March 23, 2026
Robert Mueller and Weekly Calendar
Good morning, everyone!
Welcome to our new readers! It is an honor to have you here.
Each day, we will strive to learn something new about the world, both its past and present.
Today, we will look at the death of Robert Mueller, the war in the Middle East, and the week of news ahead.
Let’s get to it.
The Week Ahead
-The U.S. House of Representatives is slated to vote on reauthorizing Section 702 surveillance authorities.
-Italy will hold a judicial reform referendum vote.
-Local elections will be held across Florida, Iowa, South Carolina, and Wyoming on Tuesday.
View a full list here.
-Denmark will hold parliamentary elections.
-Foreign ministers from the Group of 7 (G7) will gather for two days of talks in France on Thursday.
-The U.S. Senate will begin a two-week spring recess on Saturday.
Major Developments
-President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was considering “winding down” Washington’s military operation against Iran. The remark, which was posted to his social media, came as his administration announced it would deploy more troops and warships to the region and request an additional $200 billion to fund the ongoing war.
On the same day, major stock indexes slid as global oil prices continued climbing due to Iranian targeting of oil vessels transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has continued to scorn U.S. allied nations for not contributing more to secure the waters.
-The average U.S. gas price stood at $3.94 yesterday amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to AAA.
-Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller died on Saturday at the age of 81.
Mueller, born in Charlottesville, Virginia, served as a U.S. Marine, a federal prosecutor, and U.S. Attorney before being nominated by President George W. Bush to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2001.
When his 10-year term neared an end, then-President Barack Obama extended Mueller’s tenure by two years, saying he had “set the gold standard for leading the Bureau.”
In 2017, he was tapped to lead an investigation into alleged links between then-Trump’s campaign and Russia, and Trump’s possible obstruction of the investigation.
That report did not establish a criminal conspiracy between his campaign and Moscow and declined to make a judgment on possible obstruction, stating, “While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”
As the news of Mueller’s death broke, Trump posted to his social media, saying, “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!”
The remark was immediately met with backlash.
-A federal judge ruled on Friday that the Pentagon’s restrictions on reporters are unconstitutional.
-The Cuban government restored power to nearly half of residents in the capital Havana yesterday after the island nation’s electric grid failed for the second time in a week.
The grid failures come amid a crippling U.S. oil blockade.
-On this day in 1775, Patrick Henry declared “Give me Liberty, or give me death!”
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a space-based missile defense system.
Critics of the sweeping program dubbed it “Star Wars.”
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law at a ceremony at the White House.
Other Links:
Republicans reject Democrats’ effort to pay TSA by suspending Senate rules - The Hill
Senate advances Markwayne Mullin’s nomination for DHS Secretary in procedural vote - CBS
Mullin Explored Bipartisan Deal to Rein in Immigration Crackdown - The New York Times
‘Trump should keep his reckless mouth shut’: Jeffries responds to Trump calling Democrats America’s ‘greatest enemy’ - CNN
CBS News shutters radio division, lays off staff amid network’s Bari Weiss-led makeover - Politico
Family appeals to Arizona community for clues in ongoing disappearance of Nancy Guthrie - AP
A strike on a hospital in Sudan killed at least 64 people, WHO says - AP
King Charles, Caribbean officials pose with painting of George IV, a slavery profiteer - Reuters
Milei says Argentina can ‘guarantee Europe’s energy security’ during CPAC speech in Hungary - Buenos Aires Times
Civilians that were under siege by a Mexican cartel fight back with AK-47s and grenades - PBS
Trump-Xi summit on hold until Iran conflict ends, people briefed say - Politico
China’s Premier Vows to Back Balanced Trade as Exports Surge - Bloomberg
The Iran war is impacting the global economy, and Asia is particularly vulnerable - NPR
EU cuts Hungary out of sensitive talks over leaking-to-Russia fears, diplomats say - Politico
Russian forces begin offensive in Ukraine as Zelensky worries about impact of Iran conflict - CNN
Ukraine Is Suddenly on the Offensive, With Help From Elon Musk - The Wall Street Journal
Starmer and Trump discuss need to reopen Strait of Hormuz as strikes continue in Middle East - BBC
Britain sees no evidence that Iran is targeting Europe with missiles - Reuters
Oil prices rise after US, Iran threaten to hit energy targets in the Middle East - Reuters
Oil prices rise after US, Iran threaten to hit energy targets in the Middle East - The Wall Street Journal
That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.
Notes:
https://scowcroft.substack.com/p/tsg-weekly-calendar-march-23-29
How can one man have no empathy of compassion for his own people of people's of the world?
Director Muller had class; Trump has crass. Ah, the difference one letter can make.😉
Thank you, as always, Jacob, for assuring that I am not a total ignoramus.💡