“The discoveries made in the Nankai Trough and the Shichiyo Seamount Chain remind us how little of our ocean has truly been explored.”

CNN’s special arrangement with Iran continued to payoff. Since the network was the only American news outlet in the country, they managed to score an exclusive interview with Foreign Policy Adviser to the Supreme Leader, Kamal Kharazi. In the segments of the interview that were shared during Monday’s The Situation Room, senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen rolled over for Kharazi in a softball interview where the Iranian official was free to push regime propaganda. There was no evidence presented that CNN pressed him critically on anything. Ahead of the interview, co-host Pamela Brown (who recently put out a series of anti-Christian content for the pro-Islamic Republic outlet) reiterated that “CNN operates in Iran with the permission of the government.” This time they added to their disclaimer, noting they were adhering to everything “required under local regulations, but maintains full editorial control over what it reports.” While the part about maintaining full editorial control sounded good, one should realize it meant that CNN could and would self-censor in order to stay on the regime’s good side to remain in the country, or prevent something worse. Possible evidence of this self-censorship appeared in the aired segments of Pleitgen’s interview with Kharazi. The first couple of questions Pleitgen raised essentially teed up Kharazi to boast about how Iran’s military was supposedly still as strong as ever (Click “expand”): PLEITGEN: Iran has a new supreme leader. What does that mean for your military effort and the confrontation with the United States and Israel? KHARAZI: That means the system is quite functioning PLEITGEN: So the United States says it's drastically degraded the Iranian military, the capabilities as far as missiles is concerned, drones is concerned. How much longer can you do this? KHARAZI: That is one of the false narratives that the United States government is producing. Iranian military is quite strong, as you see, because they have the motivation. They have the arms that they need, which are produced in Iran. As a matter of fact, we are not dependent on any other country for weapons and arms. Pleitgen didn’t appear to press Kharazi on the numbers showing that Iran had been firing fewer and fewer missiles each day since the conflict began and that their navy was basically nonexistent anymore.   IRGCNN now claims that while CNN has the "permission" of the regime to operate in Iran, the network "maintains full editorial control over what it reports." They then proceed to allowing an Iranian official to push their propaganda unchallenged and claims that America is the… pic.twitter.com/9zJNSxv5Yd — Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) March 9, 2026   The next series of questions were essentially to allow Kharazi to blame everything on the United States and President Trump, frame America as the bad guys, and wash Iran’s hands of their role in hostilities (Click “expand”): PLEITGEN: So, your side is ready for a long war, if the United States and Israel choose that. Do you consider this an existential threat to the Islamic Republic? KHARAZI: It is an existential threat to the Islamic Republic, and therefore we have to stay with full might, as we are doing now. PLEITGEN: Is your side seeking or will you seek a ceasefire with the United States at this point in time, and with Israel? KHARAZI: I don't see any room for diplomacy anymore because Donald Trump had been deceiving others and not keeping his promises. And we experienced it in two times of negotiations that while we were engaged in negotiations they strike us. PLEITGEN: How does all of this end then? If you say right now there's no room for negotiation, President Trump says he wants complete surrender. What does that lead to? KHARAZI: There is no room unless the economic pressure would be built up to the extent that other countries would intervene to guarantee this termination of aggression of Americans and Israelis against Iran. Pleitgen didn’t appear to ask Kharazi why Iran was targeting civilians in all their gulf neighbors (bombing hotels, resorts, apartment buildings, infrastructure, etc.) and beyond. No questions about their escalations. No questions about targeting civilian oil tankers. No question about giving up their ambition to obtain nuclear weapons. His final questions teed up Kharazi to send a message to Trump (Click “expand’): PLEITGEN: Finally, what is your message to President Trump as we sit here as the war is going on? KHARAZI: That means that - what is important for us is the end of this game, and we are ready to continue that game. PLEITGEN: The end of this game? You mean how this war will end? Is - is - KHARAZI: At the end of the game would be the time that American and Israelis would come to this understanding that this strategy is not working, and they have to stop their aggressions against Iranians. At no point was it apparent that Pleitgen asked Kharazi about the 30,000 civilians the regime killed, which spurred Trump to act. And while he asked about the election of a new supreme leader, there was no question about how Khamenei didn’t want his son elected and that it went against the Islamic revolution’s objection to hereditary monarchies like the Shah. CNN might have full editorial control, but they knew what not to say and what buttons not to press so they can keep their precious access. Much like they looked the other way with Saddam Hussein’s atrocities in Iraq (including when their cameraman was abducted and tortured). NewsBusters reached out to CNN to inquire about the editorial decisions that had been made regarding their Iran coverage. “What editorial decisions have been made to quell or avoid any objections from the regime?” our e-mail asked. In a statement to NewsBusters, a CNN spokesperson said: “CNN is operating in Iran with the permission of the Iranian government, as required under local regulations. CNN maintains full editorial control over what it reports. The Iranian government does not review, approve, or preview CNN’s reporting prior to publication or broadcast.” The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: CNN This Morning March 9, 2026 10:06:35 AM Eastern PAMELA BROWN: CNN is the first network inside Iran since the start of the war with the U.S. and Israel, with the government's permission there in Iran. And this morning, CNN's Fred Pleitgen sat down for an exclusive interview with a top Iranian official, the foreign policy adviser to the office of the supreme leader.  Fred Pleitgen is in Tehran. And just a note, as I mentioned, Tehran - or CNN operates in Iran with the permission of the government there, as required under local regulations, but maintains full editorial control over what it reports. Here are some key moments of Fred's interview. [Cuts to video] FRED PLEITGEN: Iran has a new supreme leader. What does that mean for your military effort and the confrontation with the United States and Israel? KAMAL KHARAZI (Foreign Policy Adviser to the Supreme Leader): That means the system is quite functioning PLEITGEN: So the United States says it's drastically degraded the Iranian military, the capabilities as far as missiles is concerned, drones is concerned. How much longer can you do this? KHARAZI: That is one of the false narratives that the United States government is producing. Iranian military is quite strong, as you see, because they have the motivation. They have the arms that they need, which are produced in Iran. As a matter of fact, we are not dependent on any other country for weapons and arms. PLEITGEN: So, your side is ready for a long war, if the United States and Israel choose that. Do you consider this an existential threat to the Islamic Republic? KHARAZI: It is an existential threat to the Islamic Republic, and therefore we have to stay with full might, as we are doing now. PLEITGEN: Is your side seeking or will you seek a ceasefire with the United States at this point in time, and with Israel? KHARAZI: I don't see any room for diplomacy anymore because Donald Trump had been deceiving others and not keeping his promises. And we experienced it in two times of negotiations that while we were engaged in negotiations they strike us. PLEITGEN: How does all of this end then? If you say right now there's no room for negotiation, President Trump says he wants complete surrender. What does that lead to? KHARAZI: There is no room unless the economic pressure would be built up to the extent that other countries would intervene to guarantee this termination of aggression of Americans and Israelis against Iran. PLEITGEN: Finally, what is your message to President Trump as we sit here as the war is going on? KHARAZI: That means that - what is important for us is the end of this game, and we are ready to continue that game. PLEITGEN: The end of this game? You mean how this war will end? Is - is - KHARAZI: At the end of the game would be the time that American and Israelis would come to this understanding that this strategy is not working, and they have to stop their aggressions against Iranians. [Cuts back to live] BROWN: Our Fred Pleitgen there in Tehran. Thank you so much.

