Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is facing accusations of lying under oath to Congress last week after denying the central bank&#8217;s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation would include lavish amenities like private dining rooms and special elevators, despite planning documents revealing precisely those features.
Government planning documents reviewed by the Senate Banking Committee, first <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/30/business/jerome-powell-accused-of-lying-to-congress-over-2-5b-palace-of-versailles-hq-revamp/">revealed</a> by the New York Post, directly contradict Powell&#8217;s claims, specifically mentioning &#8220;private dining rooms&#8221; and a &#8220;Governors&#8217; private elevator,&#8221; as well as &#8220;vegetated roof terraces&#8221; for &#8220;urban wildlife and pollinators.&#8221;
&#8220;There&#8217;s no VIP dining room, there&#8217;s no new marble. There are no special elevators,&#8221; Powell claimed under oath on Wednesday. &#8220;There are no new water features, there&#8217;s no beehives, and there&#8217;s no roof terrace gardens.&#8221;
Powell&#8217;s testimony directly contradicts government planning documents that have not been revised since their approval in 2021.
&#8220;The private dining rooms on Level 4 (of the Fed&#8217;s Eccles building) will be restored,&#8221; reads one excerpt from the filing with the National Capital Planning Commission. &#8220;The Governors&#8217; private elevator will be extended to discharge at the dining suite level.&#8221;
According to the Post, the filing also explicitly mentions &#8220;vegetated roof terraces&#8221; featuring &#8220;urban wildlife and pollinators&#8221; in addition to new marble and water features.
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), chair of the Senate Banking Committee, branded the renovations &#8220;luxury upgrades that feel more like they belong in the Palace of Versailles.&#8221;
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-2388">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
Powell dismissed the price tag for the revamp, which exceeded the original estimate of $1.9 billion by 30%, saying in Wednesday&#8217;s hearing that &#8220;the cost overruns are what they are.&#8221;
Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), a majority member of the committee, said Powell &#8220;was clearly not prepared for his testimony, and should be embarrassed.&#8221;
&#8220;He made a number of factually inaccurate statements to the Committee regarding the Fed&#8217;s plush private dining room and elevator, skylights, water features, and roof terrace,&#8221; Lummis told the Post. &#8220;This is typical of the mismanagement and &#8216;don&#8217;t bother me&#8217; attitude that Chair Powell has always shown.&#8221;
Andrew T. Levin, a professor of economics at Dartmouth College who served as an economist and advisor to the Fed&#8217;s board for 20 years, called for congressional action, slamming Powell in a statement to the Post.
&#8220;A top Fed official cannot be permitted to make false statements under oath at a congressional hearing. Such statements must be promptly corrected, and in egregious cases, subject to censure by the Senate,&#8221; Levin said.
Former Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk previously called the news about the Fed&#8217;s headquarters revamp &#8220;an eyebrow raiser&#8221; and suggested the department should investigate the spending.
The controversy arises as the Fed grapples with mounting financial losses totaling $233 billion over the past three years, including a record $114.6 billion loss in 2023 — the first time in its history that the central bank has operated in the red.
Powell, whose term as Fed Chair ends in May 2026 unless renominated by President Trump, is facing scathing criticism from the president over the central bank&#8217;s refusal to cut interest rates, adding to the mounting pressure on the embattled Fed Chair.

