Scoop via @CBSNews: U.S. intelligence shows that Iran's supreme leader is effectively holed up in an undisclosed location with little access to the outside world and is only reached by a labyrinth of couriers, according to U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter.
BREAKING: US believes Iran's supreme leader has approved the broad template for draft deal with Iran. Iran has agreed in principle that in exchange for the US lifting blockade, Iran will agree in principle to dispose of highly enriched uranium. This draft has to make its way through the leadership system. But US wants…
SCOOP: CIA Director John Ratcliffe brought paramilitary leader involved in Maduro capture to Cuba meeting, sources told @DeFede @JimLaPorta and me
SCOOP: Federal authorities are examining whether Chinese companies deliberately restricted the world's production of storage containers for the shipping trade just before the pandemic began six years ago, sources told @CBSNews. Several Chinese executives have been indicted, two of the sources said. The action comes…
SCOOP via @CBSNews: U.S. is taking steps to indict Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old former president of Cuba and brother of Fidel, in connection with the downing of planes 30 years ago, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The potential indictment — which would need to be approved by a grand jury — is…
NEWS via @CBSNews: Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates recently, where he met with Mohammed bin Zayed, the country's president, per sources. Netanyahu's office later acknowledged the trip, saying in a statement that it "resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations between…
Scoop via @CBSNews: As Pakistan positioned itself as a diplomatic conduit between Tehran and Washington, it quietly allowed Iranian military aircraft to park in its country, potentially shielding them from US airstrikes, sources told @JimLaPorta and me. Days after Trump announced the ceasefire in early April, Tehran…
BREAKING: Trump moving about 5,000 US forces out of Germany, partly meant as a signal of Trump's discontent with Merz's commentary and European allies' lack of support during Iran operations. @CBSNews
Scoop from @CBSNews: Trump admin is proposing wastewater testing on a national level to try to ferret out data on illegal drug use in real time, according to a draft of a new drug control strategy. The strategy also accuses pop culture of normalizing drug use, and says marketers
Scoop via @CBSNews: A major fire broke out this week on the USS Higgins, a guided-missile destroyer, sources told @JimLaPorta and me. The fire knocked out electricity and propulsion on the destroyer, a mainstay of the Navy’s forward presence in Asia. Details of how the fire
Trump patted the first lady on the tooshie during arrival ceremony for king and queen. My photo of AP's Jacquelyn Martin's capture of the moment. @AP
🚨 BREAKING: Investigators found writings in the WHCA suspected shooter's hotel room and are reviewing the written materials as part of the ongoing investigation, law enforcement and White House officials told @CBSNews. The suspect’s writings clearly stated he wanted to target
Video of White House Correspondents Association evacuation via @CBSNews
Scoop: Trump administration is exploring using the Defense Production Act as part of a strategy to save the beleaguered Spirit Airlines, sources told @olivialarinaldi and me. @CBSNews
NEW: Iran still has more military capacity than Trump admin is admitting publicly, sources told @CBSNews. @ellee_watson @JimLaPorta and me:
Psychedelics EO we reported on earlier this week will be signed in Oval Office today at 9 a.m. ET. @CBSNews
SCOOP: A psychedelic used in some countries to treat post-traumatic stress disorder is expected to get a closer examination from the federal government on its safety and effectiveness, sources told @CBSNews. The White House is drafting an executive order on ibogaine.
US has not formally requested an extension of the ceasefire with Iran, but admin is discussing potential for more in-person discussions, likely in Islamabad, @PressSec Karoline Leavitt told us. "We feel good about the prospects of a deal," she said. "And it's obviously in the
Talks are ongoing on extending the ceasefire with Iran, but there's no agreement yet, US officials told @CBSNews.
There is continued engagement between the U.S. delegation and Iran's leaders, officials told @CBSNews. One U.S. official said there is "forward motion on trying to get to an agreement."
