Pretending to be part of the Islamic Republic’s national soccer team, a man with connections to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) tried to enter the United States, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. 
“They tried to get someone in yesterday &#8230; he was supposed to be the president of the soccer federation. When we started doing the research on him, he had only been put in place since 2022, and we didn’t allow him to board the plane,” Mullin said, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6399018431112">adding</a>, “[He] had direct ties to the IRGC.” 
Mullin explained that World Cup teams typically comprise 120 people, including players, support staff, and coaches. The United States accepted fewer than half that number into the country for Iran ahead of its match in Los Angeles. 
“We accepted 53 individuals coming in, the rest of the individuals that Iran had tried to bring in, all also had direct ties to the IRGC and aren’t their normal traveling group. So, these games that Iran plays, unfortunately, makes them an adversary that you cannot trust,&#8221; Mullin said. 
The news comes as negotiations with Iran appear to be regaining momentum after a tense weekend that threatened to derail the talks. Iranian officials warned they could close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, prompting a stern warning from President Donald Trump. “You close it and you won&#8217;t have a country. You won&#8217;t even make it back to your f*cking country.&#8221;
Vice President JD Vance is currently in Switzerland leading negotiations with Iranian officials and said on Monday morning, “Yesterday was a very, very good day. We made a lot of good progress.” 
<a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2069020200888877504">On Sunday</a>, the Iranians agreed to allow nuclear inspectors back into their country. 
“That is a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran,&#8221; Vance said.
Following the vice president&#8217;s announcement, the Treasury Department lifted sanctions on Iranian oil for 60 days. 
“In line with the ongoing productive talks in Switzerland. Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and to permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors into their country,” <a href="https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/2069048901185810867">said</a> Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “As part of the framework, Treasury has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian oil.”
Adding to the push, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday that he will travel to the Middle East this week, where he is expected to meet with regional allies to discuss shared priorities and security.

Belgium v IR Iran: Group G – FIFA World Cup 2026

Trump Admin Stops Suspected Iranian Regime Insider From Entering U.S. For World Cup

Iran

U.S.

World Cup

The second weekend of the 2026 World Cup saw the tournament favorites get back on track and set themselves apart from the rest of the field, while Cape Verde continued its fairytale run.  
Friday afternoon was also highlighted by the United States <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/team-usa-takes-major-step-forward-in-home-field-world-cup-run?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=25&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Team+USA+Takes+Major+Step+Forward+In+Home-Field+World+Cup+Run">securing</a> Group D and advancing to the knockout round after its 2-0 win against Australia. America&#8217;s opponent in the following round has yet to be determined. 
After surprising draws in their opening matches, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Spain proved why many predict them to win the tournament. 
Brazil followed its disappointing 1-1 tie against Morocco in its opening game with a hot first half against Haiti. Matheus Cunha scored the first two goals at the 23rd and 36th minutes, setting the tone for what would be a dominant first half. Brazil’s star Vinícius Júnior scored in the third minute of injury time in the first half for his second goal of the young tournament, and Brazil defeated Haiti 3-0.
The Dutch have not lost in regulation or extra time since the 2010 World Cup final against Spain. On Saturday, the Netherlands continued its record of consecutive World Cup matches without a loss by picking up its 14th straight against Sweden in a commanding way. 
Led by two goals in the first 20 minutes of the first half from Brian Brobbey and two in the first 10 minutes of the second half by Cody Gakpo, Netherlands won 5-1, propelling them to the top of Group F with Japan.
Coming off a 7-1 win, Germany struggled against Ivory Coast, who led the powerhouse 1-0 at the end of the first half following Franck Kessié’s goal in the 30th minute. The German national team was saved when Deniz Undav was substituted into the game with 30 minutes remaining in regulation. 
Undav, who came off the bench and scored in their last game, scored two goals to pull off the comeback against Ivory Coast, one of them coming in the fourth of six minutes of stoppage time in the second half.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT? 🤯
GERMANY TAKES THE LEAD IN STOPPAGE TIME! <a href="https://t.co/hVrMbRwxFx">pic.twitter.com/hVrMbRwxFx</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2068453457523032554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
Sunday’s slate started off with Spain’s dominance. After tying 0-0 against Cape Verde and Vozinha’s heroics in goal, the Spaniards got back on track against Saudi Arabia.
The 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal made his presence felt in his first career World Cup start, scoring just 10 minutes into the game for his first goal of what is presumed to be many for Spain.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
LAMINE YAMAL MAKES HISTORY WITH HIS FIRST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL! 🇪🇸
In just the 10th minute of his first start, the 18-year-old finds the scoresheet for Spain <a href="https://t.co/lCRbt56lo5">pic.twitter.com/lCRbt56lo5</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2068728884355289195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal kept the scoring going with two goals in three minutes to give them a 3-0 lead at halftime, and the Spaniards eventually won 4-0.
Fan-favorite Cape Verde continued its magical run in arguably the best game of the weekend against Uruguay. After putting up a clean sheet in its last time out, Cape Verde got on the board quickly thanks to a deep free kick from Kevin Pina for the country’s first-ever World Cup goal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ABSOLUTE GOLAZO FOR CAPE VERDE&#8217;S FIRST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL 🇨🇻
Kevin Pina with a historic moment for his country! <a href="https://t.co/yHUEczi56z">pic.twitter.com/yHUEczi56z</a>
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2068822091885883586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
Uruguay responded at the end of the first half, with Maxi Araujo and Agustín Canobbio each scoring within seven minutes of each other to take a 2-1 lead heading into the half. Cape Verde’s Helio Varela miraculously tied things up after goalkeeper Fernando Muslera left the goal in a disastrous moment for Uruguay.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
EMPTY NET GOAL 🚨
Cape Verde equalizes after Muslera gets caught in no man&#8217;s land! <a href="https://t.co/wI6Y4iRAbf">pic.twitter.com/wI6Y4iRAbf</a>
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2068838395829276922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
This tie keeps Cape Verde alive in the group stage with one game remaining. If Cape Verde wins its final game against Saudi Arabia and Spain beats Uruguay, it will advance to the knockout stages for the first time in World Cup history.
With a ton of action this past weekend, Monday’s matches feature potential historic moments and offensive powerhouses on display.
Argentina takes on Austria in their second game of group play. Lionel Messi, coming off his first career hat-trick during this tournament, will look to become the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history with his next goal. France’s Kylian Mbappé, who is quickly rising up the same list, and Norway’s Erling Haaland will look to build on their two-goal performances.