Federal Reserve Chairman Powell Testifies Before Senate Committee

‘Palace Of Versailles’: Fed Chair Lied About $2.5B HQ Renovation, Senators Say

Congress

Federal Reserve

Jerome Powell

Politics

Trump Administration

Trump ally Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is set to launch her campaign for New York governor, giving Republicans new hope of flipping the traditionally deep blue Empire State, two sources familiar with Stefanik&#8217;s thinking told The Hill.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not a matter of if, it&#8217;s a matter of when,&#8221; one source close to Stefanik <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5371832-stefanik-prepares-launch-governor-race/">told</a> The Hill, noting that the congresswoman will announce &#8220;at the time and place&#8221; of her choosing.
As The Daily Wire previously reported, Stefanik has been considering a run in recent months, following President Trump&#8217;s decision to withdraw her nomination to serve as U.N. ambassador, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stepping-up-as-a-team-stefanik-reacts-after-trump-withdraws-nomination">deeming</a> it too risky to put her competitive district up for an open election ahead of Trump&#8217;s push for his &#8220;big, beautiful bill.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
RUN <a href="https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EliseStefanik</a> RUN!! <a href="https://t.co/EJu4v6jz2n">https://t.co/EJu4v6jz2n</a>
&mdash; Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly/status/1938350682106458604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Stefanik was the number four Republican in the House, serving as Chair of the House Republican Conference after replacing former Rep. Liz Cheney, before being briefly nominated as U.N. ambassador.
Polling indicates strong support for the Trump ally, with a GrayHouse survey showing Stefanik commanding 44% among Republican primary voters compared to just 7% for Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and 5% for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, both of whom received Trump endorsements for reelection to their current positions last month.
Republicans have reason for optimism in the traditionally Democratic stronghold, as the GOP has made significant gains in recent elections.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
Trump lost New York by just over 12 points in 2024, a dramatic 11-point <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-the-nation-told-us-in-2024-state-by-state/">improvement</a> from his 2020 performance, while current Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul defeated Republican challenger Lee Zeldin by only 6 points in her 2022 race. However, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report still considers the upcoming gubernatorial contest &#8220;likely Democratic.&#8221;
Stefanik, 41, has risen quickly through the Republican ranks since first being elected to Congress in 2014 at the age of 30 – at that time, the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Her national profile grew significantly during former President Trump&#8217;s first impeachment proceedings, when she emerged as one of his most vocal defenders.
Republicans have been increasingly competitive in parts of New York, particularly in Long Island and Hudson Valley districts that helped the party secure a narrow House majority in 2022. Economic concerns, rising crime rates, and migration issues have become prominent topics that GOP candidates have successfully leveraged to win local races.
Stefanik&#8217;s run would come after socialist Zohran Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in Tuesday&#8217;s Democratic mayoral primary, inciting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/billionaire-pledges-to-bankroll-any-nyc-mayoral-candidate-who-can-beat-zohran-mamdani?author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Billionaire+Pledges+To+Bankroll+Any+NYC+Mayoral+Candidate+Who+Can+Beat+Zohran+Mamdani">panic</a> among many in the city and providing a fruitful target for the New York Representative.
Mamdani, a state assemblyman representing parts of Queens, has championed policies that alarm fiscal conservatives and moderate Democrats alike. His <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/here-are-the-top-five-craziest-policy-proposals-from-nyc-mayor-candidates?author=Catherine+Maxwell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Here+Are+The+Top+Five+Craziest+Policy+Proposals+From+NYC+Mayor+Candidates">platform</a> includes advocating for city-owned supermarkets, rent freezing measures, and significant reallocations of police funding to social services.
Stefanik would likely face incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in the 2026 general election.
Hochul, who took office in 2021 following Andrew Cuomo&#8217;s resignation amid sexual harassment allegations, has faced criticism over her handling of crime and the state&#8217;s high cost of living, issues that could provide an opening for Republicans to make further inroads with New York voters.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul desperately tries to distance herself from the Defund the Police, raging antisemite Communist except Kathy refuses to denounce any of his insane Marxist policies. She OWNS this catastrophic candidate who will destroy NYC. 
Kathy Hochul… <a href="https://t.co/ifBXhTFEGx">https://t.co/ifBXhTFEGx</a>
&mdash; Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1938308720230105133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Stefanik/Hochul

Elise Stefanik Set To Challenge Hochul For New York Governor

2026 Midterms

Elections

Elise Stefanik

Kathy Hochul

New York

New York City

Zohran Mamdani

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Friday, alleging the news network deliberately misrepresented the timeline of a phone call between him and President Donald Trump to make it appear the governor lied about their communication.
The lawsuit, first <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/27/newsom-sues-fox-news-defamation-case-00429168">reported</a> by POLITICO, centers on Fox News&#8217; coverage of a June 7 phone call between Trump and Newsom during anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles County. President Trump said he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-vows-to-liberate-los-angeles-shut-down-migrant-riots-and-insurrectionist-mobs">deployed</a> thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines to the area to quell the violence despite the governor&#8217;s objections, but local officials say they are there to protect federal buildings and federal workers.
The dispute arose when Trump claimed on June 10 that he had called Newsom &#8220;a day ago.&#8221; Newsom subsequently denied any recent contact, stating: &#8220;There was no call. Not even a voicemail. Americans should be alarmed that a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn&#8217;t even know who he&#8217;s talking to.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No more lies.
I’m suing Fox News for $787 million.<a href="https://t.co/L73VUsPsuB">https://t.co/L73VUsPsuB</a> <a href="https://t.co/qKoRaxHRDW">pic.twitter.com/qKoRaxHRDW</a>
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1938587950704677237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fox News then ran a segment on Jesse Watters&#8217; program that Newsom&#8217;s claims &#8220;willfully distorted&#8221; the timeline to the network&#8217;s viewers. According to the lawsuit, Watters aired a deceptively edited video that juxtaposed Trump&#8217;s &#8220;day ago&#8221; claim with call logs obtained by Fox host John Roberts showing the call occurred on June 7 — three days earlier, not one day as Trump had claimed. Newsom accuses the network of falsely claiming he lied about the phone call and violated California’s Unfair Competition Law, which outlaws “deceptive and unfair business practices.”
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-6563">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
&#8220;If Fox News wants to lie to the American people on Donald Trump&#8217;s behalf, it should face consequences — just like it did in the Dominion case,&#8221; Newsom said in a statement to POLITICO, referencing Fox&#8217;s $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023.
&#8220;I believe the American people should be able to trust the information they receive from a major news outlet. Until Fox is willing to be truthful, I will keep fighting against their propaganda machine,&#8221; the governor added.
Fox News dismissed the lawsuit in a statement to The Daily Wire, writing, &#8220;Gov. Newsom’s transparent publicity stunt is frivolous and designed to chill free speech critical of him. We will defend this case vigorously and look forward to it being dismissed.&#8221;
In Fox News&#8217;s initial reporting on the disputed call, headlined &#8220;Trump brings receipts he called Newsom amid LA riots as California gov claims there wasn&#8217;t &#8216;even a voicemail,'&#8221; the network did <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-brings-receipts-he-called-newsom-amid-la-riots-california-gov-claims-wasnt-even-voicemail">include</a> Newsom&#8217;s clarification that the call was from &#8220;3 days ago&#8221; rather than the &#8220;day ago&#8221; Trump had claimed.
POLITICO notes that defamation cases brought by public officials face a much higher legal standard than those filed by private citizens. Newsom has indicated he would retract the lawsuit if Fox News issues a formal retraction and Jesse Watters delivers an on-air apology.

