June 24, 2025

Let’s dive in.

1. INTERVIEW: Rep. Kevin Hern flies constituents home after their harrowing Middle East ordeal

2. Heard on the Hill

3. EDITORIAL: President Donald Trump keeps his promise on Iran

4. EDITORIAL: Ted Cruz delivers for America amid global turmoil

5. EXCLUSIVE: Associated Press's journalistic sleight of hand blames Rubio for famine he has nothing to do with

6. SCOOP: LA Sheriff's pro-Iran post sparks congressional ire

7. SCOOP: Dem who covered up for Biden falsely accuses Pam Bondi of concealing information from Congress

8. K STREET, 10,000 FEET: New ad backs up Senate GOP on Trump tax cuts extension

9. OPINIONATED: Jessica Costescu on lessons learned from sleeping in an Israeli bomb shelter and Diane Rinaldo on the future of PNT

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INTERVIEW: Rep. Kevin Hern flies constituents home after their harrowing Middle East ordeal

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• Rep. Kevin Hern (R., Okla.), an avid pilot himself, recently embarked on a flight like he’s never done before: bringing recently-rescued constituents from Florida back home to Oklahoma on a Gulfstream Five that he paid for out of pocket.

• The group of constituents was mostly from several Oklahoma churches who were stranded in Israel amidst an unprecedented level of Iranian ballistic missile fire that left the faithful in need of rescue.

• The mission to rescue the Americans cost “well over a million dollars,” Hern estimated. Most of those costs went to Grey Bull, a firm loaded with American Special Forces veterans known for rescuing Americans stranded in war zones across the world.

• “This group had the greatest protector of all, which is God,” Hern said.

For Rep. Kevin Hern (R., Okla.), “Hern Works” is more than just empty words.

The lawmaker, an avid pilot himself, recently embarked on a flight like he’s never done before: bringing recently-rescued constituents from Florida back home to Oklahoma on a Gulfstream Five that he paid for out of pocket.

The group of constituents was mostly from several Oklahoma churches who were stranded in Israel amidst an unprecedented level of Iranian ballistic missile fire that left the faithful in need of rescue.

Fortunately, a wife of one of the pastors on the trip contacted Hern’s staff, and the work commenced accordingly, culminating in “the most rewarding” flight in the 43 years Hern has been piloting.

“We leveraged every conversation we could have between the [Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)], [Transportation Security Administration (TSA)], [U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)], Department of Homeland Security (DHS), my contacts at the White House on Saturday, when I was in D.C. for the Army parade, talking to people in the White House directly to alert them to this situation, what was going on,” Hern told the Washington Reporter in an interview shortly after he landed the plane.

The mission to rescue the Americans cost “well over a million dollars,” Hern estimated. Most of those costs went to Grey Bull, a firm loaded with American Special Forces veterans known for rescuing Americans stranded in war zones across the world.

Hern said he paid about $60,000 and that he is not looking for a GoFundMe to recoup the costs, because embarking on the congressional rescue mission was simply “the right thing to do.”

“I'm just fortunate,” he said. “I've been blessed in my life to have [a] successful business career.”

“You're blessed to be in this country for the opportunities it brings,” Hern continued. “And to be able to pay back to the greatest nation that’s ever existed is quite an honor.”

Both Hern and his constituents were lucky that the Biden administration was out of power while the Iranian ballistic missiles were flying.

“The federal government did a lot of work,” Hern said. “There were no pushbacks from anybody at State or DHS or CPB or TSA or FAA. Every particular person that I called in each of those particular areas, I would call up and I'd say, ‘how can I help you?’”

“And they’d say ‘call this person at this agency’ and I would do that, get them on a conference call, and we would get that clarified, and they moved very quickly,” he added.

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Heard on the Hill

• BIG TECH PRAISE: Microsoft’s decision to follow President Trump’s directive to cut off services to the corrupt ICC is winning big praise on Capitol Hill. One Congressional official said, “Microsoft did the right thing under enormous pressure — and that’s another reason why they have the best standing on the Hill of any big tech company.”

