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Strongman Trump's 'Forever Wars' All Come Back to Jeffrey Epstein

(Dadily Beast) This man who literally wraps himself in the flag and who, along with his aides, regularly touts their love of the military, views the entire massive U.S. defense apparatus as a prop, a personal plaything, an entity that exists not to defend the country, but rather to defend the president himself. Whatever the cost. Whatever the lasting damage done. It doesn’t matter as long as people do not find out any more of the dark truth about who Donald Trump is, what he has done in his past, and why our worst fears about him may not go far enough in detailing his depravity and contempt for the law and human decency.

Dulcinea

Here's how much the Iran war cost -- and how its effects will linger

(NPR) As conflicts go, the Iran war, should a loose framework and ceasefire deal hold, was relatively short in duration. But its costs and aftereffects will likely linger for years. The months-long conflict, which pitted the world's most powerful military against a far weaker, yet strategically adept, adversary cost the lives of 13 U.S. service members and more than 3,300 Iranians, according to state media. Another 3,826 have been killed in Lebanon, nearly 60 in Israel and dozens across Gulf states, according to authorities in those countries.

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

Trump blows up spy bill after Senate Republicans say 'no' to voter ID legislation

(Reuters) President Donald Trump's derailment of a U.S. Senate plan to pass a key national security bill this week is only the latest example of a growing rift with Senate Republicans, who are more willing to defy the commander-in-chief in the run-up to the November midterm elections. Aiming to protect his controversial choice of loyalist Bill ‌Pulte as acting U.S. spy chief, Trump forced the Senate Intelligence Committee to postpone a confirmation hearing for U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, his permanent nominee for director of national security, who ‌Republicans had hoped to fast-track into the job.

Swede

Yesterday Trump praised Russia for helping his "deal" with Iran. Today Hegseth lashes out at NATO.

(CNN) US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down on the Trump administration’s combative posture towards NATO on Thursday, announcing a six-month review of US forces in Europe and lambasting Washington’s allies for limiting their involvement in the war in Iran. “This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly towards Europe stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe,” he said at a meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers in Brussels.

KS Toronado

Thursday's Condensed News Cartoons

WiseElder

GOP senator: Trump Iran deal 'tremendous foreign policy blunder'

(The Hill) Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.) on Wednesday slammed the deal between the Trump administration and Iran, two days before the two sides are set to sign it. “The details that I’ve seen so far look … awful. This will go down as a tremendous foreign policy blunder,” Cassidy told Nexstar’s Reshad Hudson on Capitol Hill.

BumRushDaShow

Warsh Fed holds rates steady. Trump says 'It's all right. Whatever.'

(Reuters) President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed confidence in Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh after the new central bank chief concluded his first rate-setting meeting with a decision to leave interest rates unchanged and published projections that showed nearly ‌half of U.S. central bankers feel a rate hike will be needed this year. "It's all right. Whatever," Trump said in France, when asked what he felt about the Fed's decision to hold interest rates steady. Trump had repeatedly railed at Warsh's predecessor, Jerome Powell, calling him a moron and a knucklehead, among many other names, for not cutting rates.

dalton99a

Billionaire Tax Officially Has Enough Signatures for California Ballot

(NY Times) A proposal to tax the wealth of billionaires in California has officially gathered enough signatures to appear on the November ballot, state officials announced on Wednesday. It isn’t yet certain that the tax initiative will actually be voted on, however. Several prominent Californians, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have vowed to defeat the measure, and they could strike a last-minute deal to remove it from voter consideration. Proponents have until June 25 to decide if they want to proceed with placing it on the ballot.

ProudMNDemocrat

Lawrence O'Donnell: "An American Surrender"

BumRushDaShow

Biden, Bush, Clinton slated to attend Obama presidential center opening

(The Hill) Former Presidents Biden, Clinton and Bush are set to attend the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, according to a new report. The Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday that the three presidents intend to be at a ceremony to commemorate the center’s opening, a source familiar with the event told the outlet. Former first ladies Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Jill Biden will also be in attendance, per the Sun-Times.

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Trump administration ditches plan to close a critical ocean monitoring system after furious bipartisan backlash

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Exclusive: Conservatives plan nationwide protest against AI data centers

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Trump administration quietly shifts $352m in federal funds for White House ballroom

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Sen. Slotkin to introduce bill to bar presidents from sending troops or armed feds to polling places

1 hr ago - June 18, 2026, 10:34 AM EDT Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., plans to introduce a bill Thursday that would ban the president from sending armed military or federal agents to polling sites during American elections. The legislation, Slotkin said in a st ... (NBC News)

Slavery exhibits at President's House can be replaced by Trump administration, Third Circuit rules

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Taiwan needs US weapons for self-defense as threat from China grows, diplomat tells AP

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California billionaire tax proposal is slated to qualify for the November ballot

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Putin and leaders of Southeast Asia agree to bolster ties at a summit in Russia

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IRS Panel Recommends Major Reforms To Modernize Tax For Millions: Full List

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Supreme Court limits power of federal government to disarm drug users

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Trump bid to fire Fed's Lisa Cook cost her more than $1M in legal, security costs: Filing

5 hrs ago - Published Thu, Jun 18 2026 9:49 AM EDT Updated 4 Min Ago Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook incurred more than $1.3 million in legal and security expenses following President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire her in August from the Fed’s board ... (CNBC)

Fifa plays down reports that ticketless fans breached security at England World Cup game

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Trump's prison director fires back at outrage over luxury treatment of Epstein lackey

5 hrs ago - June 18, 2026 7:22AM ET President Donald Trump's director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons is firing back after a Democratic lawmaker accused the administration of giving luxury treatment to Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell, who a ... (Raw Story)

Florida Fliers Rage Against Trump International Airport

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Senate Republicans in no hurry to deliver Trump's next reconciliation bill

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Waymo recalls nearly 4,000 robotaxis to stop them driving into highway construction zones

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A city's push for facial recognition on public buses ignites debate over security and privacy

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Biden, Bush, Clinton slated to attend Obama presidential center opening

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Strait of Hormuz reopening may take weeks to ease shipping backlog and oil pressure

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Six Nebraska women legislators say federal rideshare safety proposal could jeopardize safety (trigger warning)

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