California Governor Newsom Announces Lawsuit Challenging Trump Tariff Authority

Newsom Targets Fox News With Dominion-Sized Lawsuit Over Trump Phone Call Dispute

California

Defamation

Fox News

Gavin Newsom

Lawsuit

Los Angeles

National Guard

News

Riots

U.S.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has faced significant resistance from California Democratic donors in recent weeks as she ramped up outreach for a potential gubernatorial run, with some major contributors still bitter about her role in what one called the &#8220;complete s*** storm&#8221; of her 2024 presidential run.
Harris has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kamala-harris-hints-at-future-political-run-im-not-going-anywhere?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Kamala+Harris+Hints+At+Future+Political+Run%3A+%E2%80%98I%E2%80%99m+Not+Going+Anywhere%E2%80%99">testing</a> the waters with trusted supporters as she considers a gubernatorial run, but enthusiasm has noticeably waned among the Democratic donor class, according to a POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/27/california-donors-kamala-harris-governor-00428797">report</a>.
One California Democrat who contributed six figures to Harris&#8217;s presidential campaign bluntly stated that her candidacy would only remind voters of the &#8220;traumatizing&#8221; 2024 election when Donald Trump regained power.
“Kamala just reminds you we are in this complete s*** storm. With Biden, we got bamboozled … I think she did the best she could in that situation, but obviously she knew about the cognitive decline too,” the unidentified donor reportedly said. “I’ve written so many checks because I knew the Trump administration would be horrible, but we’re living in a nightmare because of the Democrats. I’m furious at them, truly.”
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/26/california-republicans-kamala-harris-governor-run-00368028">reports</a> that many GOP candidates, eager to face Harris given her damaged reputation, would consider throwing their hat in the ring should the former vice president enter the race.
Democratic fundraisers note that Harris has yet to address accusations from former Los Angeles mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa, who alleges both she and Biden&#8217;s Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, another Democrat who has already entered the gubernatorial race, were &#8220;complicit in a cover-up&#8221; regarding Biden&#8217;s condition.
“Voters deserve to know the truth, what did Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra know, when did they know it, and most importantly, why didn’t either of them speak out?” Villaraigosa <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/20/fellow-democrat-tears-into-harris-becerra-bidens-fitness-00361106">said</a> in a statement. “This cover up directly led to a second Donald Trump term — and as a result, all Californians are paying the price.”
Harris has set a late-summer deadline for her decision. She is exploring multiple options beyond the governor&#8217;s race, including a potential 2028 presidential run or establishing &#8220;a philanthropic venture&#8221; outside of elected office, per POLITICO.
“It’s very fair to say there’s not an overwhelming clamor” for a Harris gubernatorial bid, said Scott Drexel, a Bay Area-based donor adviser. “It’s very hard for there to be one if it’s not 100 percent clear if she really wants to do it.”
“She’s going to have to work for the nomination,” Drexel said, “Every day that passes, there’s less of a sense of inevitability about her candidacy.”
Harris has made some quiet outreach, including multiple private meetings in the Bay Area during her visit to headline a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in early June.
These intimate gatherings in supporters&#8217; homes were officially billed as social events but carried &#8220;an unmistakable subtext&#8221; regarding her political future, POLITICO reported.
&#8220;The donors that are here, that have been with her know that this is her home state. She can win &#8230; but they also don&#8217;t want her to find herself in a spot of vulnerability, particularly if someone like a Rick Caruso comes into the race,&#8221; said Todd Hawkins, a Harris bundler dating back to her tenure as California attorney general.
Caruso, a billionaire developer and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate, has been mentioned as a potential centrist challenger who could complicate Harris&#8217;s path to the nomination. Caruso is a former Republican who changed his party registration several times before running as a Democrat in the 2022 L.A. mayoral race, when he lost to Karen Bass. 
One Southern California fundraiser, speaking anonymously, said donors &#8220;realize it&#8217;s just going to bring up the whole pathetic last presidential, which no one wants to hear about again. And then it&#8217;s the whole &#8216;Did you know Joe Biden?&#8217; thing. She still would probably lead, but honestly, no one is incredibly pumped.&#8221;

Former Vice President Kamala Harris

Liberal Donors Trash Kamala: ‘Just Reminds You We Are in This Complete S*** Storm’

