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Thursday, June 26, 2025

Defense Secretary Hegseth Announces Criminal Leak Investigation in Wake of Leak

Katie Pavlich: Speaking to reporters at the NATO Summit Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revealed a criminal leak investigation is underway after top secret intelligence was illegally shared to undermine U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. “When you actually look at the report, by the way it was a top secret report, it was preliminary, it was low confidence, you make assessments based on what you know,” Hegseth told Townhall ahead of a meeting with the NATO delegation. “We’re doing a leak investigation with the FBI right now because this information is for internal purposes, battle damage assessments. CNN and others are trying to spin it to make the President look bad when it was an overwhelming success,” he continued. The investigation comes after information was leaked to CNN claiming U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend set the program back mere weeks. “This is what a leaker is telling you what the intelligence says, that’s the game these people play. They read it and they go out and characterize it the way they want to characterize it the way they want it characterized and they’re leakers, this is the game they play,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio added (Townhall). Hugh Hewitt: Whaddaya know? The leakers lied. Again. And legacy media ran with the lies. Again (Hewitt).

Trump Administration to Limit Access to Confidential Materials After Latest Leak; Democrats Fume

Axios: Top congressional Democrats are furious over President Trump’s decision to limit intelligence sharing with Capitol Hill after the alleged leaks of preliminary assessments about the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites. Democrats see the Trump decision as a significant escalation in what they say is the White House’s attempt to stonewall Congress about the Iran conflict…. “We are declaring a war on leakers,” a senior White House official said Wednesday (Axios). Washington Examiner: The move will further tighten tensions with Democrats in Congress, who have been sidelined and out of power in the early months of Trump’s second term. Senate Democrats are moving ahead with efforts to rein in Trump’s authority to launch military action against Iran, seeking to build momentum behind a war powers resolution that could come to a vote this week despite a fragile ceasefire struck with Israel. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) is leading an effort to restrict Trump’s ability to launch military strikes without congressional approval. Kaine, Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) unveiled new language to clarify that the restriction would apply only to offensive military operations (Washington Examiner).

Growing Optimism for Expansion of Abraham Accords

Steve Witkoff: We think we’re going to have some pretty big announcements on countries that are now coming in to the Abraham Peace Accords (Daugherty). Hussain Abdul-Hussain of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies: Without Iran breathing down their necks, its neighbors in the region — Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq — can focus on their own national interests. That means peace with Israel, and racing to capture a bigger share of the regional and global knowledge economy. Tehran’s plan has been to divide and torture. Iran’s mullahs were the sponsors of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel; the Houthis’ war on Saudi Arabia and global economy; Bashar al-Assad’s fight against his own people; Lebanon’s fight for sovereignty against Hezbollah; and Iraq’s many divisions. Without these anti-Israel distractions, there is room for change (New York Post). Larry Kudlow: Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq may be ready to join what could be a free-trade economic zone that would rival Europe, Latin America, and perhaps even Asia. The UAE with its economic hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi have led the way toward economic innovation and prosperity. It is called the new Emirate economic model, and has moved the UAE into a very competitive position on the world economic stage (New York Sun).

Israel’s 12-Day War With Iran Could Have Reshaped the Middle East

And perhaps more so than the Six-Day War. Yonah Jeremy Bob of Jerusalem Post: Even before these 12 days, Israel had carried out take-downs of Hamas and Hezbollah, and helped cause the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. But in some ways, what it did during these 12 days was more important for all of the Iranian proxies to see – their leader pummeled into submission. Why will they try to pick a large fight with Israel in the future if their leader and weapons provider cannot stand toe to toe with the Jewish state without being knocked out? The vast nuclear program, while not entirely wiped out, may be set back at least two years, and may be set back enough to prevent it from making a comeback. Israel did not hit one nuclear site – it hit dozens. And then sometimes hit those dozens multiple times. And its success convinced US President Donald Trump to join the fray and take out the Fordow nuclear site under a mountain. Iran’s nuclear threat was the greatest existential threat Israel has likely faced since the 1948 war, when it was a weak group of militias that was just trying to survive and not lose too much land. Jerusalem has removed the threat…. During this war, Israel killed nine of 13 top Iranian commanders and turned Tehran inside out, penetrating just about every nook and cranny they wanted to get to. This penetration in and of itself will force Iran to rethink its basic strategic approach and capabilities versus Israel. When you put all of that together, in only 12 days, Israel may have removed the most multi-sided octopus of threats it has ever faced – and in one fell swoop, – put every adversary in the region on notice that it will no longer play nice – and that any party seeking to harm Israel should be ready to pay for it at the highest levels (Jerusalem Post).

