Coffee Talk with Tiff

March 31, 2026 1:07 pm EDT Tiff Coffee Talk with Tiff 0
Image credit: AI-generated illustration created with ChatGPT

It’s Tuesday…

Shitshow’s public schedule for…

03/31/2026:

Tuesday Thoughts with Tiff…

The firestarter is mad no one else wants to add fuel to the flames.

In the real world, though:

Fox News (03/29/2026):

Jet fuel prices in the U.S. have more than doubled in a matter of weeks as Middle East tensions squeeze supply, fueling concerns airlines could run short of fuel.

[snip]

Airlines are already adjusting. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier will cut about 5% of planned flights in the near term as fuel costs surge, warning that if prices persist, jet fuel alone could add $11 billion in annual expenses.

United is also scaling back service during off-peak periods and suspending select international routes, including Israel and Dubai due to the conflict.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the jet fuel spike added as much as $400 million in costs in March alone. He said the airline is moving quickly to pass those higher costs on through fare increases.

American Airlines also expects fuel to add about $400 million to its first-quarter expenses. 

Fox News. 03/29/2026.

And because one grievance wasn’t enough…

Italy in recent days denied landing rights to U.S. war planes seeking to land at Sigonella base in eastern Sicily after determining their flight plans were linked to the war effort, according to a senior Italian official.

That revelation — involving a nation led by a key Trump ally, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — emerged a day after Spain’s defense minister said the countrywas going further in its direct opposition to the war, denying not only U.S. use of its bases but also overflight rights to aircraft involved in the attacks on Iran.

[snip]

France said earlier this month that it was allowing use of its bases for U.S. operations such as refueling but not for aircraft carrying out attacks. It was unclear whether Trump was referring to a specific incident with France. The Élysée did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Washington Post. 03/31/2026.

Speaking of the war effort…

After two weeks of silence, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a B-movie actor by trade, finally held a press briefing.

Ass kissing his boss:

Making up his own “sir” story.

Show more =’s We will happily oblige her.

Speaking of Hegshit…

Show more =’s Nobody in the room during that critical meeting emphasized the potential risks of starting the war. A closer look at Hegseth’s role —

But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth not only validated the president’s idea to move forward, he also downplayed the inherent risks of the conflict spiraling out of control, according to three sources familiar with the matter. Nobody in the room during that critical meeting emphasized the potential risks of starting the war.

Sources insisted that Hegseth didn’t push the war on Trump, but once it was clear what the president was going to decide, Hegseth served as one of the biggest cheerleaders.

[snip]

One month into the war, multiple sources tell CNN that Hegseth’s most critical role during the conflict has been to effectively serve in the job that Trump hired him to do: be the face of the Pentagon.

CNN. 03/31/2026.

Speaking of making Hegshit the face of this war…

Firestarter:

And then, unfortunately, I came I called Pete, I called General Caine, I called a lot of our great people. We have great people. And I said, let’s talk. We got a problem in the Middle East. We have a country known as Iran that for 47 years has been just a purveyor of terror, and they’re very close to having a nuclear weapon.

We can keep going and get that 50,000 up to 55,000 and 60,000. There’s no end. Or we can take a stop and make a little journey into the Middle East and eliminate a big problem. And, uh, Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up and you said, let’s do it, because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.

So we are now having really good discussions. They started, uh, last night, a little bit the night before that.

RollCall.com. 03/23/2026.

Speaking of the military…

Somebody’s in trouble…

The Army suspended the aircrew flying military helicopters by Kid Rock’s house over the weekend, a U.S. official said Tuesday.

[snip]

The Army later identified the aircraft as AH-64 Apache helicopters operating in the Nashville area and stated that “appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found.” A military spokesperson said Monday that the helicopters flew from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to the Nashville area.

“Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations,” the Army said in a statement Monday. “An administrative review is underway to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements.”

A spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, said the flying helicopters were not related to Nashville’s “No Kings” protests that took place over the weekend and were “entirely coincidental” with the demonstrations.

NBC News. 03/31/2026.

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About Tiff 3551 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.