In 2015, then-Senator Marco Rubio delivered a forceful and prophetic floor speech in the United States Senate, offering a scathing critique of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. Rubio’s address was not merely a political disagreement but a historical warning as he sought to document his opposition for posterity, predicting that the agreement would fundamentally destabilize the Middle East and jeopardize American national security.
Rubio’s primary contention was that the deal provided Iran with a massive influx of capital through sanctions relief, which the regime would inevitably funnel into its military infrastructure. He warned that Tehran would use these resources to develop &#8220;anti-access&#8221; capabilities — specifically advanced rockets and &#8220;swarm&#8221; boats designed to threaten U.S. naval assets and aircraft carriers. By raising the &#8220;price of presence&#8221; for American forces, Rubio argued, Iran sought to eventually force a total U.S. withdrawal from the region. Furthermore, he predicted that the regime would continue its development of long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching the American mainland, as these were not restricted by the agreement.
&#8220;Iran is led by a Supreme Leader who is a radical Shia cleric with an apocalyptic vision of the future,&#8221; he warned. &#8220;He is not a traditional geopolitical actor who makes decisions on the basis of borders, or simply history, or because of ambitions. He has a religious apocalyptic vision of the future — one that calls for triggering a conflict between the non-Muslim world and the Muslim world, one that he feels especially obligated to trigger.&#8221;
Rubio drew an ominous parallel to North Korea, describing a future where a nuclear-armed Iran would become &#8220;immune&#8221; to military intervention. He argued that once the regime achieved nuclear status, the cost of a preemptive strike would become prohibitively high, leaving the world hostage to a &#8220;radical Shia cleric with an apocalyptic vision.&#8221; Unlike traditional geopolitical actors, Rubio emphasized, Iran’s leadership is driven by a religious ideology that views conflict with the non-Muslim world as a spiritual obligation. He framed the deal as a &#8220;terrible mistake&#8221; that would leave a dangerous legacy for future generations.
To address these perceived fatal flaws, Rubio proposed several rigorous amendments to the legislation reviewing the deal. These included the &#8220;Israel Recognition Amendment,&#8221; which would have barred sanctions relief until Iran recognized Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. He also introduced a &#8220;Terrorism Certification Amendment&#8221; to link sanctions relief to the cessation of Iranian-sponsored terrorism against Americans. Additionally, Rubio demanded the full disclosure of &#8220;side deals&#8221; between Iran and international monitors and advocated for &#8220;anytime, anywhere&#8221; inspections to replace the &#8220;managed access&#8221; protocol of the JCPOA.
Ultimately, Rubio’s 2015 remarks served as a call for a return to &#8220;crippling&#8221; sanctions backed by a &#8220;credible threat of military force.&#8221; He concluded with a hopeful nod toward the American Republic, praying that future leaders in the executive branch would have the resolve to reverse the deal.
Now serving as Secretary of State, Rubio is in a unique position to help implement the very &#8220;maximum pressure&#8221; and strict verification standards he championed a decade ago, as the United States navigates a renewed era of tension with the Iranian regime.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Listen to <a href="https://twitter.com/marcorubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marcorubio</a>’s 2015 speech explaining why he opposed the JCPOA. Nearly everything he warned about has already happened. What hasn’t, is clearly underway.
Now the clock is louder than ever. Donald Trump has a once in a generation choice: shut down the Islamic Republic’s… <a href="https://t.co/SkJqHvNIJu">pic.twitter.com/SkJqHvNIJu</a>
— ثنا ابراهیمی | Sana Ebrahimi (@__Injaneb96) <a href="https://twitter.com/__Injaneb96/status/2019480770608525412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing On U.S. Strategy Against ISIS

He Warned Them: Marco Rubio’s Prophetic 2015 Case Against The Iran Nuclear Deal

Iran

Marco Rubio

45ca4ed0f5dc0af826b951c3b7d648d3eca074d12cbc3c4664689f074ce837e3

LIVE UPDATES: U.S. Talks With Iran Conclude As Americans Urged To Leave Arab Country