Trump Goes to Bat for Bibi

As the Israeli Prime Minister faces corruption charges (Axios). Trump, no doubt, sees parallels in a political opposition that uses lawfare and a general approach to political battle that knows no limits. Trump: I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister! Bibi and I just went through HELL together, fighting a very tough and brilliant longtime enemy of Israel, Iran, and Bibi could not have been better, sharper, or stronger in his LOVE for the incredible Holy Land. Anybody else would have suffered losses, embarrassment, and chaos! Bibi Netanyahu was a WARRIOR, like perhaps no other Warrior in the History of Israel, and the result was something that nobody thought was possible, a complete elimination of potentially one of the biggest and most powerful Nuclear Weapons anywhere in the World, and it was going to happen, SOON! We were fighting, literally, for the Survival of Israel, and there is nobody in Israel’s History that fought harder or more competently than Bibi Netanyahu…. Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State. Perhaps there is no one that I know who could have worked in better harmony with the President of the United States, ME, than Bibi Netanyahu. It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu. THIS TRAVESTY OF “JUSTICE” CAN NOT BE ALLOWED! (Truth).

Zohran Mamdani Is a Feature—Not a Bug—of Today’s Democratic Party

Bernie Sanders argues on behalf of the progressivism of the Democrats’ nominee for mayor of New York in his interview with Politico: What is the way forward for the Democratic Party? To me, it seems fairly obvious. Whether the current Democratic leadership is prepared to learn that lesson or not, I have no idea. Probably not. They’re probably more willing to go down with the Titanic than to move in a new direction. But I think whether they like it or not, what we are doing right now is going to support progressive candidates, whether they have to primary incumbent Democrats or not does not matter. And we are going to develop — we are doing that right now, we’ve got organizers around the country…. I think that the Democratic leadership is way out of touch. That’s not just me. As you indicated, that’s what the polling shows and it’s true. The American people — Democrats, independents, Republicans — understand that there is something fundamentally wrong when we have massive income and wealth inequality, massive concentration of ownership. We’re in the richest country in the history of the world. Sixty percent of people live paycheck to paycheck. Elderly people can’t afford their prescription drugs. Kids go hungry (Politico). If socialism is the answer, perhaps we’ll be able to see it in action soon. Mark Thiessen argues they ought to reap what they have sown: When he lost the Democratic primary, Ed Koch was asked if he would ever run again? “No,” he said, “the people have spoken and they must be punished.” That’s how I feel about New York right now. You put this pro-terror Communist in Gracie Mansion and you deserve everything you get (Thiessen). Charlie Kirk says, “not so fast”: America simply giving up on New York is like the British Empire giving up on London or the Roman Empire giving up on Rome. If we won’t even fight for one of the crown jewels of our nation, then we deserve to lose it (Kirk).

DOE Concludes Investigation: California Violated Title IX

In allowing men to compete in women’s sports—and take honors from deserving women. From the Department of Education press release: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the conclusion of its Title IX investigations into the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for allegations of discrimination against women and girls on the basis of sex. In both cases, OCR has determined that CDE and CIF are in clear violation of Title IX…. As a result of the noncompliance finding, OCR has issued a proposed Resolution Agreement to CDE and CIF to resolve their Title IX violations. OCR has offered both entities an opportunity to voluntarily agree to change these unlawful practices within 10 days or risk imminent enforcement action, including referral to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for proceedings (DOE). Katie Jerkovich of Red State: It said that any guidance schools previously had that state law preempted Title IX must be rescinded. In addition, CDE will “require all Recipients, including CIF, to restore to female athletes all individual records, titles, and awards misappropriated by male athletes competing in female competitions.” And to each of those female athletes whose recognition is restored, the “CDE will send a personalized letter apologizing on behalf of the state of California for allowing her educational experience to be marred by sex discrimination” (Red State). Secretary of Education Linda McMahon: If they do not comply within 10 days, we will refer this to the Department of Justice (Wheeler).