2024 Election

gubernatorial race

Joe Biden

Kamala Harris

Rick Caruso

Xavier Becerra

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman vowed on Wednesday to provide &#8220;hundreds of millions of dollars&#8221; to back any viable challenger against Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City&#8217;s mayoral race.
Mamdani <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-cuomo-falls-to-radical-socialist-zohran-mamdani-in-nyc-mayoral-primary?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Tim+Rice&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Andrew+Cuomo+Falls+To+Radical+Socialist+Zohran+Mamdani+In+NYC+Mayoral+Primary">defeated</a> former Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City&#8217;s Democratic primary on Tuesday and will compete against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (running as an independent this cycle) and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa in the November general election.
Ackman, founder and chief executive of hedge fund manager Pershing Square Capital, <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/politics/billionaire-bill-ackman-promises-millions-to-anyone-willing-to-challenge-mamdani-for-nyc-mayor/">wrote</a> a lengthy post on X to express his alarm at Mamdani’s victory.
&#8220;I awoke this morning gravely concerned about New York City,&#8221; Ackman wrote. &#8220;I thought &#8216;What has NYC become that an avowed socialist who has supported defunding the police, whose solution to lowering food prices is city-owned supermarkets, who doesn&#8217;t understand that freezing rents will only make apartments scarcer and more expensive in the long run.'&#8221;
The billionaire investor compared a potential Mamdani-led New York to &#8220;another failed major city run by Democrats alongside Seattle, Chicago, LA, and SF,&#8221; quoting Senator John Fetterman&#8217;s (D-PA) assessment that Mamdani&#8217;s victory represented &#8220;Christmas in July for the GOP.&#8221;
&#8220;A mayor who disrespects the NYPD and has called for their defunding will get less effective policing, and Bratton&#8217;s &#8216;broken window theory&#8217; will operate in reverse,&#8221; Ackman wrote, warning that New York City would become &#8220;much more dangerous and economically unviable&#8221; under Mamdani&#8217;s administration.
Ackman assured potential candidates that funding would be instantly available, stating, &#8220;there are hundreds of million of dollars of capital available to back a competitor to Mamdani that can be put together overnight,&#8221; and adding that he is &#8220;in the text strings and the WhatsApp groups&#8221; organizing the effort.
The financier noted that any challenger would likely need to run as a write-in candidate, but suggested this could become &#8220;an important call to action that brings people in throngs to the polls&#8221; rather than a disadvantage.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I awoke this morning gravely concerned about New York City. I thought “What has NYC become that an avowed socialist who has supported defunding the police, whose solution to lowering food prices is city-owned supermarkets, who doesn’t understand that freezing rents will only…
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1938094628034506984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
New York City, with a gross metropolitan <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP35620">product</a> of $2.3 trillion and a population exceeding 8 million residents, is America&#8217;s financial nerve center. Many on Wall Street reacted with dread following Mamdani’s primary win, and <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/23/us-news/nyc-biz-leaders-left-shaking-over-prospect-of-zohran-mamdani-mayoral-win-it-would-be-disastrous/">predicted</a> a mass exodus from the city if he is elected in November.
Mamdani, a state assemblyman representing parts of Queens, has championed policies that alarm fiscal conservatives and moderate Democrats alike. His <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/here-are-the-top-five-craziest-policy-proposals-from-nyc-mayor-candidates?author=Catherine+Maxwell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Here+Are+The+Top+Five+Craziest+Policy+Proposals+From+NYC+Mayor+Candidates">platform</a> includes advocating for city-owned supermarkets, rent freezing measures, and significant reallocations of police funding to social services.
Ackman expressed particular concern about Mamdani&#8217;s stance on Israel, noting that &#8220;a mayor who condones hate speech will incentivize more hate speech and violence,&#8221; adding that &#8220;words matter, and yes, they can inspire people to kill as we have recently tragically seen in our country and around the world.&#8221;
Mamdani has stated that he doesn’t believe Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state, refused to condemn calls to “globalize the intifada,” and recorded a <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/21/us-news/socialist-nyc-mayoral-candidate-zohran-mamdani-once-rapped-about-his-love-for-hamas-teror-funding-group-holy-land-five/">rap song</a> expressing “love” to convicted Hamas financiers. His October 7 statement notably focused on “ending the occupation” with little mention of Hamas’ massacre of Israeli civilians.
Ackman suggested that former Mayor Michael Bloomberg might play a significant role in any challenge to Mamdani, stating that he was &#8220;sure that Mike Bloomberg will share his how-to-win-the-mayoralty IP and deliver his entire election apparatus and system to the aspiring candidate.&#8221;
The investor called on his followers to &#8220;crowdsource&#8221; potential candidate names and conduct polling to identify the most viable challenger.

US-POLITICS-ECONOMY-MILKEN

Billionaire Pledges To Bankroll Any NYC Mayoral Candidate Who Can Beat Zohran Mamdani

