Inside Ukraine’s AI-Enabled Drone Campaign Targeting Russian Logistics Deep Behind The Lines
An officer assigned to the "mid-range" drone campaign gives unprecedented insights into its strikes at the heart of Russian logistics.
This Week in the World Affairs Brief
THE IRAN WAR FLARES UP AGAIN BEFORE A DEAL
Donald Trump went back to large-scale attacks after Iran downed a US Apache helicopter. President Trump told Fox News that the strikes included 49 Tomahawk missiles at military targets inside Iran. The US Central Command forces on X tweeted that the strikes were conducted “on behalf of the Commander in Chief’s direction... in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression,” but Iran’s counterattacks have always been in response to Israeli and US joint aggression, who started this war. Trump went back to a war footing somewhat reluctantly as he desperately wants to make a deal before the coming oil shortage which is predicted to hit other parts of the world in July, and raise US prices dramatically as we try to make up for the shortfall. But bad as he wants a deal he’s been reluctant to make any compromise with Iran and Iran has plenty of missiles and drones to continue the war. Trump is getting so frustrated, he reportedly asked his close advisors if nuclear weapons might help force Iran to yield, says Seymour Hersh. The idea was uniformly opposed by all advisors and so he backed off. But it shows how desperate Trump is to get out of this war Israel talked him into. Trump keeps threatening to escalate the attacks which isn’t doing any good. In response, Iran’s top military leaders have announced they have once again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said that it will shoot at any vessel attempting to pass the strait. To receive a free, one-time sample of the Brief, along with options on how to subscribe, click on Request a sample on the left.
Also:
- The Real Reason Bongino Resigned
- Putin Losing the War in Ukraine
- California’s Slow-Count Election Theft
Daily News
California’s Slow Roll Vote-Counting Is an Outrage
California keeps dumping votes. Odds are shifting because the vote dumps always seem to go one way. Count until you get the result you want? — Ron DeSantis
IDF Solider Testifies UNDER OATH: "Told to Stand-Down" During Oct 7 Attacks
Video has emerged of an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Soldier, testifying UNDER OATH that on October 7, he was told to "Stand-Down" from 5:20am to 9:00am during the "HAMAS ATTACK." The soldier is testifying in an Israeli Knesset (Legislature) subcommittee.
How California’s Election Procedures Turn Early Leads Into Late Losses
On Sunday, it appeared that Republican mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt would fall out of contention for the general election after several days of appearing in the top two vote recipients along with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat. Another Democrat candidate, Nithya Raman, appeared to overtake Pratt for second place to face Bass in the general election. The state’s primaries allow the top two vote-getters, rather than party nominees, to advance to the general election. California also doesn’t allow local jurisdictions to require voter ID and allows 22 days for “curing” ballots.
Mother Of All 'Ifs': Trump Officials Claim Iran Deal Delivers Peace, Inspections & Hormuz Reopening; Iran Says Indeed 'Close'
Araghchi: A deal, if reached, will be signed remotely by both sides and then announced. The UAE had agreed to release a total of $10b, more than $3b of which had already been delivered (Reuters). Bloomberg latest: US Senior admin officials says Iran deal accomplishes core US objectives and deal reopens Strait of Hormuz; Iran deal guarantees long-term peace in region and includes inspection regime. Pakistan PM Sharif: "we can confirm that a final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached & Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps." Surprise, surprise: Iran FM says sides "have never been closer and pending its finalisation, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content, details to be shared in due course." Trump on Truth Social rejects Iran's version of MoU terms (below): "What they said, including their weak & pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth." Tehran: "Contrary to what is being circulated by Western media, Iran will not commit to relinquishing control of the Strait of Hormuz." CNN speculates (prematurely, it seems) on Geneva signing of 'Islamabad Declaration' as soon as Sunday or next week.
US Pulling Large Chunk Of Jets, Refueling Tankers From NATO Defense, Realigning Further East
The reported cutbacks hit right as panicked European nations scramble to patch up their own defense capacities. ... European capitals are deeply concerned given they are under the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fifth year.
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the New Normal Reich
So I am now officially a “hate criminal” in Germany. I was already pretty much a “hate criminal” in Germany, but now it’s official. This is Germany’s supreme court. There is no higher court to appeal to. OK, sure, there’s the European Court of Human Rights, the international court of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, but it doesn’t have the power to enforce its rulings, and the German authorities and courts have made it clear that they couldn’t care less about anyone’s opinion of their paranoid and authoritarian behavior. So I’ll be going back to Berlin District Court for sentencing.
