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Hegseth and Caine Applaud Iran Strike, Slam Leaks

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine called the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear site a historic win—12 bunker-busting bombs, all direct hits, ending a 12-day war. They praised the precision and years of planning behind “Operation Midnight Hammer,” but left the intel details to the CIA. Hegseth slammed rumors the strike barely slowed Iran’s program, calling it political spin.

The Center Square reports:

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine touted the United States’ early success against Iranian nuclear sites in a news conference.

“President Trump directed the most complex and secretive military operation in history, and it was a resounding success, resulting in a ceasefire agreement and the end of the 12-day war,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth and Caine celebrated the strikes, but referred assessments of the damage to Iran’s nuclear site to the intelligence community, including the CIA.

“What the United States military did was historic,” Hegseth said.

Caine said the strike against Iran with 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs included 15 years of intelligence assessments on Fordow, Iran’s nuclear site, and many tests of the bomb. He said the United States developed the bombs with Iran’s nuclear facilities in mind.

“Operation Midnight Hammer was the culmination of those 15 years of incredible work, the air crews, the tanker crews, the weapons crews that built the weapons, the load crews that loaded it,” Caine said.

Caine said the military targeted two ventilation shafts in Iran’s Fordow nuclear site. He said Iranians tried to cover the ventilation shafts with concrete caps.

“The cap was forcibly removed by the first weapon, and the main shaft was uncovered,” Caine said.

Caine said the next five bombs were meant to go through the opened shaft and explode the main complex at 1,000 feet per second. Another six hit the other shaft.

“The weapons functioned as designed, meaning they exploded,” Caine said.

B-2 bombers dropped 12 “bunker buster” at Iran’s nuclear site. The bombs weigh as much as a semi-truck and can penetrate up to 200 feet underground.

The U.S. military spent about $400 million to design and produce 20 such bombs for the U.S. Air Force. The 30,000-pound bomb is called GBU-57, or Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or for short, simply MOP. MOP was designed to “attack hard and deeply-buried facilities.”

All 12 MOPs hit their targets, Caine said.

“Unlike a normal surface bomb, you won’t see an impact crater because they’re designed to deeply bury and then function,” he said. “All six weapons at each vent at Fordow went exactly where they were intended to go.”

Caine warned adversary nations that the United States is working on the same kinds of operations against targets in other countries.

“Our adversaries around the world should know that there are other [Defense Threat Reduction Agency members] out there studying targets for the same amount of time, and will continue to do so,” Caine said.

While Caine and Hegseth lauded the operation, they declined to offer specifics on the damage assessment, referring it to CIA reports.

“The Joint Force does not do [Battle Damage Assessments],” Caine said. “By design, we don’t grade our own homework, the intelligence community does.”

Hegseth and Caine declined to comment on reports that uranium was moved from Iran’s nuclear site before the United States attacked.

“There’s nothing that I’ve seen that suggests we didn’t hit exactly what we wanted to hit in those locations,” Hegseth said.

He said leaked intelligence that the operation only set Iran’s nuclear program back by two months was motivated by “political purposes.”

“Someone had an agenda to try to muddy the waters and make it look like this strike wasn’t successful,” Hegseth said.

Reporters asked about satellite imagery showing trucks moving material, possible enriched uranium out of Fordow before the attacks. Hegseth said he had no credible information to support that assessment.

President Donald Trump said the imagery showed work related to the recently constructed concrete caps Iranians put over the ventilation shafts.

“The cars and small trucks at the site were those of concrete workers trying to cover up the top of the shafts,” Trump wrote in a social media post. “Nothing was taken out of facility. Would take too long, too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!”

House Budget Panel Probes Fraud and Welfare Abuse

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The House Budget Committee came in hot, tackling fraud, waste, and abuse in entitlement programs. Chairman Jodey Arrington said the goal is restoring dignity to work—not funding freeloaders. Experts warned Medicaid is bloated with loopholes, improper payments, and “money-laundering tactics.” Witnesses said real reform isn’t optional—it’s a moral must.

Lawmakers say the truly needy should come first, not scammers and able-bodied adults dodging work while taxpayers pick up the tab.

The Center Square reports:

The House Budget Committee looked at ways to change entitlement programs during a hearing Wednesday.

Chairman Jodey Arrington and other lawmakers addressed concerns over government spending, entitlement program abuse, and other policies that they say threaten both the economy and dignity of American workers.

“Through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the House has advanced reforms to restore accountability and ensure our entitlement programs actually serve the vulnerable, not schemers,” Arrington said in his opening statement.

The hearing was titled: “Reversing the Curse: Rooting Out Waste and Fraud and Restoring the Dignity of Our Work.”

