What happened During a state-broadcast parliamentary session, a group of Iranian lawmakers marched into view wearing military-style uniforms and chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." The scene was clearly staged for cameras. Officials in Tehran often use public displays like this to signal where political power lies. The timing mattered. The chant came as U.S. officials and others suggested there were talks or at least backchannel contacts with Iran. So the hardline rhetoric was both a domestic show of strength and a reminder that words in Tehran do not always match private diplomacy. Why it matters Ritual chants are not just noise. They tell diplomats and allies who really sets policy. Public support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other hardline factions can limit what negotiators can agree to. For Washington, the performance complicates any claim that Iran is ready for serious compromise. For regional partners, it raises doubts about Tehran's intentions. In short, the spectacle weakens trust and strengthens skeptics on all sides. That is useful to domestic actors who benefit from conflict and costly for those hoping for negotiated solutions. What to watch next Track actions not slogans. Watch whether Iran takes concrete steps that…

What the report says According to investigative reporter Paul Sperry, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche removed Ed Martin from his role as chief of the Justice Department's Weaponization Working Group on December 31. Sperry reports Blanche shut down the office and cleared the suite at Main Justice to make room for other files. A DOJ spokesperson says Martin remains at the department as the US Pardon Attorney. The details come from unnamed DOJ sources rather than a formal DOJ announcement. Who is Ed Martin and why he mattered Ed Martin was tapped by President Trump to lead the Weaponization Working Group and later named US Pardon Attorney. The working group was meant to examine allegations that federal agencies were used for political purposes. If the office had any teeth, it would have been an internal effort to hold agencies accountable. Removing its leader and closing the space sends a signal that the project is at least paused and maybe dead. Why Todd Blanche is now in the spotlight Blanche is a career DOJ official who reportedly registered as a Democrat through 2024. That fact, mentioned by Sperry, has been used to frame the action as partisan by some. Bureaucracies are…