Topic: Sultan

The USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have arrived in the Middle East, bringing the total U.S. troop presence to approximately 50,000. Iran launched a significant attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia using missiles and drones, which resulted in damage to U.S. refueling tankers. In response, GCC states have filed with the United Nations under Article 51 to reaffirm their right to self-defense.

George Clooney calls for a boycott of the Sultan of Brunei's luxury hotels in response to new Sharia laws punishing gay sex with stoning. The hosts argue Clooney is being used as a "distraction" to mask geopolitical tensions. They point to a joint venture between Brunei and China regarding a strategic port in the South China Sea, suggesting the boycott is actually a move to pressure a key partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative.

CBS News reporter Holly Williams describes Erdogan's new 1,000-room presidential palace as a symbol of his imperial ambitions. The architecture and the presence of guards in traditional Ottoman-era garb suggest a desire to be a "modern-day sultan." The mass purge of political enemies continues to divide the NATO ally.

The Sultan of Brunei announced that the kingdom will begin enforcing Sharia penal code within six months, including penalties such as amputations and stoning. In separate news, Pope Francis suspended the "Bishop of Bling" in Germany for spending $42 million on a residence renovation that included a $20,000 bathtub. The Vatican has not specified the length of the bishop's suspension.