Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said on Sunday that he will not seek reelection in 2026 less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-whacks-at-tillis-with-primary-threat-for-voting-against-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened</a> to support a primary challenge against the lawmaker following his vote against the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill.&#8221;
The announcement marks a turnaround as Tillis had <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/3257243/thom-tillis-begins-rough-path-2026-reelection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicated</a> in December of last year that he was pursuing a third term in the upper chamber.
&#8220;In Washington over the last few years, it&#8217;s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,&#8221; Tillis said in a <a href="https://x.com/frankthorp/status/1939375244831228256" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
He added later, &#8220;As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven&#8217;t exactly been excited about running for another term. That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It&#8217;s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.&#8221;
Tillis was one of two Republican senators who voted against a motion to proceed with debate on the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; on Saturday evening. He did so while raising concerns about the legislation&#8217;s proposed Medicaid cuts. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the other GOP lawmaker.
Ultimately the bill <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-clears-key-senate-hurdle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> through the procedural hurdle, but not before Trump took aim at Tillis on his Truth Social account.
&#8220;Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against &#8216;Senator Thom&#8217; Tillis,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114764184133829613" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!&#8221;
Among other things he said, Trump declared, &#8220;I can’t believe that the Great People of North Carolina, a State that I love and won all three times, and a State that I just brought back with money, blood, sweat, and tears, from the recent tragic floods, when Sleepy Joe Biden let them DROWN, right up until the end of that Administration, without doing anything — I was given an A+ Rating for the job we did in bringing it back, and Tillis, despite being a Republican, was MISSING IN ACTION — North Carolina will not allow one of their Senators to GRANDSTAND in order to get some publicity for himself, for a possible, but very difficult Re-Election.&#8221;
With his statement, Tillis indicated that he plans to finish out the rest of his term before retiring from Congress.
&#8220;I still look forward to continuing to serve North Carolina over the next 18 months,&#8221; Tillis said. &#8220;I look forward to solely focusing on producing meaningful results without the distraction of raising money or campaigning for another election. I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability.&#8221;
Trump has also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/not-maga-trump-vows-to-help-crush-massie-in-primary-after-iran-strike-criticism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushed</a> for a primary challenge against Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who voted against the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; and criticized the recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)

Tillis Buckles To Trump Threat, Won’t Seek Reelection

Congress

Donald Trump

Election

North Carolina

Politics

U.S.

U.S. Senate

President Donald Trump warned Zohran Mamdani or whoever ultimately wins the next election for mayor of New York City will &#8220;have to behave&#8221; or face a &#8220;very tough&#8221; financial response from the federal government.
Trump made the comment during a &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures&#8221; interview after anchor Maria Bartiromo asked who is &#8220;poised to support&#8221; in the election.
&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t want to say that because I have a lot of people, a lot of friends, and I have everybody, so I don&#8217;t want to get into that,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;I can tell you this, whoever&#8217;s mayor of New York is going to have to behave themselves or the federal government is coming down very tough on them financially.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Watch Part 4 of <a href="https://twitter.com/MariaBartiromo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MariaBartiromo</a>&#8216;s interview with <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> discussing the NYC Mayor race, the Supreme Court rulings, and the future of the Trump agenda <a href="https://t.co/7W5krRTiBj">pic.twitter.com/7W5krRTiBj</a>
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) <a href="https://twitter.com/SundayFutures/status/1939341993542304248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Moments earlier, Trump took a direct swipe at Mamdani, the socialist candidate who emerged victorious in the Democratic Party&#8217;s primary for New York City mayor after former Governor Andrew Cuomo <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-cuomo-falls-to-radical-socialist-zohran-mamdani-in-nyc-mayoral-primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conceded</a> the contest last week.
&#8220;He&#8217;s a communist, I think it&#8217;s very bad for New York. I don&#8217;t know that he&#8217;s going to get in, it&#8217;s inconceivable that he is,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;But he&#8217;s a communist, and he&#8217;s pure communist. I think he admits it. But I can&#8217;t imagine it, but let&#8217;s say this, if he does get in I&#8217;m going to be president and he is going to have to do the right thing, or they&#8217;re not getting any money.&#8221;
Trump added, &#8220;He&#8217;s got to do the right thing. It&#8217;s shocking that I would have assumed that. &#8230; I used to say we will never have a socialist in this country. No, but we&#8217;ll have a communist. I mean, he&#8217;s a communist, he gonna be mayor of New York. So I was very surprised when I said, I never heard of him, I don&#8217;t know who he is.&#8221;
He also said Mamdani is a &#8220;radical left lunatic&#8221; and Bartiromo said the socialist has <a href="https://www.zohranfornyc.com/platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vowed</a> not to cooperate with ICE and pledging to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be <a href="https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/mamdani-vowed-to-arrest-netanyahu-if-he-ever-visited-nyc-as-mayoral-race-heats-up-democratic-mayoral-primary-new-york-city-international-criminal-court-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> if he visits New York City.
Mamdani pushed back on the &#8220;communist&#8221; label that Trump has given him during an <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/zohran-mamdani-says-i-don-t-think-that-we-should-have-billionaires-full-interview-242434117989" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> on NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet The Press&#8221; on Sunday.
&#8220;No, I am not. And I have already had to start to get used to the fact that the president will talk about how I look, how I sound, where I&#8217;m from, who I am, ultimately because he wants to distract from what I&#8217;m fighting for. And I&#8217;m fighting for the very working people that he ran a campaign to empower, that he has since then betrayed,&#8221; Mamdani said.

