In Iran, the US continued search-and-rescue operations for a crew member from an F-15E fighter jet shot down by Iran on Friday, as Tehran kept up attacks on Gulf Arab states and Israel.

A second US combat plane reportedly crashed in the Persian Gulf the same day. The incidents mark a significant blow for Washington as the war enters its sixth week with energy prices rising and little sign of an end to the conflict.

On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts Christina Ruffini and Joe Mathieu speak with:

- Marc Caputo, Senior Politics Reporter at Axios, Ethan Bronner, Bloomberg News Israel Bureau Chief, and Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, on the search for a missing US airman in Iran.

- DNC Chair Ken Martin, on President Trump seeking a massive increase in defense spending, and how Democrats are approaching their messaging on the campaign trail.

- Diana Rosero-Pena, Equities Research Analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, on a decline in Easter candy sales.

Plus, Christina, Joe, and Lisa Mateo play Pointed: The News Quiz for Risk Takers.

For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video.

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President Donald Trump said the war in Iran is “very close” to completion, even as he signaled strikes could escalate in the near term.

Trump in a rare prime-time address on Wednesday cast the war as a success, saying the operation had nearly achieved its military goals, including destroying Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, air force, navy and industrial base. He said those steps would prevent Tehran’s proxies from destabilizing the region and cut off the country’s path to nuclear weapons.

“Tonight I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” Trump said from the White House in a roughly 20-minute speech. “We are going to finish the job. and we’re going to finish it very fast, we’re getting very close.”

The speech came as the president is grasping for an off-ramp in a conflict that has quickly slipped out of control.

For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Radio host Doug Krizner speaks with Bloomberg This Weekend co-host Christina Ruffini and Bloomberg White House and Washington correspondent Jeff Mason.

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'No Kings' marches took place across the US on Saturday, with participants opposing President Trump's policies including federal funding cuts to welfare programs, the war with Iran and aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics.

As the CPAC Conference concluded, GOP attendees showed cracks of dissension over the war in Iran, with some expressing opposition to the conflict. Trump on Thursday cast doubt about how quickly a deal with Tehran could be reached, as thousands of US Marines headed to the region and oil prices hovered over $100 per barrel.

Both events could provide a preview of how voters feel about the Trump Administration heading into the midterm elections.

On today's show, Bloomberg This Weekend hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini speak with:

- Bloomberg News White House Correspondent Jeff Mason on the war in Iran overshadowing the CPAC conference.

- Florida State House Representative Emily Gregory (D) on flipping the district that includes Mar-a-Lago.

- Abby Livingston, Reporter at Puck, Ashley Koning, Director of The Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers, and Ronald Brownstein, Bloomberg Opinion Columnist, on what 'No Kings' rallies and recent polling data reveal about the Midterm elections.

- Ed Ludlow, Co-Host of Bloomberg Tech, on NASA's preparations for the Artemis II moon mission.

For more conversations like this, watch and listen to Bloomberg This Weekend live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7AM-10AM ET. Watch on Bloomberg Television, listen on Bloomberg Radio and stream the show live on the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg.com/video.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.