Today, the President of the United States, the 45th/47th, Donald J. Trump turns 80 years old. In real time, we are watching our president slowly decline in physical and mental form.
Only five years ago, Trump was talking about how Joe Biden was "Sleepy Joe" and his allies were concerned about his cognitive decline.
Well, Mr. President...
Being the oldest serving U.S. president does have its downsides.
Being born in the Boomer generation, Trump inherited his views from his parents. Trump was born in a time where the U.S. must be the good guys despite the generations of chaos its inflicted upon the world. Economic policies like capitalism is the common good. White men always represents leadership in the U.S.
We look at Blacks, Arabs, gays, transgenders and non Christian, non Jewish and non Americans as the enemy.
Since 1948, Israel established a cruel manifest destiny. Expel the Arabs and grow the region for a Jewish only ethnostate. Use relics of the 20th Century to raise concerns about how the fraught for existence remains in their right and no one else.
The Israeli military strikes on Beirut on Sunday targeting infrastructure, despite ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the U.S.-Iran war. Smoke could be seen rising over the Lebanese capital.
The attacks threatened to hamper negotiations over a deal, which in its current form is a deep disappointment to Israel’s government. The last time Israel struck the Beirut suburbs a week ago, it set off the most serious escalation of fighting between Iran and Israel since the tenuous ceasefire took hold April 7.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were in response to Hezbollah attacks on the north of the country. Israel’s military said earlier in the day that Hezbollah had launched three projectiles into northern Israel, releasing footage where an audible boom was followed by a column of smoke rising above the tree line..
Truth.
Israel is trying to derail any peace talks by continuing these aggressions.
Sitting at 28%, Trump is completely out of touch with the American people. On Sunday night, the White House will be the grounds for a UFC fight on Paramount+.
This comes as the biggest waste of taxpayer money. Second to the military parade that he held last year before he launched the first attack on Iran.
Famed film critic Gene Shalit passed away on Friday.
Famed film critic Gene Shalit has passed away at the age of 100. The fast talking witty film critic and journalist was famous in the 1970s until 2010s.
Shalit, a movie critic and arts reporter for the “Today” show over four decades who was known for his puffy hair, oversized handlebar mustache and affection for groan-inducing puns, has died. He was 100.
Shalit’s family announced the death Friday to NBC News, saying in a statement that he “passed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life.”
Shalit joined “Today” as a contributor in 1970 and became arts editor in 1973, later settling in for his segment, “Critic’s Corner.” When he left the show in 2010, he was one of the last high-profile film critics on a major network.
“What resonated above his unusual appearance was his incredible wit, his remarkable intelligence. But he didn’t pound you over the head with it. He amused you. He enlightened and amused whatever subject he was on,” Guy Ludwig, Shalit’s producer for more than 20 years, wrote in an essay of his time.
It was no coincidence that Chicago critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel’s local “thumbs-up, thumbs-down” movie-review program, “Sneak Previews,” went national on PBS in the late 1970s and that “Today” show’s ABC rival, “Good Morning America,” hired Joel Siegel to be its movie critic in 1981.
Famed for the mustache and cigars, Gene would offer a honest take on films.
“Shalit was instrumental in changing the balance of critical power in America. When he began his ‘Today’ tenure, newspapers and magazines were the primary sources for movie reviews. That’s where cinematic opinion was sparked and shaped,” The Plain Dealer wrote in 2010, calling Shalit “Daniel Boone in a bow tie and Groucho glasses.”
Magazine Work Led To NBC Offer
Shalit started as an entertainment columnist for McCall’s magazine, eventually becoming senior film critic for Look magazine in 1968 and writing for Ladies’ Home Journal. His popularity in magazines led to an offer from NBC.
“No one at NBC had seen him. They’d only read his stuff. So he walked into this executive’s office and the executive took one look at him and said, ‘Mr. Shalit, have you ever thought of radio?’” wrote Ludwig. “They didn’t know how the public would react to someone who looked so different from people who were typically on TV in 1967.”
On the air, Shalit was a middle-of-the-road critic. Of 1986’s classic “Stand By Me,” he said it was different from other movies about youth “because of instead of grossing you out, ‘Stand by You’ is engrossing.”
“Many critics will give so much of the plot of a movie away that they destroy the movie for the viewer... I just don’t give away the story,” he told The Associated Press in 1993.
Trump’s 80th birthday was full of disappointments.
A federal court ordered the removal of President Donald J. Trump's name from the Kennedy Center of Arts. I wonder if he is going to take his frustrations out on the nephew of the late 35th President Of The United States.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is the nephew of John F. Kennedy and son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Sr.
Kennedy is a Republican (formerly a Democrat).
Anyway, the Kennedy Center is beginning the process of removing references to President Donald Trump a week after a federal judge ruled that his name had been illegally added to the performing arts center.
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, said in a statement to The Associated Press that “we are complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump’s leadership.”
In a Thursday memo to staff from the Kennedy Center’s Office of General Counsel, the institution’s lawyers said email signatures, letterhead and other documents must reflect the name as “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center.”
The changes, the memo said, must be completed by June 12.
In a May 29 decision, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper also blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that had been planned to start in July.
Hours after the ruling, Trump said he was backing away from the revamp and making arrangements to relinquish control to Congress of what, until the Republican president’s second term, had been known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The next day, Trump on social media branded Cooper as “an anti Trump Hater” and predicted that the performing arts center that he wanted to shutter for a two-year overhaul will “soon be closed, probably never to open again.”
Clearly angered by his latest legal setback, he said it was “impossible for me to be treated fairly,” tying Cooper’s ruling to earlier losses, including the Supreme Court’s rejection in February of his sweeping tariffs.
The removal marked a setback in the president’s second-term plans to remake many of Washington’s landmarks — and add new ones.