Zohran Mamdani

Trump Warns Socialist Zohran Mamdani: ‘Behave’ Or NYC Won’t Get Any Federal Money

New York City

The pilots who flew the B-2 bombers that attacked multiple Iran nuclear sites last weekend are coming to the White House, according to President Donald Trump.
During an interview on &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures,&#8221; anchor Maria Bartiromo asked Trump if he was going to &#8220;do something&#8221; for the &#8220;courageous&#8221; pilots after noting the president wants to &#8220;honor&#8221; them.
&#8220;Yes, they&#8217;re going to come to the White House. But what you said is right. These people flew 36 hours in a small space, a big plane, but a small spaces mostly occupied by bombs, and they flew so brilliantly,&#8221; Trump said.
He added, &#8220;They hit a target the size of this circle &#8230; a little target, they say half the size of a refrigerator door from 50,000 feet up in the air. Going at a rapid speed, because they&#8217;re going very fast when they&#8217;re over a pretty rough territory. And they hit it every single time. And then they knocked out two other sites aside from that.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on the B-2 pilots: &#8220;They&#8217;re going to come to the White House &#8230; They hit a target the size of a circle — a little target, they say half the size of a refrigerator door, from 50,000 feet up in the air going at a rapid speed &#8230; And they hit it every single time.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/jhWxAuloR5">pic.twitter.com/jhWxAuloR5</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1939327592726691990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
For a mission dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, the B-2 bombers launched from the United States and refueled multiple times while in flight during the trip to Iranian airspace, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/b-2-bombers-arrive-back-in-missouri-after-hammering-iranian-nuclear-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a news conference. As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/b-2-bombers-arrive-back-in-missouri-after-hammering-iranian-nuclear-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> by The Daily Wire, they struck targets at Fordo and Natanz and Tomahawk missiles fired from a United States submarines hit Isfahan moments later. Following the attack, the B-2 bombers made a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/b-2-bombers-arrive-back-in-missouri-after-hammering-iranian-nuclear-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">return trip</a> to Missouri.
Trump, who says the strikes were necessary to prevent Tehran from achieving a nuclear weapon, deemed the attack a success.
&#8220;Those pilots went in there with those beautiful planes and the most sophisticated bombs anywhere in the world. Think of it, they can go 30 stories deep into granite. Who would think that&#8217;s even possible? And they did obliterate it, it turned out,&#8221; Trump told Bartiromo.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also praised the pilots and others involved in the operation.
&#8220;I want to recognize pilots who flew those bombers; who flew those fighters; who flew those refuelers: Warriors. I want to recognize the sailors, on those destroyers, in those subs. on those carriers: Warriors. All of them. I want to recognize our soldiers doing air defense, base defense, QRF: Warriors. All of them,” Hegseth said in a statement. &#8220;Every American involved in this operation performed flawlessly.&#8221;

B-2 Bomber

Pilots Of B-2 Bombers That Hit Iran Nuclear Sites Coming To White House, Trump Says