Trump to Get $20 Million From CBS Over Deceptively Edited Kamala Harris Interview?

It could happen. Wall Street Journal: A mediator has proposed that President Trump and Paramount Global settle his lawsuit over a CBS News “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris for $20 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The proposal would include a $17 million donation to Trump’s presidential foundation or museum, the people said. It would also include millions more in legal fees and public service announcements on Paramount-owned networks to fight antisemitism, the people said. Trump’s team has said it wants an apology—something Paramount isn’t prepared to do, according to people familiar with the situation. It couldn’t be learned whether Trump’s team is still seeking an apology (Wall Street Journal). Ed Morrissey: This probably comes down to the value of an apology for Trump… The mediator’s Solomonic proposal splits the financial difference and offers a chance for Trump to apply the extra money to fighting against anti-Semitism, offering Trump an exit ramp of altruism rather than direct vindication. So how much would it take for Trump to waive the apology? Would $5 million do it? It certainly would put me in a forgiving mood, but then again, $4 million probably would suffice as well. (Or less. Have yours call mine, Ms. Redstone. We’ll do lunch.) Trump may want to get to a point where he can declare victory and focus more on other issues, especially now that his Iran gambit has essentially reset the political field, both at home and especially abroad (Hot Air).

Change Afoot in Silicon Valley

Edward Ring: Something is happening in California’s Silicon Valley that is going to change America and the world. It’s a cultural shift with implications that will have an impact as profound as what it has already done with its technology. It’s happening from the ground up, changing the attitudes of techies in the Valley and their counterparts across America. The signs were evident for years…. The core ideology that has governed Silicon Valley for decades has been fundamentally libertarian. The valley is populated by entrepreneurs whose successes and failures have been forged in one of the purest ecosystems of meritocracy the world has ever seen. In this heartland of high tech, this epicenter of innovation, this digital wonderland where start-ups are spawned by the millions, thousands of successful companies emerge for just one reason: They build the most compelling products anybody has ever seen…. Now there was an administration in Washington, DC, that was proclaiming out loud the resentments that had been building up for years among the Valley’s most productive contributors. Talented employees and results-oriented executives were able to speak their minds again. It wasn’t as if they all became right-wing zealots. It merely meant they didn’t have to agree with every leftist orthodoxy imaginable. They were set free. And that shift, that small shift, in a place so consequential, shook the woke tower of Barad-dûr to its foundations. Put another way, it was a shift felt around the world (American Greatness). Silicon Valley Business Journal on Democrat Congressman Sam Liccardo: Liccardo pointed to what he described as growing disillusionment among Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and executives toward Democratic policies under the Biden administration…. “We were the party of obstacles, and we couldn’t get out of our own way,” he said. “We need to understand that Democrats are losing Silicon Valley, and we’re doing this with a lot of self-inflicted wounds” (Silicon Valley Business Journal).

10.

California Poised to Pass Sweeping Abortion Bill

California Family Council: CFC is sounding the alarm on a sweeping abortion bill in California, AB 260, which is headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee after passing the Assembly and clearing two Senate hearings. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Napa), is being hailed by pro-abortion advocates as a shield against out-of-state legal interference, but CFC warns it comes at the expense of women’s health and safety, and the lives of unborn babies. The legislation would allow pharmacies to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone without listing the name of the prescribing doctor or pharmacy. It also prohibits California licensing boards and agencies from disciplining providers or facilities that prescribe, manufacture, or distribute abortion drugs, even if they have been penalized under laws in other states (California Family).

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