On Thursday, his administration said renovations had been completed on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, painting the bottom what Trump has called “American flag blue.” The White House East Wing was demolished to build a large ballroom, and Trump plans to build an arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Over 60% of Americans believe the president is not focused on the issues that got him reelected. The president’s refusal to reign in on inflation, his endless insults on people, this war with Iran, abandoning his America First agenda, the refusal to release the Epstein files and the slow job growth has him at record lows.
Trump has a job approval ot 31%. The MAGA base 83%. Republicans 78%. Democrats 11%. Independents 14%.
Vice President JD Vance has a job approval of 35%.
An old white man and his son, a middle age man who have ties to Jewish interests, Israel and the Republican Party now can control the junk food media's platforms.
Larry and David Ellison own Oracle, GrubHub, NetSuite, TikTok U.S., Paramount Skydance and with the U.S. Justice Department approval, they will own Warner Bros. Discovery.
The list of companies that operate under Paramount Skydance include: CBS, CBS News, CBS Radio (which ended in 2026), Paramount+, MTV Network, VH1, Nickelodeon, BET, Comedy Central, TVLand, Pluto TV, part of The CW (majority Nexstar, part of WBD and Paramount Skydance), Showtime, The Smithsonian Channel, Flix, The Movie Channel, Logo, CMT and POP TV.
They own the libraries of The Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Avatar Studios, SpongeBob SquarePants, Mission Impossible, 60 Minutes, The Young and The Restless, Beyond The Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, the UFC, Bevis and Butthead, etc.
Now they will own Turner Networks, HBO, HBO Max, CNN, Cinemax, Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network, TNT, Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, DC Entertainment, etc.
An investigation by the U.S. Justice Department into Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery has determined that the mammoth Hollywood media merger is not likely to harm competition in the industry or be harmful for consumers.
The agency said Friday that it closed its probe into the deal, with regulators at its antitrust division concluding that the impact of the merger “will be to increase competition across the media and entertainment ecosystem, with benefits for American consumers and workers.”
Ellison’s Paramount Skydance reached a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in late February. Paramount’s victory came after months of negotiations and a rival bid by Netflix that ultimately fell short. Paramount was bought by Skydance last year.
The companies contend that merging will be good for growth in the industry and give consumers access to more content, particularly if the HBO Max and Paramount+ libraries are combined. But critics have decried what further consolidation could mean in an industry already controlled by just a few major players.
Among the potential market impacts from the merger, regulators weighed whether the deal would hurt competition in video streaming. They concluded that the merger would likely increase competition by giving customers a more “robust competitive alternative” to larger video streaming alternatives.
The agency also determined that YouTube, TikTok and other social media portals that also offer video streaming content “do not appear to be competitive substitutes here under well-established antitrust legal precedents, although they compete broadly for consumer attention.”
Regulators also concluded that the merger is not likely to harm competition for so-called linear television, citing a strong competition for live programming.
On the question of competition in Hollywood, regulators found that the combination of two major film studio operators is not likely to harm competition in studio development, production or distribution of films for theatrical release.
“Instead, evidence shows extensive competition within the industry, which has generated greater output and diversity of film offerings, and is likely to continue unabated,” regulators concluded.
Thousands of actors, directors, writers and other industry professionals have voiced “unequivocal opposition” to the Paramount deal, arguing that further consolidation will lead to job losses and fewer choices for filmmakers and moviegoers. Many lawmakers have similarly sounded the alarm.
Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, has pledged to keep Paramount and Warner Bros. as standalone movie studio operations, and vowed to release a combined 30 movies a year in theaters. Paramount has acknowledged the merger will also lead to significant cuts due to duplication.
While the Trump administration’s Justice Department has now confirmed it won’t be challenging Paramount’s $81 billion purchase of Warner, the mega merger is still being reviewed by other regulators both in the U.S. and abroad.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has been particularly vocal about the transaction, and he said his state is investigating it.
Beyond the U.S., European regulators are also looking into the deal. The European Commission has listed July 7 as a tentative deadline for its review. And the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority is aiming to make an initial decision about its probe by early August.
Paramount and Warner previously said that they hoped to close their deal sometime in the third quarter of this year. And that clock is ticking. Paramount pledged to give shareholders some compensation if the acquisition doesn’t close by Sept. 30 — in the form of a 25-cent per share “ticking fee” for every quarter past that date. It has also agreed to a regulatory termination fee of $7 billion.
The controversial decision could hire a former Fox and The View host at CBS.
David Ellison and Bari Weiss are idiots. They are ruining CBS on purpose. They are giving the network a safe space for President Donald J. Trump and Republicans.
Like Fox, Newsmax, Newsnation and Real America's Voice aren't enough.
No one is buying their bullshit. No one is backing the Israeli propaganda. Only the Zionists will follow this catastrophe.
It's been years since Elisabeth Hasselbeck left Fox. She joined the network after a lengthy stint at The View. Her reign was marred with clashes with Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar and the most famous clash, Rosie O'Donnell.
The 49 year old far right agitator is the wife of retired football player turned sports agitator Tim Hasselbeck.
Often speaking from the far right, the Hasselbeck reign originally started in reality television before the move to broadcasting. She was on Survivor. In its second season, Hasselbeck was a controversial contestant who shouted homophobic slurs.
She joined The View and was supportive of then president George W. Bush's invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. She would clash with Rosie O'Donnell after the two got into it over the U.S. killing thousands of civilians. Hasselbeck got praise from Fox and the network worked hard to call O'Donnell a traitor. The stress led to O'Donnell resigning.
Gayle King and Nate Burleson ain't gonna like Hasselbeck.
Hasselbeck continued on as the condescending bitch when interviewing then president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. She would often intrude a Fox or Republican concern into the interview.
She joined Fox in 2012 and was a co host of Fox & Friends. She left the network in 2015.
She made sporadic appearances in 2019 on Fox.