Spain v Saudi Arabia: Group H – FIFA World Cup 2026

World Cup Favorites Bounce Back, And The Magic Continues For Cape Verde

Brazil

Netherlands

Soccer

Spain

Shark sightings are on the rise as the “Super” El Niño brings in warmer water, as scientists warn Americans about their next trip to the beach. 
Scientists are predicting a 63% chance of a “<a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/super-el-nino-high-temperatures-disease">Super El Niño</a>” this year, a nickname for very strong weather events, which can result in temperatures in the Pacific Ocean increasing by at least 2℃ above average. This year could bring in the strongest El Niño on record.
With these weather shifts driving warmer water “deeper and faster” than before, sharks will move closer to shore. 
“Scientists are issuing a warning that California will see an exponential increase in sharks with intensely warming waters fueled by El Niño,”<a href="https://abcnews.com/video/133929304/"> ABC News</a> said.  
Dr. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, said that Southern California in particular will see a drastic uptick, having “double the sharks” than in a normal year, according to ABC News. 
Sharks can also appear in areas where they wouldn&#8217;t typically go, according to Lowe. 
“During strong El Niños, like the one that&#8217;s being predicted, we get tiger sharks, bull sharks, whale sharks, manta rays and even hammerheads,” Lowe said. “We have all these species that we don&#8217;t normally get.”
The <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/el-nino-forms-expected-to-strengthen-say-noaa-forecasters">El Niño</a> is a weather phenomenon occurring when the temperature in the equatorial Pacific is 0.5℃ above average for several consecutive months, coupled with a disruption of an atmospheric pattern called the Walker Circulation. 
These weather changes have global impacts, altering clouds, jet streams, air pressure, and storms. It also makes dry places wetter, and wet places drier, intensifying in the fall and culminating in the winter. <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/what-is-el-nino-and-how-could-it-affect-weather-this-year">The most recent El Niño</a>, one of the five strongest on record, caused high global temperatures, severe droughts, and intense cyclones.
During the last El Niño ending in May 2024, Southern California saw 20 to 25 juvenile great white sharks, which can reach up to nine feet long. Scientists predict Southern California could see just as many great whites again this year. These sharks can also be as close to the shore as waist-deep water.
The <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/2015-state-climate-el-ni%C3%B1o-came-saw-and-conquered">2015 El Niño</a>, equivalent to the “record-strong events of 1982 and 1997-98,” resulted in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/feb/09/shark-attacks-record-high-2015-global-tally">98 unprovoked</a> shark attacks globally, a record high event. 
Australia has already seen four fatal shark attacks this year, and a great white shark was spotted in the Mediterranean, which is unusual. 
On June 8, a Navy base employee was injured in a shark attack in Panama City, Florida. 
With the anticipated increase in shark sightings, Lowe said people should be vigilant, not fearful.
“We know there’s safety in numbers,” Lowe said. “Statistically, it is very rare for somebody to be bitten if they’re in a group, but they’re more likely to be bitten if they’re by themselves.&#8221; 
Being aware of your surroundings, where you are swimming, and not swimming near a shark’s prey are further ways to ensure safety. 
Since it is more likely to be <a href="https://animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/sharks/most-dangerous-shark.htm">killed by a cow</a>, <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2022/07/sharks-vending-machines-death.html">vending machine</a>, or <a href="https://www.ifaw.org/journal/faq-about-sharks">champagne cork</a>, swimmers should be aware in the water and not do anything foolish like the infamous <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/2025/05/17/influencers-are-getting-too-close-to-sharksand-its-getting-people-hurt/">shark riders</a>. Sharks kill fewer than 10 people a year, while people kill on average 100 million sharks annually. 
Sharks are also just not that <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/el-nino-could-bring-sharks-to-beaches-that-have-never-seen-them-12049558">interested in humans</a>. Lowe said that the most recent data in California shows great white sharks are “around people all the time, people just don’t know they’re there.” 
​​&#8221;Using drone footage, we see sharks swimming right by people and not even changing their path,” Lowe said. “They&#8217;re completely ignoring people.”