Andrew Cuomo

Bill Ackman

Democratic Party

Socialism

Wall Street

Former CNN host Chris Cuomo slammed the Democratic Party after “open socialist” Zohran Mamdani <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-cuomo-falls-to-radical-socialist-zohran-mamdani-in-nyc-mayoral-primary?author=Tim+Rice&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=7&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Andrew+Cuomo+Falls+To+Radical+Socialist+Zohran+Mamdani+In+NYC+Mayoral+Primary">defeated</a> his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday.
Cuomo told viewers on his NewsNation program Wednesday night, “Thank you very much for all the kind words about my brother. I didn’t cover the mayoral election or even comment on it here at NewsNation for obvious reasons, and my feelings about my brother and what he should do now, those are personal, not professional. So, suffice it to say, I love and support my brother, and I’m not worried about him.”
Cuomo revealed that he was not stunned by the outcome.
“It was a low turnout race that people did not think could go the way it did. The enthusiasm and turnout energy were overweighted for the more extreme candidates, as is often the case, and that’s one of the problems with our binary system and with our closed primaries,&#8221; Cuomo said. “Not to mention, and contrary to what was sold by his opponents, Andrew’s no establishment guy and the party was not loving that he ran, but that’s his case to make, okay?”
Gov. Cuomo, 67, who has been elected to that role three times, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-andrew-cuomo-to-resign">resigned</a> in disgrace in 2021 following multiple allegations of sexual harassment by female employees, making him a pariah in the eyes of many primary voters and the Democratic establishment.
Throughout his campaign, Mamdani, 33, a state assemblyman, advocated for defunding the police, rent control expansion, government-sponsored grocery stores, higher taxes, and $65 million in taxpayer-funded “gender-affirming” trans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-mayoral-hopeful-would-go-all-in-on-transing-the-kids-to-the-tune-of-65-million?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=New+York+Mayoral+Hopeful+Would+Go+All-In+On+Transing+The+Kids%2C+To+The+Tune+Of+%2465+Million">procedures</a> for adults and children.
Chris Cuomo <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/chris-cuomo-declares-democratic-party-dead-after-brother-loses-nyc-mayoral-primary-tacitly-supporting-extreme-islamism/">blasted</a> the Democratic Party for its “extremism,” declaring the party all but “dead” in his eyes.
“The Democratic Party is now officially in MAGA mode. We are now, on both sides, in a period of extremism,” Cuomo said. “The same way MAGA played with the prejudices of white nationalism, you’re seeing an identical dynamic on the Left with prejudices like tacitly supporting extreme Islamism or targeting Jews.”
“For the Right, it’s migrants. For the Left, it’s Jews. It’s fundamentalist Christians dominating the Right. It’s fundamentalist Islamists making headway on the Left. I know that doesn’t sound like Democrats, but that party is dead. What it will be reborn as, we’ll see,” Cuomo added.
Mamdani has stated that he doesn&#8217;t believe Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state, refused to condemn calls to “globalize the intifada,” and recorded a <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/21/us-news/socialist-nyc-mayoral-candidate-zohran-mamdani-once-rapped-about-his-love-for-hamas-teror-funding-group-holy-land-five/">rap song</a> expressing “love” to convicted Hamas financiers. His October 7 statement notably focused on “ending the occupation” without mentioning Hamas&#8217;s massacre of Israeli civilians.
“What we’re seeing now is that there are many in America who are adopting and adapting to fundamentalism. The outcome in this election wasn’t about affordability or about real change. The winner is an open socialist, and the Democratic Party is now just that: socialistic. But be clear, this is a fictional fix for very real frustrations,” Cuomo concluded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
There is no more Democratic party. There is no Republican party. Here is the truth: <a href="https://t.co/7b8nTV5Hhp">pic.twitter.com/7b8nTV5Hhp</a>
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisCuomo/status/1938041189204431251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Andrew Cuomo declined to say if he would run in the November general election as an independent for the Fight and Deliver Party, which he formed for this race.
Should the ex-governor enter the race as an independent, that would make the race a five-person contest between Cuomo, Mamdani, incumbent Democrat Mayor Eric Adams (running as an independent this cycle), Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, a talk show host, and independent Jim Walden, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Andrew Cuomo and Chris Cuomo

‘That Party Is Dead’: Chris Cuomo Blasts Democrats After Brother’s Defeat To ‘Open Socialist’

Chris Cuomo

Mayor

Media

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine in a Thursday press conference with Defense Secratary Pete Hegseth provided a detailed description of the American strikes and released video showing how bunker-buster bombs crippled Iran&#8217;s nuclear facilities.
Caine revealed that the United States military had developed the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, better known as bunker buster bombs, more than 15 years ago, specifically with Iran’s nuclear program in mind.
He showed several military graphics and videos showcasing exactly how the bombers were to inflict extensive damage at Iran&#8217;s Fordo nuclear site.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Gen. Dan &#8220;Razin&#8221; Caine demonstrates how GBU-57 MOPs work: &#8220;Unlike a normal surface bomb, you won&#8217;t see an impact crater because they&#8217;re designed to deeply bury and then function &#8230; All six weapons at each vent at Fordow went exactly where they were intended to go.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/iQs3oWcJ4X">pic.twitter.com/iQs3oWcJ4X</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1938215092128231753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“All six weapons at each vent at Fordo went exactly where they were intended to go. A bomb has three effects that causes damage: blast, fragmentation, and overpressure,” Caine said. “In this case, the primary kill mechanism in the mission space was a mix of overpressure and blast ripping through the open tunnels and destroying critical hardware.“
Thursday&#8217;s press conference comes after the Trump administration accused CNN, The New York Times, and other legacy media outlets of attempting to torpedo the success of the strikes, quoting a leaked preliminary assessment that said the attack only set Iran’s nuclear program back by months.
“The majority of the damage we assessed based on our extensive modeling was a blast layer combined with the impulse extending from the shock. Imagine what this looks like six times over,” Caine added.
The media asked Gen. Caine if he was pressured to provide a rosy assessment of the destruction at Fordo, to which he pushed back, “No, I have not, and no, I would not.”
The U.S. strike on Fordo primarily focused on two ventilation shafts as the “primary point of entry into the mission space,” Caine said.
“In the days preceding the attack against Fordo, the Iranians attempted to cover the shafts with concrete to try to prevent an attack,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I won’t share the specific dimensions of the concrete cap, but you should know that we know what the dimensions of those concrete caps were. The planners had to account for this. They accounted for everything.”
“The cap was forcibly removed by the first weapon, and the main shaft was uncovered. Weapons two, three, four, five were tasked to enter the main shaft, move down into the complex at greater than 1,000 feet per second, and explode in the mission space. Weapon number six was designed as a flex weapon to allow us to cover if one of the preceding jets or one of the preceding weapons did not work. There were six on each side.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/thejointstaff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thejointstaff</a> Chairman General Dan Caine describes the devastating weaponry dropped on Fordow in last Saturday&#8217;s strikes: <a href="https://t.co/Ol9SE9rmvN">pic.twitter.com/Ol9SE9rmvN</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1938214162812879293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Pete Hegseth – Dan Caine holds a joint press conference in DC