According to Variety, the former View host will serve as a special guest host on CBS Mornings from Monday through Wednesday alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson. Her appearance is reportedly part of a series of on-air tryouts as CBS News looks to revamp its morning programming. Sources who spoke to Variety said Hasselbeck is expected to appear throughout the first half of next week as the network evaluates potential changes to the show’s format and lineup.
She will participate during the program’s 8 am hour, discussing parenting, pop culture, and other lifestyle topics.
Hasselbeck is a bit of an unconventional choice for the CBS morning show, as the program has traditionally focused on serious news and longer interviews, but that style has been changing in recent years, especially under CBS News president Tom Cibrowski, who previously worked on Good Morning America, a show known for covering more entertainment news and pop culture.
Several other personalities are also expected to take part in the on-air auditions as CBS News looks for the right long-term fit. Along with Hasselbeck, network regulars including Vladimir Duthiers and Adriana Diaz are expected to fill in as guest hosts (per Variety).
CBS Mornings is currently anchored by the duo of King and Nate Burleson, ever since Tony Dokoupil was promoted to CBS Evening News.
The move is geared to boost ratings as CBS Mornings has been trailing behind its competitors. This week, the morning news show averaged 1.693 million total viewers and 285,000 demo viewers for the week of June 1, compared with ABC News’ Good Morning America that averaged 2.702 million total viewers and 470,000 demo viewers, and top spot holder Today with an average this week of 2.928 million total viewers and 640,000 demo viewers.
President Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Congress, Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top military officials notified of a major lock down at the Pentagon.
Arlington, Virginia.
A city of 245,000 people. A boomburb that sits right across the Potomac River from the U.S. capital of Washington.
Multiple floors and corridors inside the Pentagon have been locked down and others are being evacuated due to a “hazardous materials incident,” three sources familiar and the local fire department said.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Thursday that systems within the Pentagon “have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance.”
“The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area,” Parnell said. “Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants.”
The Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s hazardous materials response team is responding to the incident with the assistance of the Arlington County Fire Department, according to the department spokesperson Capt. Jamie Jill. A post on social media from the Arlington Fire & EMS said Arlington County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team is operating at the Pentagon “during a hazardous materials incident.”
A message sent by the Pentagon’s security team said an “air quality issue” had been detected and additional testing is needed.
“This additional testing could take one to two hours. Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants if necessary. You may observe response personnel from multiple agencies and precautionary measures taking place in the center courtyard. Please do not interpret these activities,” the message said.
Floors two through five in corridors four through seven of the sprawling Pentagon complex have been locked down, two of the sources said. The third source told CNN that police in the building are wearing gas masks and full chemical protective gear.
Jake The Dweeb got to give up his home to get out.
Looks like he gonna need a lot of bondsmen to spring him out. On top of that, he will miss his court dates in other states which could bring more trouble.
Jake Lang, will this idiot finally get his dues?
Will he need to protect his neck?
Lang, a far-right influencer who was criminally charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection but was later pardoned by President Trump, was arrested in Dallas, Texas, on a state charge of making terroristic threats.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 31-year-old Lang was arrested Tuesday after getting off a flight in Dallas on one third-degree felony count of making a terroristic threat. He was booked into the Dallas County Jail.
The charge comes after photos and videos showed Lang outside the Collin County courthouse several times this past week during the murder trial for teen Karmelo Anthony.
A jury Tuesday found Anthony guilty of murder in the April 2025 stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a track meet in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, and he was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Anthony's family told CBS News on Wednesday that Lang had allegedly threatened to shoot Anthony in the head if he was not convicted of murder.
In a video posted to his X account Tuesday, the voice of a man claiming to be Lang alleges that he is calling from the Dallas County Jail, and says, "They've arrested me for a felony, what's called terroristic threats, simply because I said that if the jury did not find Karmelo Anthony guilty, that we the people will deal with justice. And this is a classic case of lawfare used to squash a First Amendment protester like myself."
In a follow-up social media post, Lang said his bail had been set at $1 million.
CBS News has been unable to reach Lang's legal representation for comment.
Lang's arrest marks his latest run-in with law enforcement since receiving a presidential pardon last year.
He was arrested last week in Frisco, Texas, on a trespassing charge. In March, he was also arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota, on allegations of vandalizing a sculpture on the front steps of the Minnesota Capitol that read "prosecute ICE." Lang's trial in that case is scheduled for next month.
Lang was indicted in 2021 on 11 federal counts for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, including charges of assault on an officer and civil disorder, but he was pardoned by Mr. Trump, along with hundreds of other Jan. 6 defendants, while waiting for his case to go to trial.
Andrew Anthony, Karmelo Anthony's father, told CBS News on Wednesday he felt "somewhat relieved" since Lang was arrested, but added that the family has "got a long journey ahead of us."
Andrew Anthony said the family has continued to receive racially charged death threats in the wake of his son's conviction. Despite the guilty verdict, Karmelo Anthony's family has maintained that Anthony was defending himself during the deadly incident. He did not testify during the trial.
The case drew national attention and brought out dozens of people to the courthouse daily during the trial to protest in support of, and against, Karmelo Anthony.
In the immediate aftermath of the stabbing, Lang was responsible for organizing a protest in support of Metcalf. The flyer for the protest used a picture of Metcalf with a banner reading "Protect White Americans."
Metcalf's father has repeatedly urged the public not to stoke racial tensions and politicize his son's death. In an interview with CBS News Texas Wednesday, Jeff Metcalf said that he forgives Anthony.
The suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Lang has already been called an outside agitator who has ties to Israeli intelligence. He claims he is against Jewish interests.
Anthony is convicted. His lawyers filed an appeal for a new trial. That is up in the air seeing that Colin County could hold another two years before an appeal is heard.
These motherfuckers are celebrating the verdict and hoping more things like this.
White extremists are literally flooding blogs, social media and public arenas thrilled that Anthony was convicted. They are hoping these decisions provoke a race war.