Second largest aquarium in Europe: Lisbon Oceanarium

A Very Sharky Summer Could Be Ahead For The U.S.

shark

summer

Weather

To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, two marathon runners have assembled a team to unite the country in a marathon relay from sea to shining sea. 
The idea started when marathon runners Joe Nail and Wyatt Moss met and became friends while trying to complete 50 marathons in each of the 50 US states. 
“As America&#8217;s 250th birthday came into view, Joe had an idea: do something epic to bring the country back together,” the Relay for America website <a href="https://www.relayforamerica.org/about">said</a>. “A coast-to-coast relay, carrying the American flag from one ocean to the capital. He asked Wyatt to partner — and Wyatt pushed it further. Don&#8217;t make it a private feat. Open it to everyone and build the first mass-participation flag relay across the country.”
The idea for Relay for America was born – a marathon relay where more than 250 runners will carry the flag from California to the nation’s capital. Nail and Moss planned a route consisting of 3,016 miles, with each mile <a href="https://www.relayforamerica.org/honor">dedicated</a> to one of America’s veterans. 
The website mentions that the idea started with “a ragtag group of young people on a shoestring budget, with about two weeks to plan something most would spend years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on.” However, the founders of this movement mention that the spirit of American exceptionalism has kept the team going. 
“We think that America is still an exceptional place,” Nail said during a Fox News interview. “There’s this narrative — people like to talk about all the things that are wrong with America, and really the spirit of this relay is showing all the things that are right with America.”
The run began Sunday on Rodeo Beach in San Francisco when a group of about 15 people and the runner  touched the waters of the Pacific Ocean and started running east, as Moss <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZkz1TAveZa/">told</a> his audience on Instagram.
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The <a href="https://www.relayforamerica.org/">home page</a> of the Relay for America has a map where viewers can see the flag’s current location and calculate the time the flag is expected to reach their state. 
The relay will be expected to take around 20 days, ending in Washington D.C. on the evening of July 2. The runners are currently averaging about 161 miles per day, running through all hours of the day. As of Friday, the flag had been carried all the way to Utah.
The <a href="https://www.relayforamerica.org/crew">website</a> offers opportunities for volunteers to work for management, media, comms, operations, press, and bookkeeping to make sure that the flag reaches the nation’s capital on July 4.