WATCH: Gen. ‘Razin’ Caine Unveils Footage Demonstrating Fordo Collapse After Devastating Iran Strike

Department of Defense

Fordo

Iran

Nuclear

Pete Hegseth

President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened that Spain would have to &#8220;pay twice as much&#8221; in a future trade deal after the NATO member refused to commit to the alliance&#8217;s new target of spending 5% of its gross domestic product on defense and security.
&#8220;You&#8217;re the only country that is not paying. I don&#8217;t know what the problem is,&#8221; Trump said at the NATO summit in The Hague when questioned about Spain&#8217;s refusal to go along.
&#8220;You know what we’re gonna do? We&#8217;re negotiating with Spain on a trade deal. We&#8217;re going to make them pay twice as much. And I&#8217;m actually serious about that,&#8221; the president added.
NATO members <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-triumphs-nato-bows-to-u-s-pressure-with-5-defense-pledge?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Triumphs%3A+NATO+Bows+To+U.S.+Pressure+With+5%25+Defense+Pledge">agreed</a> to increase defense spending from the current 2% level to 5% of their country’s gross domestic product by 2035. Spain was the only member that rejected this target, arguing that it would strain the country’s extensive welfare state.
“We fully respect the legitimate desire of other countries to increase their defense investment, but we are not going to do it,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-heads-to-nato-summit-demanding-freeloading-allies-pay-their-fair-share?author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Heads+To+NATO+Summit+Demanding+%E2%80%98Freeloading%E2%80%99+Allies+Pay+Their+Fair+Share">said</a> before the summit.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
President Trump rips into Spain for refusing to increase NATO spending.
&quot;I think Spain&#39;s terrible what they&#39;ve done, they are the only Country that won&#39;t pay 5%&quot; <a href="https://t.co/WD5JGnc2WU">pic.twitter.com/WD5JGnc2WU</a>
&mdash; Media Research Center (@theMRC) <a href="https://twitter.com/theMRC/status/1937881474520223900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;They want a little bit of a free ride, but they&#8217;ll have to pay it back to us on trade, because I’m not going to let that happen. It’s unfair,” Trump said.
As a part of the European Union, Spain <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-25/trump-threatens-to-double-tariffs-on-spain-over-nato-spending">negotiates</a> trade as part of the 27-member bloc, not individually, per Bloomberg. Still, Trump emphasized his intention to bypass the European Union&#8217;s regular trade negotiation protocols.
&#8220;I&#8217;m going to negotiate directly with Spain. I&#8217;m going to do it myself,&#8221; Trump insisted. &#8220;They&#8217;re going to pay, they&#8217;ll pay more money this way.&#8221;
The threat comes ahead of the Trump administration&#8217;s July 9 deadline for the European Union to agree to a trade deal. If no agreement is reached, tariffs on EU products imported into the United States are set to increase to 50%.
NATO members condemned Spain for rejecting the 5% target.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, whose country allocates a higher percentage of its GDP for defense than any NATO member, blasted Spain’s lack of commitment.
“We believe that any deviation from this principle by any member country is a bad example,” he said.
“It’s incredibly unfair to the alliance,” another NATO official <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-nato-canada-defense-target-spending-gdp/">said</a> to POLITICO.
At the press conference on Wednesday, Trump said his outlook on NATO had changed. Previously critical of &#8220;freeloading&#8221; nations not paying their fair share in defense, he now believes the alliance is no longer a &#8220;rip-off&#8221; given the new 5% commitment. The increase is expected to significantly boost the alliance&#8217;s collective defense capabilities at a time of heightened global tensions, as the United States has historically shouldered more than two-thirds of NATO&#8217;s collective defense spending.