People, please do not resort to the levels of those who profit off the anger. The anger of right wing Americans in the wake of white nationalist Charlie Kirk's death has sparked a censorship and harassment campaign.
Erika Kirk, Elon Musk, Scott Presler, Laura Loomer, Riley Gaines, Lizzy Savetsky, Blaire White, Derrick Evans, Joey Saladino, Hermes, Eric Daughetry, Paul Szypula, Roseanne Barr, Steve Bannon, James Woods, Cam Higby, Kanye West, Tucker Carlson, Catturd, CJ Pearson, Stephen Crowder, Tomi Lahren, Jack Posobiec, Snoop Dogg, Ray J, Waka Flocka Flame, DaBaby, James O'Keefe, Jacob Wohl, Ryan Metta, Buck Sexton, Clay Travis, Mila Joy, Rick Ross, Ben Garrison, Todd Starnes, Jeffrey Mead, Nick Fuentes, Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, Nick Shirley, Roger Stone, Terrence K. Williams, Ian Miles Cheong, Lindy Li, Andy Ngo, Alexis Wilkins, Olivia Krolcyzk, Brandon Tatum, Tom Finton, Nick Cannon, Adin Ross, Candace Owens, Nick Sorter, Patrick Bet-David, Tommy Robinson, Phil McGraw, 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj, Harris Faulkner, Tara Bull, Theodis Daniel, DJ Daniel, Kevin Sorbo, Dean Cain, Simon Abeta, SNEAKO, Rob Schneider, Gunther Eagleman, Nelly, Chaya Raichik, Meghan McCain, Tim Pool, Lauren Southern, Megyn Kelly, Amir Odom, Dom Lucre, Jesse Watters, Debra Lea, Brianna Wu, Bill O'Reilly, Mark Levin, Steve Bannon, Myron Gaines, Rochelle "Silk" Hardaway-Richardson, Juanita Broddrick, Mordechai David, Jake Lang, Larry Elder, Eylon Levy, Ben Shapiro, Dave Rubin, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Chris Cuomo, Nick Sorter, Alex Jones, Owen Shroyer, Bill Cunningham, Andrew Tate, Tristan Tate, Kevin Hodge, Keith Hodge, Sage Steele, Bill Maher, Forgiato Blow, Rick Santorum, Vanilla Ice, Amber Rose, Greg Gutfeld, David Limbaugh, Ian Carroll, Gordon Robertson, Malachi Maxey, April Chapman, Ali Alexander, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, Brent Bozell, Dalton Eatherly, Matt Walsh, Benny Johnson, Olivia Nuzzi, Ryan Lizza, Laura Ingraham, Matt Drudge, Greta Van Susteren, Nancy Grace, Mike Lindell, Clavicular, Vince Langman, Brian Kilmeade, Glenn Beck, Xaviaer DuRousseau, Sean Davis, Ian Jaegar, Christopher Rufo, Joey Mannarino, Sean "Softball" Hannity and every far right agitator in the junk food media scared of being taken out by a gunman. They are scared that the bullet won't miss. They want you to risk your freedom or your life to protect their right to gas you up to commit unspeakable crimes against one another.
Let me be clear: I do not condone violence towards to politicians, media personalities, animals and property. I am not condemning things any longer. I am getting tired of putting empathy on antipathy.
Okay, at least 85% of the president's MAGA base will just dismiss this. Fox will spin it as Democrats going overboard over a "joke." Many in the MAGAsphere will still blame Joe Biden, even though he left the White House in 2025.
Maggie Haberman wrote another book about her muse and it's got Washington talking.
The ceasefire collapsed. The U.S. and Israel continue on their aggression. Israel attacks Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Iran warned that Israel's continued aggression in Gaza and Lebanon will result in a fierce response.
The U.S. loses an Apache helicopter after they claimed an Iranian drone stuck it. Two pilots were rescued. The U.S. strikes Iran and claims it was retaliation.
Let me get this straight: The United States and Israel started a war with Iran and claim that any attack on them is considered an act of aggression. So basically, they want Iran to take the hits so they can force them to abandon their nuclear ambitions. They want the Iranian leadership dismantled. They want free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Yeah, like this shit is gonna happen.
Inflation has soared this month and the president dismissed it. President Donald J. Trump literally said a gaffe that will hurt the Republicans come Midterms.
Trump on Wednesday showed how he had learned to stop worrying about inflation and simply, in his own words, “love” it.
Asked about the new report that the consumer price index in May had jumped 4.2% over the last year, the president took a surprisingly optimistic tack with the challenging news. Trump didn’t dismiss the affordability issue as a “hoax” that was started by Democrats, as he has done previously. Nor did he claim that he was bringing down the cost of living.
Instead, after the government said that inflation spiked to the highest level since April 2023, Trump praised the numbers.
“You know what I really love?” Trump said. “I love the inflation.”
It was an unexpected take given that voters ahead of the November midterm elections have ranked the economy as a top concern — and have given Trump low marks on that issue. Within minutes of his on-camera comment, Democrats quickly rushed to promote it on social media.
Trump had pledged in his 2024 campaign to quickly vanquish inflation, but his argument now is that higher prices are solely a function of the Iran war raising energy costs. On Wednesday, he claimed that relief is already on its way because of a secret military operation that had ferried what he said was 100 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, the primary shipping channel for 20% of the world’s global oil supply that has been effectively closed by the war since late February.
“Trump really said, ‘I love the inflation.’ On camera. For all of America to hear,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) quickly posted on X. “His contempt for you knows no bounds.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said on X that with Trump’s stated love of inflation, “We finally found something that Donald Trump loves as much as he loves himself.”
Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) quickly pressed Energy Secretary Chris Wright at a hearing about whether he, too, loved inflation.
“Do you love inflation?” Sykes asked.