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Protest

Revolution

The so-called consensus surrounding “gender transitions” for minors begins to unravel, border czar Tom Homan announces a &#8220;drawdown&#8221; of federal immigration officers from Minneapolis, and talks teeter between Washington and Tehran while tensions with Beijing appear to be calming.
It’s Thursday, February 5, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/medicine-rebuffs-gender-transitions-troubled-tehran/id1576594336?i=1000748346174" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Medical Groups Walk Back Support For Child Trans Surgeries</h2>
In the wake of a landmark detransitioner verdict, the support of transgender surgeries for minors appears to be crumbling. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the largest association of plastic surgeons in the world, said that available evidence does not support trans surgeries for gender-confused kids, and also said there was “insufficient” evidence for placing children on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. The statement was unique among major medical groups and associations. Essentially, all support these surgeries and treatments for minors despite <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shocking-details-emerge-in-landmark-2-million-trans-malpractice-judgment?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Shocking+Details+Emerge+In+Landmark+%242+Million+%E2%80%98Trans%E2%80%99+Malpractice+Judgment">mounting</a> evidence that shows them to be harmful and irreversible. Following the ASPS, the American Medical Association, which wields major influence as the nation’s largest medical association, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-major-medical-group-reverses-course-on-trans-surgeries-for-minors?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Another+Major+Medical+Group+Reverses+Course+On+Trans+Surgeries+For+Minors">reversed</a> course, too. The AMA told National Review that it “agrees” with the ASPS that “surgical interventions in minors should be generally deferred to adulthood.” The statement is a huge shift for the AMA.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Minneapolis Drawdown</h2>
Border czar Tom Homan has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homan-strikes-deal-in-minnesota-yanks-hundreds-of-immigration-officers">announced</a> a “drawdown” of hundreds of federal immigration officers from Minneapolis. Seven hundred federal immigration officers and agents left the Twin Cities area on Wednesday. Homan said the force reduction is the result of deals with “an unprecedented number of counties” to “allow ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets.” The reduction will leave 2,000 federal immigration agents in Minnesota, along with the teams working on fraud investigations. Homan insisted that the Trump administration isn’t “surrendering” its mass deportation campaign. “This is smart law enforcement, not less law enforcement. This is safer for the community, safer for the officers, and safer for the alien,” said Homan.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Iran Talks Teeter On Scope Of Negotiations</h2>
Talks between Washington and Tehran may be on the verge of collapse after Iranian attacks on U.S. ships. Washington and Tehran are still on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+U.S.+Shoots+Down+Iranian+Drone+That+Threatened+Aircraft+Carrier">track</a> for a meeting on Friday. But it’s been a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-shoots-down-iranian-drone-after-it-aggressively-approached-uss-abraham-lincoln">messy</a> ride. The two sides were supposed to meet in Turkey, but Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday that talks will now take place in Oman. There are also significant questions over the scope of the negotiations. Iran wants to focus on its nuclear program. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio <a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/02/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-at-a-press-availability/">told</a> reporters on Wednesday that in order for talks to “lead to something meaningful, they will have to include certain things” – such as Iran’s nuclear program, but also ballistic missiles, Iran’s sponsorship of terror groups across the region, and the treatment of the Iranian people.

MRN_260205_V1

Morning Brief: Doctors Pull Back On Trans Kids, Minnesota ICE ‘Drawdown,’ & Iran Talks Teeter

American Medical Association

Minneapolis

Minnesota

Morning Wire

Tom Homan

Transgender

United States

The U.S. military downed an unmanned Iranian drone as it “aggressively approached&#8221; the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, according to the U.S. military.
U.S. Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said the Iranian Shahed-139 drone was shot down by an F-35C fighter jet from the USS Abraham Lincoln &#8220;in self-defense and to protect the aircraft carrier and personnel on board.&#8221;
The USS Abraham Lincoln was reportedly 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when the drone approached with “unclear intent” despite de-escalatory measures taken by American forces.
Hours later, forces with Iran&#8217;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S.-designated foreign terror organization, harassed a U.S.-flagged and crewed oil tanker, Stena Imperative, that was passing through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Hawkins, two Iranian boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached the American vessel &#8220;at high speeds and threatened to board the tanker,&#8221; per CENTCOM.
The USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, was in the area and escorted the vessel along with “defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force” to de-escalate the situation.
&#8220;CENTCOM forces are operating at the highest levels of professionalism and ensuring the safety of U.S. personnel, ships, and aircraft in the Middle East,&#8221; Hawkins said. &#8220;Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated. Iran&#8217;s unnecessary aggression near U.S. forces, regional partners and commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation, and regional destabilization.&#8221;
The USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group, which recently arrived in international waters near Iran, adds roughly 5,700 U.S. service members to the region. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its three Arleigh Burke-class destroyer escorts are among the 10 U.S. warships believed to be operating in the area.
The arrival of the strike group — along with additional vessels and aircraft — marks a broader military buildup as tensions between President Donald Trump and the Islamic Republic of Iran continue to escalate over the regime’s violent crackdown on protesters, with death toll estimates reaching as high as 36,000.
Despite the rising tensions, U.S. officials are still expected to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday.