Brian Blase, president of Paragon Health Institute; Matthew Dickerson, xirector of budget policy at the Economic Policy Innovation Center; and Nick Stehle, of the the Foundation for Government Accountability testified.

They focused on the way improper payments, loopholes, and weak oversight increased government spending across programs like Medicaid.

“Federal Medicaid spending increased dramatically during the Biden administration – a result of policies that prioritized enrollment over eligibility, exacerbated state Medicaid money-laundering tactics, and produced excessive state payments to providers and insurers given states’ ability to disproportionately spend with federal money,” Blase said.

According to Stehle, “Medicaid reform is not a choice. It is a moral and fiscal imperative.”

“Choosing not to act is relegating the program to putting the truly needy last and fraudsters, illegal aliens, and able-bodied adults who sit at home first – all while taxpayers foot the bill for an ever-growing program,” he added.

Dickerson raised concerns about waste and improper payments in other programs like food assistance and unemployment insurance.

“In recent decades, enrollment has expanded significantly, benefit levels have grown faster than inflation, and taxpayer spending has surged,” he said.

Dickerson also talked about the importance of work in American society.

“It can instill ethics of integrity, honesty, respect, empathy, and accountability,” he said. “Work requires effort that is essential to earned success.”

Feds: CA Violated Title IX by Allowing Males in Female Sports

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The U.S. Department of Education just called out California for violating Title IX by letting biological males into girls’ sports and private spaces. The feds say this denies girls equal opportunities and demands the state reverse course—fast.

The resolution requires schools to stick to biology-based definitions, restore stolen titles to female athletes, and send apology letters. If California doesn’t comply in 10 days? DOJ enforcement is on deck. Looks like Title IX Month just got real.

The Center Square reports:

The U.S. Department of Education said Wednesday that both the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation are in violation of Title IX for allowing males into female spaces and sports.

“Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires schools to ensure equal opportunities for girls, including in athletic activities, but California has actively prevented this equality of opportunity by allowing males in girls’ sports and intimate spaces,” a U.S. Department of Education news release said.

Neither the California Department of Education (CDE) nor the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) responded to The Center Square’s request for comment.

The U.S. Department of Education’s findings follow investigations into both CDE and CIF, according to the department’s release.

“As a result of the noncompliance finding, [the Office of Civil Rights] has issued a proposed Resolution Agreement to CDE and CIF to resolve their Title IX violations,” the release said.

The Resolution Agreement requires a number of actions, including that “the CDE will issue a Notice to all recipients of federal funding (Recipients) that operate interscholastic athletic programs in California requiring them to comply with Title IX.”

Such federal funding recipients “must adopt biology-based definitions of the words ‘male’ and ‘female,’” the release said.

Additionally, the resolution states that, “the CDE and CIF will rescind any guidance that advised local school districts or CIF members to permit male athletes to participate in women’s and girls’ sports to reflect that Title IX preempts state law when state law conflicts with Title IX.”

“Individual records, titles, and awards misappropriated by male athletes competing in female competitions” must be restored to the female athletes who are the rightful winners. CDE must also send an apology letter to each of these girls whose recognition is restored, the release said.

If CDE and CIF do not change their unlawful practices in regards to Title IX as outlined in the Resolution within 10 days, they will both “risk imminent enforcement action, including referral to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for proceedings,” the release said.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in the release: “Although Governor Gavin Newsom admitted months ago it was ‘deeply unfair’ to allow men to compete in women’s sports, both the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation continued as recently as a few weeks ago to allow men to steal female athletes’ well-deserved accolades and to subject them to the indignity of unfair and unsafe competitions.”

“The Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law,” McMahon said.

“The state must swiftly come into compliance with Title IX or face the consequences that follow,” McMahon said.

The Department of Education has not yet responded to The Center Square’s request for comment.

The finding of this Title IX violation also falls into line with the department announcement that June is “Title IX Month,” as reported by The Center Square.

iPhones for India? Trump Asks ‘How About One for America, Tim?’

President Donald Trump just sent a clear message to Apple CEO Tim Cook: enough with the Made-in-India iPhones—how about some Made-in-USA for once?

According to Bloomberg, Trump had a not-so-friendly chat with Tim Cook recently, and let’s just say he wasn’t thrilled about Apple’s expanding production in India. While visiting Qatar, Trump said, “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. He is building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.”

Mic drop.

Apple’s been shifting iPhone production out of China and into India faster than liberals shifting blame. It’s all part of the company’s grand strategy to dodge tariffs and geopolitical headaches. Right now, nearly all iPhones are made in China, and not a single one is built on U.S. soil. That’s right—zero. Nada. Zilch.

