President Donald Trump said on Monday that he was accepting an invitation to appear at this year’s White House Correspondents&#8217; Dinner, adding that his appearance would certainly make the annual event the “GREATEST, HOTTEST” one to date.
Trump made the announcement via his Truth Social platform, saying that it was nice to finally see members of the usually-combative press acknowledge him as “truly one of the Greatest Presidents in the History of our Country, the G.O.A.T.”
“The White House Correspondents Association has asked me, very nicely, to be the Honoree at this year’s Dinner, a long and storied tradition since it began in 1924, under then President Calvin Coolidge,” Trump began, saying that he’d accepted in part because he wanted to be there because 2026 will be the year the United States celebrates its 250th birthday as a nation.
“It will be my Honor to accept their invitation, and work to make it the GREATEST, HOTTEST, and MOST SPECTACULAR DINNER, OF ANY KIND, EVER!” he continued.
Trump went on to explain that he only skipped the event in years past because he had been so unfairly treated by most in the press.
“Because the Press was extraordinarily bad to me, FAKE NEWS ALL, right from the beginning of my First Term, I boycotted the event, and never went as Honoree,” he said, adding, “However, I look forward to being with everyone this year. Hopefully, it will be something very Special. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump boycotted the event for the entirety of his first term as president — and the first year of his second term — largely because of his often contentious relationship with most of the legacy press.
CBS News senior White House correspondent and president of the White House Correspondents Association Weijia Jiang said that she’s glad Trump has agreed to attend the dinner.
<p class="paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmm9vaivn00113b6rt8z59tgl@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true">“For more than 100 years, the journalists of the White House Correspondents’ Association have enjoyed an evening with the president,” she said. “We’re happy the president has accepted our invitation and look forward to hosting him.”

Donald Trump

After Five-Year Boycott, Trump Says He’ll Go To This Year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Media

Politics

White House Correspondents Association

White House Correspondents’ Dinner

A controversial Maine Democrat already dogged by questions over a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol is again under fire after promoting an openly antisemitic conspiracy theorist — the latest episode in a pattern critics say underscores how radical and politically toxic he is.
Graham Platner, a 41-year-old Senate candidate seeking the Democratic nomination to take on incumbent Susan Collins (R-ME), faced backlash this week after amplifying a social media post about a looming war with Iran from Stew Peters, a neo-Nazi influencer known for Holocaust denial and antisemitic rhetoric. Platner <a href="https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/02/26/politics/elections/graham-platner-stew-peters-post/">later deleted</a> the post, with his campaign claiming it was shared “in error” and removed immediately after discovering it elevated a “despicable account.”
But the incident was not isolated.
In late January, Platner <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/platner-sat-lengthy-interview-antisemitic-075439570.html">appeared</a> for an hour-long interview on Valhalla VFT, a YouTube show hosted by Nate Cornacchia, a retired Green Beret who has promoted conspiracy theories alleging Israeli involvement in high-profile assassinations and suggesting the global war on terror was conducted at the “behest of Israel.” During the interview, Platner described himself as “a longtime fan” of the show and said it was “an absolute pleasure” to appear.
Cornacchia has pushed claims tying Israel to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and agreed with assertions that President John F. Kennedy was “probably” killed in a covert joint operation between the CIA and Mossad. Platner’s campaign did not respond to Jewish Insider&#8217;s questions about Cornacchia’s remarks.
The controversy compounds scrutiny Platner has faced since last year over a tattoo on his chest that closely resembled a Totenkopf, the skull-and-crossbones emblem adopted by an infamous Nazi SS unit. Platner <a href="https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2025-10-22/democratic-senate-hopeful-graham-platner-gets-tattoo-of-nazi-symbol-covered-up">said</a> he received the tattoo while serving in the Marine Corps during a drunken night in Croatia and claimed he was unaware of its historical meaning at the time. The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-platner-senate-trump-mills-tattoo-collins-fa8328a3c8aa5d5e0f34adb379e977b8">Associated Press</a> later confirmed that he had the tattoo covered once the comparison became public, saying he did not want a symbol associated with hate on his body.
“For what it’s worth,” Maine Governor Janet Mills, who’s running against Platner in the Democratic primary for the Senate seat, quipped on <a href="https://x.com/JanetMillsforME/status/2027421147956969915">X</a> amid the controversy, “I don’t have any tattoos.”
In past posts, Platner has described U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East as being overly shaped by “foreign influence,” and has argued that Washington’s alliance structure requires “fundamental rethinking.” Critics say such rhetoric mirrors themes common in online spaces where antisemitic conspiracy theories flourish.
National Republicans have begun to take notice. A spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee blasted Platner this week, saying Democrats are “flirting with extremism” in a race they view as central to their hopes of regaining Senate control. Allies of Collins have also circulated screenshots of Platner’s deleted posts, arguing they raise serious questions about his judgment.
The Democratic primary race in Maine is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the cycle. Democrats view the seat held by moderate Republican Collins as a key pickup opportunity. But Platner’s growing list of controversies, from boosting a neo-Nazi influencer to praising a YouTube host who traffics in antisemitic conspiracies, to the lingering fallout over his tattoo, threatens to complicate that strategy.