Trump and Ayatollah

U.S. Shoots Down Iranian Drone After It ‘Aggressively Approached’ USS Abraham Lincoln

Donald Trump

U.S. Navy

A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Delbert D. Black, docked Friday at Israel&#8217;s Red Sea port of Eilat amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the vessel’s arrival was pre-planned and part of the ongoing cooperation between American and Israeli forces, <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-missile-destroyer-docks-at-eilat-port-amid-tensions-with-iran/">the Times of Israel reported</a>. The port call comes as Washington continues to reposition military assets across the Middle East, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted the “massive armada” that is moving toward Iran as he pressures the regime to negotiate a nuclear deal and stop killing anti-regime protesters.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The USS Delbert D. Black docked in Eilat, Israel today.
The ship is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer capable of defending against aircraft and missiles and launching Tomahawk cruise missiles.<a href="https://t.co/3glGyHyg7g">pic.twitter.com/3glGyHyg7g</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/2017293125572518218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2026</a></blockquote>
The USS Delbert D. Black was tracked sailing through the Suez Canal earlier this week toward the Gulf, making it likely the tenth American warship operating in the area of responsibility for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American forces across the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.
The vessel is an Arleigh Burke–class destroyer designed to counter threats in the air, on land, at sea, and underwater. It is equipped with the AEGIS combat system, which can defend against aircraft, missiles, and surface threats, and is capable of launching long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. More than 30 Tomahawks were used in the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025.
<a href="https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169871/destroyers-ddg-51/">According to the U.S. Navy</a>, 73 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are currently in commission, with 10 under construction and another 16 under contract.
American warships frequently operate in the Red Sea, though port calls in Eilat are relatively rare. In 2022, the USS Nitze <a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7426851/uss-nitze-pulls-into-israel">docked</a> in Eilat, followed by <a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7596399/uss-truxtun-ddg-103-departs-eilat">a visit</a> from the USS Truxtun in 2023.

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U.S. Destroyer Docks In Israel’s Red Sea Port Amid Rising Iran Tensions

Centcom

Israel

Chaos persists in Minnesota as state officials continue to defy federal authorities in a high-stakes showdown, President Donald Trump publicly warns Iran to “come to the table” as U.S. warships arrive in the region, and new data shows the American population growth fell dramatically last year.
It’s Thursday, January 29, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-house-warns-minnesota-american-population-nosedives/id1576594336?i=1000747155399" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Minnesota Chaos Continues</h2>
Chaos continues in Minnesota as state officials continue to defy the White House in a high-stakes showdown over ICE operations. Fingers on both sides of the aisle are pointing at Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey for fanning the flames. Around 200 activists stormed into the Minnesota Capitol on Tuesday. They were angry that Governor Tim Walz met with border czar Tom Homan. They demanded charges against the agents who shot protesters Alex Pretti and Renee Good. The activists went into Walz&#8217;s office in what they called a “slow march” for immigration justice, shouting slogans like “ICE out now!” and “No one is illegal,” “Abolish ICE,” and other statements. The White House has attempted to negotiate with Minnesota’s elected officials. Homan met with top officials, including Mayor Frey. But Frey, who continues to uphold Minneapolis&#8217;s sanctuary city policies, has insisted that local police will not cooperate with ICE and will not give them access to their jails. Frey said bluntly that Minneapolis “does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Threatens Iran And Rubio Testifies In Senate</h2>
On Wednesday, President Trump publicly warned Iran to “come to the table” after U.S. warships arrived in the region. And on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the president’s foreign policy to skeptical lawmakers. Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran needs to make a deal or risk “major destruction,” far worse than Operation Midnight Hammer in June. Rubio testified in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and gave an additional rationale for moving more military assets into the Middle East. “We have 30,000 to 40,000 American troops stationed across 8 or 9 facilities in that region. … All are within the reach of an array of thousands of Iranian one-way UAVs and Iranian short-term ballistic missiles,” <a href="https://x.com/StateDept/status/2016575448499569001">said</a> Rubio. “We have to have enough force and power in the region just on a baseline to defend against that possibility.” Rubio also defended the Trump administration’s Venezuela policy, saying it is seeking progress toward democratic elections in the country, but without risking regional destabilization.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">U.S. Population Growth Plummets</h2>
Amid President Trump’s border crackdown and mass deportation effort, new data shows the United States population growth fell dramatically last year. This week, the Census Bureau released new data showing that last year, the U.S. population grew by just 1.8 million, or 0.5%. With the exception of 2021, when COVID was at its peak, last year saw the slowest population growth in the history of the United States. The previous year, the United States grew by 3.3 million people, so roughly a 50% decline in one year. These numbers run from July 2024 to July 2025, so President Trump was only in office for half of that time. If the current pace holds, it’ll be an even more dramatic dip this coming year.