“I love ending Iran’s ability to have a nuclear weapon,” Wright answered. He only conceded after being pressed: “No, I would prefer lower inflation.”
When asked about Trump’s specific comments, Wright said, “He’s an entertaining, hyperbolic guy who’s done tremendous leadership.”
Trump claimed the secretive shipments were why oil prices had fallen below $90 a barrel, after surpassing $110 at the start of April.
“I’m just announcing today for the first time, but we’ve been taking out millions of barrels of oil, millions of barrels every night,” Trump said.
On social media, the president said the mission began last month and had “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.” There was no immediate data available to back up that total, and it was not immediately clear what role the U.S. military had played.
To put that figure into context, a daily average of 20 million barrels of oil had gone through the strait before the war, which would mean that Trump’s mission had resulted in the equivalent of five days’ worth of normal oil shipments.
Responding to the new inflation report, the White House pointed out that some expenses had dropped in May relative to the previous month: the price of new vehicles, prescription drugs and auto insurance, for example. But when the overall inflation number is paired with the change in hourly wages, there is a bleak sign that people’s spending power relative to their earnings has declined.
“President Trump has consistently maintained that oil and gas prices — and thus overall inflation — will plummet once the Iran situation is resolved, and the administration will continue pushing our affordability agenda to enable Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in an email.
But the financial markets were cautious about Trump’s claims that he was lowering prices by getting oil tankers through the strait — claims that came as the United States also launched airstrikes against Iran, and as Tehran fired back at countries in the region.
U.S. crude oil futures climbed roughly 4% on Wednesday, closing at nearly $92 a barrel.
It appears to be Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton for the California governor’s race.
It appears that Dr. Randy Villegas will face off against Rep. David Valadao (R-CA).
The progressives claim victory against a pro Israel Democrat.
California assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains was the Democratic Party's pick for their nominee. Being a physician and Indian American was good. Supporting Israel and continuing to push for the state to continue status quo politics doomed her.
While she was boosted by pro-Israel PACs and the Democratic establishment, her campaign was heavily criticized by the progressive base over a publicized flip-flop on whether Israel's military actions in Gaza constituted a genocide.
Bains received major backing and heavy ad spending from mainstream pro-Israel organizations like the Democratic Majority for Israel PAC and 314 Action, as well as endorsement from the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program.
Villegas clinched the second-place finish for California’s 22nd District Tuesday afternoon following the latest primary election update, according to The Associated Press. He had captured 31.4% of the vote, compared to 26.8% for fellow Democrat Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains. Valadao, who officially advanced last week, had 41.8%.
Dr. Jasmeet Bains, California Assemblywoman was defeated. Her ties to AIPAC, the establishment Democrats doomed her.
When California voters approved a mid decade redistricting, California redrawn its 52 districts to lean more Democratic.
Valadao is likely to win the seat but he does face backlash for his support of President Donald J. Trump and Israel.
The district’s redrawn boundaries under Proposition 50 make the 22nd District inherently more blue. Valadao has historically survived tough elections by running as a moderate independent, but being tethered to a polarizing Trump midterm while defending cuts to local healthcare and unconditional foreign military spending gives the unified Democratic coalition their cleanest shot yet at ousting him.
Villegas has successfully energized the district's working-class, heavily Latino base by directly linking foreign military aid to local economic neglect. Villegas' platform advocates for diverting billions of dollars from U.S. aid to Israel into local healthcare and infrastructure. Valadao's staunchly pro-Israel votes give Villegas a powerful, highly motivating contrast to drive voter turnout among anti-war and younger progressive voters who might otherwise sit out the midterms.
President Donald J. Trump crowns another two. The annoying warmongering gay ass fool Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and that dumb ass bitch Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette advance in the South Carolina primary.
Evette still has to beat off Alan Wilson in the run off but its a lock.
Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Ralph Norman (R-SC) were eliminated. Matter of fact, Mace finished a distanced fourth place. All the noise for nothing.
Trump screwed her and told her to leave the room. Mace decided to give a finger to Evette by backing Wilson.
Evette, who secured a late endorsement from President Donald Trump, and state Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a Republican primary runoff in the race to be the state’s next governor, NBC News projects.
The runoff will take place June 23 after no candidate won more than 50% of vote Tuesday. With more than 80% of the expected vote tallied, Evette was taking 29% support compared to 26% for Wilson.
Squeak, squeak.
The eventual GOP nominee will be a heavy front-runner to replace term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster in the solidly red state this fall.
From the start, the crowded primary race centered on an all-out battle among the top candidates to land Trump’s endorsement. Evette emerged with the nod in the closing weeks of the campaign and has repeatedly promoted it.
On Monday, her campaign blasted out a news release headlined “President Trump Doubles Down on his ‘Complete and Total Endorsement’” of Evette, pointing to another Truth Social post in which Trump touted his support for her. Trump also held a tele-rally Monday evening for Evette and Graham, who is up for re-election.
Choo choo.
Evette name-checked Trump three times in a statement she released after she advanced to the runoff.
“To the great people of South Carolina: thank you,” she said on X. “I am honored and humbled by our first-place finish. This victory would not have been possible without @realDonaldTrump‘s complete and total endorsement and the strong support of Gov. @henrymcmaster. No doubt President Trump’s strong support was the rocket fuel that propelled us to first place. Thank you, Mr. President, for your trust and support. Now, back to work — let’s go win this thing, again!”
What what!
Wilson, the son of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) has been the state’s attorney general for more than 15 years and has touted endorsements from local law enforcement, as well as his service in the South Carolina National Guard.
“Tonight, South Carolina families sent a clear message: they want a Governor who will fight for their families, lower costs, keep communities safe, and put taxpayers first,” Wilson said in a statement. “Conservatives said this office must be earned, not arranged.”
Several high-ranking South Carolina elected Republicans joined Evette in the contest, including Wilson and Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman. Self-funding businessman Rom Reddy also gained steam late in the race.