But after Trump’s chat with Cook, it sounds like things might be changing. Trump claimed Apple will now be “upping their production in the United States.” And while that sounds great, the truth is, bringing iPhone manufacturing to America won’t be a walk in the park.

Thanks to years of cozying up to China, Apple’s supply chain is practically superglued there. And now that India is the rebound country, the U.S. is like the ex trying to get a second chance.

Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint, basically confirmed the struggle, saying, “He wants to push Apple to localize more and build a supply chain in the U.S., which is not going to happen overnight. Making in the U.S. will also be much more expensive than assembling iPhones in India.”

Translation: Tim Cook’s going to need more than a Trump tweet to turn this ship around.

Still, Trump isn’t being totally inflexible. He said, “You can build in India if you want, to take care of India.” In other words—if you’re selling to India, fine. But don’t forget who made Apple great again: American consumers.

Trump also took time to bring up tariff talks with India. He noted that the country, which has one of the highest import tax rates in the world, is finally willing to play ball. India reportedly offered to cut those insane tariffs that make it nearly impossible to sell U.S. goods over there. Finally.

Meanwhile, Apple’s Indian production is booming. In just the last year, the company assembled $22 billion worth of iPhones in India—a 60% jump from the year before. Foxconn and Tata Group are leading the charge, cranking out iPhones like hotcakes in southern India.

But here’s the bottom line: Trump isn’t buying the globalism spin. He wants American tech made by American hands. And for a guy who ran on “America First,” he’s making it crystal clear—Apple better start showing up for the home team.

MSNBC Legal Analyst Admits Trump Might Be Right About Birthright Citizenship

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Well, would you look at that? Even the folks over at MSNBC are starting to admit that President Trump’s take on birthright citizenship might just hold water.

On Thursday’s episode of “Morning Joe,” former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg—who’s definitely no MAGA hat wearer—dropped a truth bomb that probably made the MSNBC staff sweat through their soy lattes: Trump’s executive order challenging birthright citizenship could actually prevail at the Supreme Court.

That’s right. The case hit the high court Thursday, with justices hearing arguments on Trump’s move to block automatic citizenship for children born on U.S. soil to illegal immigrants. And while the left usually screams “settled law!” anytime someone mentions the Constitution, Rosenberg admitted that the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment might not be as rock solid as they’d like you to think.

He explained, “1898 — when the Supreme Court decided a case [United States v.] Wong Kim Ark, and in Wong Kim Ark, this gentleman was the child of a permanent resident, people of Chinese descent. And the Supreme Court said based on the reading of the 14th Amendment passed just 30 years earlier, 1868, he was subject to the jurisdiction of the United States by being born in this country to those parents. So, the 14th Amendment goes back to 1868. Supreme Court precedent goes back to 1898. And that’s been our understanding ever since.”

Okay, sure. But then came the kicker:

“Could it change? It could change,” Rosenberg added. “Might President Trump be proved right? He might be proved right. But it is absolutely distinctly the minority view.”

Translation: Trump might be right, but we’re gonna cling to that “minority view” excuse like it’s the last Starbucks straw in California.

Let’s be honest—President Trump has been calling out the abuse of birthright citizenship for years. And now, even left-leaning legal minds are admitting the Supreme Court could side with him. That’s a pretty big deal.

So while the media does its best to downplay it, don’t be surprised if this case shakes things up—and proves once again that Trump isn’t just shooting from the hip. He might actually be hitting the Constitution dead center.

Noem Torches Dems for Felony Stunt at ICE Facility: ‘They Don’t Deserve to Be in the House’

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called out three New Jersey Democrats for what she calls a full-blown felony fest—not an “oversight visit”—at an ICE detention facility in Newark. And let’s be real: this wasn’t a surprise check-in. This was political theater with a side of lawbreaking.

“These lawmakers didn’t just cross a line—they plowed through it like a bulldozer,” Noem told Fox News. “This wasn’t oversight. This was committing felonies. This was going out and attacking people who stand up for the rule of law. And it was absolutely horrible.”

The lawmakers in question? Rep. Rob Menendez Jr., Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Rep. LaMonica McIver—all Democrats from New Jersey who apparently think the rules don’t apply to them. According to Noem, their behavior wasn’t just reckless—it was dangerous.

“I can’t believe they act like this and then they defend it,” she said, clearly baffled that elected officials would pull a stunt like this and then try to justify it with a straight face.

During a congressional hearing, Noem laid out the chaos: at Delaney Hall Detention Center last Friday, the three reps showed up with a mob of protesters, stormed the security gate, and barged into the facility like it was a TikTok prank gone way too far.