MRN_260129_V1

Morning Brief: Minnesota ICE Showdown Escalates, Trump Warns Iran & U.S. Population Growth Collapses

Census Bureau

Tim Walz

A CNN correspondent gave a report from Tehran that effectively served as a puff piece for the despotic Iranian regime, omitting the fact that the murderous government had killed thousands of protesters while warning of the Iranian regime’s defiant message to the Trump administration.
“Iran’s leadership is sending a strong and very defiant message to the United States, and specifically, of course, to the Trump administration,” CNN International Correspondent Frederik Pleitgen said.  “You could see it here on this gigantic poster on Revolution Square in central Tehran. The message on this massive poster is, ‘If you sow the wind you will reap the whirlwind,’ obviously meaning if the United States attacks Iran, Iran will retaliate in a massive way, which could, of course, lead to a major military confrontation between the United States and Iran.”
The Iranian Islamic regime has a history of braggadocio; in 2020, after a U.S. strike killed terror master Qasem Soleimani, Iran vowed “harsh revenge&#8221; and the expulsion of all U.S. forces from the Middle East. In 2024, after an Israeli airstrike destroyed a building in Damascus used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Iran threatened an &#8220;unprecedented&#8221; response and launched 300 drones and missiles; 99% were intercepted. Iran immediately declared the matter &#8220;concluded.&#8221; In 2025, after pledging &#8220;all-out total war&#8221; that would &#8220;end the Zionist regime,” barrages were largely neutralized by superior Israeli technology. Retaliation against the U.S. for its bombing of Iran&#8217;s nuclear facilities was limited to a symbolic strike on a base in Qatar to save face.
The regime often &#8220;talks big&#8221; for its proxies (Hezbollah, Houthis, militias in Iraq). However, when these proxies face existential threats — such as the fall of the Assad regime in Syria or the degradation of Hezbollah in 2024-2025 — Tehran has historically been unwilling to enter a direct, high-stakes war to save them.
Pleitgen made sure to feature Iranians who propagandized on behalf of the Iranian regime, saying, “And that’s also something that’s on the minds of many of the people that we’ve been speaking to here as well.” One woman derisively laughed and told him, “I’m not sure what to say; I think they’re all collaborating with one another against the interest of the Iranian people.” A man echoed, “I don’t think Trump dares to attack. He’s more bluffing.”
Pleitgen continued his puffery thus: “All this comes, of course, as President Trump weighs his options on what to do next. The U.S. has pulled together a substantial military force here in this region but the Iranians also say they’ve replenished their stockpiles of ballistic missiles and are ready to hit back hard any time.”
He referred to the protests in which the regime murdered possibly tens of thousands of protesters without detailing the massive number of dead: “Now, of course, all this comes in the wake of those large protests that happened here in Iran in the early part of January.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Iran’s leadership is sending a defiant warning to the United States as tensions soar. <a href="https://twitter.com/fpleitgenCNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fpleitgenCNN</a> reports from inside Iran, and speaks to residents on the streets of the capital Tehran. <a href="https://t.co/iXNlRQCLzc">pic.twitter.com/iXNlRQCLzc</a>
&mdash; CNN International PR (@cnnipr) <a href="https://twitter.com/cnnipr/status/2016201365224108519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Chancellor Merz meets NATO Secretary General Rutte