CBP Chief Says Border Wall Should Be Finished By Late 2027
“The only places we’re not building a border wall is places where we’ve made a conscious decision that we don’t need it,” Scott said at the Center for Immigration Studies conference, adding that Big Bend National Park is an example of a “super remote area” with “some very, very high cliffs” that preclude construction of the wall.
US Begins "Self-Defense" Strikes Against Multiple Targets In Iran
Announcing the strikes before they happen is itself the strategy. You don't telegraph a bombing campaign hours in advance unless the message matters more than the surprise. This is the final-pressure play in its purest form: the bombs are loaded, the targets are picked, and the paper is still on the table waiting for a signature. ... The Americans' idea of 'controlled escalation' is foolish, and Iran will not hesitate to dictate new calculations to the Americans."
DHS Directs ICE to Deport Illegal Aliens Who Vote in American Elections
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) General Counsel James Percival has directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to impose strict penalties, including deportation, on illegal aliens who vote in American elections. According to a DHS press release, the Immigration and Nationality Act directs the removal of aliens who illegally vote or make a false claim to US citizenship.
Trump Says "Secret Military Mission" Allowed 200 Ships, 100 Million Barrels To Cross Hormuz
In any case, Trump added that "this effort has resulted in more than 100 MILLION Barrels of Oil making its way through the Strait, and into the Open Market. More than 200 Commercial Ships have safely traveled through the Strait," which would explain why oil prices have remained low
Ukraine says missiles hit military plant deep inside Russia
Ukrainian forces have carried out a missile attack deep inside Russia, hitting a major military plant overnight, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. He said FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles struck the drone and missile plant in the city of Cheboksary, in the Chuvash Republic, more than 900km (560 miles) from the front line. Local officials said three people were injured in a missile attack on the city. Ukraine also said it had hit the Moscow-occupied port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, a Russian oil refinery in Samara and a "shadow fleet" oil tanker in the Black Sea.
Trump Vows US Response to Iran Shooting Down Helicopter Near Hormuz Strait
Trump’s vow to retaliate came hours after he announced negotiations with Tehran were in their ‘final throes.’
Trump Insists US In 'Final Throes' Of Iran Deal; Death Toll Soars As Israel Pounds South Lebanon
The southern Lebanese city of Tyre is being pounded by Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday, despite President Trump's insistence that Lebanon not come under attack. Israel's military had hours prior issued an evacuation order for all civilians in the area, amid the unraveling and failing ceasefire. Casualties are already high, coming at a tense moment after starting on Sunday Iran sent ballistic missiles against Israel over its renewed airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, where it says Hezbollah command centers are located.
Voter Fraud: Los Angeles County Woman Pleads Guilty To Paying People In Skid Row To Vote
Armstrong admitted soliciting signatures in Skid Row, a convenient place for the defendant to collect signatures because of its high concentration of people in a relatively small area who were willing to sign petitions in exchange for cash. Armstrong regularly paid amounts between $2 and $3 to induce people to sign her petitions, officials said. Prosecutors said some homeless people did not have an address to put on the forms, so on occasion, Armstrong provided her own former address in Los Angeles to write on the registration form. Such registration forms simultaneously registered an individual to vote in California elections and in federal elections. "This is not an allegation, this is not a theory, this is an example of admitted voter fraud,"
Flesh-Eating Cattle Screwworm Spreads Beyond Texas As USDA Accelerates Eradication Push
" LIVESTOCK: 12 studies found 97%+ prevention of New World screwworm infestation in cattle wounds HUMANS: Documented complete larval elimination in severe oral and eye socket infestations "Horse paste” wins again."
SBA Suspends More Than 27,000 Ohio Loan Borrowers Due to Suspected Fraud
The defendants allegedly submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of several businesses, with the SBA and its lenders approving the loans. The individuals also submitted false applications for loan forgiveness, resulting in the SBA and its lenders forgiving their loan amounts. In its recent statement, the SBA said the four defendants allegedly misused the proceeds to pay for their personal expenses.
Iran Launches First Missiles at Israel Since Ceasefire Agreement
Defense systems were used to intercept the threat, the IDF stated. The attack received a swift response from Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s minister of national security. “Tonight Tehran must burn!” Ben-Gvir exclaimed in an X post on June 7. The June 7 attack was the first time the regime targeted Israel since a tentative ceasefire took effect in early April.