Hispanic woman running in desert carrying American flag

Relay for America Shows United States Runs On Tenacity and Patriotism

All American Patriotism

America 250

America250

Marathon

Patriotism

WASHINGTON— The text of the agreement between the United States and Iran has finally been shared with reporters. 
After days of intense scrutiny and debate over the deal, a senior Trump administration official read the “memorandum of understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran” to reporters on a Wednesday afternoon call. 
The text of the memorandum, according to that official, reads thus: “The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have jointly agreed in good faith on such and such a date on the following.” 
<h3>Paragraph 1</h3>
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing this MOU, declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts including in Lebanon and other provisions of this paragraph.
<h3>Paragraph 2</h3>
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other&#8217;s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other&#8217;s internal affairs.
<h3>Paragraph 3</h3>
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days extendable with mutual consent.
<h3>Paragraph 4</h3>
Immediately upon the signing of this MOU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of pre-war traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.
“What we&#8217;re saying is that after 30 days, or within 30 days after the final deal—meaning assuming we get to the final deal, we may not—but assuming we get to the final deal, then we will return our force posture in the region to that which existed before the conflict started,” the senior administration official noted. “That&#8217;s what that paragraph effectively provides.” 
<h3>Paragraph 5</h3>
Upon the signing of this MOU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran will be reinstated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services of the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.
The senior administration official made particular note that the MOU says “the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge&#8221; for the first 60 days.
“It says that Iran will work not just with Oman, but with the Gulf States to set up a broader agreement, a longer-term agreement on the Strait of Hormuz,” the official explained. “And of course, I&#8217;m sure the Iranians will assert their rights as aggressively as they can, but fundamentally toll-free passage of the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, and that will continue because the Persian Gulf States will never agree to an arrangement that doesn&#8217;t permit toll-free access to the Strait of Hormuz for themselves and their industries.” 
The senior administration official also emphasized that on Tuesday, Iran did not fire at any vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. 
“So fundamentally, even before the formal signing ceremony on Friday, we see Iran actually ceasing its efforts to cut off traffic from the Strait of Hormuz,” the official noted. “This is one of the reasons why Brent crude is hovering around $79 and West Texas crude is even lower.” 
<h3>Paragraph 6</h3>
The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan, which could reach $300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The definitive implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers, and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.
This paragraph, the senior administration official pointed out, is probably one of the most controversial paragraphs in the deal. 
“Note that it doesn&#8217;t require us to do anything,” the official said. “Number one, to ever pay a cent of money to the Iranians, to ever contribute money to this reconstruction fund. What it says is that if we get to a final deal and if the Iranians behave, we will permit the sanctions relief that would allow, for example, the Emiratis to build a power plant in Iran.”
“That&#8217;s all it says,” he emphasized. “If they do what they have to do, we will permit the investment in the reconstruction of their country, which of course, if they do what they say they&#8217;re going to do and they change their behaviors as a country, that would be great for everybody.”
<h3>Paragraph 7</h3>
The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against Islamic Republic of Iran, including United Nations Security Council resolutions, i.e., IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed-upon schedule as part of the final deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.
<h3>Paragraph 8</h3>
The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpile enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph seven with a minimum methodology to be downblending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. 
The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran&#8217;s nuclear needs based on a satisfactory framework to be agreed upon in the final deal. Final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.
On this point, the senior administration official emphasized that while the Iranian media has claimed that there will be no mention of nuclear issues in this MOU, the agreement doesn’t just say that they will discuss the nuclear question.
“It sets a minimum standard where at a minimum, the enriched stockpile will be destroyed by downblending,” the official explained. “Of course, that&#8217;s the floor, and we will push for more than that, but the fact that they&#8217;re conceding to that is a major, major win for the United States of America. They&#8217;re saying, &#8216;We will destroy the enriched stockpile and this is how we&#8217;re going to do it, at a minimum.&#8217;” 
Points seven and eight play off one another, the senior administration official said. 
“So when I see the media saying that they&#8217;re going to get all their sanctions relief, the sanctions relief in seven is tied to the nuclear settlement in eight, and in fact, we use the exact same language to finalize both of those paragraphs,” the official explained. “We&#8217;re saying the sanctions relief and the nuclear issues are connected, and to the extent that you perform on the nuclear questions, you&#8217;ll get the sanctions relief.”
<h3>Paragraph 9</h3>
In the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region.
<h3>Paragraph 10</h3>
The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MOU and until the determination of sanctions, US Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and derivatives, and all associated services including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc.
The senior administration official here pointed out that when the U.S. was sanctioning Iranian oil, the U.S. was actually giving China a “massive discount on the purchases of petroleum.”
“Regardless of whether we had had efficacy, regardless of whether we lift a single other sanction, the President of the United States and the entire team agreed that it&#8217;s absurd to sanction Iranian oil in such a way that they are still allowed to sell that oil, we just give China a big fat discount. We stop that process, and of course, it&#8217;s part of the broader agreement.”
<h3>Paragraph 11</h3>
The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation of this MOU. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during the negotiations. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred, shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designed by the Central Bank—excuse me—ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly.
Iran will get access to the restricted funds and assets upon the implementation of this MOU, the senior administration official explained. 
“So assuming we reach the agreement and implement the terms of this MOU, assuming we get to a final deal, then they will have access to these assets,” that official noted. “And indeed, what we&#8217;ve contemplated is that if they engage in good behavior, for example, they give us the nuclear dust while we&#8217;re engaged in this final negotiation, then we will release some frozen assets in response to that.” 
The official emphasized a point that he believes will be misreported. 
“What Iran wanted was restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the signing of this MOU,” the senior administration official said. “And what they eventually conceded is that they wouldn&#8217;t get any money unless they perform good behavior, even though of course it&#8217;s their own money, just in frozen assets, which is why we structured it the way that we do. If they implement the MOU, they then get access to some of their frozen assets.” 
<h3>Paragraph 12</h3>
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MOU and the future compliance of the final deal.
<h3>Paragraph 13</h3>
After signing this MOU and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 of this MOU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.
<h3>Paragraph 14</h3>
The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UN Security Council resolution and then there&#8217;s the signature page and that is it.