CNN’s Report From Tehran Echoes Regime Propaganda While Glossing Over Massacres

Trump Administration

President Donald Trump warned Iran early Wednesday morning that it must agree to a nuclear weapons deal or risk an attack from the United States. 
Trump said on Truth Social that a “massive Armada” of American warships is moving toward Iran and is prepared to take action if Tehran doesn’t “come to the table.” The president made multiple references to the operation in Venezuela earlier this month that led to the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro. 
“A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela,” Trump wrote. “Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary. Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal &#8211; NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS &#8211; one that is good for all parties.”
Trump also pointed to the Air Force&#8217;s June bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities during “Operation Midnight Hammer,” warning that the “next attack” would be even more destructive if Iran failed to begin negotiations. 
“Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said. 
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees the Middle East, said Monday that it would conduct a multi-day readiness exercise “to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across” the region. 
Trump previously threatened to intervene in Iran after massive anti-government protests broke out across the country. 
“If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump posted on Truth Social on January 2. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Thousands of people have reportedly been killed in Iran during the weeks of protesting, with some estimates placing the death count as high as 30,000.

U.S. President Trump Attends World Economic Forum In Davos

‘Time Is Running Out’: Trump Warns Iran To Make Nuclear Deal Or Face Another U.S. Attack

Executive

Global Politics

Nuclear Weapons

Politics

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is introducing the &#8220;Save the Kurds Act&#8221; as violence escalates in northern Syria, proposing &#8220;crippling sanctions&#8221; against any group attacking Kurdish populations. Graham said turning America&#8217;s back on the Kurds, who played a central role in the destruction of the ISIS caliphate, would be a catastrophic blow to U.S. national security and its global reputation.
“Watching the deteriorating situation in Syria with great concern,” Graham stated. “The Kurds are under threat from the new Syrian government that is aligned with Turkey. It would be a disaster for America’s reputation and national security interests to abandon the Kurds, who were the chief ally in destroying the ISIS caliphate. Therefore, I will be introducing legislation this week designed to impose crippling sanctions on any government or group engaged in hostilities against the Kurds. The Save the Kurds Act, I believe, will receive strong bipartisan support and must have teeth to make it effective. Stay tuned.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Watching the deteriorating situation in Syria with great concern. The Kurds are under threat from the new Syrian government that is aligned with Turkey. 
It would be a disaster for America’s reputation and national security interests to abandon the Kurds, who were the chief ally…
&mdash; Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/2016126844945211676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
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This legislative push comes as the Kurds face a renewed existential threat from a Turkish-aligned Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The Kurdish commitment to regional stability peaked between 2014 and 2019. Following the fall of Mosul in 2014 and the horrific massacre of thousands of Yazidis in Sinjar, Kurdish forces became the &#8220;boots on the ground&#8221; for the U.S.-led Global Coalition against ISIS. The YPG/YPJ in Syria and the Peshmerga in Iraq held a front line stretching roughly 1,000 kilometers. Key victories, such as the grueling siege of Kobane and the 2017 liberation of the ISIS capital, Raqqa, culminated in the 2019 defeat of the territorial caliphate in Baghouz. Despite these sacrifices, the Kurds now face a &#8220;nightmare reminiscent of 2014,&#8221; with ISIS elements re-emerging amid the chaos created by the new Syrian offensive.
The current crisis is the latest chapter in a long history of systemic persecution across the Middle East.
Following the 1979 Revolution, Kurdish hopes for autonomy were crushed when Ayatollah Khomeini declared a &#8220;holy war,&#8221; leading to thousands of executions. Even today, the Iranian regime utilizes heavy weaponry to suppress Kurdish-led movements, such as the 2022 &#8220;Woman, Life, Freedom&#8221; protests.
For more than a century, Turkey has pursued aggressive assimilation policies toward its Kurdish population, at times banning the Kurdish language and labeling Kurds &#8220;Mountain Turks.&#8221; Turkey views Syrian Kurdish forces as terrorists, leading to multiple military incursions and the current support of the Sharaa government’s offensive.
Recent reports describe horrific war crimes committed by Islamist militias, including the summary execution and beheading of Kurdish fighters. In Raqqa, snipers have reportedly targeted civilians, while thousands of ISIS detainees have escaped from facilities like Shaddadi and Al-Hol, creating a &#8220;security vacuum.&#8221;
The Kurds currently find themselves betrayed by a shifting geopolitical map. After Washington previously signaled that the Kurdish role had &#8220;expired,&#8221; Sen. Graham’s proposed sanctions aim to provide the &#8220;teeth&#8221; necessary to prevent a total ethnic cleansing. Without international intervention, the Kurds remain trapped between a hostile Syrian regime, a Turkish military offensive, and a lingering &#8220;ghost caliphate&#8221; of ISIS fighters seeking a bloody resurgence.

