From international banking worries to the market state of canary-in-the-coal-mine Oracle, the AI bubble is sure looking taut.
After decades of reliable bipartisan backing for Israel, a new AP-NORC poll reveals a dramatic erosion of support for the longtime U.S. ally, with rising opposition from Democrats and signs of division among Republicans.
Before the U.S.-Israeli war, the Iranian regime appeared to face an existential threat stemming from its violent repression of dissent in January and chronic grievances over corruption and the economy. But now the Islamic Republic is exuding bold confidence. read more
The conclusion is likely to be questioned by those who think this world is virtual. read more
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk maintains an extremely close relationship with Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr. Under Carr's leadership ... read more
Platner's unraveling may keep the Senate in play for Democrats
thehill.com
... It looks like Graham Platner won't be putting oyster stew on the Senate Dining Room menu any time soon.
In the wake of the most serious allegations yet against the scandal-soaked Democratic Senate nominee -- this time that he raped an erstwhile girlfriend in 2021 -- the months-long drumbeat from party leaders to get him out of the race may yet succeed.
Platner vehemently denies the charge but given that his most recent scandals prior to the rape claim involved acknowledged misconduct in his marriage and prior relationships, he may have finally run out of goodwill among his supporters. When he posted his video dismissing the allegation, Platner was already speaking in the past tense about his candidacy and said that he would be evaluating the "best path forward."
That's candidate-ese for "I have to talk to my donors and prominent endorsers and see if they're dropping me."
Maine law gives him until July 13 to withdraw in favor of state Democrats' designated replacement. The first batch of post-primary polls in Platner's race against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) already showed him weighed down by his baggage, so if he did try to hang on, Platner would find that many of his onetime boosters -- folks who had developed an ethical relativism worthy of a Trump flak -- probably wouldn't be up for any more shucking on his behalf. ...
The smart play for Democrats, and probably Platner himself, is to try a do-over. Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who began her candidacy reluctantly, now seems like she's champing at the bit. If Platner goes quietly, Democrats could quickly get Collins and the GOP back on the defensive and keep the chance of retaking the Senate alive.
The math isn't great for Democrats. They have to win eight of 11 competitive Senate races this year to take back the Senate for the first time since 2014. ...
Trump says U.S. will win Iran war "one way or the other" as Tehran holds funeral for supreme leader
www.cbsnews.com
... President Trump said Monday the U.S. will win the Iran war "one way or the other." ...
Another view ...
Khamenei funeral signals Iran's defiance and new regional order
www.reuters.com
...Summary
- - - Khamenei's funeral becomes post-war show of defiance
- - - Sea of mourners deliver message that Iran survived
- - - Iran turns survival in war into leverage over Hormuz
- - - Hormuz now drives Tehran's strategy, not nuclear file
- - - Iran uses time, geography, leverage to reshape diplomacy
The funeral of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was more than a national farewell. The sea of mourners in Tehran sent a message to the United States and Israel that their attempt to break the Islamic Republic had failed.
Rather than looking weakened by the war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, Iran presented itself as defiant, unified and determined to shape what comes next. ...
@#31 ... while several prominent supporters revoked their endorsements. ... ...
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Platner faces calls to withdraw after sexual assault allegation
abcnews.com
... Maine Democratic Party officials released a statement calling on Platner to withdraw as the party's nominee for Senate.
"Over the past several weeks, multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner. Today's statements take those allegations even further," party Chair Charlie Dingman, Vice Chair Imke Schessler and Exective Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a joint statement. "The Maine Democratic Party leadership stands with women and survivors, and that principle does not bend based on party affiliation. We respect the women who made the hard decision to come forward. Speaking up is often costly."
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, called on Platner to withdraw and said the committee would not invest in the race if Platner doesn't. ...
Found this also. Basically the same info as above, plus ....
Trump Confidante Makes Jaw-Dropping Claim About McConnell's State
www.thedailybeast.com
... But Desiree Townsend, the journalist who first obtained a recording from emergency responders saying McConnell was unconscious after suffering a cardiac arrest on June 14, wrote on X: "I have heard the same thing from my sources for days. At this point, I am at the hospital for when they eventually decide to... cut him off of life support and move his body. His Capitol police detail is still here as of 3:39 p.m. ET."
