCA compliant vehicles.  As President Trump and USTR Greer begin focusing on eliminating the USMCA trade agreement in favor of two bilateral deals (U.S-Canada and U.S-Mexico), Europe now needs to protect prior investment.

The prior Mexico-EU trade agreement has existed since 2000 (NAFTA timeframe).  In 2025 they agreed to a revised Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and finalized the terms and conditions yesterday.

MEXICO CITY, May 22 (Reuters) – Mexico and the European Union signed a long-stalled free trade agreement on Friday as they seek to decrease dependence on the U.S. and partially insulate themselves from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The accord, which they reached broad agreement on in 2025 but have delayed signing, expands a Mexico-EU trade accord from 2000, which covered only industrial goods. The new pact adds services, government procurement, digital trade, investment and farm produce.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are to sign the deal in Mexico City in their first summit in over a decade.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting India while opening the latest U.S. Embassy New Delhi. During remarks before a formal dinner, Secretary Rubio noted there may be information coming later today on the conflict with Iran.

Simultaneous to this, President Trump is reported to be in discussions with all of the Arab state partners.

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Secretary Rubio at the ribbon cutting in New Delhi is below.

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