Read Exactly What The White House Says Is In The Deal With Iran

Donald Trump

Congressional Republicans are exploring whether a budget reconciliation bill could be used to drive out &#8220;wokeness&#8221; in higher education and overhaul the accreditation system that determines whether colleges and universities can access billions of dollars in federal student aid. 
The effort was discussed on Thursday during a panel hosted by Defending Education. This conservative, grassroots organization argues that accrediting agencies have become vehicles for pushing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and other leftist priorities onto schools.
Accreditation is a little-understood but powerful process that determines whether colleges and universities can access billions of dollars in federal student aid. Defending Education argues that some accrediting agencies have abused their authority by becoming ideological enforcers pushing requirements unrelated to educational quality. 
The group pointed to the American Bar Association’s law school accreditation agency as one example. Defending Education said the ABA pushes anti-bias training mandates that universities must adopt to secure accreditation for their law schools.
Republicans are now discussing whether changes to the accreditation system could be included in a budget reconciliation package, which can pass the Senate with a simple majority and avoid a Democrat filibuster. 
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), a leading advocate for accreditation reform, argued Thursday that the current system advances a left-wing agenda that undermines Western civilization. 
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) echoed that criticism, saying, “They use forces like this [accreditation] to jam their beliefs on us. There shouldn’t be left-captured monopolies that get to decide what we believe and what we do.”
The panel also featured current and former law students who argued that ideological pressure extends beyond accrediting agencies and into the classroom. 
Edward Goul, a second-year law student at the University of Pennsylvania, told the panel that only one right-leaning professor currently serves on the law school&#8217;s faculty. He added that many conservative students choose not to disclose their political views out of concern that doing so could hurt their chances of receiving recommendations for clerkships, law review positions, and other opportunities critical to their legal careers.
The other student, a recent University of Virginia law graduate who asked not to be identified, told The Daily Wire that some professors appear to factor students&#8217; political views into classroom interactions and grading. 
&nbsp;

Harvard University

Republicans See New Path To Challenge ‘Woke’ Universities

Education

Reconciliation

Republicans

More than 50 kids and teens are facing criminal charges after a massive opening-day brawl at Hersheypark, a Pennsylvania amusement park, that sent terrified families scrambling for cover and forced the shutdown of at least one ride.
The Derry Township Police Department <a href="https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/dauphin/derry-twp-pd/3742/post/investigation-conclusion-hersheypark-disorderly-patrons-investigation?fbclid=IwY2xjawSVuQ9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEesSrN6Ir82tVWOSvYygmoggH4H7GJWD0O2tt4D3z30F4Z0NjmsCa6GoVSvm0_aem_FtDvne_couThkT3bQVPKWA">announced</a> Monday that 55 people, ages 12 to 19, have been identified and charged in connection with the April 3 chaos. The group includes three adults and dozens of juveniles accused of offenses ranging from disorderly conduct and simple assault to aggravated assault, riot, conspiracy, and theft. 
According to witnesses, multiple fights erupted throughout the Pennsylvania amusement park, with some families shielding their children and taking cover under tables in the food court area as dozens of teens exchanged punches.
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— TruthWillCome2.0 (@SandyCee2400) <a href="https://x.com/SandyCee2400/status/2064104456266858671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Video circulating online appears to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DmS-dZB8uq0">show</a> another brawl breaking out near a roller coaster, forcing staffers to temporarily shut down the Skyrush ride.
“These actions caused serious inconvenience to Hersheypark staff and patrons of the park. This caused an emergency stop to the Skyrush ride,” officers said, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/10/us-news/55-kids-teens-charged-in-hersheypark-opening-day-brawl/?dicbo=v2-R9ssdP0">according</a> to the New York Post.
Police said the disturbance began around 6:50 p.m. near the Trailblazer roller coaster, where two groups were involved in a verbal altercation before the confrontation escalated into a larger melee. Police were dispatched to assist security in separating the fighting groups.
But the chaos didn&#8217;t end there.
Authorities said participants later moved to the food court area, where another fight broke out. Witnesses estimated that between 50 and 60 teens were involved. 
Some participants were escorted out of the park through a side gate, but police said they later returned to the main entrance, where another confrontation erupted around 7:30 p.m.
The investigation took around three months as police reviewed extensive video evidence gathered from witnesses, security footage, and social media posts.
Among those charged as adults were Omar Ibrahim, 19, Jerome Ross III, 18, and Quaneek Williams, 18. PennLive <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2026/06/giant-brawl-forced-hersheypark-to-stop-rollercoaster-as-parents-hid-under-tables-police.html">reported</a> that Ibrahim and Ross were charged in connection with the alleged theft of a one-day admittance wristband from a minor. Williams was charged with one felony and four misdemeanors. 
No arrests have been made as of Tuesday night. Preliminary hearings for the three adult defendants are scheduled for July 7. 
Hersheypark said the individuals involved were quickly removed from the property.
“There was an altercation between a group of teenagers in Hersheypark the evening of Friday, April 3,&#8221; the park said in a statement. &#8220;Police responded to assist Park security in swiftly addressing the situation and removing those involved from the Park. As safety is our top priority, Hersheypark has a zero tolerance policy for behavior of this type. Those who do not abide by our policy will no longer be welcome on our property.”
While Hersheypark does not currently enforce a chaperone policy for minors, the park implemented a new photo verification process for same-day re-entry following the opening-day disruption. 
Under the policy, guests who leave the park and later return must have their photo verified against an image taken during their initial exit.
“This process helps ensure that admission is used only by the original ticket holder for same-day re-entry,” a park spokesperson said.