"I think this whole situation surrounding Mitch McConnell just became far more serious," wrote Kylie Jane Kremer, the executive director of the MAGA organization Women for America First, in a post to X.
Later Monday night, Loomer followed up on her initial post, claiming that a White House source told her McConnell was in "organ failure." ...
Found this ...
'Mitch McConnell Is Not Coming Back:' Laura Loomer Makes Big Claim As Wife Elaine Chao's China Trip Draws Scrutiny
www.timesnownews.com
... Laura Loomer claimed on X that a source told her Sen. Mitch McConnell is "officially brain dead" and "not coming back," but the allegation has not been confirmed by McConnell's office.
Political commentator and top Trump ally Laura Loomer has claimed that Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell is "officially brain dead" and "not coming back," citing what she described as a "high level source close to the White House."
In a post on X, Loomer wrote, "NEW: High level source close to the White House tells me 'Mitch McConnell is officially brain dead. He's not coming back.'"
Neither McConnell's office nor official Senate sources have confirmed Loomer's claim. McConnell's office has not publicly commented on the allegation. ...
Graham Platner considering best path forward' in Maine Senate race after denying sexual assault claim
www.nbcnews.com
... Jenny Racicot, who once dated Platner, said he showed up at her home in 2021 and forced himself on her. Platner said the allegation is "categorically false."
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner is denying a new allegation of sexual assault, an explosive development injecting tumult into a race that is central to the Democratic Party's path to winning back the Senate.
Despite the denial, Platner said in a video that he is taking "time to reflect on the best path forward" with his candidacy, while several prominent supporters revoked their endorsements. ...
@#88 ... Plot twist: Balogun scores an own goal tonight.... ...
Another plot twist...
Mr Balogun is an American citizen because of birthright citizenship.
Folarin Balogun
en.wikipedia.org
... Balogun was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Yoruba Nigerian parents.[7][8]
His parents were living in London, and visited New York when his mother was seven months pregnant with him. Airline staff did not allow her to board the family's return flight to London due to safety concerns over the advanced state of her pregnancy, and Balogun was subsequently born in New York.[9]
He returned to the United Kingdom with his parents when he was two months old and grew up in London.[10][11][12] ...
FACT FOCUS: Experts say Trump's claims linking Democrats to communism are inaccurate
apnews.com
... President Donald Trump has been warning recently that communism will pose a threat to the U.S. if Democrats win in the upcoming midterm elections.
"It's the biggest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor, September 11th," he said on Wednesday, segueing into a political message as he visited the newly constructed Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota.
Last week, he referred to Democrats as "hard core, godless Communists" at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's 2026 policy conference.
Trump's latest round of attacks has followed primary victories by democratic socialist candidates. They are reminiscent of similar narratives he has employed throughout his political career.
But experts say his claims, echoed by Vice President J.D. Vance and other Republican leaders, are off base.
Here's a closer look at the facts.
TRUMP: "It's becoming a communist party. These are not social Dumocrats, these are hardcore, godless Communists."
THE FACTS: No candidate openly belonging to the U.S. Communist Party has ever been elected to state or federal office, according to experts. Although there are fringes of the Democratic Party that have expressed support for communist ideas, experts say that they still advocate for a market-based economy and that it is inaccurate to paint the entire party with such a broad brush. Trump recently began referring to Democrats pejoratively as "Dumocrats." ...
@#78 ... Everybody saw the replay. Straight red card. ...
From what I've seen, that seems to be correct.
Adding to that is the question of why did Pres Trump apparently have to intervene in order to get the red card suspended?
Along those lines ...
A Yearslong Effort to Woo Trump Culminates With the World Cup (June 6, 2026)
www.nytimes.com
... Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, has unabashedly courted the president's favor. Soccer officials privately ask, who really benefits?
For the past year, FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, has leased an office on the 17th floor of New York's Trump Tower that has sat all but empty. The rent goes to President Trump's family business, but soccer officials say the space sits largely idle.
Paying rent to the Trumps was the choice of Gianni Infantino, FIFA's president, who has made being close to Mr. Trump a top priority. He has lavished the president with praise, trophies and a medal. He has made pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago, the Trump National Doral golf club and even the "Melania" documentary premiere. ...
More from the article ...