Graham Platner Maine

Dem Senate Darling Stumbles Into Third Nazi-Related Scandal Of Primary Campaign

Anti-Semitism

Democratic Party

Elections

graham platner

Maine

Susan Collins

Former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Clinton threatened to walk away from her Jeffrey Epstein testimony and dared Congress to hold her in contempt if she did, newly released video of her deposition reveals.
The videos of former President Bill Clinton and his wife&#8217;s Jeffrey Epstein depositions were released on Monday, allowing Americans to go behind the closed door hearings that took place last week. Both former President Clinton and Secretary Clinton&#8217;s videos are over four-and-a-half hours long as the Democrats were grilled about their connection to Epstein.
During Hillary Clinton&#8217;s deposition, she threatened to leave the room after a photo of her testifying was shared on social media. As the deposition began, Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado shared a photo of Hillary Clinton with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, who then posted it on X.
One of Hillary Clinton&#8217;s lawyers interrupted the hearing to ask if sharing the photo was consistent with House rules.
&#8220;I&#8217;m done with this if you guys are doing that!&#8221; the former secretary of state fumed. &#8220;You can hold me in contempt from now until the cows come home. This is just typical behavior.&#8221;
The deposition was briefly derailed as Hillary Clinton&#8217;s lawyers called for a break.
&#8220;I&#8217;m done for now,&#8221; Hillary Clinton added as she stood up and left her seat.
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JUST IN: Hillary Clinton loses it in newly released footage, threatens to storm out of the room after a photo of her during the Epstein deposition was shared online.
“I&#8217;m done with this. If you guys are doing that, I am done.”
“You can hold me in contempt from now until the… <a href="https://t.co/KHGCoWJINQ">pic.twitter.com/KHGCoWJINQ</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/2028585007326048608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Hillary Clinton has never been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein&#8217;s crimes. While she maintains she never met Epstein, Clinton has acknowledged that she spoke with Epstein&#8217;s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, “on a few occasions.”
Hillary Clinton&#8217;s testimony frustrated Republicans. The former senator and secretary of state often responded to questions by stating that she did &#8220;not recall&#8221; or by deferring to her husband.
Watch the deposition of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Deposition of Secretary Hillary Clinton on the Epstein Probe" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/siiAk6WXc0M?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Republicans on the Oversight Committee were mostly happy with Bill Clinton&#8217;s answers, with some GOP lawmakers even saying that the former president often spoke more candidly “than his attorneys were comfortable with.&#8221; Bill Clinton was close to Epstein before the financier pled guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008. In the early 2000s, Bill Clinton traveled with Epstein numerous times and photos released recently by the Justice Department show the former president schmoozing with Epstein and Maxwell, as well as multiple photos that show Bill Clinton in a swimming pool with Maxwell and enjoying a hot tub with a woman whose face was redacted.
During the deposition, Bill Clinton testified that he does not know who the woman in the hot tub was. He said that there were also other people in the pool area when he was in the hot tub, including a Secret Service agent. When asked if he engaged in any sexual activity with the woman in the photo, Bill Clinton said, &#8220;No.&#8221;
The former president has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein&#8217;s sex crimes.
Watch the deposition of former President Bill Clinton:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Deposition of President Bill Clinton on the Epstein Probe" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rgJrYKAl6T0?start=3&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hillary Clinton