Hershey Park Entertainment Complex

More Than 50 Youths Charged Over Massive Brawl At ‘The Sweetest Place On Earth’

Crime

Fight

Pennsylvania

Teenagers

The man accused of brutally murdering a young Ukrainian refugee won&#8217;t face trial anytime soon, after a federal judge ruled that he&#8217;s <a href="https://www.wral.com/news/local/decarlos-brown-mental-competency-trial-june-2026/">too mentally unfit</a> to stand in a courtroom.
DeCarlos Brown Jr., 34, was found incompetent to stand trial Tuesday for the August 22, 2025, murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old who fled Russian bombs only to be stabbed from behind while listening to music on Charlotte&#8217;s Blue Line light rail.
She never saw it coming.
Zarutska — a college-educated artist, aspiring veterinary assistant, and devoted daughter — had <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/09/us/decarlos-brown-jr-charlotte-train-stabbing">survived</a> two years of war and built a quiet, hopeful life in North Carolina. She walked neighbors&#8217; dogs, studied English, and worked at a pizzeria. She was thriving. Then Brown allegedly plunged a pocketknife into her neck and walked away, blood dripping from the blade.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell ruled Brown cannot understand the charges against him and is unable to assist his own defense. Brown&#8217;s behavior in court on Tuesday did little to dispute the claim — he repeatedly interrupted proceedings with unhinged outbursts. His team filed a motion saying he “experiences delusions that center around his belief that he was exposed to a material that controls his every movement.&#8221;
Brown will be hospitalized for up to four months. If doctors restore his competency, he&#8217;ll finally face trial — and potentially the death penalty.
This is exactly the kind of case that makes ordinary Americans furious with the insanity defense.
Brown has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fatal-charlotte-stabbing-highlights-the-failure-of-racial-equity-policies">14 prior arrests</a>. He did five years for armed robbery. Law enforcement knew he was unwell — he called 911 claiming a government implant was controlling his body, and officers sent him home with a misdemeanor. His family begged for help. The system shrugged.
Now, after an innocent woman is murdered in cold blood — on camera, in front of passengers — the legal machinery grinds to a halt over whether the accused killer truly understood what he was doing. Experts will battle over his mental state ten months after the fact. A jury may never hear the case.
Critics of the insanity defense have long warned of exactly this: dangerous individuals cycling through a system that prioritizes their diagnosis over their victims&#8217; deaths. Four states have abolished the defense entirely for this reason.
Zarutska&#8217;s family is holding firm: &#8220;We have confidence his capacity will be restored so he can stand trial for what he did to Iryna.&#8221;
So does prosecutor Russ Ferguson. &#8220;Our number one goal is justice for Iryna Zarutska,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That&#8217;s what&#8217;s on our minds and our hearts every day.&#8221;
She deserves nothing less.

Memorial of the 23 years old Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte

Iryna Zarutska’s Accused Killer Won’t Be Going To Trial Anytime Soon

Courts

Criminal Justice

Insanity

Iryna Zarutska

Murder

North Carolina

A New York man was fatally shot Monday afternoon after confronting a teenager who was talking loudly on a cell phone aboard a city bus in the Bronx, police said. 
Jonathan Pettigrew, 41, was riding a Bx36 bus around 2:30 p.m. near East Tremont Avenue and White Plains Road when he confronted the teen about the volume of his phone conversation. The teen then pulled a handgun and shot Pettigrew in the abdomen, according to authorities.
First responders rushed Pettigrew to Jacobi Medical Center, where he later died.
Police said the suspect fled the scene and remains at large.
An employee at the nearby Family Mexican Deli told Gothamist that surveillance video appeared to show the gunman fleeing south on White Plains Road. Authorities said the suspect was last seen wearing a white T-shirt.
“ Right now it&#8217;s just hard for me to believe what&#8217;s going on because I&#8217;m really, like, in a state of shock,” Pettigrew’s older brother, Avery Pettigrew, <a href="https://gothamist.com/news/police-seek-suspect-in-killing-of-father-of-7-on-an-mta-bus-in-the-bronx">told</a> Gothamist. 
He said his brother struggled with anxiety and was particularly sensitive to loud noise.
“ He got this anxiety where he, like me, we can&#8217;t be around a lot of noise,” Pettigrew said. “I guess the person that was on the phone was being very disrespectful and loud, and it was bothering him.”
Pettigrew worked in catering and was the father of seven children. He was likely on his way to pick up his youngest daughter from school when he was shot, two of his aunts <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/nyregion/bronx-bus-fatal-shooting.html">told</a> The New York Times.
 “This is his routine: He drops her off at school, he goes to work, he gets off work, he picks her up,” his aunt, Sandra Ferguson, said. “I just can’t believe this.”
“He took real good care of that little girl,” another aunt, Sabrina Vereen, said.