Trilateral in-person negotiations on the Iran war are ongoing as of Saturday night at 10 pm local here in Islamabad, Pakistan, per a US official. @VP, @jaredkushner and @SteveWitkoff started talks with Iranian officials around 5 pm here. @CBSNews
🚨 New details from the rescue of the weapons systems officer in Iran: -As the special forces approached "go" time to get him off the mountain, several things happened. Centcom and JSOC received some messages from him. One was a four-digit number. "We said, 'What is he talking
NEWS: The US scrambled a massive clandestine and fighting force to rescue the weapons systems operator who had to eject from the F-15E over southwest Iran last week, eventually sending more than 150 aircraft to find him, per sources. More than 200 munitions were used. About 20
Scoop: Trump is likely to make leadership changes involving two more top roles at the Justice Department, per sources. The changes likely will affect Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division -- a promotion for @HarmeetKDhillon -- as well as
BREAKING via @CBSNews: About a dozen U.S. service members were injured in an attack on Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia, according to multiple U.S. officials. A small number sustained very serious injuries; others were considered seriously injured. @JimLaPorta @ellee_watson
Scoop: White House has rejected an offer from billionaire Elon Musk to cover TSA workers' pay during partial shutdown that has disrupted airport travelers across the country, sources told @CBSNews. The suggestion was taken seriously by Trump officials, but they believe the
NEWS: Trump has been strategizing methods to secure or extract Iran's nuclear materials, sources told @CBSNews. The timing of any such an operation – if he were to order it – remained unclear Friday night. One source said he has made no decision yet. But planning has centered on
Scoop: FBI and IRS agents are forming a new initiative to investigate nonprofit organizations over suspected possible links to domestic terrorism, sources briefed on the matter told @SarahNLynch and me. @CBSNews
NEWS via @CBSNews: An Iranian drone attack in Kuwait that killed U.S. service members in the early hours of the war with Iran was more severe than previously known, with dozens suffering injuries that included brain trauma, shrapnel trauma and burns, per sources. More than 30
NEWS via @CBSNews: U.S. intelligence assets have begun to see indications Iran is taking steps to deploy mines in Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Iran is using smaller crafts that can carry 2 to 3 mines each. While Iran’s mine stock isn’t publicly known, estimates over the years
🚨 Pentagon official lashes out at Anthropic as talks break down: "You have to trust your military to do the right thing." Undersecretary Emil Michael spoke with @CBSNews just before he called the Anthropic CEO a "liar" in a tweet. Asked why the Pentagon will not address
New from @CBSNews: Trust is breaking down between Pentagon and Anthropic over use of its AI model. Hegseth gave @AnthropicAI til end of week to give military a signed document that would grant full access to Claude. Anthropic has tried to place guardrails; Hegseth told
US played a role in Mexico-led operation that killed drug kingpin “El Mencho” -- a Pentagon joint task force regularly works with the Mexican military, @CBSNews's @ellee_watson reports. The killing triggered violence in Puerto Vallarta and other areas, with some reports the
Scoop from @CBSNews: Top national security officials have told Trump the military is ready for potential strikes on Iran as soon as this weekend, but the timeline for any action is likely to extend beyond Saturday or Sunday, sources say. Trump has not yet made a final decision.
NEWS via @CBSNews: The Kennedy-era paint colors on the exterior of aircraft in the U.S. Air Force executive fleet are being replaced with new design in Trump's preferred palette. New Trump colors will appear on donated Qatari jet and two planes Boeing is converting to serve as
BREAKING: Russian govt official Anatoly Chubais has stepped down and left the country, citing his opposition to Putin’s war in Ukraine, sources tell Bloomberg News. He is highest-level official to break with the Kremlin over the invasion.
DirecTV plans to drop OANN, dealing a major blow to the conservative channel, @gerryfsmith reports
On 1st day, Biden will rescind travel ban on several Muslim countries, rejoin Paris climate accord, extend pandemic limits on evictions and student loan payments, and order agencies to figure out how to reunite children separated from families at border.
News: Don Jr, the president’s son, has tested positive for coronavirus. He escaped the virus when people around him got infected, including his girlfriend Kimberly, but now has it, per multiple sources.
NEWS: Along with Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, at least FOUR other White House aides currently have coronavirus, per sources. Pains were taken to keep Meadows’ illness a secret, I’m told. And people around him who knew were told to keep quiet.
BREAKING: Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, has the coronavirus. Meadows informed a close circle of advisers after the election. Story by me, @tylerpager and @MarioDParker out soon.
NEWS: The head of White House security office, Crede Bailey, is gravely ill with coronavirus and has been hospitalized since late September, I'm told. Security office handles credentialing for access to WH; works closely with Secret Service on security measures on the compound.
NEWS: One of the president's military aides, Coast Guard aide Jayna McCarron, has coronavirus, sources tell me. And so does one of the president's valets, who is also active duty military, and traveled with the president last week.
NEWS: One of Trump’s personal assistants has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell me. Nick Luna, as bodyman, works in very close proximity to the president so it’s not surprising.
NEWS: Hope Hicks, who traveled with Trump aboard Air Force One to and from the presidential debate on Tuesday, and to his Minnesota rally yesterday, has coronavirus, sources tell me.
Hours before the debate, a Trump camp email goes out: "I just finished debating Joe Biden."
Dr. Fauci would prefer a 14-day national shutdown of some sort to slow down coronavirus, and has made this point of view known in admin, he says on "Meet the Press." "I think we should really be overly aggressive and get criticized for over-reacting," Fauci told @chucktodd.