WATCH: The Moment Hillary Clinton Tried To End Epstein Depo After Photo Leak

Congress

Epstein Files

House Oversight Committee

Jeffrey Epstein

While many in his party continue to criticize President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration over the execution of Operation Epic Fury — joint strikes with Israel against the Iranian regime — Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has thrown his full support behind the president in this case, and is &#8220;baffled&#8221; by those who haven&#8217;t.
Fetterman, who has carved out a very pro-Israel position since his election to the U.S. Senate, voiced his support for Trump&#8217;s actions — at least as far as Iran was concerned — in a series of posts on X.
&#8220;Love it,&#8221; he said in response to a Monday New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/us-news/trump-wont-rule-out-sending-us-troops-into-iran-if-necessary-tells-the-post-i-dont-care-about-polling/">interview</a> in which Trump had claimed that the operation was already &#8220;right on schedule, way ahead of schedule in terms of leadership — 49 killed — and that was, you know, going to take, we figured, at least four weeks, and we did it in one day.&#8221;
&#8220;Not sure why it’s controversial to anyone to appreciate and celebrate wiping out 49 leaders of one of the most evil regimes in recorded history,&#8221; Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/2028516757887979981">added</a>.
Just a few hours earlier, he&#8217;d called out others in the Senate — all of whom agreed that Iran could never have a nuclear weapon and some of whom had long called for someone to bring an end to the tyrannical and oppressive regime in Iran — and asked why some, primarily in his own party, still steadfastly refused to support an administration that was serious about doing just that.
&#8220;Every member in the U.S. Senate agrees we cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. I’m baffled why so many are unwilling to support the only action to achieve that,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/2028482183065653587">he said</a>. &#8220;Empty sloganeering vs. commitment to global security — which is it?&#8221;
Even as the joint operation began on Saturday, the Pennsylvania Senator was quick to voice his unequivocal support for the Trump administration&#8217;s actions.
&#8220;Operation Epic Fury. President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region. God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel,&#8221; he <a href="https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/2027674658091204808">posted</a>.
And when it was confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei was among the 49 leaders killed during the initial strikes, Fetterman&#8217;s response was clear: &#8220;Let’s see who grieves for that garbage.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Let’s see who grieves for that garbage. <a href="https://t.co/uhHpyXL7bR">https://t.co/uhHpyXL7bR</a>
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenFettermanPA/status/2027837565278048491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
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John Fetterman

‘Baffled’ By His Party’s Response, Fetterman Cheers Trump, Israel As They Pummel Iran: ‘Love It!’

'Baffled' By His Party's Response, Fetterman Cheers Trump, Israel As They Pummel Iran: 'Love It!'

Global Politics

Iran

Iran Airstrike

Israel

First Lady Melania Trump will &#8220;make history&#8221; on Monday as the United States takes over the United Nations Security Council presidency and she becomes the first sitting First Lady to control the gavel and address the body.
Trump&#8217;s speech, set to focus on achieving peace through better education, will not just mark the first time an American First Lady has presided over the Security Council — it will also be the first time a sitting First Lady from any member nation has done so.
The Office of the First Lady released a statement on Monday, declaring, &#8220;First Lady Melania Trump is set to make history at the United Nations, taking the gavel as the United States assumes the Security Council Presidency to emphasize education’s role in advancing tolerance and world peace.&#8221;
The statement went on to say that Trump would preside over the council as members addressed topics relating to &#8220;education, technology, peace, and security.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
First Lady Melania Trump to Preside Over U.N. Security Council Calling for Peace Through Education
Today at 3PM ET <a href="https://t.co/d2UXUdNmhh">pic.twitter.com/d2UXUdNmhh</a>
— Office of the First Lady (@FirstLadyOffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/FirstLadyOffice/status/2028532475400425642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
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U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz gave a brief statement to Fox News Digital, saying that given Melania Trump&#8217;s long history of being &#8220;a passionate and tireless advocate for children,&#8221; it was only &#8220;fitting&#8221; that she address the Security Council to promote education and advocate for its use as a path to peace.
&#8220;Her message of helping the helpless through education and technology fits exactly with our mission at the U.N., to achieve meaningful and lasting peace,&#8221; Waltz explained. &#8220;As a green beret and now diplomat, I have seen firsthand that peace prevails where children are taught and not terrorized.&#8221;
Melania Trump&#8217;s personal initiatives have almost always been geared toward children, beginning with her BE BEST program announced in 2018 — which promoted online safety and anti-cyber-bullying programs for children, as well as efforts to combat opioid addiction. In her time away from the White House, she also introduced Fostering the Future to promote digital safety and AI education — and to provide scholarship funds for children in the foster care system.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

First Lady Melania Trump To Make History, Preside Over United Nations Security Council