“As a vehicle approached the security gate at Delaney Hall Detention Center, a mob of protestors — including three members of Congress — stormed the gate, and they trespassed into the detention facility,” Noem testified.

And it didn’t stop there. She said there’s actual footage of the lawmakers physically assaulting officers. Yes, you read that right—members of Congress allegedly throwing fists at law enforcement.

“We have footage of those members of Congress slamming their bodies into our law enforcement officers, shoving them, screaming profanities in their faces, striking them with their fists, and otherwise assaulting law enforcement,” she continued.

If that doesn’t scream “lawlessness,” what does?

“The behavior was lawlessness,” she said. “Members of Congress should not break into detention centers or federal facilities.”

Exactly. There are protocols, people. You don’t just bust down the doors of a federal facility like it’s Black Friday at Best Buy. Noem pointed out that if they had just asked for a proper tour like every other responsible adult in Congress, they would’ve gotten one.

“Had these members requested a tour,” she noted, “it would have been facilitated.” She reminded the committee that visits happen “all of the time,” and these representatives know the rules—they just chose to ignore them.

And let’s not forget: this wasn’t a yoga retreat. Noem emphasized that the detainees at this facility include “murderers, rapists, known terrorists, MS-13 gang members, drug traffickers, and other heinous actors.”

So, yeah—maybe not the best place to turn into your personal protest runway.

“I hope that the rest of the members of the House of Representatives will hold them accountable,” Noem said Tuesday. And accountability, in her book, means taking away their committee seats. Especially since one of them, McIver, is literally tasked with overseeing ICE—not assaulting them.

“They shouldn’t be allowed to be on the committees that they’re on — in fact, one of them [McIver] is supposed to be conducting oversight over ICE and instead she’s assaulting them,” Noem said. “They don’t deserve to be in the House. They should be censured by it.”

Clinton Melts Down Over Trump’s New Jet — Forgets Her Own Qatar Cash Grab

Hillary Clinton is back at it again—throwing stones from a glass house.

The former Secretary of State and failed 2016 presidential candidate is now criticizing President Donald Trump over reports that he’s accepting a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 from the Qatari royal family to serve as a future Air Force One replacement.

In a dramatic post on X (formerly Twitter), Clinton huffed, “No one gives someone a $400 million dollar jet for free without expecting anything in return.”
She followed up with, “Be serious.”

Bless her heart—Hillary really thinks anyone forgot about the $1 million “gift” her own Clinton Foundation got from Qatar while she was still serving as Secretary of State. But sure, let’s act shocked and outraged now.

The luxury jet, which is expected to be used for presidential travel and eventually transferred to Trump’s presidential library, has sparked a fresh wave of pearl-clutching from Democrats. Nine Senate Democrats are already begging the Pentagon’s inspector general to swoop in and investigate, crying “corruption!” faster than you can say “Russian dossier.”

Even some Republicans are raising eyebrows—not about the gift itself, but about possible national security risks. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) said, “I’m not comfortable accepting it,” and pointed out concerns about surveillance tech and security specs. “We will ask that those be addressed.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) added on CNBC that the plane “poses significant espionage and surveillance problems.”

Fair points—but let’s be real: if Trump even sneezes in the direction of a foreign country, the left screams “treason!” Meanwhile, Hillary and the Obama-era crew were cozying up to global elites and shady donors for years—and the media just yawned.

Let’s also not forget Clinton’s meltdown earlier this year in Berlin, where she accused the Trump administration of supporting autocrats and promoting fear. “We now have a government in the United States that has thrown in its lot with the autocrats,” she told a crowd overseas, claiming they’re siding with warmongers and algorithm tyrants.

That’s rich, coming from someone who helped topple Libya and used a private email server to dodge transparency. But sure, let’s worry about Trump’s plane.

Oh, and in case you missed it, Trump revoked Clinton’s access to classified intel in 2024, saying it was no longer in the “national interest” for her to have clearance. Can’t imagine why…

So now, the woman who lost to Trump, got caught in countless scandals, and accepted foreign money while in office is suddenly clutching her pearls over a jet that Trump won’t even own personally.

Maybe instead of throwing fits on social media, Hillary should take a moment, grab a Bible, and reflect on Luke 6:42“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye?”

Trump Makes Big Deals in Middle East — Schumer Makes Big Scene in D.C.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is back on his soapbox — and this time, he’s accusing President Trump of turning his second-term Middle East tour into a personal shopping spree. Yes, really.

Speaking from the Senate floor on Wednesday, Schumer went full meltdown mode over Trump’s visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — his first major foreign trip since retaking the White House.