NATO Summit In The Hague Final Day

Trump Says Spain Will ‘Pay Twice As Much’ On Trade After NATO Defiance

Donald Trump

Economy

Europe

European Union

Executive

Global Politics

NATO

Spain

Tariffs

trade

Trade War

Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani received overwhelming support from many of New York&#8217;s wealthiest neighborhoods in Tuesday&#8217;s primary, while working-class voters earning under $50,000 rejected him by nearly 20 points in favor of ex-governor Andrew Cuomo — a margin that could increase.
Scandal-plagued ex-New York governor Andrew Cuomo <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-cuomo-falls-to-radical-socialist-zohran-mamdani-in-nyc-mayoral-primary?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Tim+Rice&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Andrew+Cuomo+Falls+To+Radical+Socialist+Zohran+Mamdani+In+NYC+Mayoral+Primary">called</a> Mamdani on Tuesday night to congratulate the Uganda-born immigrant on his victory.
“Tonight was not our night,” Cuomo said. “Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night.”
Mandani emerged from the first round of New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary with roughly 44% of the vote, while Cuomo came in second with 36%.
According to election results <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/24/us/elections/nyc-mayor-primary-results-precinct-map.html">published</a> by the New York Times, Mamdani won counties with a median income of more than $117,000 by an average of 13 points, while Cuomo won counties with a median income below $62,000 by 13 points.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Genuinely extraordinary lol <a href="https://t.co/6yDavujnUC">pic.twitter.com/6yDavujnUC</a>
— Hunter📈🌈📊 (@StatisticUrban) <a href="https://twitter.com/StatisticUrban/status/1937715576312328454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Cuomo trounced Mamdani by nearly 20 points among black voters, while Mamdani won white voters by 5 points, Hispanic voters by 6, and Asian-Americans by 15.
Mamdani’s margin of victory in wealthier counties is likely to increase after several rounds of ranked-choice tabulation conclude throughout the week.
Given their close relationship throughout the campaign and similar policy platforms, votes from city Comptroller Brad Lander, who received 11% of first-round votes, will likely lean in his favor.
Many of New York’s most affluent neighborhoods <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/24/us/elections/results-new-york-city-mayor-primary.html">went</a> for Mamdani, including Cobble Hill (45% Mamdani, 16% Cuomo), Park Slope (45% Mamdani, 13% Cuomo), and Brooklyn Heights (36% Mamdani, 24% Cuomo). Lander also won several wealthy precincts in wealthy counties, according to the Times’ results.
Cuomo overwhelmingly won several working-class neighborhoods in the South Bronx and Eastern Brooklyn, winning Far Rockaway by a dominant 58 points, and Longwood by 27. Cuomo beat Mamdani in some wealthy neighborhoods, particularly in the Upper East Side and Tribeca.
Mamdani, throughout his campaign, advocated for defunding the police, rent control expansion, government-sponsored grocery stores, higher taxes, and $65 million in taxpayer-funded “gender-affirming” trans procedures for adults and children.
Mamdani&#8217;s proposals are projected to cost the already cash-strapped city more than $10 billion.
Mamdani’s victory follows his effective use of social media to promote his platform and strategic partnerships with other far-Left Democrats. His campaign capitalized on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) endorsement to build momentum ahead of the June 24 primary.
Andrew Cuomo declined to say if he would run in the November general election as an independent for the Fight and Deliver Party, which he formed for this race.
Should the ex-governor enter the race as an independent, that would make the race a five-person contest between Cuomo, Mamdani, incumbent Democrat Mayor Eric Adams (running as an independent), Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, a talk show host, and independent Jim Walden, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
&nbsp;

Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Campaigns In NYC On Primary Day

Socialist Hero Zohran Mamdani Owes His Victory To Rich New Yorkers, Not The Working Class

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Eric Adams

NATO leaders on Wednesday backed increasing defense spending to 5% of their country&#8217;s gross domestic product by 2035, a major diplomatic victory for President Donald Trump, who has for years demanded “freeloading” allies pay their fair share for their own security.
According to Reuters, almost all NATO members <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/nato-leaders-set-back-trump-defence-spending-goal-hague-summit-2025-06-24/">backed</a> a statement committing to the target, excluding Spain and possibly Slovakia. An official signing is expected on Wednesday before the end of the conference.
The new defense spending goal more than doubles NATO&#8217;s current 2% target.
The spending commitment is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-heads-to-nato-summit-demanding-freeloading-allies-pay-their-fair-share?author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Heads+To+NATO+Summit+Demanding+%E2%80%98Freeloading%E2%80%99+Allies+Pay+Their+Fair+Share">divided</a> into two parts: 3.5% for traditional military spending, such as air defense and recruitment, while the remaining 1.5% can include infrastructure, like roads and bridges that troops could use.
&#8220;There is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that, given this threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative,&#8221; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, whose country borders Russia, described the shift as &#8220;the birth of a new NATO, which means a more balanced NATO and a NATO which has more European responsibility.&#8221;
Spain broke ranks by declaring it doesn&#8217;t need to meet the goal, claiming it can fulfill its commitments by spending much less, a sentiment that angered many at the conference, including Rutte.
“We fully respect the legitimate desire of other countries to increase their defense investment, but we are not going to do it,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said. In 2024, Spain’s defense expenditure as a share of GDP stood at 1.28%, the lowest of any NATO member.
Slovakia appears poised to follow Spain in shunning the spending increase. Slovakia&#8217;s Prime Minister Robert Fico said Tuesday that his country “has other priorities in the coming years than armament.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
S T A T E M E N T of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico 23 June 2025
The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic points out that all international political, security, and legal mechanisms intended for decision-making and mandates on the use of military force in… <a href="https://t.co/GFvnGaiuXs">pic.twitter.com/GFvnGaiuXs</a>
&mdash; Robert Fico 🇸🇰 (@RobertFicoSVK) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertFicoSVK/status/1937149180482326655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, whose country allocates a higher percentage of its GDP for defense than any NATO member, blasted Spain’s lack of commitment.
“We believe that any deviation from this principle by any member country is a bad example,” Kosiniak-Kamysz <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-nato-canada-defense-target-spending-gdp/">said</a> before flying to the summit.
“It’s incredibly unfair to the alliance,” another NATO official said to POLITICO.
Trump, who has criticized NATO members for inadequate defense spending since his first administration, is scheduled to meet separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the summit. Zelensky attended a pre-summit dinner Tuesday evening but was not invited to Wednesday&#8217;s main session.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit Day Two