• TAKING ON IRAN: Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee flagged several pieces of legislation that committee members have rolled out in recent weeks to keep Americans safe from the genocidal mullahs in Tehran. Those bills include the “DHS Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act” introduced by Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R., Fla.), the “Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2024” introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.), the “Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act” introduced by Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R., Texas), and the “Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act,” introduced by Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas).

• GAME ON: Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) raised more than $450,000 for his 2026 campaign at his annual Politics & Policy forum last night. Spotted — Sens. John Thune (R., S.D.), John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), Susan Collins (R., Maine), Roger Marshall (R., Kansas), Bill Hagerty (R., Tenn.), John Boozman (R., Ark.), Tim Sheehy (R., Mont.), Jon Husted (R., Ohio), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R., Miss.), Steve Daines (R., Mont.), and Dan Sullivan (R., Alaska).

• WE KNOW WHAT A WOMAN IS: One of the largest groups dedicated to electing Republican women kicked off the 2026 cycle last night. Meredith Allen Dellinger told the Reporter that “Winning For Women Action Fund is leading the charge to grow the ranks of qualified, exceptional, Republican women in Congress — and our success this week is proof that this effort has serious support and is a winning strategy. Bringing together top leaders from both chambers and broader party coalitions shows the strength of our network and our mission. With nearly $400,000 in hard dollars, we’re just getting started.” Among the attendees were Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.), Susan Collins (R., Maine) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R., Miss.), Reps. Tom Emmer (R., Minn.), Erin Houchin (R., Ind.), Stephanie Bice (R., Okla.), Sheri Biggs (R., S.C.), Kat Cammack (R., Fla.), Monica De La Cruz (R., Texas), Michelle Fischbach (R., Minn.), Craig Goldman (R., Texas), Diana Harshbarger (R., Tenn.), Ashley Hinson (R., Iowa), Jen Kiggans (R., Va.), Young Kim (R., Calif.), Nicole Malliotakis (R., N.Y.), Carol Miller (R., W.Va.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa), John McGuire (R., Va.), August Pfluger (R., Texas), Jefferson Shreve (R., Ind.) and Beth Van Duyne (R., Texas). Also spotted were Annie Dickerson, Danielle Barrow, Meredith Allen Dellinger, Caroline Lampen, Brenda Becker, Jessica Furst Johnson, Lauren Bryan, Parker Poling, Brian Baker, Michael Ahrens, Dan Conston, Domenic Re, Mark Fraenkel, Matthew Foldi, Wesley Harkins, Betsy Ankney, Marie Sanderson, Elliott Husbands, Torunn Sinclair, Theresa Vaccaro, and Ana Marina Ingham.

• UNION BUNKER BUSTER: Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) and Mary Katharine Ham are teaming up with the Public Labor Union Accountability Committee (PLUAC) for an event tomorrow to discuss Senator Ernst’s legislation, the Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025. The bill would require unions to reimburse the feds for the time and resources federal government employees used to promote the union’s activities. Those interested in attending can RSVP here.

• PRESSURE COOKER: One Nation, one of the largest Thune-aligned Senate groups, is airing ads targeting Sen. Jon Ossoff (D., Ga.), urging him to vote for the “working family tax cuts” that President Donald Trump and Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.) are shepherding through the Senate.

• LIVE-ACTION VICTIM ROLEPLAY: The Kennedy Center’s President, Ambassador Richard Grenell, criticized Sen. John Hickenlooper (D., Colo.) for trying to politicize the arts center by hosting “what his team billed as a first annual Talent show.” However, Grenell noted that “we were only later notified by the New York Times that Senator Hickenlooper's event was instead an invite-only political stunt where, once again, the Kennedy Center was being used by political operatives to larp as victims of intolerance in order to get a story in the Times.”