Iran

Military

National Security

Nuclear Weapons

Authorities in the United Kingdom said they are considering an investigation after rapper Bobby Vylan led anti-Israel chants at the Glastonbury Festival over the weekend.
Video <a href="https://x.com/JewsFightBack/status/1938995077084520670" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> to X showed Vylan repeatedly shouting &#8220;free, free Palestine,&#8221; and each time the crowd yelled it back. The same exchange happened when Vylan began screaming &#8220;death, death to the IDF,&#8221; using the acronym for the Israeli Defense Forces. &#8220;From the river to the sea&#8221; was also said by the performer.
&#8220;We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon,&#8221; Avon and Somerset Police <a href="https://x.com/ASPolice/status/1939025011844485405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X. &#8220;Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.&#8221;
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The Glastonbury Festival posted a statement on Instagram criticizing the rapper, who is part of the punk duo that also goes by the name Bob Vylan.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Glastonbury. 
The UK’s biggest music festival. 
Over 200,000 in attendance.
On stage, Bob Vylan screamed: 
“DEATH! DEATH TO THE IDF!” 
And the crowd screamed it back.
This is how mainstream Jew-hatred has become. 
Absolutely disgusting. <a href="https://t.co/TC95dtEf0l">pic.twitter.com/TC95dtEf0l</a>
— Jews Fight Back 🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@JewsFightBack) <a href="https://twitter.com/JewsFightBack/status/1938995077084520670?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer&#8217;s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs,&#8221; the statement <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLeuti8t5zC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=87256ce5-88c3-4b8d-9c48-7f4f9df99e48" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
It added, &#8220;However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.&#8221;
Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/global/glastonbury-appalled-bob-vylan-death-to-idf-chant-1236443589/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that BBC, which aired Bob Vylan&#8217;s set, called the comments made during the performance &#8220;deeply offensive&#8221; and said it had no plans to make the set available on demand.
The news outlet also <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/global/kneecap-leads-keir-starmer-chant-glastonbury-uk-1236438911/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> the hip-hop group Kneecap led chants of &#8220;f&#8212;&#8221; British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and &#8220;free Palestine&#8221; at the same festival. Mo Chara, one of the band’s members, is <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2qq2n3800o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fighting</a> a terrorism charge after displaying a Hezbollah flag during a prior show.
The Israeli Embassy in the United Kingdom <a href="https://x.com/IsraelinUK/status/1939019339161563147" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X that it was &#8220;deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival,&#8221; adding, &#8220;Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleansing, it must be called out — especially when amplified by public figures on prominent platforms.&#8221;

Bobby Vylan

Police Consider Criminal Charges After Rapper Leads ‘Death To The IDF’ Chant At Festival

Israel

Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

Music

United Kingdom

President Donald Trump said that he expects more countries will join the Abraham Accords that seek to normalize relations between Israel and Arab nations.
During an interview on &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures,&#8221; anchor Maria Bartiromo asked Trump if any other country had suggested to him that they wanted to sign up after the U.S. military bombed Iranian sites to prevent Tehran from achieving nuclear weapons.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/MariaBartiromo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MariaBartiromo</a>: “Has any other country suggested to you… that they want to join the Abraham Accords?”<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: “Yes. So, we have some really great countries in there right now and I think we’re going to start loading them up because Iran was the primary problem.” <a href="https://t.co/LD6AKsPqKU">pic.twitter.com/LD6AKsPqKU</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1939327573445447684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Yes, so we have some really great countries in there right now, and I think we&#8217;re going to start loading them up because Iran was the primary problem. I actually thought Iran would, I actually, we had a period of time where I thought Iran would join the Abraham Accords along with everybody else, and frankly they would have been better off than where they are right now,&#8221; Trump said.
Bartiromo asked Trump if Syria in particular would enter the Abraham Accords.
&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t know, but I did take off the sanctions at the request of some of the other countries in the area that are friends of ours,&#8221; Trump replied. &#8220;I took off the sanctions on Syria to give them a chance at, you know, the sanctions are biting. They&#8217;re very strong. And we have sanctions on Iran, too. And you know, you take them off when, I sort of gave the expression today, you get more sometimes with honey than you do with vinegar.&#8221;
The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-on-saudi-arabia-to-join-abraham-accords-my-fervent-hope" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> last month that Trump called on Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, a series of treaties that he put together during his first term that already includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.
&#8220;It’s been an amazing thing, the Abraham Accords, and it’s my fervent hope, wish, and even my dream that Saudi Arabia — a place I have such respect for, especially over the last fairly short period of time, what you’ve been able to do — but will soon be joining the Abraham Accords,&#8221; Trump said during a speech in Riyadh.
Last week, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937975541748945222" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on CNBC, &#8220;One of the President&#8217;s key objectives is that the Abraham Accords be expanded &#8230; We think we&#8217;re going to have some pretty big announcements on countries that are now coming in to the Abraham Peace Accords.&#8221;

