Marco Rubio Says It’s ‘Irrelevant’ Whether Iran Decided To Build a Nuclear Weapon

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Marco Rubio Says It’s ‘Irrelevant’ Whether Iran Decided To Build a Nuclear Weapon

(Dave DeCamp, Antiwar.com) Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that whether Iran has decided to build a nuclear weapon is “irrelevant,” as he was pressed on the lack of evidence that Tehran has taken steps to weaponize its nuclear program.

Rubio made the comment in an interview with CBS News when asked about the fact that US intelligence has no evidence that Iran was seeking a bomb before Israel launched its war on the country.

“That’s irrelevant. I think that question being asked in the media – that’s an irrelevant question. They have everything they need to build a weapon,” Rubio said.

In March, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that there was no evidence that Iran decided to build a nuclear weapon, and that was still the consensus of the US intelligence community, according to multiple media reports.

Rubio pointed to the fact that Iran was enriching uranium at 60%, which is still below the 90% needed for weapons-grade, as evidence that Iran has the capability to build a bomb, since it could quickly increase to the 90% level.

Iran had made clear when it was engaged in negotiations with the US that it was willing to bring its enrichment level back down to 3.67%, but the US decided to back an Israeli attack instead of pursuing such a deal and ultimately bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iran took the step to start enriching uranium at 60% in 2021 following an Israeli sabotage attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, which was meant to disrupt negotiations between the Biden administration and Iran that were ongoing at the time.

This article originally appeared at Antiwar.com.

Trump Furious over Early Ceasefire Violation: ‘They Don’t Know What the F*** They’re Doing’

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Trump Furious over Early Ceasefire Violation: ‘They Don’t Know What the F*** They’re Doing’

(Headline USA) President Donald Trump said Israel was going to “turn around” its jets and stop attacking Iran and their ceasefire was “in effect” on Tuesday after briefly faltering.

“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran,” Trump, as he pressed both sides to abide by the ceasefire, posted on social media. “Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!”

Earlier, in comments to reporters at the White House before departing for the NATO summit at The Hague, Trump had expressed disappointment over attacks that had continued beyond an early Tuesday deadline to stop hostilities.

“They violated it, but Israel violated it, too,” Trump said. He added, ”I’m not happy with Israel.”

“I didn’t like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal,” Trump said. “And now I hear Israel just went out because they felt violated by one rocket that didn’t land anywhere.”

The Republican president expressed deep disappointment with both sides after holding out the agreement he helped broker as validation for his strategic gamble of ordering U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran would stop its attacks if Israel would. And Israel also confirmed that it had reached its aims of its operations and would cease hostilities.

But the tentative truce faltered Tuesday when Israel accused Iran of launching missiles into its airspace after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect and vowed to retaliate.

Iran’s military denied firing on Israel, state media reported, but explosions boomed and sirens sounded across northern Israel midmorning, and an Israeli military official said two Iranian missiles were intercepted.

Trump’s frustration was palpable as he spoke to reporters, using an expletive to hammer home his point.

“I’m not happy with them. I’m not happy with Iran, either, but I’m really unhappy with Israel going out this morning,” Trump said. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f—- they’re doing.”

The president then took to his Truth Social platform to warn Israel to end its attacks.

“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION,” Trump posted. “BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Trump Says Iran and Israel Have Agreed to a Ceasefire

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Trump Says Iran and Israel Have Agreed to a Ceasefire

(Dave DeCamp, Antiwar.com) President Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, ending what he called “The 12 Day War,” an announcement that came amid heavy Israeli attacks on Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said in a post on X that there was no “agreement” on a ceasefire but said Iran would cease counterattacks on Israel if Israel stopped its strikes, which has been Tehran’s position.

“As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around. As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations,” Aragchi said.

“However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards. The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” he added.

In a follow-up post, Aragchi appeared to suggest that Iran was now implementing a ceasefire. However, the Israeli military later claimed that it detected a missile launch from Iran, and Israel has yet to acknowledge that it has agreed to a ceasefire.

In his post, Trump said, “CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!

The president said that the ceasefire would be phased over the next 24 hours.

“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL,” Trump wrote.

The president concluded, “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’ This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”

After the announcement, explosions were reported in Tehran following an Israeli evacuation order for a district in the Iranian city.