Beep beep.
Earlier in the campaign, Mace looked like she might have an inside track to Trump’s endorsement, enjoying a close relationship with him. Mace worked for Trump’s 2016 campaign, but after she won her seat in 2020, she turned sharply critical of him following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. But in the run-up to Trump’s 2024 re-election bid, Mace returned to the fold as a stalwart ally, boosting him in her state’s presidential primary against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
“No one will work harder to earn his endorsement,” Mace said in a statement last fall.
But the relationship began to sour as Mace, along with other Republican women in Congress, championed the release of the federal government’s files on the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mace late last year lost one of her top advisers, who said she “yet again decided to turn her back on MAGA.”
Mace wound up finishing a distant fifth in the primary, placing third or fourth in the counties within the congressional district she represents, the 1st.
Mace said Tuesday she would throw her support behind Wilson, whom she was previously deeply critical of, after having made amends with him.
Whomp whomp.
“Serving South Carolina has been the greatest honor of my life,” she said in a statement, adding: “I voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that. As a survivor, I chose to stand on principle and stand against the Epstein cover-up. I chose to expose the names hidden in the sexual harassment slush fund. I chose to expose DEI judges. I chose to expose the abusers of children. And apparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election.”
“I’m at peace with that,” she continued. “Because when a candidate is OK with corruption and cover-ups — something is broken. ... This isn’t the end of the fight. It’s just the end of this chapter.”
Norman was a long shot for Trump’s endorsement from the get-go, given he was Haley’s lone congressional backer during her 2024 presidential run.
Reddy, a far lesser-known candidate, refused to take any campaign donations and expressed deep skepticism of building AI-powering data centers in the state, saying at a gubernatorial debate in April that he was “dead opposed” to their construction.
The teen accused of stabbing another teen during a sporting event in Texas was found guilty.
Let this sink in..
Yearly Wrap Up.
A man who shot a teen in the back after accusing him of stealing bottle water in Columbia, South Carolina walks.
The Republicans in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida are trying to erase Black districts.
There are people hoping that Dalton Eatherly walks after provoking a man into fighting him but ends up shooting him.
Ten Black people in the U.S. and Great Britain were found in places where many believe they were lynched.
You can chase a Black teen in a gated community and claim that he was up to no good. Instead of letting the police handle it, you can shoot a teen and claim he came at you. You can walk.
You tell the officer you a licensed carry Black man. The cop demands you get your license and you calmly reach for it. But as you are reaching for your license and the cop shoots you in front of a woman and your child. The cops has a breakdown and cries while you are bleeding to death. Hell, you get away with it and still keep a pension.
Y'all tell me that racism is over.
The prediction is as stated:
A trigger will set off a major series of unrest come September. President Donald J. Trump will call for martial law once the unrest starts affecting his poll numbers.
He will suspend U.S. elections and the country will go into a freefall. People who abide by the president’s declaration will survive the rounds being fired upon everyone else.
China, Russia and every country the U.S. had an issue with will have vindication knowing that they were right all along.
Karmelo Anthony, you weren't white. You weren’t privileged and the system was stacked against you the moment we heard no Black or biracial jurors.
The system failed you.
A teen was found guilty of murder over the fatal stabbing of another teen at a high school track meet last year and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Anthony, 19, was indicted on first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025.
Prosecutors called the stabbing "senseless" and "plain and simple murder," while the defense argued that Anthony acted in self-defense.
Angry is the last thing. Karmelo Anthony was harassed by that asshole. He had to defend himself and it seems like the justification was not credible.
Ahead of closing arguments on Tuesday, the judge decided that jurors could also consider manslaughter, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The jury began deliberating midday Tuesday before reaching the guilty murder verdict in three hours, according to a court spokesperson. The same jury reached a decision on the sentence after several more hours of deliberation on Tuesday.
After being remanded to the custody of the sheriff's office, Anthony could be seen crying when he returned to the court for the punishment phase, according to ABC Dallas affiliate WFAA, which was in the courtroom for the trial.
Anthony's mother was the only person to take the stand during the punishment phase, asking the jurors to show him mercy as he is sorry for what he did, WFAA reported. The judge said that Anthony waived his right to testify during the punishment phase, according to the station.
The murder charge carries a sentence of five years to life in prison. The state agreed to allow jurors to consider "sudden passion," which, if proven, would have limited the sentence from two to 20 years, according to WFAA. The defense argued that Anthony was overwhelmed by a strong emotion and acted before having time to calm down.
The deadly stabbing occurred at a Frisco Independent School District stadium on April 2, 2025, during a track and field competition involving multiple schools in the district.
Police said Metcalf, an 11th grader at Frisco Memorial High School, was stabbed during an altercation under his school's tent in the stadium bleachers. Witnesses said the two got into an argument over Anthony, a then-17-year-old student at Frisco Centennial High School, being under Metcalf's school tent during the rainy track meet.
Jurors heard testimony over four days at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas. Anthony did not take the stand in his own defense.
Judge John Roach imposed a gag order in the case, restricting what those involved can say, and barred any electronics from the courtroom during the trial due to the attention the case has garnered.
Collin County First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye told jurors that the stabbing was not self-defense but "unjustified" murder, according to WFAA.
In his closing argument on Tuesday, Wirskye claimed that Anthony provoked Metcalf, questioned why the defendant didn't walk away and called the stabbing disproportionate.
"You don't get to meet a shove with a stab -- especially if you provoke a shove," Wirskye told jurors, according to WFAA.
Defense attorney Mike Howard told jurors that Anthony had gone to the Memorial tent to get out of the rain when Metcalf confronted him and told him to leave, WFAA reported. Howard said Anthony "acted in fear and chaos" after Metcalf pushed him, and stabbed the other teen in self-defense, according to WFAA.