Melania Trump

United Nations

As Israel faces mounting threats from rockets, drones, and mortar fire across multiple fronts following the weekend strikes on Iran, attention is turning to a new system poised to reshape modern air defense: Iron Beam.
Israel’s highly anticipated laser-based defense platform is expected to be delivered to the military by the end of the month, according to Israeli officials. The system is designed to intercept short-range rockets, mortar rounds, and unmanned aerial vehicles using a high-powered directed-energy beam rather than traditional interceptor missiles.
One of the most striking features of Iron Beam is its cost efficiency. Each laser interception is estimated to cost as little as $2 in electricity, a dramatic reduction compared to the interceptor missiles used by Israel&#8217;s existing layered defense systems — roughly $100,000 per missile fired by Iron Dome, which counters short-range rockets, and up to $1 million per interceptor launched by David&#8217;s Sling, designed to defeat longer-range missiles and aircraft.
Iron Beam, first <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/rafael-unveils-laser-shield-at-premier-defense-show/">revealed</a> to the public in 2014, has been heralded as the future of air defense and is capable of intercepting the ever-growing threat of suicide drones, unguided rockets, and even traditional kinetic ordnance such as mortars and artillery. Iron Beam was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the same firm behind Iron Dome, in partnership with U.S.-based defense giant Lockheed Martin. The system consists of an air defense radar, a command and control unit, and two High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, enabling it to track and destroy incoming threats at the speed of light.
According to publicly available material from <a href="https://www.rafael.co.il/system/iron-beam/">Rafael</a>, Iron Beam is designed to integrate into Israel’s existing multi-layered air defense architecture, complementing systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow. While missile interceptors remain essential for higher-altitude and long-range threats, a directed-energy platform offers a potentially transformative solution against short-range projectiles and drone swarms, particularly in scenarios involving sustained, high-volume attacks.
According to <a href="https://www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org/defense-systems/iron-beam/">missile defense analysts</a>, Iron Beam is intended to relieve pressure on Iron Dome by handling lower-end threats, reserving expensive interceptors for more complex or long-range attacks. The system has reportedly demonstrated successful interceptions, particularly short trajectory targets during extensive testing, though operational details remain classified.
These missile defense analysts have also long argued that directed-energy weapons represent the next phase of air defense evolution. Unlike traditional systems that require physical interceptors and complex resupply chains, laser platforms can, in principle, operate indefinitely as long as power is available, eliminating reloads and significantly reducing per-shot costs.
The technology is also reportedly being shared with the U.S. Army’s directed energy program, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-unveils-iron-beam-laser-weapon-while-achieving-record-15b-arms-sales">Fox News</a>, underscoring growing American interest in laser-based air defense capabilities.
While questions remain about operational constraints, including weather limitations and line-of-sight challenges, Iron Beam’s imminent fielding marks a major milestone in the development of practical battlefield laser systems. If it performs as advertised, it could fundamentally alter the cost calculus of missile defense and provide Israel with a powerful new tool to counter the increasingly sophisticated arsenal of Iranian-backed proxy groups.

Iran fires missiles at Israel

What Is Iron Beam? The Israeli Laser Defense System Explained

Hezbollah

Iron Dome

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that the Trump administration is monitoring for potential domestic threats related to Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military campaign in Iran.
Concerns about Iranian sleeper cells have persisted since last year. Those fears intensified after the FBI said it is investigating a “potential nexus to terrorism” in connection with a shooting in Austin, Texas, on Sunday that left two people dead and 14 injured, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-probes-potential-nexus-to-terrorism-in-deadly-austin-shooting-spree" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported.
“Well, across the inner agency in full coordination, of course, we’re paying attention to any potentialities there. This is a former regime, a regime that seeks to export that ideology, to try to sow terror,” Hegseth said when asked by The Daily Wire.
“We’re ready for that. We’ve seen these types of folks before. And the American people can rest assured that we’re vigilant on that,” he added.
Hegseth appeared alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine at the Pentagon on Monday morning, where they outlined the opening phase of the operation. Officials said the campaign aims to dismantle Iran&#8217;s missile and nuclear capabilities and degrade its naval forces.
Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leaders were killed in the strikes. President Donald Trump has since encouraged the Iranian people to rise up against the country&#8217;s theocratic government.
“This is not a so-called regime change war. But the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it,” Hegseth said.
He also brushed off criticism of the operation being compared to the Iraq War, saying, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless. I was there for both.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted to X over the weekend that she is in “direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland.”
The Department of Homeland Security is currently facing a funding lapse, and the war in Iran is raising calls from Republicans in Congress to end the shutdown, which began amid disputes over federal immigration enforcement tactics.
In June 2025, DHS’s National Terrorism Advisory System issued a bulletin warning of potential risks tied to tensions with Iran. The bulletin, which expired in September, noted that the likelihood of danger within the United States could increase if Iranian leadership called for retaliation.
“Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks,” the bulletin said.
Anti-Iranian regime rallies took place in the United States over the weekend after Operation Epic Fury began, including in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Hegseth Sends Clear Message To Potential Iran-Linked Terrorists Targeting U.S. Soil