This article originally appeared at Antiwar.com.

Slick Willie Goes in Hard for Cuomo Endorsement

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Slick Willie Goes in Hard for Cuomo Endorsement

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Former President Bill Clinton issued a last-minute endorsement Sunday for disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is now running for mayor of New York City.

Clinton’s backing isn’t exactly shocking. Cuomo served as housing secretary in the Clinton administration before successfully running for attorney general and governor of New York.

The two men are also bound by sex scandals. Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 after a bombshell state report detailed his pattern of harassing staffers.

Meanwhile, Clinton was exposed for having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, paid a settlement to Paula Jones over harassment claims and was accused of rape by Juanita Broaddrick. He became the first president in decades to be impeached by the House and the first to enter a plea bargain with federal prosecutors for lying under oath.

In a robocall, Clinton said he was backing Cuomo “because he knew how to get things done.” The former president also said he believed Cuomo would “stand up and protect the people of this city” from President Donald Trump, as quoted by the New York Times.

Cuomo is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor—a straight ticket to victory in deep-blue New York City.

He faces Zohran Mamdani, a member of the New York Assembly and a self-described Democratic Socialist.

Mamdani campaigned in Queens on Sunday with the far-left Working Families Party and Attorney General Letitia James, one of Cuomo’s chief critics and the prosecutor behind the sexual misconduct report that led to his resignation. James later ran for governor herself.

Clinton’s decision to back Cuomo marks a departure from meddling in the New York City primaries as he currently resides in upstate New York.

The Democratic primary is scheduled for Tuesday, while the general election will be held Nov. 5.

RINO Sen. Murkowski Hints at Party Switch, and No One’s Surprised

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RINO Sen. Murkowski Hints at Party Switch, and No One’s Surprised

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, suggested Monday that she might consider leaving the Republican Party to caucus with Democrats if the circumstances are right. 

Murkowski—one of President Donald Trump’s loudest antagonists—told GD Politics host Galen Druke that “there may be that possibility” of her joining Democrats if it meant helping Alaskans. 

Her comments came after Druke floated a 2026 scenario in which Democrats win three seats and offer to let her “pass bills that benefit Alaskans if you caucus with us.” 

“You’ve started off with the right hook here—is ‘if this would help Alaskans,’” she replied. 

Murkowski rode into the Senate in 2002 after her father, Frank Murkowski, appointed her to finish his Senate term when he became Alaska’s governor that same year.  

Murkowski has been bashing Trump and the MAGA movement since the day he entered politics in 2015. Most recently, she accused Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency of “traumatizing people.” 

Her frustration with Trump showed as she openly considered jumping ship. 

“There is some openness to exploring something different than the status quo,” Murkowski said, while admitting she does not always see eye to eye with Democrats. 

She added, “My problem with your hypothetical is that, as challenged as I think we may be on the Republican side, I don’t see the Democrats being much better. And they’ve got not only their share of problems, but quite honestly, they’ve got some policies that I just inherently disagree with.” 

GD Politics debuted Murkowski’s remarks Monday, with the full interview dropping Tuesday.

Trump’s Iran Strikes Driven by Fox News Coverage, Aides Reveal

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Trump’s Iran Strikes Driven by Fox News Coverage, Aides Reveal

(José Niño, Headline USA) President Donald Trump’s decision to launch strikes against Iran was influenced as much by Fox News coverage as by intelligence briefings, according to administration sources.

According to The New York Times, Trump was closely monitoring Fox News, which was providing “wall-to-wall praise of Israel’s military operation and featuring guests urging Trump to get more involved.” The report specifically notes that “several Trump advisers lamented the fact that Carlson was no longer on Fox, which meant that Trump was not hearing much of the other side of the debate.”

Rolling Stone reported similar findings, stating that “Trump’s heavy consumption of Fox News content is increasing his appetite for military confrontation with Iran.” An administration official and a close confidant indicated that Trump’s frequent viewing of Fox News was “heightening his desire for direct military engagement with Iran.”

The New York Times confirmed that Trump specifically asked an ally how Israeli strikes were “playing,” indicating his concern with media perception. The report states: “Later that day, Trump asked an ally how the Israeli strikes were ‘playing.’ He said that ‘everyone’ was telling him he needed to get more involved.'”