Crypto Firms Buoyed By Trump Get Rocked As US Bill Delayed

Graham Unveils ‘Save The Kurds Act’ To Protect Allies Who Helped U.S. Crush ISIS

Congress

Kurds

Lindsey Graham

Syria

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On Monday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) <a href="https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Article/4389589/afcent-to-conduct-readiness-exercise-generate-combat-airpower/">announced</a> a significant escalation of military activity in the Middle East, including a multi-day readiness exercise and the strategic arrival of a carrier strike group. These maneuvers come amid the violent crackdown on protesters by the Iranian regime.
Time magazine <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2026/01/27/iran-protests-death-toll-could-surpass-more-than-30000-reports-claim">cited</a> two senior Iranian health ministry officials who said the tyrannical Iranian regime had killed at least 30,000 people, while UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Iran Mai Sato told Le Monde she had received reports indicating the death toll had reached the tens of thousands.
&#8220;Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) will be conducting a multi-day readiness exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility,&#8221; CENTCOM stated.
That area spans more than 4 million square miles, stretching from Northeast Africa across the Middle East to Central and South Asia, and includes key waterways such as the Persian (Arabian) Gulf, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Oman.
Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is spearheading a comprehensive readiness exercise designed to demonstrate the United States&#8217; ability to rapidly deploy and sustain combat airpower. Lt. Gen. Derek France, the AFCENT commander, stated, &#8220;Our Airmen are proving they can disperse, operate, and generate combat sorties under demanding conditions—safely, precisely and alongside our partners. This is about upholding our commitment to maintaining combat-ready Airmen and the disciplined execution required to keep airpower available when and where it’s needed.”
The strategy is intended to validate the rapid deployment of personnel and advanced aircraft, such as F-35 Lightning IIs and F-15E Strike Eagles, while strengthening coordination with regional partners.
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Simultaneously with these aerial exercises, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and three destroyers arrived in the Middle East. While CENTCOM officially stated the strike group was deployed to &#8220;promote regional security and stability,&#8221; the arrival coincides with a period of intense friction between Washington and Tehran. The region had been without a U.S. aircraft carrier since the USS Gerald R. Ford was redirected to the Caribbean in October. President Donald Trump said the fleet was sent &#8220;just in case,&#8221; while also warning that military intervention remains an option.
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President Trump has threatened that mass executions of prisoners or continued killings of peaceful demonstrators could trigger U.S. airstrikes. He warned that such an intervention would dwarf last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The current buildup — which includes Tomahawk missiles and a surge in military cargo flights — mirrors the activity seen prior to those previous engagements.
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US deploys carrier strike group to Middle East, strengthening military presence in region