Pentagon

Pete Hegseth

Terrorism

Trump Administration

At 3:38 p.m., President Donald Trump gave the order to strike Iran.
&#8216;Operation Epic Fury&#8217; was set in motion.
Less than an hour later on Friday, standing on the tarmac in Corpus Christi, Texas, Trump faced the press — calm, relaxed, completely unreadable.
A reporter asked him point-blank: “How close are you to making a decision on strikes?”
Trump smiled.
“I’d rather not tell you,” he said. “You would have had the greatest scoop in history, right?”
What the world didn’t know: the decision had already been made.
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President Trump gave the order for Iran strikes at 3.38pm, Gen. Caine says. Trump was on Air Force One at the time, along with the press pool, shortly before landing in Corpus Christi, Texas. At about 4.29pm my pool colleague <a href="https://twitter.com/BernieDebusmann?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BernieDebusmann</a> asked him: ‘How close are you to… <a href="https://t.co/2t4uLzJNK2">pic.twitter.com/2t4uLzJNK2</a>
— Danny Kemp (@dannyctkemp) <a href="https://twitter.com/dannyctkemp/status/2028466599187960227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
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According to Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Trump had authorized the strikes while still aboard Air Force One. By the time he stepped onto the Texas runway, the machinery of war was already turning. Jets were moving. Plans were unfolding. Iran’s evil regime was hours away from feeling the full force of Operation Epic Fury.
And Trump gave nothing away.
No dramatic tone. No visible tension. No slip of the tongue.
He delivered remarks. He greeted supporters. He even stopped at Whataburger.
Behind the scenes, one of the most consequential military operations in decades was about to begin.
It was a masterclass in restraint — a president holding the winning hand while the cameras rolled, never flinching, never tipping the table.
Hours later, the strikes would land.
The main target? Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the joint United States-Israel operation. The 86-year-old ayatollah, who ruled Iran for more than three decades and consolidated near-total authority over the judiciary, state media, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was eliminated alongside more than 40 senior regime figures and military commanders.
Among those confirmed killed were Khamenei’s top security adviser Ali Shamkhani, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Khamenei’s chief military secretary Mohammad Shirazi, head of military intelligence Saleh Asadi, and senior figures tied to Iran’s nuclear research apparatus.
Israeli officials said opening waves of Operation Epic Fury decimated the regime’s chain of command. The strike triggered an immediate succession crisis inside Tehran. Under Iran’s constitution, an interim council assumes authority while the Assembly of Experts selects a new supreme leader — but with key leadership figures dead, the path forward is uncertain.
President Trump celebrated Khamenei’s death on Truth Social, calling him “one of the most evil people in History” and describing the killing as “justice” for Americans and others killed by Iran over decades of terrorism and proxy warfare. He said the United States intelligence played a direct role in tracking the ayatollah, writing that Khamenei “was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems.”
Trump warned that bombing would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary” to achieve what he called the goal of “peace throughout the Middle East and, indeed, the world.”

Trump

The Moment Trump Refused To Blink In Front Of The World — Minutes After Ordering Epic Fury