Philadelphia

Dad Of Seven Asked A Teen To Quiet Down. What Happened Next Was Deadly.

bus stop

cell phones

New York

New York City

Shooting

A Navy sailor admitted Monday that he strangled and killed a fellow service member before hiding her body in a suitcase and dumping it in a wooded area near Naval Station Norfolk. The guilty plea is raising questions of why military officials failed to remove him from service despite multiple prior allegations of violence against women.
Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Jeremiah Copeland pleaded guilty during a military court-martial to the unpremeditated murder of Petty Officer 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz, a 21-year-old sailor assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams.
&#8220;I killed CS3 Resendiz on May 29, 2025,&#8221; Copeland told the military judge. &#8220;I strangled her with my hands.&#8221;
Under a plea agreement accepted by the court, Copeland also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by strangulation, indecent recording, obstruction of justice, and making a false official statement. He faces a minimum sentence of 40 years and two months in prison, a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. 
According to court proceedings, Resendiz entered Copeland&#8217;s barracks room on May 29, 2025. Copeland admitted the two were drinking alcohol when an argument began after she saw something on his phone. He told the court he strangled her on the floor of the room before hiding her body in a suitcase in his closet. 
Investigators later determined Copeland kept Resendiz&#8217;s body concealed for several days before transporting it to a wooded area roughly ten miles from the base. Her decomposing remains were discovered on June 9, 2025, nearly two weeks after she vanished. 
But even before Resendiz&#8217;s death, Copeland was already facing allegations involving other women. 
Military prosecutors had previously accused Copeland of raping a fellow sailor in November 2024 and sexually assaulting and attempting to strangle another service member months earlier. Court records also show he was facing a separate rape allegation involving a civilian woman in Norfolk just days before Resendiz disappeared.
His history reportedly stretches back even further. Before joining the Navy in 2023, a Washington state judge issued a temporary sexual assault protection order against Copeland involving an underage girl. He was also accused in a separate incident of kissing and groping another underage girl against her will. 
Resendiz&#8217;s mother, Esmeralda Castle, has repeatedly argued that Navy leadership failed to act despite numerous warning signs. 
&#8220;This situation was absolutely preventable,&#8221; Castle said before trial proceedings began.
&#8220;If they would have dealt with him when he started harming women, he would never have gotten to Angie,&#8221; she later told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/navy-sailor-admits-killing-fellow-service-member-mother-questions-missed-warning-signs">Fox News</a>. 
Castle has been among the most vocal critics of the Navy&#8217;s response to her daughter&#8217;s disappearance. Resendiz was last seen on May 29, 2025, but a statewide missing-person alert was not issued until five days later after military officials initially classified her as absent without leave.
The delay sparked criticism from family members and comparisons to the case of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen, whose <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/vanessa-guillen-fort-hood.html">murder</a> prompted sweeping reforms throughout the military regarding sexual harassment and assault investigations.
Friends and family described Resendiz as a bright and ambitious young sailor who hoped to build a career in military culinary arts. According to her mother, Resendiz aimed to one day join the Navy&#8217;s elite culinary competition team and cook for world leaders.
Following Monday&#8217;s plea hearing, Castle met privately with Copeland. 
&#8220;I thanked him for telling the truth,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2026-06-08/sailor-pleads-guilty-death-angelina-resendiz-21906865.html?mc_cid=9ce47e81e4&amp;mc_eid=4c1d7240e1">said</a>. 
While Castle said hearing Copeland finally admit responsibility brought her &#8220;peace of mind,&#8221; she remains convinced the tragedy should never have happened. 
&#8220;We have statutes, and we have policies, and we have procedures that were implemented by Congress to protect service members from this type of violence,&#8221; Castle said. &#8220;And nothing&#8217;s changed.&#8221;
The military judge is expected to formally impose a sentence under the terms of the plea agreement following the conclusion of court-martial proceedings.

Volunteers place carnations at each grave at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in preparation of Memorial Day.

Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty To Murdering Fellow Service Member

Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty To Murder After Facing Multiple Rape Allegations

