Journalist and author of Nixon’s Gamble and Haig’s Coup.

Joined January 2010
666 Photos and videos
Thierry Henry is spot on.
From @TheAthletic: Fox has a World Cup problem. How to solve it? Less Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Less Alexi Lalas. Then, their main studio show would be better, our columnist writes. nyti.ms/4uFBDZJ
61
Even if this is Vance's negotiation, he still works for the president, who seems to pay little attention to Vance anyway. At multiple points along the way, the president could have stopped this. He didn't and now wants us to believe it's a good deal.
Jun 17
Ben Shapiro: This MOU appears to be a disaster that does not achieve any of the actual goals set by the administration at the beginning. The Vice President, the chief negotiator on this project has not well served the president.
37
Ray Locker retweeted
Imagine being Netanyahu this week. Or any Israeli who cheered the war—who believed they had finally found the US president of their dreams: bold, unsentimental, willing to strike. Now they have learned what everyone who does business with Trump learns: Character is destiny.
Here's how I see the draft Iran MOU breaking down: US concessions 1. Ceasefire, including in Lebanon 2. Lift the naval blockade 3. Withdraw forces from surrounding area within 30 days 4. Ensure financing of $300 billion for Iranian reconstruction fund 5. Commit to ending “all types of sanctions currently facing the Islamic Republic of Iran” 6. Waivers for oil-related exports 7. Commit to unfreezing Iranian assets “in light of the progress of negotiations” Iran concessions 1. Ensure that Strait of Hormuz is returned to pre-war traffic levels within 30 days 2. "Reiterate" that it will never produce nuclear weapons and “maintain the status quo” on its nuclear program (Iran, of course, has already long said it’s not producing nukes.)
25
181
836
68,943
Ray Locker retweeted
This is a jaw-dropping, horrific surrender document complete with hundreds of billions in reparations. It is the predictable result of incompetent negotiation and the foolhardy strategic catastrophe of starting and pursuing this disastrous war. The U.S. will not soon recover from this, the biggest national security blunder in decades.
A senior administration official briefing reporters outlined the text of the MOU between The U.S. and Iran, which has not been made public: 1. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war by signing this MoU, declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. Final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and other provisions of this paragraph. 2. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs. 3. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days, extendable with mutual consent. 4. Immediately upon the signing of this MoU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of pre-war traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal. 5. Upon the signing of this MoU, Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz. 6. The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least $300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism for the implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America in Paragraph Six. 7. The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, i.e. IAEA Board of Governors resolutions and all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed-upon schedule as part of the final deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions-termination issue abovementioned, and expressed their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations, in order to achieve mutual agreement on them. 8. Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpile enriched material, pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in Paragraph Seven, with the minimum methodology to be downblending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. [The] two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear needs based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues abovementioned and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them. 9. Pending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region. 10. United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MoU until the termination of sanctions, US Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc. 11. The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Upon the implementation of this MoU, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during the negotiations. 12. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MoU and the future compliance of the final deal. 13. After signing this MoU and subject to the beginning of the implementation of Paragraphs 145, 10, and 11 of this MoU and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs. 14. The final deal will be endorsed by a binding [UN Security Council] resolution.
3,481
5,355
16,655
1,504,736
Ray Locker retweeted
March 9: "We're now totally independent of the Middle East. We don't need their oil." April 1: "It doesn't really affect us. We have so much oil. We have tremendous oil and gas, much more than we need." June 17: If I didn't agree to the MOU, we "would run out of reserves at about 4 weeks...we would really run out, and there'll be a time when you wouldn't be able to get it."
744
11,816
26,204
1,140,758
Ray Locker retweeted
They know they're lying. We know they're lying. They know we know they're lying. We know that they know that we know they're lying. But they still keep lying.
This is the VP, a few days ago, arguing that all the talk about the deal was IRGC propaganda. Now, what he called IRGC propaganda the other day, actually is the deal as unveiled by the White House.
51
539
2,891
92,967
This makes no sense. We supposedly destroyed Iran’s ability to defend itself, which would have made it impossible to perpetuate a “forever war.”
KAITLAN COLLINS: Are you okay with Iran having missiles? SEN. ROGER MARSHALL: I prefer that they not, but they have to defend themselves COLLINS: You think Iran needs to be able to defend itself? MARSHALL: I do, otherwise we turn this into a forever war
34
Of course they are. They can’t bring themselves to call it a good deal, so they blame the VP Trump routinely ignores for somehow scamming the president into supporting it.
NEW: Congressional Republicans are already placing the blame on Vice President JD Vance for a "terrible" deal with Iran. One congressional Republican tells me: “Conservatives on the Hill are stunned that Vance would erase all of Trump’s military victories in such a terrible deal. Trump effectively won the war and at the 11th hour Vance is negotiating his way to a loss.” Earlier today President Trump with a smile said, "if it works out, I'm going to take the credit, if it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD." Trump praised the deal reached with Iran during his visit to the G7 in France and signed a copy of the MOU tonight at Versailles. Trump selected Vance to lead the Iran talks over Rubio. Vance and Rubio both have reported 2028 ambitions.
1
66
Oof
Iranian chief negotiator says deal is 'record of US failure'
34
This is a great article, but it’s hard to take this much Andrew Tate. Ick.
How Andrew Tate built a fortune—and became a political force—by systematically exploiting women. newyorker.com/magazine/2026/…
66
Goofy tweets knocked her off balance and enough primary voters realize Stevens is the best shot at keeping the seat.
McMorrow at only 6%. Geeze her campaign has really collapsed. All of her support has basically gone to Stevens. She started off so well too. Hard to say what happened exactly.
1
182
Shapiro is following the plan by blaming this on Vance, not Trump.
Ben Shapiro: "This MOU appears to be a disaster that does not achieve any of the signal goals that were set by the administration at the beginning ... in my opinion the vice president, the chief negotiator, has not well served the president"
7
43
175
25,571
That's what Iran has been saying for years.
Trump endorses Iran having ballistic missiles: "I'm saying that if other countries have them, it's a little unfair for them not to have some"
1
98
It's the most honest thing he's said all year.
Trump ends by joking(?) to Peter Doocy that it's true that if the deal doesn't work out: "I'm blaming JD"
31
He’s empty. Exhausted. Defeated. A husk of a man

877
1,248
9,086
114,144
Ray Locker retweeted
our mentally-compromised president is humiliating the United States in front of the entire world
951
2,016
11,711
141,932
Iran's ability to make missiles was one of the major criticisms of the JCPOA. Now? Not so much.
Trump now making the case for Iran TO have missiles
58
Ray Locker retweeted
Pro-Israel groups deliberately turned Israel into a polarized issue and alienated almost the whole Democratic Party for the sake of a war that turned out to be as disastrous as Obama warned them and is going to end up with a deal that’s worse for them than JCPOA was.
367
795
6,742
754,876
But please tone down the rhetoric.
Trump refers to Jon Ossoff as "a pathetic failed Dumocrat Senator, Os(jerk!)off"
2
87