Executive

Israel is not waiting to be attacked — it is dismantling threats in real time.
As Israeli aircraft strike underground bunkers in Tehran, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed it is also targeting Hezbollah command centers and launch sites in Lebanon, warning the terror group it is entering a fight it cannot win.
An IDF official said the strikes against Hezbollah were part of preparations tied to the broader operation against Iran’s regime leadership and military infrastructure.
“We were ready for this,” the official said. “As part of the preparations for our operation in Iran, the IDF prepared for an attack from Hezbollah, allowing us to carry out a swift response.”
According to the IDF, retaliatory strikes hit Hezbollah command and control centers, launch sites, and what the official described as senior terrorists embedded within the organization’s operational network.
Israeli strikes inside Iran were still underway.
“As I am speaking right now, our aircraft are striking targets in Iran, including Tehran,” the official said, noting that underground bunkers tied to the regime are among the targets.
The objective, the IDF stressed, is to eliminate threats before they reach Israeli civilians.
“We are operating to eliminate any threats to our civilians, and will continue doing so,” the official added.
The warning to Hezbollah was blunt.
“Hezbollah is entering a fight it cannot win.”
The escalation comes after the unprecedented joint U.S.–Israel operation targeting Iranian regime assets, a move that military analysts have long warned could trigger retaliation from Tehran’s proxy network — particularly Hezbollah, which maintains a vast arsenal of rockets and missiles aimed at Israel.
As the military campaign unfolds, a political voice long in exile is positioning himself for what could follow.
Appearing on Fox &amp; Friends, Reza Pahlavi — the exiled crown prince of Iran — thanked President Donald Trump for giving Iran a chance to take his country back, while signaling he is ready to return to Iran and help lead a democratic transition should the regime collapse.
“If you were to give me the opportunity to say to the Iranian people and the world, when is it that I go back there?” Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, said. “It will be the first minute I get the opportunity to do that. And that has to be, of course, orchestrated properly.”
He added that he is prepared to return.
“I’m ready to go there as soon as possible. I would like to be there, whether it is before the regime collapses or right after the regime collapses. It is important for me to be among my compatriots to fight the final battle and bring it to fruition.”
Pahlavi has pledged that any transition would involve free and fair elections and a democratic system of government.
For now, however, the battlefield remains active. Israeli aircraft continue striking Iranian regime targets while signaling to Hezbollah that escalation will be met immediately.
The message from Israeli officials is clear: retaliation was anticipated, preparations were made, and the response is already underway.