President Donald J. Trump

Trump Predicts More Nations Will Join Abraham Accords After Iran Strikes

Abraham Accords

Middle East

Saudi Arabia

The GOP-led Senate narrowly advanced on Saturday night the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; championed by President Donald Trump.
By a 51-49 vote, the upper chamber passed a motion to proceed, ending an hours-long standoff on the legislation that features many of Trump&#8217;s spending and tax priorities.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) flipped from a &#8220;no&#8221; to a &#8220;yes&#8221; in the final moments as Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) cast their votes in support of pressing ahead.
All the Democrats, the independents who caucus with them, and Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted against the motion.
Vice President JD Vance had travelled to the U.S. Capitol to be a tiebreaker, but he was not ultimately needed to cast a vote.
While Senate Republicans are trying to meet Trump&#8217;s July 4 deadline to get the bill to his desk, Democrats are employing tactics that will slow down the process.
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After the procedural vote concluded on Saturday night, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) immediately asked for a reading of the legislation, which is more than 900 pages long and will likely take over 10 hours to get through.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) noted on X that further steps lie ahead.
&#8220;Remember: we still have to read the bill on the floor, hold up to 20 hrs of debate, and ‘vote-a-rama’ where we’ll wear the libs down on amendment votes. Then, House passage. Busy weekend,&#8221; he <a href="https://x.com/SenMullin/status/1939159374213120445" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
The Republican-controlled House already passed a version of the &#8220;One Big Beautiful Bill&#8221; a little more than a month ago, however the Senate has made some changes.
Ultimately both chambers will have to agree on a final version. Because the legislation is being considered through the reconciliation process, the Senate can bypass the filibuster and pass the measure with a simple majority.
Lee voted to move the bill forward after he <a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/1939132778605388207" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the withdrawal of his provision to sell off public lands, which had irked some <a href="https://x.com/TimSheehyMT/status/1939047707106038251" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other</a> GOP <a href="https://x.com/SenatorRisch/status/1939138126125113473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">senators</a> from Western states.
Earlier, Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114764131885531801" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> Tillis <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114764184133829613" target="_blank" rel="noopener">after</a> the North Carolina Republican voted against proceeding with the bill while <a href="https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/tillis-statement-on-senate-reconciliation-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">objecting</a> to Medicaid cuts. Trump later <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114764629478113280" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> what is &#8220;wrong&#8221; with Paul, who has <a href="https://x.com/RandPaul/status/1939107031157289394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> debt-related concerns about the bill.

President Donald Trump

Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Clears Key Senate Hurdle

Spending Bill

President Donald Trump threatened on Saturday evening to support a primary challenger to Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) after the lawmaker voted against moving ahead with the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill.&#8221;
The legislation, which is working its way through Congress through the reconciliation process, was stuck in limbo when Trump criticized Tillis. It has since passed that procedural hurdle.
&#8220;Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against &#8216;Senator Thom&#8217; Tillis,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114764184133829613" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on Truth Social. &#8220;I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!&#8221;
Tillis, who is up for re-election in 2026 midterm elections, announced earlier that he could not support the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; in its current form after the Senate made changes to the legislation since it passed through the House a little more than a month ago.
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&#8220;I will always do what is in the best interest of North Carolina, even when that puts me at odds with my own party. When Senate leaders of my party presented this bill, I did what every American should expect from their U.S. Senator: I worked to gather the facts and comprehensively analyze what the impact would be on the people I swore an oath to represent,&#8221; Tillis said a <a href="https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/tillis-statement-on-senate-reconciliation-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;It would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities.&#8221;
&#8220;This will force the state to make painful decisions like eliminating Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands in the expansion population, and even reducing critical services for those in the traditional Medicaid population. We can and must do better than this. The Senate should return to the House’s Medicaid approach. That plan includes commonsense reforms to address waste, fraud, and abuse, and implements work requirements for some able-bodied adults to ensure taxpayer-funded benefits are going to our most vulnerable neighbors,&#8221; he added. &#8220;There is a lot for North Carolinians to love about the rest of the One Big Beautiful Bill, including extending the historic Trump Tax Cuts, increasing the child tax credit, providing historic funding for border security, and ending wasteful spending. We can and must accomplish this without hurting our rural communities and hospitals, and without jeopardizing access to care for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians who need it the most.&#8221;
Although Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) had also opposed proceeding with consideration of the bill along with the Democrats, Trump singled out Tillis liked he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/not-maga-trump-vows-to-help-crush-massie-in-primary-after-iran-strike-criticism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently did</a> with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) for criticizing the U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Johnson eventually came around changed his vote and the Senate was allowed to <a href="https://x.com/CraigCaplan/status/1939159925386510819" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press ahead</a> with the legislation. A final vote could happen in the upper chamber over the next few days.
&#8220;Looks like Senator Thom Tillis, as usual, wants to tell the Nation that he’s giving them a 68% Tax Increase, as opposed to the Biggest Tax Cut in American History! At the same time, he is unable to understand the importance of a Debt Extension, which Republicans gave to the Democrats just prior to the November 5th Election, because of its significance, and how important it was for the future of the U.S.A. Sadly, the Democrat Politicians probably won’t reciprocate on a Debt Extension because they’re nasty people who actually hate our Country. Tillis is also willing to throw the very important Tobacco Industry in North Carolina, &#8216;out the window,&#8217; for reasons nobody seems to understand. He loves China made windmills that will cost a fortune, ruin the landscape, and produce the most expensive Energy on Earth,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114764131885531801" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in another Truth Social post.
&#8220;I can’t believe that the Great People of North Carolina, a State that I love and won all three times, and a State that I just brought back with money, blood, sweat, and tears, from the recent tragic floods, when Sleepy Joe Biden let them DROWN, right up until the end of that Administration, without doing anything — I was given an A+ Rating for the job we did in bringing it back, and Tillis, despite being a Republican, was MISSING IN ACTION — North Carolina will not allow one of their Senators to GRANDSTAND in order to get some publicity for himself, for a possible, but very difficult Re-Election,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;America wants Reduced Taxes, including NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, AND NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY, Interest Deductions on Cars, Border Security, a Strong Military, and a Bill which is GREAT for our Farmers, Manufacturers and, Employment, in general. Thom Tillis is making a BIG MISTAKE for America, and the Wonderful People of North Carolina!&#8221;