U.S. Military Ramps Up Major Combat Readiness Drills In The Middle East

An armed Minneapolis protestor is shot and killed by Border Patrol — and more protestors fill the streets in freezing temperatures, the shooting fallout reaches D.C., and America beefs up its naval presence near Iran.
It’s Monday, January 26, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Border Patrol Fatally Shoots Armed Man In Minneapolis</h2>
Border Patrol shot and killed an armed protester in Minneapolis over the weekend, setting off more <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-ice-agent-fatally-shoots-agitator-as-chaos-erupts-in-minneapolis?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Trump+Says+Walz+And+Frey+Are+%E2%80%98Inciting+Insurrection%E2%80%99+After+Minneapolis+Shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protests</a>. The deceased has been identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a nurse who officials say was armed while he was interacting with law enforcement, and he had magazines with ammo on him. Border Patrol agents said they were trying to conduct an operation to detain an illegal immigrant with a violent criminal history when the situation with Pretti took place. According to video, Pretti seemed to insert himself in the situation while Border Patrol dealt with an agitator. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as an avoidable tragedy.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Fatal Shooting Could Spark Govt Shutdown</h2>
The deadly encounter between federal immigration agents and a Minneapolis man has ignited a fierce debate among political leaders that could impact all Americans. This incident is having a ripple effect across Washington, with one of the most significant reactions coming from Senate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-leaders-address-latest-minneapolis-shooting-without-mentioning-suspect-was-armed?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dem+Leaders+Address+Latest+Minneapolis+Shooting+Without+Mentioning+Suspect+Was+Armed">Democrats</a>. They now <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-government-shutdown-looms-amid-minnesota-immigration-showdown?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Another+Government+Shutdown+Looms+Amid+Minnesota+Immigration+Showdown">say</a> they will no longer support a budget deal that the House had already passed because it includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement released Saturday that “Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.” Polymarket is now putting the odds of a government shutdown at 80%.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump’s ‘Massive Armada’ Reaches Middle East</h2>
President Donald Trump says he has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-massive-fleet-headed-toward-iran-were-watching-them-very-closely?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Says+%E2%80%98Massive+Fleet%E2%80%99+Headed+Toward+Iran%3A+%E2%80%98We%E2%80%99re+Watching+Them+Very+Closely%E2%80%99">dispatched</a> a fleet of warships to Iran as the death toll in the country continues to climb amid anti-government protests. The armada Trump spoke of is the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which was last stationed in the South China Sea and reportedly reached the Middle East on Sunday. The strike group includes the Lincoln aircraft carrier, as well as three guided-missile destroyers. The Lincoln itself is carrying five fighter squadrons, and more cargo jets and aerial refueling tankers have also deployed to the region. The military hardware has surged into the area as questions swirl over Trump’s response to Tehran violating his red line with the mass slaughter of protesters. Various estimates have put the current death toll anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands.

Morning Brief: Armed Protester Killed, Dems Threaten Shutdown, & Trump Sends Warships To Middle East

Border Patrol

Chuck Schumer

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration is closely watching Iran for signs that it&#8217;s killing protesters, and has sent a &#8220;big flotilla&#8221; toward the region &#8220;just in case.&#8221;
The president said that he hopes the U.S. fleet is unnecessary. Trump talked about U.S. troop movements regarding Iran while on board Air Force One, with his orders suggesting that tensions between Washington and Tehran are still high amid Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests.
“We’re watching Iran. You know, we have a lot of ships going that direction just in case. We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and we&#8217;ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters.
The president said that he stopped Tehran from following through on hundreds of public executions.
“I said, ‘If you hang those people, you&#8217;re gonna be hit harder than you&#8217;ve ever been hit. It&#8217;ll make what we did to your Iran nuclear look like peanuts.’ And an hour before this horrible thing (the executions) was going to take place, they canceled it,” the president said. “But we have an armada. We have a massive fleet heading in that direction. And maybe we won&#8217;t have to use it. We&#8217;ll see.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &#8220;We&#8217;re watching Iran. We have a lot of ships going that direction just in case&#8230; We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won&#8217;t have to use it. We&#8217;ll see.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/eL0sRyJb6u">pic.twitter.com/eL0sRyJb6u</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2014496443311018323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
Trump threatened Iran with another attack if the regime used deadly force, as anti-government protests have swept the Middle Eastern country in recent weeks. Tehran has maintained an internet blackout over the entire country for two weeks, as reports suggest that the regime has killed thousands.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency <a href="https://www.en-hrana.org/day-twenty-six-of-the-protests-government-commits-violence-denies-responsibility-and-continues-mass-arrests/">says</a> it has confirmed the deaths of over 5,000 people since mass protests erupted in Iran in late December. The human rights group says it is investigating nearly 10,000 more deaths. It says nearly 27,000 people have been arrested by the regime since the protests started.
Trump and Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have traded strong words while Washington and Tehran negotiate and threaten each other over the fate of Iranian protesters and a potential U.S. strike.
“Anything ever happens [to me], we’re going to blow the whole — the whole country’s going to get blown up,” Trump <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5697870-trump-iran-assassination-threats/">said</a> on Tuesday in response to the Iranian regime’s threats on his life.
Tehran hit back on Wednesday. An Iranian military spokesman, Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/21/g-s1-106639/iran-warns-trump-khamenei">said</a>: “Trump knows that if any hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we not only cut that hand but also we will set fire to their world.”
Trump ordered strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last year, which the United States military carried out in cooperation with Israel, effectively ending the 12-Day War that took a significant toll on Iran’s top military leadership and nuclear research.

Trump Says ‘Massive Fleet’ Headed Toward Iran: ‘We’re Watching Them Very Closely’

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