israel_hezbollah

Blunt Warning To Hezbollah Terrorists As Israel Widens War Footing

Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

A growing rift inside the Republican Party burst into public view this week as President Donald Trump and several House Republicans openly blasted Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) over the stalled SAVE America Act, accusing the longtime Kentucky lawmaker of standing in the way of legislation they argue is critical to securing federal elections.
What might once have played out behind closed doors is now unfolding in plain sight — with Trump mocking McConnell online and GOP lawmakers questioning both his motives and his leadership as the bill sits idle in the Senate.
One of the most pointed comments came from Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC), who on SiriusXM blasted McConnell directly, saying “he hates Donald Trump” and argued the Kentucky senator “should be in a nursing home” rather than blocking the bill. Norman said McConnell is “beholden to the special interests” and insisted the GOP needs new leadership and term limits.
Norman’s remarks were shared on <a href="https://x.com/WilkowMajority/status/2027161540432969925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2027161540432969925%7Ctwgr%5E3383e92a7556d2a8fb97a3079c218e9523329448%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Famericanwirenews.com%2Fhouse-republican-blasts-mcconnell-over-save-act-he-should-be-in-a-nursing-home%2F">X</a>, calling out McConnell by name and questioning his effectiveness in the Senate, a rare and unusually blunt rebuke from a Republican colleague.
That sentiment reflects wider frustration among Trump-aligned Republicans over the SAVE Act’s slow progress in the chamber. While President Donald Trump used his 2026 State of the Union to call for Senate passage of the bill — urging lawmakers to “approve the SAVE America Act” as part of his agenda to require voter ID and proof of citizenship — the Senate has yet to bring it up for a vote.
Trump escalated the pressure on social media, <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2028109709824139442">posting</a> a clip from &#8220;Weekend at Bernie’s&#8221; and captioning it: “Mitch McConnell arriving to block the SAVE Act in a last-ditch attempt to save his name.” The jab underscored growing frustration among conservatives who see the bill as a must-pass election integrity measure with overwhelming grassroots support.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) suggested McConnell’s opposition may be personal, saying on <a href="https://x.com/timburchett/status/2024875245966958916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2024875245966958916%7Ctwgr%5E77f261b58e40fcfc14a750af0055b2b809e4fae9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewrepublic.com%2Fpost%2F206864%2Fmcconnell-trump-election-overhaul-bill-save-america-act">X</a> he believes it is “partially just out of meanness,” adding that “he doesn’t like Trump.” Burchett went further, questioning who is truly making decisions in McConnell’s office: “Is it him or a staff member? Because, as you know, he’s a lot like Joe Biden in his last days in office.”
Other Republicans have pressed Senate leadership to move the bill forward, arguing that requiring proof of citizenship is common sense and widely supported by voters. Trump has repeatedly urged the Senate to act, framing the measure as essential to election security.
Representative Andy Barr (R-KY), who will be running for McConnell’s seat after he retires, sent the senator a <a href="https://barr.house.gov/2026/2/barr-backs-voter-id-mandate-calls-on-mcconnell-to-advance-save-america-act">letter</a> last month. The letter strongly urged McConnell, “as Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, to expeditiously move the America Act through the Senate and to the President’s Desk.” He added, “This marks the second time that the U.S. House of Representatives has acted to advance common sense voter identification and proof of citizenship requirements to strengthen the integrity of our federal elections.”
For his part, McConnell and his team have not claimed responsibility for the stall. A spokesperson for the Kentucky senator <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/article314828972.html">wrote</a> in a statement, “Senator McConnell has not, at any point in time, prevented a floor vote on any version of the SAVE Act. The most recent version of the bill that passed the House was not referred to any committees and is currently awaiting Senate floor consideration. Senator McConnell has no role in or power to control floor consideration of this bill.”
McConnell has not publicly embraced the legislation and has resisted procedural efforts to fast-track it, fueling criticism from within his own party as tensions between Trump-aligned Republicans and the Senate’s Republican leadership once again spill into public view.
Senate Republican leadership has tried to take the scrutiny from McConnell. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), in a statement to the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/4473765/senate-gop-warns-house-save-act-agitators-do-not-tell-us-what-to-do/">Washington Examiner</a>, said, “House members are going to say what they’re going to say. They aren’t going to tell us how we’re going to run the Senate.” Another Senate leader said the Senate was “going to do what we’re going to do,” regardless of outside commentary.
Thune also <a href="https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/2/thune-joins-america-s-newsroom-on-fox-news">addressed</a> the SAVE America Act directly in an interview with Fox, saying the chamber plans to put Democrats “on the record,” but is focused first on broader issues like reopening the government, and that a floor vote will come “in due time.”
With McConnell nearing retirement and allies jockeying to replace him, the fight carries added political weight, especially in Kentucky. As House Republicans and Trump continue to escalate public pressure, Senate leadership insists the chamber will move on its own timetable. But for many in the GOP base, the optics are clear: a bill framed as “common sense” election security is stalled, and McConnell’s critics are making sure voters know exactly who they believe is responsible.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R)

Trump, Fellow Republicans Take Shots At Mitch McConnell Over SAVE Act Stall

John Thune

Mitch McConnell

U.S. Senate

President Donald Trump said Senator Ted Cruz could be Supreme Court nominee in the near future, praising the Texas Republican during a speech in Corpus Christi on Friday evening.
Trump, who was once a fierce critic of Cruz, called the senator &#8220;an amazing guy&#8221; who is &#8220;so good and so talented.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m thinking about putting him in the Supreme Court,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;I&#8217;m thinking because it&#8217;s very hard, getting these nominations through is tough.&#8221;
The president added that Cruz would receive &#8220;100%&#8221; of the Democratic and Republican vote, arguing that Cruz&#8217;s foes would &#8220;want to get him out of [the Senate]. He is such a pain in the ass.&#8221;
Trump also floated the idea of a Cruz Supreme Court appointment during a speech last month, calling the senator a &#8220;brilliant legal mind.&#8221; Cruz, however, shot the proposal down in January.
&#8220;My answer&#8217;s not just no, it&#8217;s hell no,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.fox26houston.com/news/supreme-court-texas-ted-cruz-donald-trump">said</a>. &#8220;It is interesting in the first Trump term, the president talked to me about all three Supreme Court vacancies, and we had very serious conversations and I told him no all three times.&#8221;
Cruz added that he wants to be &#8220;right in the middle&#8221; of political battles, something the Republican said a &#8220;principled federal judge&#8221; would stay out of.
After completing law school, Cruz clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist at the Supreme Court from 1996 to 1997. Trump first discussed the idea of nominating Cruz to the Supreme Court with the senator privately after the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, according to Cruz.
&#8220;I wrestled with it because I knew Justice Scalia and revered him,&#8221; Cruz added. &#8220;And to have the opportunity to succeed him, I mean, talk about taking your breath away.&#8221;
While none of the Supreme Court justices have announced plans to retire anytime soon, there has been talk of either Samuel Alito or Clarence Thomas, the two oldest and most conservative justices, retiring within the next couple of years to give Trump a chance to replace either of them with another conservative. Thomas is 77-years-old and Alito is 75.
Alito is set to release a book in early October, which has sparked rumors that the conservative justice could be hanging up his robe before the beginning of the Supreme Court&#8217;s next term, which also begins in October. Alito has served on the court for 20 years, while Thomas is the longest-tenured justice, nearing his 35th year on the high court.
When asked about Thomas or Alito potentially retiring in the near future, Trump <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/09/donald-trump-full-interview-transcript-00681693?nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&amp;nname=playbook&amp;nrid=fe8db97b-d67e-4e92-8f3a-1577ce038e35">told</a> POLITICO in December that he wants both of them to stay on the court.
&#8220;Both of those men are fantastic,&#8221; he said.
After Republicans successfully prevented former President Barack Obama from tapping Merrick Garland as Scalia&#8217;s replacement — thanks to the efforts of then-Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch in 2017. Trump went on to nominate two more justices, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, during his first term. Conservatives now have a 6-3 majority, but Trump has recently been frustrated with conservative justices, including Gorsuch, Coney Barrett, and Chief Justice John Roberts.

