Your First Look at Today's Top Stories

Having trouble viewing this email? View the web version.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Trump on Iran and Nuclear Weapons: “There are only two alternatives there: blow them up nicely or blow them up viciously”

On with Hugh Hewitt Wednesday: I’d much rather make a deal. Total verification. We can do that. We have some brilliant people up at MIT. We can do that very, very solidly. I would much prefer a very strong, verified deal—where we actually blow them up or just de-nuke them. There are only two alternatives there: Blow them up nicely or blow them up viciously…. (Salem News Channel). The full interview: (Hugh Hewitt). The update from within Iran: Persistent energy shortages have fueled public frustration and strained the Iranian economy, which may pose a growing threat to regime stability. Power outages have increased in Iran in recent days due to the energy crisis in Iran. Traders at the Tehran Province iron market went on strike on May 5, alongside other small protests across Iran in recent days over the repeated power outages…. New blackouts also could trigger protests. Natural gas cuts in January 2023 sparked demonstrations in northeastern Iran, and nationwide blackouts during the June 2021 heatwave fueled widespread public unrest (Institute for the Study of War).

AG Pam Bondi Announces Arrest of 205 Alleged Child Sex Predators: “Get these monsters off the street”

“If you are online targeting a child, you will not escape us.” News Nation: The FBI and the Department of Justice announced on Wednesday the arrest of 205 alleged child sex predators in “Operation Restore Justice.” Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announced the success in cracking down on child sexual abuse. Bondi warned parents to be watchful of the sites their children use online, where predators may pose as other children to lure in victims. 5 human trafficking victims rescued in Mississippi, officials say “(It goes) from instant message to instant nightmare,” she said. The operation is described as a coordinated effort across 55 FBI field offices to identify, track and arrest suspected sexual predators (News Nation). Fox News: “No more,” Patel said. “If you harm our children, you will be given no sanctuary. There is no place we will not come to hunt you down. There is no place we will not look for you, and there is no cage we will not put you in should you do harm to our children, the prioritization of this administration” (Fox News).

Trump Announces Dr. Casey Means as Nominee for Surgeon General; “Impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials”

Trump: I am pleased to announce that Dr. Casey Means will be nominated as our next Surgeon General of the United States of America. Casey has impeccable “MAHA” credentials and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (X). Benny Johnson: Here is President Trump’s new Surgeon General of the United States nominee, Dr. Casey Means, exposing the health industry and woke medical schools for six minutes straight. It’s safe to say she is the perfect pick (X). Trump had withdrawn his earlier nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat (Townhall). Dr. Casey’s health wish list for this administration—a list that, if confirmed, she’ll be able to implement: We need inspirational national leaders helping to inspire people to care about their health, the food they eat, and their fitness. We also need leaders who understand the relationship between human health and environmental health, which are inextricably linked. We cannot go on poisoning the earth without destroying our own health; we are one with nature (Casey Means).

China Increases Presence in Cuba

Just 90 miles from the U.S. mainland. Leland Lazurus—before a Congressional panel this week: The Chinese Communist Party is executing a 21st Century playbook of espionage, port infrastructure, space surveillance and digital authoritarianism (Fox News). CSIS: Recent commercial satellite imagery shows new construction underway at a known Cuban signals intelligence (SIGINT) site near Havana, long rumored to have ties to China. The addition of what appears to be a circularly disposed antenna array (CDAA) at Bejucal would expand the site’s capabilities to spy on the United States and other countries in the region. Satellite imagery of another key Cuban site shows a halt in construction, raising new questions about the scope and direction of Cuba’s SIGINT efforts—and their possible connection to China (CSIS).

Chinese Military Exercises May Foreshadow a Blockade of Taiwan

Economist: Chinese forces often rehearse an amphibious invasion of Taiwan. They recently tested new barge-borne bridges, which both expand the number of potential landing spots and get troops onto the ground faster. Recently, however, these D-Day drills have been supplemented by rehearsals for a full or partial naval blockade (see map). And underwater communications cables keep getting cut. In exercises in April called “Strait Thunder 2025A” (the name suggests more to come), China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it had practised, among other things, bombing ports and energy facilities. “If Taiwan loses its maritime supply lines, its domestic resources will quickly be depleted, social order will fall into chaos and people’s livelihoods will be severely impacted,” boasted a PLA officer in a propaganda video, standing on a set mimicking the deck of an aircraft-carrier (Economist).

