Today’s Headlines: Iran has a new Supreme Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah, who is reportedly a bigger hardliner than his father — whose death he can thank the U.S. and/or Israel for, along with his wife's. Trump immediately called him "unacceptable," which might've been useful information before the bombing campaign began. The U.S. death toll from Iranian retaliatory strikes is now at 8, oil just crossed $100 a barrel for the first time in four years, and the White House press secretary went on Fox News and refused to rule out a draft. Meanwhile, the CIA is reportedly arming Kurdish forces to stir up an internal uprising in Iran, while U.S. and Israeli officials are discussing sending special forces in to secure Iran's nuclear stockpile. Meanwhile, the White House blocked intelligence agencies from issuing a terrorism threat warning to local law enforcement about rising domestic risks tied to the war. When Trump was asked about Americans dying on home soil, he said "some people will die. When you go to war, some people will die."  Elsewhere in the hemisphere, Trump held a "Shield of the Americas" summit at his Doral golf club — because of course he did — gathering 17 Latin American leaders to announce a military coalition against cartels, with fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem elevated to special envoy of the whole thing. Trump also started floating regime change in Cuba, because the Iran war apparently wasn't enough. In other chaos: Hungary detained seven Ukrainian bank employees carrying $82 million in cash and two armored vehicles, which Ukraine called "state terrorism." Two teenagers from Pennsylvania were arrested for attempting to set off explosive devices outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's home during dueling protests. Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have forced disclosure of Epstein's financial records, and no one is asking any follow-up questions about that. And Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales — currently under House Ethics investigation — is dropping his reelection bid but refusing to resign his seat.



Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:



WSJ: Live Updates: Iran Picks Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader

NYT: Pentagon Announces Seventh U.S. Death in War With Iran

Axios: U.S. weighs sending special forces to seize Iran's nuclear stockpile

CNN: CIA working to arm Kurdish forces to spark uprising in Iran, sources say

The Daily Beast: Leavitt Refuses to Rule Out Drastic Troops Option for Iran War

Yahoo: Trump White House Reportedly Blocking Intelligence Report Warning of Homeland Security Threats in Midst of Iran War

Time: Trump's War With Iran

The Hill: Trump revamps war on drugs with ‘Shield of the Americas’ endeavor

NPR: Trump vows to 'take care of Cuba,' praises Venezuela cooperation at summit

NYT: Oil Prices Surge Above $100 a Barrel for the First Time in Almost Four Years

WSJ: U.S. Has a Big Ask for China: Buy Less Oil from Russia, More From America

Bloomberg: US Considers Easing Russia Oil Sanctions

NBC News: Hungary detains Ukrainians carrying $82 million in cash and gold; Kyiv calls it a hostage-taking

NBC New York: Mayor Mamdani was home when protesters lit device outside Gracie Mansion

AP News: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney calls for Mountbatten-Windsor's removal from line of succession

KOBI 5: Sen. Ron Wyden pushes for senate passage of Epstein bank records bill

Politico: Tony Gonzales drops reelection bid among pressure from GOP



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