Trump Signs Order Seeking To Limit State-Level AI Regulation

Trump Floats Idea For His Next Supreme Court Appointment As Rumors Swirl About Possible Retirements

Clarence Thomas

Samuel Alito

Supreme Court

Ted Cruz

The Pentagon is severing ties with a major AI developer after a standoff over military access to artificial intelligence tools, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Friday, designating Anthropic a “Supply-Chain Risk to National Security.”
In a lengthy X post, Hegseth <a href="https://x.com/secwar/status/2027507717469049070?s=46">stated</a> in part: “Our position has never wavered and will never waver: the Department of War must have full, unrestricted access to Anthropic’s models for every LAWFUL purpose in defense of the Republic.”
Hegseth said Anthropic and CEO Dario Amodei chose “duplicity,” accusing them of trying to &#8220;strong-arm the United States military into submission &#8211; a cowardly act of corporate virtue-signaling that places Silicon Valley ideology above American lives.”
“Their true objective is unmistakable: to seize veto power over the operational decisions of the United States military,” the secretary said. “That is unacceptable.”
The War Secretary added that “Anthropic’s stance is fundamentally incompatible with American principles,” and announced that, as a result of the company’s refusal to accede to the Pentagon’s demands, it would be designated a “supply-chain risk.”
“Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic,” Hegseth stated, adding that the Pentagon and Anthropic will untangle their relationship over the next six months while the federal government transitions to a new AI partner.
Hegseth’s announcement follows President Donald Trump’s <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116144552969293195">statement</a> earlier Friday, in which the president ordered “EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology.”
Trump called Anthropic a “radical Left, woke company” whose “selfishness is putting AMERICAN LIVES at risk, our Troops in danger, and our National Security in JEOPARDY.”
In January, the Department of War released a document outlining its strategies for AI dominance, which included the following <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/12/2003855671/-1/-1/0/ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE-STRATEGY-FOR-THE-DEPARTMENT-OF-WAR.PDF">statement</a>: “The Department must also utilize models free from usage policy constraints that may limit lawful military applications.”
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei released a <a href="https://www.anthropic.com/news/statement-department-of-war">statement</a> of his own on Thursday as the negotiations were ongoing, stating that while he believes in utilizing artificial intelligence to defend the United States and push back against autocracies, in certain cases, AI could be used in opposition to such goals.
Those cases, according to Amodei, are “mass domestic surveillance” and “fully autonomous weapons.”
“AI-driven mass surveillance presents serious, novel risks to our fundamental liberties. … For example, under current law, the government can purchase detailed records of Americans’ movements, web browsing, and associations from public sources without obtaining a warrant, a practice the Intelligence Community has acknowledged raises privacy concerns and that has generated bipartisan opposition in Congress. Powerful AI makes it possible to assemble this scattered, individually innocuous data into a comprehensive picture of any person’s life—automatically and at massive scale,” Amodei said.
As to fully autonomous weapons, the CEO acknowledged that such weapons may one day “prove critical,” but with current AI technology, “systems are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons.”
The clash marks a dramatic rupture between the U.S. military and one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent AI firms, escalating a broader battle over who controls the future use of artificial intelligence in national defense.

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