New York State Assembly Passes Assisted Suicide Bill; “A shameful attack on the sanctity of life”

WOBM: New York could become the next state to authorize physicians to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients, under a Democratic-led proposal working its way through the legislative process. Legislation approved Tuesday by the state Assembly on an 81-67 vote would allow mentally competent, terminally ill adults who have been given a prognosis of six months or less to live the ability to request medication to end their lives…. Critics of medical aid in dying laws, including medical and religious groups and advocates for those with disabilities, say misdiagnoses are common. They have urged lawmakers not to approve the practice (WOBM). Elise Stefanik: The New York State Assembly’s decision to pass this disgusting assisted suicide bill is a shameful attack on the sanctity of life and a betrayal of our most vulnerable citizens. This radical legislation, driven by Governor Hochul’s Far Left allies, normalizes the termination of human life under the guise of ‘compassion,’ putting the elderly, disabled, and terminally ill at risk of coercion and despair. As a proud pro-life advocate, I am appalled that Albany Democrats would prioritize this culture of death over protecting the dignity and worth of every New Yorker (X). Cardinal Dolan: This bill is a disaster waiting to happen. For people of faith who believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, the very idea of having a doctor give you a prescription to end your life prematurely is contrary to everything we cherish. When life ends is in God’s hands, not man’s. As the Bible says, no one knows the day or the hour. But one need not be religious to see that assisted suicide is a terrible idea. It is a classic Pandora’s Box; once opened, its consequences cannot be contained (First Things).

College of Cardinals Begin Conclave in Vatican City to Elect New Pope

Fox News: Black smoke was seen rising from the roof of the Sistine Chapel, indicating that cardinals failed to select a new pope during the first round of voting. The 133 voting cardinals first entered the conclave on Wednesday to deliberate on a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month. The conclave will continue on Thursday, when the Cardinals will be able to vote up to four times before retiring until the next day (Fox News). Pope Francis has very clearly shaped the body that will elect his successor: He has, after all, appointed 108 of the 133 cardinals who will elect his successor. Very few of these cardinals lean toward traditionalist values. Pope Francis made sure of that. So, here we are, at a crossroads in history, sacred as well as secular. The suspense is intense because papal elections are fraught with historical significance. They can bring about turning points and paradigm shifts for the Church and the world. Or they can ensure continuities and prevent change (First Things). Ed Morrissey: The subsequent days will have four ballots, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, although we will only see smoke twice. That will continue until a new pontiff is elected by a supermajority of the cardinal electors. Diversity might matter in these discussions, but less on ethnicity and more on approach. Africa will have its largest conclave representation, and that means their insistence on doctrinal discipline may influence the selection of the next pontiff (Hot Air).

The Protesters are Back: Pro-Hamas Agitators Occupy Columbia University’s Main Library

New York Times: Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators flooded into the main library on Columbia University’s campus on Wednesday afternoon and occupied part of the building, in an attempt to rekindle the protest movement that swept the campus last spring. The protesters, wearing masks and kaffiyehs, hung banners in the soaring main room of Butler Library’s second floor, renaming the space “the Basel Al-Araj Popular University,” according to the demonstrators and witnesses at the library (New York Times). Rebecca Downs of Townhall: While the agitators have been able to get away with plenty before, with consequences often being delayed or lacking, the university appeared to at least be trying to use a different approach this time. Rather than allowing the terrorist sympathizers flee the building, and presumably consequences, public safety officers announced that they would be requiring masked protester to show their ID cards, or else they would face arrest. Nevertheless, it looks to have been too little too late (Townhall). Disrupting students studying for finals (X).

Report: Trump to Rename Persian Gulf to Arabian Gulf Ahead of Upcoming Visit

Fox News: President Donald Trump is reportedly to rename the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf ahead of his trip to the Middle East in the coming days. The expected announcement was first reported Wednesday by the Associated Press, which clashed with the Trump administration earlier this year over the president renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America…. Iran’s foreign minister slammed the reported change, writing that, “politically motivated attempts to alter the historically established name of the Persian Gulf are indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people, and are firmly condemned” (Fox News). Persian leaders aren’t pleased. Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran: The Persian Gulf is not just a name but a historical reality. For thousands of years, Iranians, Arabs, and Westerners have referred to this body of water between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula by its true and only name: the Persian Gulf. The reported decision by President Trump to abrogate history, should it be true, is an affront to the people of Iran and our great civilization. But, once again, the true culprit of this shameful act is Ali Khamenei and his anti-Iranian regime who have so weakened our nation that foreign powers dare make such transgressions against Iran’s national identity and world history (X).

10.

Hegseth Addresses Special Ops Forces: “We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind”

Speaking at Special Operations Forces Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida. Hegseth, starting with a quote from what Trump asked of him: “I need you and I want you to restore the warrior ethos in our country.” Full stop. And that’s been my priority since day one—restoring the warrior ethos…. Everything starts and ends with warriors, from training to the battlefield. We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns. No more climate change obsession. No more emergency vaccine mandates. No more dudes in dresses. We’re done with that sh**. We’re focused on lethality, meritocracy, accountability standards and readiness (Defense).

SUBSCRIPTION INFO: This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It is only sent to people who signed up from one of the Salem Media Group network of websites. We respect and value your time and privacy.
Unsubscribe from The Daybreak Insider
6400 N. Belt Line Rd., Suite 200, Irving, TX 75063
Copyright © 2025 Salem Media Group and its Content Providers. All rights reserved.