Trump Whacks At Tillis With Primary Threat For Voting Against ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Thom Tillis

The GOP-led Senate rejected on Friday a measure that sought to stop President Donald Trump from launching further attacks on Iran without the consent of Congress.
Sen. Tim Kaine&#8217;s (D-VA) war powers <a href="https://www.kaine.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/iran_war_powers_resolution.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resolution</a> was defeated in a <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00328.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">53-47 vote</a>, mostly along party lines. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the sole Republican to vote &#8220;yea&#8221; while Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) joined the rest of the GOP in opposing it.
&#8220;The Framers of our Constitution gave Congress the power to declare war because they believed that the decision to send our nation’s men and women in uniform into harm’s way was too big for any one person. The Trump Administration’s chaotic strategy on Iran confused the American people and created significant risks for servicemembers and their families,&#8221; Kaine said in a <a href="https://x.com/SenTimKaine/status/1938740715607011514" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
&#8220;I am disappointed that many of my colleagues are not willing to stand up and say Congress needs to be part of a decision as important as whether or not the U.S. should send our nation’s sons and daughters to fight against Iran,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I will continue to do all I can to keep presidents of any party from starting wars without robust public debate by Congress.&#8221;
Trump ordered military strikes on three sites in Iran last weekend as part of an effort to prevent Tehran from achieving nuclear weapons. Although the president deemed the operation a success and called for peace following a counterattack on a U.S. military base in Qatar with no American casualties, he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-he-will-absolutely-start-bombing-iran-again-if-they-enrich-uranium-to-high-levels?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Says+He+Will+%E2%80%98Absolutely%E2%80%99+Start+Bombing+Iran+Again+If+They+Enrich+Uranium+To+High+Levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> on Friday that the United States would bomb Iran again if it resumed enriching uranium to high levels.
In a <a href="https://x.com/SenatorCollins/status/1938715871255367960" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> released after the vote, Sen. Susan Collins (R-MA) argued that Congress did not need to give Trump authorization at this time.
&#8220;Since the despicable attacks on October 7, 2023, Iran has continued to use proxies and empowered terrorist groups to attack American servicemembers and our ally Israel. This week, Iran threatened to attack Americans on our own soil and around the world,&#8221; Collins said. &#8220;I supported the President’s targeted strike on Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities because a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an unacceptable threat to America and our allies. I also applaud the current ceasefire. Given this backdrop, it is the wrong time to consider this resolution and to risk inadvertently sending a message to Iran that the President cannot swiftly defend Americans at home and abroad.&#8221;
&#8220;There has always been a Constitutional tension between Article I vesting in Congress the power to declare war and Article II designating the President as Commander-in-Chief,&#8221; she added. &#8220;I continue to believe that Congress has an important responsibility to authorize the sustained use of military force. That is not the situation we are facing now. The President has the authority to defend our nation and our troops around the world against the threat of attack.&#8221;
Some lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House are pushing for another war powers vote, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-exposes-dem-hypocrisy-on-iran-strikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> that he did not think it was necessary.
&#8220;I don’t think this is an appropriate time for a war powers resolution, and I don’t think it’s necessary. Listen, for 80 years, presidents of both parties have acted with the same commander in chief authority under Article 2&#8221; of the Constitution, Johnson said.
Johnson went on to mention how Democrats who are complaining now did not seem to mind when former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama conducted military operations in the region without seeking explicit approval from Congress for those campaigns.
&#8220;You had President Biden use it three times in Middle East operations. President Obama went on an eight-month campaign bombing Libya to take down the regime there. I never heard a Democrat balk about any of that,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;And suddenly now they’re just up in arms. It’s all politics. This is not a time for politics.&#8221;