CNN was thrown through the proverbial wood chipper on Tuesday morning for an absurd post on X that openly fawned over two alleged ISIS-inspired Islamic terrorists — who are charged with having brought multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to a New York City protest Saturday afternoon — as merely “[t]wo Pennsylvania teenagers” looking to bask in “the city during abnormally warm weather.” Following a few hours of ridicule, CNN deleted the post that fretted the lives of the teens “would drastically change” as they would end the day in prison that had started out as “a normal day enjoying the city” outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdai’s home, Gracie Mansion. CNN cried uncle shortly after 9:30 a.m. Eastern: A post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home failed to reflect the gravity of the incident thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting. It has therefore been deleted. — CNN (@CNN) March 10, 2026 To his credit, CNN’s Brian Stelter admitted in his Reliable Sources newsletter that “CNN was rightly criticized this morning for a post on X[.]” However, Stelter insisted it was just the tweet that “was outrageous” because “[t]he story itself was solid” and CNN “quickly addressed” the uproar. Fact-check: Pants on fire, Brian. Our buddy Jerry Dunleavy with Just the News blasted Stelter with a reality check that the deleted tweet was also the lede of the article by Gloria Pazmino and Taylor Romine (who uses they/them pronouns), but had been changed without notice (more on that in a bit): “The story itself was solid. But the tweet was outrageous.” The tweet in question ***was also the lede of the story*** before the article was stealth edited. https://t.co/Ci7nNy30rq — Jerry Dunleavy IV

Virginians are quickly learning the fruits of electing Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger and other Democrat legislators as the legislative session draws to an end in the commonwealth. On Monday, Democrats in both chambers passed a sweeping gun control law that will soon land on Spanberger's desk. 'These are simply semiautomatic firearms that law abiding citizens own.'The bill, HB217, places a ban on new sales of "assault firearms" and makes it illegal to possess high-capacity magazines exceeding 15 rounds of ammunition.Virginia law defines an "assault firearm" as "any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock."RELATED: Virginians oppose Richmond's war on the Second Amendment: Poll Delegate Dan Helmer (D)Photo by Valerie Plesch for The Washington Post via Getty ImagesSponsored by Del. Dan Helmer (D), the bill would make these offenses a Class 1 misdemeanor. Class 1 misdemeanors are punishable by "confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both," according to Virginia law.Spanberger's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Blaze News.Chris Stone with the Virginia-based Gun Owners of America said, “Semiautomatic weapons, as they would like to call them, ‘assault weapons,’ have been owned by the public for years, and rifles of any kind are very rarely used in the commission of a crime. We don’t even like to use the term ‘assault weapon,’ because it’s just made up. These are simply semiautomatic firearms that law abiding citizens own.”Another proposed bill would impose a civil penalty of up to a $500 fine for persons who store their firearms in their vehicle. The vehicle could also be towed for "safekeeping." Stone pointed out the catch-22 that lawful gun owners would find themselves in if that bill ever became law."Because of the litany of ‘gun free zone’ laws that we have in this state, if you go to somewhere where you can’t legally bring your firearm in, law-abiding citizens who have a concealed handgun permit are going to leave that firearm in their car," Stone said.Helmer has been busy sponsoring other bills as well, including a "first of its kind" bill that dictates that school instruction must "not describe, portray, or present as credible a description or portrayal of the actions precipitating or involved in the events of the January 6, 2021, insurrection as peaceful protest."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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