Trump Triumphs: NATO Bows To U.S. Pressure With 5% Defense Pledge

Ukraine-Russia War

President Donald Trump departed for the annual NATO summit at The Hague on Tuesday, hoping to claim another major foreign policy victory as most NATO allies have already agreed to his demand to boost defense spending after the president called out the European nations for &#8220;freeloading&#8221; and taking advantage of American military protection.
NATO countries, except Spain, agreed in preliminary talks to increase defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product, a significant increase from the previous 2% target that many allies struggled to meet.
The spending commitment is <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-israel-nato-e34385f9b6e2ff5d0cf60f8aaea57a40">divided</a> into two parts: 3.5% for traditional military spending, such as air defense and recruitment, while the remaining 1.5% can include infrastructure like roads and bridges that troops could use.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has resisted the spending increase, arguing that it would strain the country&#8217;s extensive welfare state.
&#8220;We fully respect the legitimate desire of other countries to increase their defence investment, but we are not going to do it,&#8221; Sanchez said. In 2024, Spain’s defense expenditure as a share of GDP stood at a measly 1.28%, the <a href="https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2024/6/pdf/240617-def-exp-2024-en.pdf">lowest</a> of any NATO country.
However, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte struck an optimistic tone early Tuesday morning when President Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114738606142462442">shared</a> a private message from him that read: &#8220;You are flying into another big success in The Hague this evening. It was not easy, but we&#8217;ve got them all signed onto 5 percent!&#8221;
&#8220;You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done,&#8221; Rutte said. &#8220;Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win.&#8221;
Trump <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/us/politics/nato-trump-preview.html">told</a> reporters he doesn&#8217;t believe the United States needs to reach the 5% target itself, given that the United States is far separated from many threats NATO faces and does not have a need to invest in wartime infrastructure to the same degree.
Rutte, a Dutch politician who has served as secretary general of NATO since October 2024, has expressed strong support from NATO for recent U.S. military actions against Iran, rejecting suggestions that American strikes violated international law.
&#8220;This is a consistent position of NATO: Iran should not have its hands on a nuclear weapon,&#8221; Rutte told reporters ahead of the summit. &#8220;I would not agree that this is against international law — what the U.S. did.&#8221;
Trump is expected to meet with various world leaders at the summit. He said he would &#8220;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-israel-nato-e34385f9b6e2ff5d0cf60f8aaea57a40">probably</a>&#8221; see Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country continues pushing for admission into the alliance.
Trump&#8217;s meetings &#8220;will focus on issues of shared concern and reaffirm the United States&#8217; strong ties with our allies and partners,&#8221; an administration official <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-heads-nato-summit-europe-agrees-heed-his-defense-spending-demands">told</a> Fox News.
The summit was initially set to focus on the alliance&#8217;s position in the Russia-Ukraine war, but the Trump-brokered Israel-Iran ceasefire is expected to be the main topic of discussion.

Trump Departs

Trump Heads To NATO Summit Demanding ‘Freeloading’ Allies Pay Their Fair Share

Trump Heads To NATO Summit Demanding 'Freeloading' Allies Pay Their Fair Share

Israel

Federal immigration officials have arrested 11 Iranian nationals since Sunday, including a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps member with &#8220;admitted connections to Hezbollah&#8221; and an individual on the U.S. terrorist watchlist.
The operations, which occurred amid heightened tensions following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, spanned eight states and nine cities, with all 11 Iranians accused of crimes exceeding civil immigration violations, according to CBS News. The arrests come as security experts warn that Iran&#8217;s proxy network, which includes Hezbollah and other terrorist groups, has established connections within the United States that could be activated.
Federal agents <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-arrests-11-iranian-nationals-48-hours/">discovered</a> an Islamic Republic of Iran Army identification card on Ribvar Karmi when he was apprehended in Alabama. He served as an Iranian Army sniper from 2018 to 2021 and entered the U.S. in October 2024 on a K-1 visa for migrants engaged to American citizens. Karmi is set to remain in ICE custody until removal proceedings begin.
Mehran Makari Sahel, arrested in Minnesota, is a former member of the Iranian military&#8217;s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and had &#8220;admitted connections to Hezbollah,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/24/ice-arrests-11-iranian-nationals-illegally-us-over-weekend">according</a> to ICE.
Another arrestee, Yousef Mehridehno, had been living illegally in America for nearly eight years after lying on a visa application. He was apprehended on Sunday in Mississippi, four months after being added to the U.S. terrorist watchlist.
During the last fiscal year, ICE arrested just 68 Iranian foreign nationals.
&#8220;We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out — and we are,&#8221; DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CBS. “We don&#8217;t wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump&#8217;s mandate to secure the homeland.”
ICE told CBS the arrests represent part of the Trump administration&#8217;s illegal immigration crackdown, with average daily arrests climbing from 660 in President Donald Trump&#8217;s first 100 days to 1,200 in June as the White House aims for 3,000 arrests per day.
In addition to the 11 Iranians arrested over the past 48 hours, Linet Vartaniann, a U.S. citizen, was also apprehended during the operation. Vartaniann faces federal charges for threatening to “shoot officers in the head” during the arrest of an unlawfully present Iranian national she was allegedly harboring.
The Department of Homeland Security activated its National Terrorism Advisory System hours after the weekend strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The advisory warned of potential retaliatory actions, including physical attacks or cyber operations targeting American infrastructure.
The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to increase monitoring of suspected Iranian agents and sympathizers following the weekend&#8217;s military action.

Menu

Nathan Gay