Sen. Tim Kaine

Senate Rebuffs Dem Bid To Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers

Mike Johnson

Susan Collins

Tim Kaine

President Donald Trump accused Democrats on Thursday of disclosing intelligence about the U.S. strike over the weekend, claiming the bombings on Iranian nuclear facilities did not fully destroy the sites after he declared they were &#8220;obliterated.&#8221;
In a post on Truth Social, Trump went so far as to suggest the culprits should face prosecution, although he did not name anyone in particular.
&#8220;The Democrats are the ones who leaked the information on the PERFECT FLIGHT to the Nuclear Sites in Iran. They should be prosecuted!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114751173173020083" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
A probe is already underway after CNN, as well as The New York Times, reported on early intelligence claiming the bombings did not completely destroy the sites and set back Tehran&#8217;s nuclear program only by a few months.
&#8220;We’re doing a leak investigation with the FBI right now, because this information is for internal purposes, battle-damage assessments,&#8221; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-hegseth-slam-media-over-iran-strike-leak-professional-stabbers-undermining-u-s-victory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Wednesday. &#8220;And CNN and others are trying to spin it to make the president look bad when this is an overwhelming success.&#8221;
The CIA and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard contend that further analysis <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cia-reveals-intelligence-showing-u-s-destroyed-key-iranian-nuclear-facilities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicates</a> the facilities were in fact destroyed by the strike, which the Trump administration says was necessary to keep Iran from achieving nuclear weapons.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1938360522614649104" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> after a briefing on the Iran strike that it was clear the Trump administration lacked a &#8220;coherent strategy&#8221; and &#8220;no plan&#8221; for keeping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. He also pushed for a war powers vote and more answers.
Earlier in the day, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fire-everyone-involved-trump-unloads-on-media-after-hegseth-presser-on-iran-strikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assailed</a> the journalists from <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/24/politics/intel-assessment-us-strikes-iran-nuclear-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> and The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/us/politics/iran-nuclear-sites.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Times</a> who reported on the early intelligence, relying on unnamed sources.
“FAKE NEWS REPORTERS FROM CNN &amp; THE NEW YORK TIMES SHOULD BE FIRED, IMMEDIATELY!!! BAD PEOPLE WITH EVIL INTENTIONS!!!” he <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114750055630968441" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exclaimed</a> in all capital letters on Truth Social.
Trump also threatened a defamation lawsuit against the news outlets, demanding they retract the stories and offer apologies for them, but CNN and The New York Times are <a href="https://x.com/CNNPR/status/1937954110302519517" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defending</a> their reporting.
&#8220;No retraction is needed. No apology will be forthcoming. We told the truth to the best of our ability. We will continue to do so,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/maxwelltani/status/1938352292807221619" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> New York Times lead newsroom attorney David McCraw.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/leavitt-debunks-completely-false-report-that-top-dems-not-given-advanced-notice-of-iran-strikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shot down</a> another CNN report over the weekend that claimed the Trump administration did not provide advanced notice of the strike to Democrat leaders in Congress, which led to a correction.

