On CNN tonight talking the U.S. naval blockade and Iran:

On @cnn.com tonight talking Iran with @andersoncooper360.bsky.social:

I remain reachable on Signal at danlamothe.30

Lots of back-and-forth over the Iran ceasefire, so putting this front and center:

One of Trump’s alternative options likely called for U.S. troops on Iranian soil. The death toll on such a move was almost certainly not zero.

Let's see what's still to come.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has been concerned enough about his deteriorating relationship with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that he sought assistance last fall from Vice President JD Vance, people familiar with the matter tell me.

“I have no plans to depart or resign as the Secretary of the Army,” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said in a new statement to The Washington Post.

It comes after media reports suggesting that administration officials are considering his exit.

Also new in this story: Gen. Randy George favored the Army letting the investigation of helicopter pilots spotted near Kid Rock's home last month play out.

That investigation was announced -- and quickly squashed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

After clashes with Hegseth, Army secretary says he isn’t going anywhere Dan Driscoll, praised by the White House, said in a statement to The Washington Post that “I have no plans to depart or resign as the Secretary of the Army.”

SCOOP: Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has no plans to resign or otherwise leave his role at the Pentagon, he said in a statement on Tuesday, after a series of clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have prompted questions about how long they can coexist.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

U.S. rescues missing crew member in Iran after fighter jet shot down The successful return of the missing airman came after an intense search-and-rescue mission, and all personnel involved in the rescue have returned safely, according to a U.S. official.

U.S. rescues missing crew member in Iran after fighter jet shot down

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

"Hegseth can’t fire Driscoll," one administration official told me Thursday. "So he’s going to make his life hell."

Hegseth forces out Army’s top general, two other senior officers Gen. Randy George’s ouster is the latest clash between the Pentagon chief and the service’s senior leadership, and comes during the war in Iran.

NEW: It's not just Gen. Randy George on the way out.

Defense officials tell me and Tara Copp that Hegseth also is removing:

Gen. David Hodne, commander of Transformation and Training Command

Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., head of the Army's chaplain corps

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

How did we get here?

Top military commanders required increases to base security because of the Iran war.

Marine officials sought outside help to bolster manpower.

The help offered came in the form of ICE agents.

But they're not doing immigration enforcement, defense officials say.

One defense official told me the handling of the ICE announcement at Parris Island amounted to a “self-inflicted gunshot wound” for the Marine Corps.

Another said it was a “step on a rake” moment.

Marines scramble to reassure families after report of ICE at boot camp A communications breakdown precipitated an announcement that immigration enforcement will occur at the service’s Parris Island graduation ceremonies in South Carolina, officials said.

NEW: The Marine Corps is scrambling to reassure military families that there will be no immigration enforcement during boot camp graduation ceremonies, officials said, after an outcry over plans for ICE agents to join security efforts at upcoming events.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Reminder that today is April Fool's Day. Proceed with care in sharing and watch out for banana peels.

In retrospect, the United States still got a protracted conflict in Afghanistan.

Pentagon prepares for weeks of ground operations in Iran If President Trump approves the plans, such an effort would mark a new phase of the war that could be significantly more dangerous to U.S. troops than the first four weeks.

The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, U.S. officials said.

It would fall short of a full-scale invasion and could involve raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, said the officials.

Reached out to Pentagon officials today for official comment for this story at 12:51 p.m. and again at 6:20. No response.

We published the story at 8:22 p.m. Still no response.

I'll incorporate Pentagon reaction should it come.

In response to questions for this story, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement:

“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the President has made a decision.”

That's not a no.

Pentagon prepares for weeks of ground operations in Iran If President Trump approves the plans, such an effort would mark a new phase of the war that could be significantly more dangerous to U.S. troops than the first four weeks.

SCOOP: The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, U.S. officials said, as thousands of American soldiers and Marines arrive in the Middle East for what could become a dangerous new phase of the war should President Trump escalate.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

This marks the first full week since the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran began that the Pentagon has done *zero* press conferences.

Last briefing was held by Secretary Hegseth and Gen. Caine on March 19.

Hegseth's public affairs team itself has not briefed since December.

U.S. uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon More than 850 Tomahawks have been fired in just four weeks, people familiar with the matter said, alarming some Pentagon officials because the weapon’s supply is limited.

SCOOP: The U.S. military has fired more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles in four weeks of war with Iran, burning through the precision weapons at a rate that has alarmed some Pentagon officials and prompted internal discussions about how to make more available.

wapo.st/4bDqVNa

Army paratroopers ordered to Middle East as U.S. weighs next Iran move The Pentagon on Tuesday ordered a couple thousand paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to the Middle East.

NEW TONIGHT: The Pentagon just issued written orders to deploy a couple thousand paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, U.S. officials said, as President Donald Trump weighs a significant escalation in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

wapo.st/4d8BZ6e

U.S. ground troops on Kharg Island?

“I just think that would be a disaster," Joe Kent told me. “It would essentially be giving Iran a bunch of hostages on an island that they could barrage with drones and missiles.”

“I said, ‘If I ever have a seat at the table, I’m not going to put up with this. I’ll do whatever I can to prevent it,’” Joe Kent said in an hour-long interview with The Washington Post.

Joe Kent says he wants Trump to hear MAGA opposition to Iran war In an interview with The Post after resigning from the administration in protest, the veteran said he is taking his message to the president’s supporters.

NEW: In an interview with me for @washingtonpost.com, Joe Kent describes his new aim: Rallying the MAGA base to make sure President Trump hears dissenting voices about the Iran war.

Gift link:

wapo.st/4lNnc3d

A lot will be said about former FBI Director Robert Mueller, following his death Friday at 81.

In addition to the rest, he was a survivor of a hellacious combat deployment in Vietnam. He suffered a gunshot wound in combat in April 1969 as a member of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.

Can confirm

Per transcript, questions at the Pentagon press conference today went to:

Real America's Voice News
Just The News
RealClearPolitics
Daily Caller
Gateway Pundit

And one or two more that are less clear.

I remain reachable on Signal at danlamothe.30