During his closing argument on Tuesday, Howard said Metcalf had "no legal right" to use force on Anthony, WFAA reported. In response to contentions that Anthony could have just left, the defense attorney said, "I am sure he wishes he did," according to WFAA.
Multiple students who were at the track meet that day testified that they saw Metcalf push Anthony, who was seated on the bleacher, with some describing it as a two-handed push, like a "lineman move," while others said it was a one-handed "small shove," WFAA reported.
Now Austin Metcalf is fair game for online trolls to make jokes about.
One witness testified that Anthony was asked to leave the tent about 15 times, according to WFAA. Some recalled Anthony saying, "Touch me and see what happens," during the altercation, which witnesses said lasted about four to six minutes, according to WFAA. Another witness quoted Metcalf as telling Anthony, "I'm not going to fight you," the station reported.
Surveillance footage from the track meet played in court did not show the stabbing, and some of the witnesses were asked to demonstrate the incident, according to WFAA.
After the stabbing, witnesses said Anthony jogged away from the tent, and a coach who spoke to him on the track testified that he said, "He put his hands on me. I stabbed him," according to WFAA.
A pocket knife used in the stabbing was found on the bleachers, police said. Collin County Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Ventura testified that Metcalf was stabbed on the left side of his chest, and the knife perforated his right ventricle, according to WFAA.
Several people spoke during the trial of the efforts to save Metcalf. A football coach who was helping at the track meet testified that he put pressure on the stab wound, and Memorial's athletic trainer said she did CPR until paramedics arrived, according to WFAA.
"Everybody was praying," Memorial High School head track coach Robert Starr said in emotional testimony, according to WFAA. "I just knew Austin was gone."
Metcalf was transported to an area hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead, police said.
Frisco ISD reacted to the verdict, saying in a statement, "We respect the judicial process and will continue to support our students with compassion and care."
"We know this trial has brought strong emotions and deep grief, and we ask that our community continue to support each other with respect, sensitivity and understanding," the statement continued.
Fuck Trump.
Fuck Greg Abbott.
Fuck the whole state of Texas.
Fuck Israel.
Start protecting your wallet, your Black sons and daughters.
The 80 year old curmudgeon ignored the fans boos at Madison Square Garden on Monday. He dismissed it as just rowdy fans.
President Donald J. Trump's appearance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals was not his best moment. He will feel more comfortable attending the UFC 250 at the White House.
He is actually 79 years old. He will turn 80 on Sunday.
The UFC event takes place that night and will be streamed on Paramount+.
Dana White, Vince McMahon, Larry and David Ellison have stakes in this event. A bunch of fucking elitists watching people injure themselves for entertainment.
The president's birthday is on June 14, Flag Day.
He will not celebrate Juneteenth which happens on June 19.
Okay, the San Antonio Spurs came back from a small deficit to beat the New York Knicks for a win of 115 to 111. The fans blame the president for the loss. The Knicks were hoping for a sweep.
The sweep ended tonight.
Victor Wembanyama had 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists in his first NBA Finals win, carrying the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-111 victory on Monday night that cut the New York Knicks’ lead to 2-1.
The Spurs handed the Knicks their first loss in 46 days and potentially salvaged their season in front of a Madison Square Garden crowd that included Trump.
The Knicks had their 13-game winning streak, the second-longest in NBA postseason history, snapped and missed a chance to move to the brink of their first championship since 1973.
Game 4 in New York.
Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox hit big shots late as the Spurs avoided falling into a 3-0 hole, which no NBA team has escaped. Now they can tie the series Wednesday night and are guaranteed another game at home, with Game 5 scheduled for Saturday.
Castle finished with 23 points as the Spurs got started in their quest to become the first team to win the NBA Finals after losing the first two at home.
Jalen Brunson scored 32 points and OG Anunoby had 28 for the Knicks, who lost for the first time since April 23 in Game 3 of their first-round series against Atlanta.
Fans who endured long lines to get in with the extra security measures in place — and some who paid five-figure sums for the chance to do so — were treated to a back-and-forth game in the NBA Finals’ first trip to Madison Square Garden since 1999.
Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 Frenchman whose turnover late in Game 2 ended the Spurs’ hopes, didn’t make many mistakes Monday. He had 10 points in the final quarter, helping the Spurs build just enough of a cushion to withstand another Brunson comeback attempt.
Minutes after Trump was loudly booed while shown during the national anthem, the Spurs got off to an ideal start. Wembanyama dunked for their first two baskets and they had a double-digit lead 4 1/2 minutes into the game. San Antonio made nine of its first 11 shots, with the Knicks and their fans frustrated by the referees and the home team’s sloppy play, and led 33-22 after one.
The Garden crowd didn’t really start to rock until Anunoby’s 3-pointer capped an 11-2 surge that cut it to 40-38. The Knicks got their first lead of the night on Brunson’s 26-footer as part of a big burst to finish the half. New York led 64-57 at the break.
But the Spurs went back ahead in the third quarter and led 111-104 on Castle’s 3-pointer with 1:53 to play. Castle then closed the scoring with two free throws with 6.8 seconds left after Anunoby’s 3-pointer cut it to two.
Trump appeared to fall asleep when he attended the game.
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag will move from Los Angeles. Pratt loses his primary to Karen Bass and Nithya Raman.
President Donald J. Trump and Republicans are fuming over the shocking loss of reality television agitator Spencer Pratt.
While he was vying for the challenger spot, a progressive candidate quickly overtaken his spot.
It appears that a moderate Democrat will face off against a progressive Democrat.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will face City Council member Nithya Raman in a runoff election for Bass’ job in November, NBC News projects, teeing up a one-on-one matchup between two Democrats.
Bass and Raman, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, emerged from a crowded all-party primary field that included former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, a registered Republican who ran an insurgent campaign focused on criticizing Bass for her response to the Los Angeles wildfires last year.