Trump Blames Dems For Iran Strike Intel Leak, Calls For Prosecutions

Chuck Schumer

Democrats

Executive

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough invoked the ire of Republicans in Congress on Thursday for rejecting provisions in the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; championed by President Donald Trump.
A couple of GOP lawmakers called for MacDonough to be overruled after she ruled against <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/26/trump-tax-bill-medicaid-setback-senate/84367717007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed changes</a> to Medicaid over the view that they do not comply with Senate rules for the budget reconciliation process being used to fast-track the legislation.
&#8220;The Senate Parliamentarian, an unelected staffer, is gutting the House’s OBBB and axing conservative wins. Her word isn’t law — just advice. Senate Republicans: ignore her and deliver on President Trump’s agenda, backed by 77M Americans!&#8221; Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/RepKeithSelf/status/1938254272216350894" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X.
Others are going as far as to demand that MacDonough be forced out of the role she has held since being <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/31/politics/senate-female-parliamentarian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appointed</a> by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in 2012.
&#8220;The WOKE Senate Parliamentarian, who was appointed by Harry Reid and advised Al Gore, just STRUCK DOWN a provision BANNING illegals from stealing Medicaid from American citizens. This is a perfect example of why Americans hate THE SWAMP,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/SenTuberville/status/1938237688261333020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). &#8220;Unelected bureaucrats think they know better than U.S. Congressmen who are elected BY THE PEOPLE. Her job is not to push a woke agenda. THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN SHOULD BE FIRED ASAP.&#8221;
Republicans are working to pass the bill using the reconciliation process, which allows the Senate to bypass the 60-vote threshold for a filibuster. However, the parliamentarian determined proposals for Medicaid and other programs do not adhere to the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RL30862" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Byrd Rule</a>, which demands they stay focused on the budget.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) indicated that he did not plan to overrule MacDonough, <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/06/26/congress/john-thune-senate-parliamentarian-overrule-00425792" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telling</a> POLITICO, &#8220;No, that would not be a good option for getting a bill done.&#8221;
He also suggested lawmakers will try to work around MacDonough&#8217;s rulings even as the July 4 deadline favored by Trump fast approaches, and changes they make will have to be approved by the House, which already passed a version of the legislation <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-one-big-beautiful-bill-in-massive-win-for-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one month ago</a>.
&#8220;These are speed bumps along the way, we anticipated those and so we have contingency plans. Obviously, you have to adjust the timing and schedule a little bit, but we&#8217;re moving forward,&#8221; Thune said, per <a href="https://x.com/maxpcohen/status/1938249056846778369" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punchbowl News</a>.
In years past, some Democrats also called for MacDonough to be overruled or fired after rulings in the reconciliation process did not go their way, like after the parliamentarian <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/02/26/senate-parliamentarian-minimum-wage-overrule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> a proposed minimum-wage increase in 2021 when they controlled the Senate and Joe Biden was president.
But, at the present time, Democrats are in the minority and depend on MacDonough&#8217;s assessments to stymie the GOP&#8217;s agenda.
&#8220;Democrats are continuing to make the case against every provision in this Big, Beautiful Betrayal of a bill that violates Senate rules and hurts families and workers,” <a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-member/newsroom/press/byrd-rule-violations-continue-to-mount-on-the-republicans-one-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Budget Committee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR). “Democrats are fighting back against Republicans’ plans to gut Medicaid, dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and kick kids, veterans, seniors, and folks with disabilities off of their health insurance — all to fund tax breaks for billionaires. Republicans are scrambling to rewrite parts of this bill to continue advancing their families lose, and billionaires win agenda, but Democrats stand ready to fully scrutinize any changes and ensure the Byrd Rule is enforced.”
One GOP lawmaker in the House, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), pointed out that Republicans <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/02/26/senate-parliamentarian-minimum-wage-overrule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">did fire</a> the parliamentarian in 2001 in a similar clash over budgetary matters and encouraged Thune to remove MacDonough from her perch now.
&#8220;This is not about partisanship, it is about rule of law. She has failed to apply the rules of reconciliation accurately on multiple occasions,&#8221; Crenshaw <a href="https://x.com/dancrenshawtx/status/1938264675486925184?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X, adding that &#8220;the current parliamentarian has shown clear political bias, applying ideology and not the rules of the Senate.&#8221;
Crenshaw took particular issue with the parliamentarian&#8217;s ruling against his own proposal.
&#8220;There are many examples of this so far, but today was the final red line for me. She struck my provision that stops federal funding for gender transition procedures, claiming it doesn’t have budgetary impact and therefore is “out of order,&#8221; Crenshaw said. &#8220;The FACT is this provision absolutely has a direct budgetary impact. It amends Section 1903(i) of the Social Security Act, which governs federal payments under Medicaid. So MacDonough’s claim that it’s noncompliant on procedural grounds is absolutely wrong.&#8221;
He concluded: &#8220;This is bigger than one provision. It’s about the sanctity of the rules and laws we follow, and the importance of the position of the Head Parliamentarian, who must be an objective non-partisan who applies the rules with consistency, not ideology.&#8221;

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD)

GOP Furious As Unelected Bureaucrat Yanks Conservative Elements From ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

GOP Furious As Unelected Bureaucrat Yanks Conservative Elements From 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