Trump’s advisers were actively “monitoring how their most prominent supporters were reacting on social media and on television to the prospect of the United States joining the war in a more visible way”, per the New York Times report. This aligns with historical patterns of Trump’s presidency, where former aides described how Fox News hosts would influence policy decisions.

Tucker Carlson, who left Fox News in 2023, had been one of the few prominent conservative voices opposing military intervention in Iran, as Headline USA has recently reported. The Hill reported that Carlson criticized Trump as being “complicit” in Israel’s strikes on Iran, warning that escalating conflict might draw the United States into war.

CNN reported that within MAGA media, there was a clear division between “Republican hawks and MAGA isolationists,” with Fox News appearing to favor the hawkish perspective while dissenting voices like Carlson’s were “rare and less pronounced.” The absence of Carlson’s anti-war voice from Trump’s preferred news source appears to have created an echo chamber effect.

According to Axios, Trump’s decision-making process was more calculated than initially appeared. While he publicly stated he would decide “within the next two weeks,” this was characterized as “a headfake” by Trump advisers, with the strike plan already in motion.

The strikes ultimately occurred on Saturday night, targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Trump announced the operation’s success on Truth Social claiming that Iran’s “key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”

Powell Set to Testify amid Trump’s ‘Nasty’ Pressure Campaign

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Powell Set to Testify amid Trump’s ‘Nasty’ Pressure Campaign

(, The Center Square) Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will appear before Congress on Tuesday as President Donald Trump continues to push the independent central bank to lower interest rates.

Powell will present the Fed’s Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the U.S. House Financial Services Committee at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Washington.

The chairman’s remarks before Congress come as Trump hounds Powell to lower interest rates. Last week, the Federal Open Markets Committee kept the central bank’s federal funds rate at a target of 4.25% and 4.5% – further frustrating Trump and his allies.

Trump has called Powell names and said the chairman is “not a smart person.” Trump has also dubbed him “too late” for not cutting rates.

Last week, the president even suggested appointing himself chairman of the Federal Reserve. He also called for aggressive cuts.

“Europe has had 10 cuts, we have had none,” Trump wrote last week. “We should be 2.5 Points lower.”

Over the weekend, the president again skewered Powell, encouraging rate cuts in a lengthy post on Truth Social, the president’s social media platform.

“He could do the biggest and best job for our Country by helping to lower Interest Rates and, if he reduced them to the number they should be, 1% to 2%, that ‘numbskull’ would be saving the United States of America up to $1 Trillion Dollars per year,” Trump said.

“I fully understand that my strong criticism of him makes it more difficult for him to do what he should be doing, lowering Rates, but I’ve tried it all different ways. I’ve been nice, I’ve been neutral, and I’ve been nasty, and nice and neutral didn’t work! He’s a dumb guy, and an obvious Trump Hater, who should have never been there.”

Trump laid out his reasons for a cut.

“We have virtually No Inflation, our Economy is doing really well, and will soon be doing, with the tremendous Tariff Income coming in, and Factories being built all over the Country, better than it has ever done before,” Trump wrote. “If he was concerned about Inflation or anything else, then all he has to do is bring the Rate down, so we can benefit on Interest Costs, and raise it in the future when and if these ‘other elements’ happen (which I doubt they will!).”

The president hinted again at firing Powell, something he suggested earlier but backed off.

“Maybe, just maybe, I’ll have to change my mind about firing him? But regardless, his Term ends shortly!,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

In May, the Supreme Court hinted that it wouldn’t allow a president to fire the chairman of the Federal Reserve. The nation’s highest court said the relationship between the president and the Federal Reserve was different from other independent agencies.

“The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States,” the high court wrote in an emergency ruling.

Arizona Congressman Stresses Need to Investigate 2024 Election

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Arizona Congressman Stresses Need to Investigate 2024 Election

(Chris Woodward, The Center Square) U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Arizona, is standing by his call for investigation into Runbeck Election Services and Maricopa County.

In a letter sent June 17 to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Hamadeh asked the U.S. Department of Justice to look into Runbeck’s managing of ballots from several western states in the 2024 election.

Hamadeh claimed there are “credible reports” that boxes of printed blank ballots from several western states were improperly mixed in a warehouse with returned voted mail ballots that were in the process of being prepared for tabulation.

