3/11/26 Test

Rorschach test. Americans are split across party lines on the war in Iran. The data is consistent regardless of the source. Take your pick: Ipsos, Quinnipiac, Washpo, CNN. Republicans are overwhelmingly supportive, Democrats likewise in opposition, Independents are the tie-breakers and side more with D’s than R’s. The net impact is that a majority are in opposition. But anecdotally, I am noticing something else….

Turn on, tune in, drop out. Calls are the lifeblood of many talk radio programs. When I got started three decades ago – before the age of syndication – they were also the metric by which we were judged, i.e. a host’s ability to make the telephone lines ring. I remember an era when a program director of mine actually had a multi-line telephone on his office desk, mimicking the studio phone, just so he could judge the vibrancy of the program then on air. It took me a while to realize that there was no logic to this measurement. If I wanted to make the telephone lines ring, I could just say the word “abortion” or “guns” and they’d instantly fill, but that was a barometer of passion, not listenership. Passion is good, but that alone cannot sustain a successful program. Thanks for the primer Michael, but what’s your point?

The point is that by the telephone metric, I see lessened public interest in Iran. Saturday will mark two days since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran. For the first week of the war, I pretty much only discussed Iran on radio. The news and listener demand required no less. But I sense things are changing as each day passes. Less listener passion, and less voting on my Iran poll questions. And of course, mine is a program hosted on a SiriusXM channel labeled POTUS – just imagine what that might mean for a lack of attention by the rest of the country. I suspect many are already tuning out on Iran, or maybe never tuned in. (H/t to Timothy Leary who used those words in the 60’s to describe the counterculture at the time.)

The days are longer and Spring is 9 days away. Winter is nearly in the rearview mirror. Someone in my orbit who questions climate change tweaked me amidst all the snow we received in the Northeast where the accumulation was like the days of my youth. Well, I hope he sees the ABC link in today’s newsletter with data showing that the contiguous U.S. just experienced the second warmest Winter on record since 1895 – nine states had their warmest Winter on record.

Finally, in Mingle news, see the story about Jumbo, a Dutch grocery chain with more than 700 outlets, which just created a “chat checkout” lane to cater to seniors who yearn for connection. Ring that up!

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Iran's recent mining of the Strait of Hormuz has drastically reduced maritime traffic, prompting President Trump to assert that the U.S. Navy is ready to escort tankers and counter any aggressive actions by Iran, amid fears of a global oil price surge.

CNN

The U.S. military destroyed 16 Iranian naval vessels believed capable of laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz in a preemptive strike, a move to counter intelligence suggesting Tehran could attempt to threaten one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

Axios

Polls show Americans are divided along party lines over the war with Iran, with more voters opposing U.S. military action than supporting it and widespread concerns about rising gas prices, national security risks, and the possibility of sending ground troops.

Associated Press

Iran’s top national security official warned President Donald Trump to “beware” and suggested he could “disappear” after Trump threatened far harsher retaliation if Tehran disrupts oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Axios

As many as 150 U.S. troops have been wounded in the first 10 days of the war with Iran, according to Pentagon estimates, though officials say most injuries are minor and many service members have already returned to duty.

Reuters

Democrat Shawn Harris and Republican Clay Fuller advanced to an April runoff to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene after finishing as the top two vote-getters in a crowded special election in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.

Atlanta News First

The U.S. experienced its second-warmest winter on record despite bitter cold and heavy snow in the Northeast, as unusually warm and dry conditions across much of the West and Plains pushed national temperatures near historic highs.

ABC News

Police in Toronto are searching for two suspects after multiple shots were fired at the United States Consulate General Toronto early Tuesday in what authorities are calling a national security incident, though no injuries were reported.

CBC

President Trump has questioned aides about whether longtime adviser Corey Lewandowski personally profited from a $220 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security advertising campaign featuring former secretary Kristi Noem.

NBC News

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