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EDITORIAL: President Donald Trump keeps his promise on Iran

by the Washington Reporter Editorial Board

Presidents George W. Bush, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama were too weak to take out Iran’s nuclear weapons program. But President Donald Trump got it done. And for that, we are thankful.

President Trump once again proved to be a leader of unparalleled resolve, delivering on his promise to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat with decisive military action. By targeting and destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump cemented his legacy as a historic figure, achieving what his predecessors lacked the courage to do.

This triumph is not just a military victory but is also a testament to Trump’s unwavering commitment to American strength and global security. He promised to confront rogue regimes head-on, and he delivered. Unlike the weak posturing of past administrations, Trump’s bold move sends an unmistakable message: the United States will not tolerate threats from hostile powers. His decisiveness reshaped the Middle East’s power dynamics, ensuring Iran’s nuclear ambitions are halted for generations.

The Washington Reporter is proud to stand as one of the few media outlets that endorsed President Trump prior to his 2024 historic landslide, because we recognized his vision when others scoffed at it. While the mainstream media slammed him, we saw a leader unafraid to make tough calls. This strike vindicates our faith in Trump’s leadership and exposes the cowardice of those who doubted him.

Trump’s victory is a vindication of both American military might and of his tremendous national security team. While some in the media obsessed about who was or wasn’t in the Situation Room, Trump — along with JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, and Tulsi Gabbard — made America and our allies immeasurably safer.

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EDITORIAL: Ted Cruz delivers for America amid global turmoil

by the Washington Reporter Editorial Board

“You’re a fan of the Washington Reporter? Name all their subscribers.”

We at the Reporter are incredibly thankful for our readership in the White House, on and off the Hill, and beyond — but we’d never lodge an evidently bad-faith accusation like that against someone, unless they really deserved it.

And Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), who consistently delivers for the American people, deserved better than the two-hour showing from his appearance on Tucker Carlson’s podcast. As the Reporter first reported, Republicans senators mocked Carlson as a “clown” behind closed doors earlier this week, following President Donald Trump’s break with the former Fox News host.

Carlson’s comportment during his Cruz interview has done him no favors.

Cruz, for his part, is a master podcaster, and is also one of the Senate GOP’s biggest assets. His work on reconciliation and a spectrum deal put him in a class of his own among Republican lawmakers.

One senior Hill aide told us that Senator Cruz has had as significant of an impact on reconciliation as any member, especially with his deliverance of a spectrum deal that raises hundreds of billions of dollars, positions us to beat China, and protects our national security.

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EXCLUSIVE: Associated Press's journalistic sleight of hand blames Rubio for famine he has nothing to do with

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• The Trump administration’s State Department is pushing back on an Associated Press story that uses a journalistic sleight of hand to imply that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s budget cutbacks are causing starvation in a large refugee camp.

• The AP’s story claims that food “rations are halved in one of Africa’s largest refugee camps after US aid cuts” and that “funding for the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) has dropped after the Trump administration paused support in March, part of the widespread dismantling of foreign aid by the United States, once the world’s biggest donor.”

• The problem with this framing, a senior State Department official told the Washington Reporter, is that “the story about US aid being cut from the Kakuma Camp is untrue, no award has been cut.”

• The State official notes that the AP “vaguely describes this as due to US aid cuts, but this is not directly related to any cuts we’ve made.”

The Trump administration’s State Department is pushing back on an Associated Press story that uses a journalistic sleight of hand to imply that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s budget cutbacks are causing starvation in a large refugee camp.

The AP’s story claims that food “rations are halved in one of Africa’s largest refugee camps after US aid cuts” and that “funding for the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) has dropped after the Trump administration paused support in March, part of the widespread dismantling of foreign aid by the United States, once the world’s biggest donor.”

The problem with this framing, a senior State Department official told the Washington Reporter, is that “the story about US aid being cut from the Kakuma Camp is untrue, no award has been cut.”

