00:00Iran has floated a proposal to end the war with the United States that includes the Islamic Republic
00:05ruling the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring the country's safety as well as the safety of its
00:09terror proxies around the world. I shouldn't have to tell you that those suggestions are a non-starter
00:15for the U.S. That plan went over like a lead balloon with the White House. Here's Press
00:20Secretary Caroline Levitt on Wednesday. If they fail to understand that they have been defeated
00:25militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they
00:30have ever been hit before. President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell.
00:36But despite the tough talk, Levitt also said that conversations between the two countries are
00:40continuing and called them productive. This was followed by Iran's foreign minister again saying
00:46on Iranian state media that no such talks are taking place. The developments come after Iran
00:52completely rejected President Trump's own 15-point peace plan. The flat-out refusal to play ball has
00:58led to questions about when or if any of those high-stakes negotiations between the two warring
01:04nations will take place. And the no-go from Iran is a bit confusing since President Trump had said
01:09that its leaders already agreed to some major parts of the plan, like giving up their nuclear weapons
01:15ambition. TSA says air travelers experienced the longest wait times in the 25-year history of the
01:22organization on Wednesday, all while its agents are still working for free. Well, that's depressing.
01:28The acting administrator told the House Homeland Security Committee that some people have waited
01:31for more than four and a half hours to clear security. They reiterated that the need to consolidate
01:37and close smaller airports altogether may soon be a reality. Also a reality? Some desperate TSA
01:44employees who will miss another paycheck tomorrow have reportedly started selling their blood and
01:50sleeping in their cars just to make ends meet. Others are relying on food banks, going without
01:54medical care, or if they're lucky, digging into their savings should they have any. It's just horrible.
02:01Need any more evidence that this system is completely broken? After an actual glimmer of hope on
02:07Tuesday, it seems there is no end to this in sight. Now, I feel like I have asked this question
02:13a hundred times since the shutdown began, but I'll ask it again. How long can this possibly last?
02:19The answer seems to be a while after negotiations between Democrats and Republicans broke down.
02:24I asked the Post's political reporter Ryan King all about that.
02:27Republicans have accused Democrats of adding to the list of things that they want in order to reopen
02:34the Department of Homeland Security. And Democrats that we've talked to have denied this. They've said that
02:39there are no new asks, but they're keeping up some of their old asks, including things that
02:45Senate Majority Leader John Thune has described as obvious non-starters for Republicans. We've known
02:50for some time that the two sides have been particularly at odds over two of the Democrats' demands,
02:55the first being barring ICE officers from wearing masks, and the second being judicial warrant reforms.
03:03Republicans have drawn a red line on both those issues. But Democrats have been really insistent
03:10that those get added in. And it is important to note that Republicans feel that they've made a lot
03:17of big concessions to Democrats already. Of course, the idea earlier this week of funding everything
03:23in the Department of Homeland Security except the deportation wing of ICE was seen as a really
03:28significant concession for Republicans. They've also agreed to fund body cameras. The Trump
03:34administration has rolled out body cameras for ICE officers. They've agreed to make other ICE-related
03:40reforms. The Trump administration wound down its immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota,
03:47and President Trump even fired Kristi Noem. So Republicans feel that they've given Democrats a lot,
03:53and Democrats are still pushing for more. So there are frustrations with that. John Thune told
03:59reporters on Wednesday that at this point, he's not even inclined to give another Republican
04:07counteroffer. And he says that Democrats just need to get serious.
04:11Today Show host Savannah Guthrie returns to television today in the first part of a two-part
04:15interview airing on NBC. The Today Show released a preview of Guthrie's lengthy sit-down with her close
04:20friend and former co-host Hoda Kotb about the search for her missing mother, Nancy, who disappeared
04:25February 1st. Now, as you can imagine, it's absolutely heartbreaking.
04:29We are in agony. We are in agony. It is unbearable.
04:43And to think of what she went through. I wake up every night, in the middle of the night,
04:52every night, every night. And in the darkness, I imagine her terror.
05:01The second part of the full-length interview will air Friday. Sources tell Page Six that Guthrie
05:05could return to work on a more regular basis as soon as next month. Today marks 54 days since Nancy
05:12Guthrie disappeared. Now, the investigation is still ongoing. Before we take a quick break,
05:17I have a small favor to ask. And it's one that will make your life a whole lot easier, I
05:21promise.
05:22Like and subscribe to this podcast and set it to auto-download. It helps us grow the podcast. And
05:27bonus, you'll never miss an episode. For more on these stories and everything else you could
05:32possibly want to know, check out the New York Post in print or online. And don't forget,
05:37like and subscribe to the New York Postcast wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube.
05:41I promise, you'll be glad you did.
05:48Bye.
Comments