Netanyahu Confirms Israel 'Holding Fire, For Now' - Rejects Iran Red Line To Not Attack Lebanon
Israel has rejected Iran's warning not to attack Lebanon, though aerial operations appear paused. Israeli officials say strikes on Iran being halted at President Trump's request to 'stop shooting'. Netanyahu confirms attacks halted 'for now'. Iran FM accuses US of cooperating with Washington: "No one believes that the Zionist regime would carry out any action without prior coordination and cooperation with the United States" (Foreign Ministry spox). Iran's sprawling Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex bombed by Israeli Air Force.
Trump Admin Provided No Defensive Action For Israel Amid Iranian Missile Salvo
If accurate, this marks a major change in US priorities and the Pentagon's posture in the region. Going back to last year's 11-day June war, as well as from the start of Operation Epic Fury, Washington has previously provided consistent cover and protection for Israel, especially on the anti-air defense front.
Questions Are Piling Up Fast As Pratt Suddenly Loses Second Place In LA Mayoral Vote
ChatGPT can't find a single example of a 3rd place candidate surging, days AFTER Election Day, to overtake 2nd place. It couldn't find 1 example in all of American history. That's what's happening with Nithya Raman & Spencer Pratt. Los Angeles has 3rd world country elections. — Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck)
Angry Pentagon Sources Leak Report Of Israel's 'Unhinged' Spying On US Officials
Behind the scenes of this alliance which mainstream media and pundits typically project as essentially untouchable, deep-seated friction is boiling over. In an unprecedented move, the Pentagon has officially elevated Israel's counterintelligence threat level to its highest possible category, driven by surging internal alarm that this primary Mideast regional ally is aggressively ramping up espionage operations targeting senior US officials - even Trump's own top Iran negotiator.
The Frozen U.S.-Iran Deal: Lebanon, Netanyahu, and the Political Obstacle to Regional De-escalation
The diplomatic process between the United States and Iran appears to have reached a stage that can best be described as suspended rather than broken. Following the recent military confrontation between Washington and Tehran, neither side appears interested in returning to open warfare. At the same time, neither side has succeeded in transforming the current ceasefire into a comprehensive political agreement. The result is a frozen conflict accompanied by frozen negotiations, a situation that increasingly resembles a strategic pause rather than a permanent settlement.
2027 NDAA Provision Seeks Sweeping US-Israel Defense Tech Integration
Section 224 of the drafted National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative,” would require the defense secretary to designate an executive agent to coordinate U.S.-Israel defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, integration and industrial cooperation. It specifically describes the provision as covering bilateral defense technology work, integration and industrial cooperation.
Trump order endorses plan to halve vaccines recommended for children
An executive order signed by Donald Trump with little fanfare on Friday could have a huge impact on the health of US children, as it instructs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to cut the number of recommended childhood vaccines almost in half.
Moderna Receives $50 Million Ebola "Vaccine" Contract While Past Ebola Outbreaks Directly Linked To Previous Vaccines
"The Pandemics are coming from labs. ALL OF THEM...Lyme, COVID, RSV, HIV & Spanish Flu came out of a vaccine lab." ~RFK Jr "Vaccine research has created the worst plagues in our history."
House Passes Resolution to Block Military Action Against Iran
The Senate would still need to pass this latest measure for it to have a chance of becoming law, and Trump could still issue a veto.
House Defies Trump By Advancing $8BN New Ukraine Aid Package
But this wasn't the only Trump-defying vote that took place Wednesday, as The Hill reports: "Six Republicans joined Democrats on Wednesday to push through a vote on military aid for Ukraine, a blow to President Trump’s handling of Russia’s war against the country and his withdrawal of U.S. support for Kyiv."
Hezbollah Chief Rejects US-Mediated Israel Truce; Trump To Maintain Ceasefire With Iran Unless American Troops Killed
Hezbollah chief rejects outcome of Lebanon-Israel talks, insisting that a truce must encompass whole country. WSJ reports that the White House intends to maintain a ceasefire with Iran unless American troops are killed; oil drops also after Trump states on TS Trump lashes out after House War Powers votes passes Wednesday evening, attacking especially four Republicans who voted in favor. Trump downplayed Iran's attacks on US bases in Kuwait & Bahrain, saying "they were slightly provoked...so they were reciprocating."
Zelensky Pens Lengthy Letter To Putin: 'Enough Of War, I Am Proposing A Meeting'
The letter, which is somewhat lengthy at one point says, "The choice is yours now. Enough of war" and then spells out that "Ukraine proposes to end this war." "This must be done honestly, with dignity, and with guarantees that the war will not be reignited," Zelensky added. And then interestingly, "We see that the United States is fully focused on the issue of Iran, and it would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe returns to the center of its attention."