Since no candidate earned more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers go to a runoff this fall. NBC News previously projected Bass would advance to the general election.
While Pratt was in second place behind Bass on election night, the successive vote tallies have been more Democratic-leaning, allowing Raman to surpass Pratt. It’s part of a pattern all over California in this primary, with late-counted votes leaning more Democratic after a late surge in turnout by party members.
Bass, a former member of Congress, was first elected mayor in 2022, when she defeated real estate developer Rick Caruso in an expensive race. But she faced backlash during and after last year’s destructive wildfires, including for being out of the country when they broke out. The fires burned over 16,000 structures, and at times, fire hydrants and water tanks ran out of water, limiting efforts to fight the blaze.
In March, 56% of respondents in a Los Angeles Times poll of the city said they had unfavorable views of the mayor.
It was against that backdrop that Raman decided this year to launch a bid for mayor, despite close political ties with Bass. Raman had endorsed Bass for re-election before she entered the race herself, and Bass backed her during her contested City Council re-election campaign in 2024.
During her campaign launch, Raman told supporters: “My team and I have tried so hard to intervene aggressively on the most urgent issues that this city is facing, our housing and homelessness crisis, building a better safety response, getting our basic services to work for people. But over and over again, in the building, in City Hall, I found myself running into a wall of reluctance, a reluctance to move forward with the transformative policy change that this city needs right now.”
Bass pushed back during the campaign, arguing that Raman failed to use her seat on the council to push the changes she says are necessary. “The problem,” Bass said at a debate with Raman before the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association in May, “is that for you to act like you’re brand new or you’ve been on the outside for the last almost six years is not accurate.”
On the campaign trail, Bass also acknowledged the public’s frustrations over issues like the wildfires and widespread homelessness in Los Angeles while touting progress her administration has made. And in an election night speech last week, Bass projected confidence about re-election, though it wasn’t clear at that point whom she would face in the runoff.
Friendly fire.
“I appreciate you for believing in me. I appreciate you for standing with me when others doubted me, because you know who I am,” Bass said. “I have devoted my entire life to serving the city that I love, where I was born, and I’m going to continue to do that all the way to victory in November.”
Bass’ wobbly standing with voters led to challenges from both the left and the right. Pratt’s presence in the race, from the social media videos he amplified to the broadsides he delivered against Bass, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other prominent state Democrats, drew higher-than-usual levels of national attention to the election. Pratt, the former star of 2000s MTV show “The Hills,” lost his house in last year’s fires.
He not only blamed Bass for the mass destruction from last year’s wildfires but also pledged to eliminate the city’s homelessness crisis if he were elected.
President Donald Trump didn’t issue a formal endorsement, but he praised Pratt’s bid, saying: “I’d like to see him do well. He’s a character.”
Raman’s move to the runoff election will create a very different type of race from the one Bass would have had against Pratt.
Before the primary, a Los Angeles Times poll tested three one-on-one matchups. The survey showed both Bass and Raman with wide leads in potential matchups with Pratt, with the results looking like a more traditional partisan contest.
But the Democrat-versus-Democrat matchup between Bass and Raman was different. Raman took 32% support to Bass’ 28% in that scenario in the poll — a lead within the margin of error — while a whopping 40% of respondents said they weren’t sure or wouldn’t vote, pointing to a more volatile campaign and more voters unsure about what they want to do.
President Donald J. Trump and his family are expected to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York City. That means that mayor Zohran Mamdani will have to accommodate the president.
The U.S. Secret Service, New York Police Department, New York State Police and the Port Authority Of New York and New Jersey will make arrangements for the safety of the president.
Fans will not be able to watch the game from Madison Square Garden.
Oh, Israel attacked Lebanon. Iran strikes Israel in response to the ceasefire violations.
Oil prices are spiking again. The U.S. Oil Strategic Reserves are drying up.
More people are losing their jobs over the amount of jobs established.
There is an emergency lawsuit to halt Paramount+ and UFC from hosting Freedom 250 on the grounds of the White House. The event is expected to take place on June 14, the president's birthday.
The 80 year old also was handed defeats. A federal judge ordered that Trump's name is to be removed from the Kennedy Center and U.S. Institute of Peace.
With the Knicks in the finals for the first time since 1999 and leading the series 2-0, their first home game this round is a hot ticket. The get-in price exceeds the average cost of rent in the biggest U.S. city.
As of Sunday evening, the cheapest upper-deck seats available were going for over $6,000 on secondary markets like StubHub, SeatGeek and VividSeats. The experience of being courtside goes for more than $75,000.
“I don’t care who you are, that’s a lot of money for a ticket,” said guard Jose Alvarado, a New York native who was planning a viewing party in Brooklyn and pointed out his Queens high school also is hosting one. “People that could afford it, we’re grateful with them coming out, and it just shows you our team is really special and we’re doing something here that hasn’t been done in a long time.”
The Knicks are two victories away from their first championship since 1973, and the hoopla for Game 3 includes the anticipated appearances of President Donald Trump and Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Trump’s presence canceled a planned watch party outside the arena, where fans have gathered throughout this run that has included a 13-game winning streak.
“Hope has been brought back to the city,” center Karl-Anthony Towns said. Teammate Josh Hart expects “it’s going to be rocking” but lamented the high cost just to get into the Garden.
“I kind of wish the ticket prices weren’t as crazy as they are,” Hart said. “I feel like a lot of people who have been waiting for this moment for a very long time unfortunately aren’t able to get into the building.”
No NBA team has gone up 2-0 in the finals on the road and not won the series. The possibility of a sweep drove ticket prices up to over $10,000 apiece, and an if-necessary Game 6 is around the same cost.
Under 20,000 people will get the opportunity to attend each night. Alvarado knows far more will be watching on television all over.
“The people that can’t afford it, we improvise,” he said. “We’re New Yorkers. We’re going to find a way to watch a game, and that’s what we’re doing.