“Donald Trump’s trip to Middle East seems less like a presidential visit and more like a personal business venture,” Schumer declared, trying to paint a global peace mission as a cash grab.

The Democratic leader claimed “nobody” has “benefited more [from] Middle East deals than Donald Trump himself,” pointing to a $5.5 billion beachside luxury golf resort deal signed by Trump’s son Eric in Qatar, and investments in a crypto company tied to the Trump family.

“Golf courses by the beach, hotel openings in Dubai, billions in investments toward Trump stablecoins. All of that enriches Donald Trump,” Schumer said, practically foaming at the mouth.

And then came the drama: Schumer brought up the $400 million Boeing 747 Qatar offered to serve as the new Air Force One — and eventually end up at Trump’s presidential library. You’d think Trump asked for a golden throne the way Chuck reacted.

“On this Middle Eastern trip, who exactly is Donald Trump working for — for the American people, or for his own bottom line and the bottom line of companies he brought on the tour?” he asked, as if Trump hadn’t just secured peace talks and billion-dollar jet deals for America.

WATCH:

Let’s pause for a second: when Biden was letting China run circles around us, Schumer had crickets. But Trump goes abroad, strengthens ties, pushes for Israeli peace, and suddenly it’s a scandal? Please.

Schumer didn’t stop there. He took a swipe at Attorney General Pam Bondi, whining about her past work as a Qatar lobbyist, claiming that’s “why this robber-baron deal was allowed to go through, on the Qatar plane.”

If it sounds like Chuck’s grasping for straws, that’s because he is. Trump’s out there shaking hands and cutting deals, and Schumer’s stuck spinning conspiracy theories like a CNN intern on deadline.

He’s so pressed, he’s now threatening to block Trump’s DOJ appointees unless he gets “answers” about the plane — like that’s the burning issue facing America right now.

“Republicans should join us in getting answers or else they can expect this hold on nominees to persist. If this were done by a Democrat, Republicans would all be out here screaming. Republicans know how bad it is. So speak up,” Schumer said.

Let’s get real: if this trip were about personal gain, Trump wouldn’t need to take a tour of the desert to get it. The man is already rich — and unlike half of D.C., he didn’t make his fortune selling out the American people. Meanwhile, Chuck is out here acting like Trump just stole his lunch money.

Bottom line? While Schumer’s playing political theater, Trump’s making moves. And once again, the results speak louder than the outrage.

Trump Lifts Syria Sanctions, Makes Bold Move for Middle East Peace

President Donald Trump isn’t slowing down. On Wednesday, he met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia — a move that shocked the political class and made it clear: Trump plays the long game, and he plays to win.

The big news? Trump announced that the U.S. would lift all sanctions on Syria, a country that’s been battered by over a decade of brutal civil war. That alone sent the usual D.C. elites into a tailspin. But then came the kicker: Trump encouraged Syria’s new leadership to normalize ties with Israel, a longtime enemy of the regime.

According to a White House pool report, Trump told Sharaa: “I told him, ‘I hope you’re going to join when it’s straightened out.’ He said, ‘Yes.’ But they have a lot of work to do.”

That’s classic Trump — cut through the noise, lay it out plain, and get people talking about peace in a region where war has been the norm for generations.

After the meeting, Trump jetted off to Qatar where he helped close a major deal — U.S. defense giant Boeing is selling jets to the Gulf Arab state. America wins again.

But, of course, the media is buzzing about a separate Qatari offer: the possibility of donating a Boeing jet to serve as the official Air Force One. That’d be one of the most valuable gifts ever given to the United States, and it’s already triggered some hand-wringing in Washington from people worried about ethics and “security risks.”

Translation: Trump gets a big win for the American people, and the swamp starts sweating.

Now let’s talk about this Sharaa guy. He’s not just some clean-cut bureaucrat. He came to power leading a group that once pledged allegiance to al Qaeda — a group Washington previously labeled a terrorist organization. That’s not small stuff. But Trump, always the negotiator, saw something worth salvaging.

Photos from Saudi state TV showed Trump and Sharaa shaking hands with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman smiling nearby — three leaders, three nations, one powerful photo-op.

Trump even had some classic commentary, describing Sharaa as “a young, attractive guy with a very strong past.” He added, “He’s got a real shot at holding it together.”

Only Trump could say that with a straight face and mean it — and somehow, make it sound like the Middle East might finally get its act together.

Here’s the truth: While the media obsesses over what might go wrong, Trump is out there actually trying to make things right. He’s moving the pieces on the global chessboard, and once again, America is leading from the front.

Peace through strength. Deals through boldness. And progress, not endless conflict — that’s the Trump Doctrine in action.