“This alarming situation raises serious questions about the security and integrity of the election process in Maricopa County and potentially beyond,” wrote Hamadeh. “The comingling of blank ballots with live ballots poses a significant risk to the accuracy and fairness of election results.”

Maricopa County is Arizona’s most populous county and home to its capital, Phoenix.

Hamadeh told The Center Square that it is the proper role of Congress to conduct oversight of federal elections.

“Yet, in response to my appropriate request, the parties and their apologists immediately made claims that the information provided to authorities and the incident briefly described in my transmittal to Attorney General Bondi was ‘impossible,’ ” said Hamadeh.

The congressman said those sorts of reactions are “not only baseless and reckless, but they are why confidence in our in our election officials and processes have eroded” over the years.

“I would think that after years of speculation about Runbeck’s operations and Maricopa County’s elections, both parties should welcome an investigation and the opportunity it could provide to restore confidence in our elections,” said Hamadeh.

An outline from Hamadeh’s office shows exactly what the Arizona Republican wants investigated:

  • The circumstance surrounding the mixing of blank ballots with voted ballots in the Runbeck warehouse.
  • The security measures in place to prevent such incidents and whether they were followed.
  • The potential impact on the accuracy of election results in Maricopa County and any other affected areas.
  • Any other relevant factors that may have compromised the integrity of the 2024 elections.

The concern from Hamadeh comes after allegations that China may have been involved in efforts to rig the 2020 election with fake mail-in ballots for Joe Biden.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the bureau had turned over documents involving those allegations to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. Grassley is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

LA Anti-ICE Protests Joined by Iran Protests, Youth Unrest

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LA Anti-ICE Protests Joined by Iran Protests, Youth Unrest

(, The Center Square) Anti-deportation protests continued in Los Angeles over the weekend, and were joined both by Iran-related protests and youth-related unrest.

Amid the unrest on Saturday, a large assemblage of unattended youth on bicycles took over and blocked off major thoroughfares, leading the Los Angeles Police Department to issue the second advisory this month regarding the youthful bikers.

Saturday was also a national skateboarding day, which the LAPD says led to approximately 200 skateboarders gathering to set off fireworks as they roved around downtown Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Dodgers also announced that it is providing $1 million in “direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region,” and would soon be making additional announcements “with local community and labor organizations, including the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.”

On Sunday, activists peacefully demonstrated outside the Federal Building in Westwood to protest American involvement in Iran after the United States bombed several Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities. The Federal Building was protected by uniformed American soldiers, though it’s unclear if these servicemembers were National Guard or Marines.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department briefly issued a statement of condolences to “the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran” before quickly editing the statement and issuing a formal apology after national backlash.

Trump Thanks Iran for Early Notice on Retaliatory Attack on U.S. Base in Qatar

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Trump Thanks Iran for Early Notice on Retaliatory Attack on U.S. Base in Qatar

(Dave DeCamp, Antiwar.com) President Trump on Monday thanked Iran for giving the US notice of its plans to launch a retaliatory attack on the US’s Al Udeid base in Qatar, saying it prevented casualties.

Iran’s military launched the attack on the US base in response to the US bombing of three of its nuclear facilities. Trump called the Iranian retaliation “weak,” suggesting he’s not planning to respond.

“Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered. There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free,’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured,” the president added.

Trump said that now Iran has the chance to “proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region” and that he will “enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”

In another post, Trump also noted that there were no Qatari casualties. “Regarding the attack today at the American Base in Qatar, I am pleased to report that, in addition to no Americans being killed or wounded, very importantly, there have also been no Qataris killed or wounded,” he said.

Trump’s comments align with media reports that said Iran gave notice to Qatar ahead of the attack. The incident was similar to the US’s assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020, when Iran launched a similar retaliatory attack on a US base in Iraq, and the US didn’t respond.

While Trump is signaling he won’t attack Iran again, it’s unclear what he will demand of Tehran, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may see the limited Iranian retaliation as a chance to argue to the US that Iran is weak and that now is the time for regime change.

Iran also has little reason to trust that Trump truly seeks peace since the US president engaged in deception to make it appear that he was interested in a diplomatic solution ahead of Israel’s initial attacks on Iran and before the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities.

This article originally appeared at Antiwar.com.

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