Military

U.S. Navy

US Navy

A 70-year-old Massachusetts man was charged with attempted murder after a heated dispute over water access at a local beach turned violent, according to authorities. 
Steven Dana was arrested after police responded to a call about a fight. Authorities say Dana assaulted 21-year-old Matt Duffy during a confrontation at Sandy Beach in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Prosecutors say Dana forced Duffy underwater and held him there during the altercation, leading to the attempted murder charge.
Police said the dispute stemmed from Duffy and his friends using Lake Maspenock. Duffy <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/hopkinton-ma-sandy-beach-fight-attempted-murder/">told CBS News Boston</a> that Dana, who appeared to live near the water, became increasingly irritated by the group riding a jet ski.
Dramatic video obtained by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJmF2NvezBM">Boston 25 News</a> shows the confrontation escalating near the edge of the water.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
GRAPHIC VIDEO WARNING: A violent confrontation at a Hopkinton beach was caught on camera and is now drawing serious concern after police say a dispute over &#8220;resident-only&#8221; access escalated into an attempted murder case. <a href="https://t.co/3KrCIbmVtb">pic.twitter.com/3KrCIbmVtb</a>
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) <a href="https://x.com/boston25/status/2062884844900688184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
“Time to go. You live there and listen to you doing it all day long and see how you like it,” Dana told Duffy. 
“Woopdy doo,” Duffy replied. “You bought a house on the lake. Deal with it. I’m following the rules of the lake.” 
Dana repeatedly told Duffy to take this boat elsewhere. The young men refused and appeared to taunt the 70-year-old. 
As Dana threatened to call the police, one of the young men mocked the idea.
“You want me to shoot you?” Dana asked him.
“Alright, shoot me then,” Duffy said back. 
Dana then walked down to the beach and stood face-to-face with Duffy. 
“Use that big mouth of yours,” Dana said before slapping Duffy in his face. 
The two tussled to the ground. Video appears to show Dana forcing Duffy into the water during the altercation. 
“He tackled me into the water, then we were fighting, and then he shoved my head under and was not letting me breathe until my friend came up and pulled him off me,&#8221; Duffy told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/hopkinton-ma-sandy-beach-fight-attempted-murder/">CBS News Boston.</a> &#8220;I just knew I couldn&#8217;t use either of my arms or my leg as they were both broken, and it was just praying that he let go or my friends pull him off of me.”
The 21-year-old said he had been using crutches because he was involved in a severe motorcycle accident months before, according to CBS News. 
Authorities charged Dana with attempted murder, strangulation/suffocation, and assault and battery on a disabled person. 
Dana was freed on Friday on $7,500 bail. He is due back in court on July 13.

Cruise ship on the ocean. Luxury liner at sea. Miami Beach with cruise ship. Sea water and cruise liner. Tourist cruise ship near coast. Ocean waves and vessel boat. Summer dream vacation. Boat trip.

WATCH: Man Accused Of Trying To Drown 21-Year-Old Over Beach Dispute

Massachusetts

News

Thank God For Country Music. That’s what Lakelin Lemmings is saying as she heads into her second CMA Fest, the Country Music Association&#8217;s annual festival in Nashville, this week, just up the road from where the 20-year-old grew up with a guitar in her hand.
The West Tennessee native’s ties to country music began the day she was born. Her father toured in a band, and when Lakelin wanted to get involved in the music industry, he knew just who to call.
Ash Bowers, the lead singer of her father&#8217;s band, had already established himself as a hit songwriter, securing cuts with Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Dustin Lynch, before getting into the management side.
Bowers, who is now the executive vice president for Quartz Hill Music Group, signed Lemmings at 19 years old, making her the record label’s youngest artist.
Since signing her deal, Lemmings has released a flurry of songs, with her single &#8220;Get Around Boy&#8221; landing on a prestigious list as a &#8220;Top 5 Most Added&#8221; song in April.
&#8220;I just want to make good music that if you&#8217;re six years old, you can listen to, if you&#8217;re 90 years old, you can listen to it,&#8221; Lemmings told The Daily Wire.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been called to do this. I just felt like it&#8217;s only right that I mention the guy that got me here,&#8221; she said.
The artist draws on her faith, penning the song &#8220;Life of Mine,&#8221; which echoes the melody of the beloved hymn &#8220;This Little Light of Mine.&#8221;
&#8220;My faith is super important to me,&#8221; Lemmings said. &#8220;And not only was this like a dream of mine as a child &#8230; growing up, but I remember I felt the calling by God to pursue this.&#8221;
&#8220;There [are] so [many] drinking songs and cheating songs and all this kind of stuff, and some of them are great, but I feel like there was a need for just positive, good country music.&#8221;
She&#8217;s putting an album out this summer, and you can expect her southern roots to shine through on tracks like &#8220;American Dreamin,&#8221; which drops later this June, focusing on the things that shaped her in her small Tennessee town: family, faith, and the obvious… country music.
&#8220;It kind of leans a little bit faith-based, but I like to say that I&#8217;m not a country Christian artist, I&#8217;m just a country artist that&#8217;s Christian,&#8221; Lemmings said.
As she’s already started making her CMA Fest rounds, which Lemmings says is surreal, knowing she’s playing at the premier Nashville country fest she’s grown up coming to since she was a little girl.
&#8220;Going to the free things like the Riverfront Stage, and then in 2023 to have actually saved up some money to go to Nissan Stadium to see it, which was super fun … but as an artist, CMA Fest means a lot just because it&#8217;s a way to connect with fans.&#8221;
Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley are just a couple of big names in country music who, not too long ago, were playing a small stage for an even smaller number of fans. Lemmings is aware of their rapid trajectory and is prepared to work hard to headline CMA Fest one day, too.
&#8220;I think for me that goes to show that I need to buckle up because it can happen quicker than you think,&#8221; she said.
Lemmings self-titled album drops in July.

Credit: Noah Johnson

‘I Felt The Calling By God To Pursue This’: Lakelin Lemmings On Faith And Country Music

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