“The reality is the vast majority of WFP programs remain in place,” the official said.

The State official notes that the AP “vaguely describes this as due to US aid cuts, but this is not directly related to any cuts we’ve made.”

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SCOOP: LA Sheriff's pro-Iran post sparks congressional ire

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department celebrated President Donald Trump’s historically successful bombing run in Iran by mourning the “tragic” nature of the strike.

• Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) told the Washington Reporter that “even for the far left, mourning the loss of Iran’s nuclear program is something else.”

• Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) told the Reporter that while he was furious at the post, a bunker-dwelling Iranian may have liked it — if he ever sees it.

• The department itself, under the leadership of Democrat Sheriff Robert Luna, quickly apologized for the post, saying that the original one was “offensive and inappropriate.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department celebrated President Donald Trump’s historically successful bombing run in Iran by mourning the “tragic” nature of the strike.

“Our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran,” the account posted on X, before deleting the post amidst a firestorm.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) told the Washington Reporter that “even for the far left, mourning the loss of Iran’s nuclear program is something else.”

Cotton, one of Congress’s leading voices against left-wing prosecutors, added that “this is a reminder that Democrats cannot be trusted on national security.”

Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) told the Reporter that while he was furious at the post, a bunker-dwelling Iranian may have liked it — if he ever sees it.

“The Sheriffs may have decided to delete their tweet before the Ayatollah liked it,” he said.

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SCOOP: Dem who covered up for Biden falsely accuses Pam Bondi of concealing information from Congress

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• During Attorney General Pam Bondi’s latest congressional hearing, Rep. Madeleine Dean (D., Pa.) thought she scored a one-two knockout against the Trump administration official.

• In fact, Dean was one of the leading Democrats to cover up for President Joe Biden’s mental and physical decline. Just days after President Donald Trump beat Biden in their only 2024 debate, Dean still argued that Biden was fine.

• Biden, of course, was not fine — and neither were Dean’s twin accusations against Bondi.

• A Department of Justice official told the Washington Reporter that Dean wasted her opportunity for a meaningful conversation with Bondi during the House Appropriations Committee hearing.

During Attorney General Pam Bondi’s latest congressional hearing, Rep. Madeleine Dean (D., Pa.) thought she scored a one-two knockout against the Trump administration official.

Dean chose to imply that Bondi both profited off of Trump’s social media company and hid her past lobbying work.

Both of these claims, however, are false.

In fact, Dean was one of the leading Democrats to cover up for President Joe Biden’s mental and physical decline. Just days after President Donald Trump beat Biden in their only 2024 debate, Dean still argued that Biden was fine.

“I traveled with the president yesterday in Pennsylvania,” Dean said in an interview. “He worked nicely from a notebook…the President spoke without any notes, and he was terrific.”

“He was just fine,” she claimed.

Biden, of course, was not fine — and neither were Dean’s twin accusations against Bondi.

With regards to Bondi selling her shares of Trump Media & Technology Group shortly before “Liberation Day,” the reality is that she sold the stock pursuant to an ethics agreement she signed during her confirmation process.

As Bondi noted to Dean, “you should take a class in financial literacy if you think I profited from that, because I lost a tremendous amount of money.”

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K-STREET, 10,000 FEET:

New ad backs up Senate GOP on Trump tax cuts extension

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• The Washington Reporter exclusively obtained the first look at the LIBRE Initiative’s new $250,000 ad campaign that argues that Trump’s tax policies benefit millions of Latinos in America.

• LIBRE’s Executive Director, Sandra Benitez, noted that “Latinos are working hard, building businesses, raising families, and contributing to every sector of our economy.”

• Recent polling from LIBRE found that Hispanic voters across America are keenly aware of the ramifications of tax policy in D.C.

• The ad will primarily air in Louisiana, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Kansas, Ohio, Utah, and Idaho.

Senate Republicans scored significant reinforcements in their quest to extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts.