Dan Crenshaw

John Thune

Tommy Tuberville

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) went to the hospital and was treated for dehydration, his office said on Wednesday.
The announcement, which noted that Schumer had since returned to work on Capitol Hill, came as the greater Washington, D.C., area was in the midst of a heat wave, with temperatures reaching the mid-90s.
&#8220;Leader Schumer was at the Senate gym this morning and got lightheaded. Out of an abundance of caution, he went to the hospital to be treated for dehydration and is now back at work in the Capitol,&#8221; a spokesperson for the New York Democrat <a href="https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1937947659471622166" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;He wants to remind everyone to drink some water and stay out of the heat.&#8221;
NBC News reporter Frank Thorp V <a href="https://x.com/frankthorp/status/1937949234180812836" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that Schumer, who is 74, had just attended a press conference in the U.S. Capitol but did not take any questions. Schumer delivered some remarks at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdhsVtS0Qws" target="_blank" rel="noopener">event</a> with the families of victims from Continental Flight 3407 and left the room right afterwards.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=VAZ054&amp;warncounty=VAC013&amp;firewxzone=VAZ054&amp;local_place1=2%20Miles%20N%20Fort%20Myer%20VA&amp;product1=Heat+Advisory&amp;lat=38.8774&amp;lon=-77.072" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bulletin</a> warning that a heat advisory was in effect for Wednesday until 9 p.m. for portions of D.C. and the surrounding region. Another heat advisory has been issued for Thursday from the late morning until the evening.
&#8220;Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,&#8221; NWS said. &#8220;Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.&#8221;
Earlier on Wednesday, Schumer issued a <a href="https://x.com/chuckschumer/status/1937890929689420209" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on X regarding Zohran Mamdani, a socialist who emerged victorious late on Tuesday in the Democratic Party&#8217;s New York City mayoral primary.
&#8220;I have known [Mamdani] since we worked together to provide debt relief for thousands of beleaguered taxi drivers &amp; fought to stop a fracked gas plant in Astoria. He ran an impressive campaign that connected with New Yorkers about affordability, fairness, &amp; opportunity,&#8221; Schumer said. &#8220;I spoke with [Mamdani] this morning and am looking forward to getting together soon.&#8221;

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

Schumer Hospitalized For Dehydration As D.C. Nears 100 Degrees

Weather

A House Democrat from Long Island who is seen as vulnerable in next year&#8217;s midterm elections warned on Wednesday that socialist Zohran Mamdani is &#8220;too extreme&#8221; to lead New York City.
The <a href="https://x.com/LauraAGillen/status/1937900429263982742" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY) came after former Governor Andrew Cuomo <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-cuomo-falls-to-radical-socialist-zohran-mamdani-in-nyc-mayoral-primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conceded</a> the Democratic Party&#8217;s mayoral primary to Mamdani late on Tuesday.
&#8220;Socialist Zohran Mamdani is too extreme to lead New York City. His entire campaign has been built on unachievable promises and higher taxes, which is the last thing New York needs,&#8221; Gillen said. &#8220;Beyond that, Mr. Mamdani has called to defund the police and has demonstrated a deeply disturbing pattern of unacceptable antisemitic comments which stoke hate at a time when antisemitism is skyrocketing. He is the absolute wrong choice for New York.&#8221;
Gillen, who is serving her first term after defeating Republican Anthony D&#8217;Esposito last November, is one of 26 Democrats that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has on its <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/26-house-districts-republicans-flip-2026-midterms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;target list&#8221;</a> for the 2026 midterms.
Another New York Democrat whose district is also viewed as a “prime pick-up” opportunity for Republicans to grow their slim majority in the House, Rep. Tom Suozzi, released a skeptical statement regarding Mamdani.
&#8220;I had serious concerns about Assemblyman Mamdani before yesterday, and that is one of the reasons I endorsed his opponent,&#8221; Suozzi <a href="https://x.com/Tom_Suozzi/status/1937922834845585741" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X. &#8220;Those concerns remain.&#8221;
The leading Democrats in the House and Senate, who are both from New York, both complemented Mamdani&#8217;s campaign and said they aimed to meet with the candidate sometime in the future.
&#8220;Congratulations to Zohran Mamdani on a decisive primary victory. Assemblyman Mamdani ran a strong campaign that relentlessly focused on the economy and bringing down the high cost of living in New York City. We spoke this morning and plan to meet in Central Brooklyn shortly,&#8221; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/hakeemjeffries/status/1937889911165645000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X.
&#8220;I have known [Mamdani] since we worked together to provide debt relief for thousands of beleaguered taxi drivers &amp; fought to stop a fracked gas plant in Astoria. He ran an impressive campaign that connected with New Yorkers about affordability, fairness, &amp; opportunity,&#8221; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/chuckschumer/status/1937890929689420209" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;I spoke with [Mamdani] this morning and am looking forward to getting together soon.&#8221;

Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayoral candidate

Vulnerable Long Island Dem Warns Mamdani ‘Too Extreme’ For NYC After Primary Upset

Elections

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Daniel Chaitin