The Hound | April 6

Hi there,

It’s Monday. Officials in 23 states and DC are taking Donald Trump to court over his illegal executive order targeting the voting rights of Americans. And it was an eventful weekend in the Iran War — Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth were caught lying when they stated Iran’s anti-air capabilities were completely neutralized as the Iranians shot down several US aircraft, leading to an incredibly risky rescue mission to save a downed airman on Sunday morning. Thankfully, the airman is safe, but tensions continue to rise in the Middle East with Trump posting an unhinged profanity-laced tirade threatening more war crimes this week.

Donald Trump’s escalating and often unhinged threats toward Iran are not just rhetoric—they carry real consequences for U.S. troops and global stability. Yet too much media coverage treats Trump’s threats as political bluster, campaign-style messaging, or headline-grabbing moments rather than examining their real-world impact. When inflammatory statements are normalized or reduced to “tough talk,” the public is left without a clear understanding of how rhetoric can translate into military action, escalation, and danger for those serving on the front lines.

🖊️ Add your name to call on major news organizations to cover Trump’s threats with the seriousness they demand—connecting his rhetoric to the risks faced by U.S. troops, scrutinizing the decisions that lead to missions like rescue operations, and clearly explaining the consequences of escalation.

The public deserves reporting that treats reckless threats as what they are: a danger to lives, not just words.

Read about this, and more, with today’s stories:

A mountain hideout and aircraft under fire: US carries out daring rescue of service member in Iran (AP News)

‘Unhinged madman’: US politicians react to Trump’s expletive-laden threat to Iran (The Guardian)

Democratic Leaders Shift Away From Israel (The American Prospect)

DHS Launches Massive “Less Lethal” Chemical Weapons Buying Spree (The Intercept)

Nearly Two Dozen Democratic States Hit Trump With Elections Lawsuit (The New Republic)

Hollywood studios reach a tentative agreement with writers union (NPR)

How gender-affirming care is becoming a political test for top medical groups (The 19th News)

RFK Jr. May Reverse a Peptide Ban He Calls “Illegal.” Former FDA Officials Say He Mischaracterized Their Work. (ProPublica)

Until next time,

Harry from The Hound

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