The Washington Reporter exclusively obtained the first look at the LIBRE Initiative’s new $250,000 ad campaign that argues that Trump’s tax policies benefit millions of Latinos in America.

The ad will primarily air in Louisiana, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Kansas, Ohio, Utah, and Idaho.

“Some in Congress want to raise taxes when over 90 percent of us [Hispanics] are opposed,” the ad warns. “Now is the time to protect the American Dream for Latinos and for all Americans.”

The ad’s launch comes as the House successfully passed legislation that would extend parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which awaits its fate in the Senate.

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OPINIONATED

Op-Ed: Jessica Costescu: Sleeping in a bomb shelter helped me understand Israelis' resilience

by Jessica Costescu

In Israel, the night offers no solace — only the tense anticipation of sirens signaling Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. Each attempt to sleep became an internal battle: should I drift into vulnerable slumber or stay awake, bracing for the siren’s wail that could shatter the darkness before dawn?

Earlier this spring I was thrilled to join a delegation of journalists and media professionals set to travel to Israel in June on a trip sponsored by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a think tank dedicated to advancing American national security. Since Hamas’s October 7 attack, I’ve investigated anti-Semitism in American higher education, and this trip promised to deepen my understanding of the conflict’s complexities.

Last week, our group of about two dozen arrived in Tel Aviv, stepping into a nation at war on multiple fronts for nearly two years. By chance — or by fate — we landed the afternoon before the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched its strikes on Iran. After settling into our Jerusalem hotel, we savored a dinner overlooking the Old City, a sacred mosaic of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim heritage. Jet-lagged from the 11-hour flight, we retired early, eager for our packed seven-day itinerary.

At 3 a.m. on June 13, a piercing siren shattered my sleep, urging us to seek shelter. Half-dazed, I stumbled into the hotel stairwell, having forgotten the bomb shelter’s location. I wasn’t alone — others, in pajamas, bathrobes, or barefoot, joined me in a surreal procession. We knew this was possible: Israel remained locked in conflict with terrorist groups, and 53 hostages, living and dead, still languished in Gaza. Eventually, a few of us found the underground bunker. Unbeknownst to us, the siren was precautionary, triggered by Israel’s strike on Iran. Adrenaline fading, we returned to our rooms, chasing elusive sleep.

The next day, I clung to naive optimism. The IDF’s precision strike — targeting Iran’s generals, nuclear scientists, and missile launchers — seemed a decisive blow. Surely, the worst was over. Confined to our hotel for safety, we absorbed briefings from FDD experts, the hours crawling by.

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Op-Ed: Diane Rinaldo: Build the future of PNT on the facts and on current security threats

by Diane Rinaldo

America’s global positioning system (GPS) enables the country’s national and economic security in ways both appreciated and unrecognized. It is an enabling technology, not unlike electricity, and it powers the modern world — everything from ATMs to gas pumps, and everywhere from global financial markets to America’s military relies on the timing signals from satellites orbiting the world. That little blue dot on your smartphone is linked to a lot more than you realize.

While other countries have tried to develop competing systems, GPS remains leaps ahead of its rivals. Its dominance also happens to be its weakness. It is a fragile system, and one without any redundancy. That fragility was once a real, but hypothetical vulnerability. Russia and China could certainly target orbiting GPS satellites in a time of conflict, as well as jam or spoof the signals, but the threat only manifested itself in narrow situations. That is no longer the case.

The era of war against GPS is here, and it is here to stay.

Just last year, Grant Shapps, the then-Defense Secretary of the United Kingdom, had his flight’s GPS signal jammed when flying near Russia. Finnair, Finland’s airline, had to suspend flights to Tartu, Estonia due to Russian signal disruption. Thousands of flights across the Baltic Sea have had their signals jammed by Russian electronic warfare. Reports also indicate that commercial flights near China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels have had their GPS signals interfered with in the Pacific.

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