News of the World

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MIDDLE EAST WAR

Netanyahu reveals Iran marked Trump as 'enemy number one' with assassination plot

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in his first interview since Israel launched its blistering attacks on Iran that the country's Islamic regime had pinpointed President Donald Trump as a threat to its nuclear program and actively worked to assassinate him.

"They want to kill him. He's enemy number one. He's a decisive leader. He never took the path that others took to try to bargain with them in a way that is weak, giving them basically a pathway to enrich uranium, which means a pathway to the bomb, padding it with billions and billions of dollars," the prime minister told Fox News' Bret Baier during a special Sunday edition of "Special Report."

"He took up this fake agreement and basically tore it up. He killed Qasem Soleimani. He made it very clear, including now, ‘You cannot have a nuclear weapon, which means you cannot enrich uranium.’ He's been very forceful, so for them, he's enemy number one."

Netanyahu revealed he was also a target of the regime after a missile was fired into the bedroom window of his home. He went on to call himself Trump's "junior partner" in threatening Iran's ability to weaponize nuclear arms.

Netanyahu said his country was facing an "imminent threat" of nuclear destruction and was left with no choice but to act aggressively in the "12th hour."

"We were facing an imminent threat, a dual existential threat," he said.

"One, the threat of Iran rushing to weaponize their enriched uranium to make atomic bombs with a specific and declared intent to destroy us. Second, a rush to increase their ballistic missile arsenal to the capacity that they would have 3,600 weapons a year…. Within three years, 10,000 ballistic missiles, each one weighing a ton, coming in at mach 6, right into our cities, as you saw today… and then in 26 years, 20,000 [missiles]. No country can sustain that, and certainly not a country the size of Israel, so we had to act."

Netanyahu said, by doing so, Israel is not only protecting itself but also protecting the world.

Iran has since retaliated with a large-scale ballistic missile attack on Israeli cities, although many of the projectiles were thwarted.

Netanyahu told Fox News he believes Israel's offensive measures have set back the Iranian nuclear program "quite a bit," sharing his belief that negotiations with the terrorism-sponsoring regime were clearly "going nowhere."

He also said his country is prepared to do whatever is necessary to eliminate the nuclear and ballistic missile threat Iran poses to the world.

Netanyahu has described the operation, coined as Operation Rising Lion, as "one of the greatest military operations in history." Addressing the Iranian people, he said they had been oppressed for 50 years by the same Islamic regime that has long threatened to destroy the State of Israel.

Trump promises to respond with 'full strength and might' of US military if Iran attacks America

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. had "nothing to do with" Israel's attack against Iran but warned that any attack against the U.S. would be met with the "full strength and might" of the U.S. military.

"The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight," Trump wrote on Truth Social in the early morning hours of Sunday.

"If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before," he continued. "However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!"

Trump's comments came hours after the Israel Defense Forces claimed responsibility for a series of strikes on the headquarters of the Iranian Defense Ministry and a nuclear project, while Tehran unleashed a fresh barrage of deadly strikes.

"The IDF completed an extensive series of strikes on targets in Tehran related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons project," the IDF wrote on X. "The targets included the Iranian Ministry of Defense headquarters, the headquarters of the SPND nuclear project, and additional targets, which advanced the Iranian regime’s efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon and where the Iranian regime hid its nuclear archive."

Despite Trump's statement, Iran says it has evidence that the U.S. was involved in the attack.

"We have solid proof of the support of the American forces and American bases in the region for the attacks of the Zionist regime military forces," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told foreign diplomats in a meeting broadcast on state TV.

The attacks traded by Israel and Iran represented the latest violence since a surprise offensive by Israel two days earlier seeking to decimate Tehran's nuclear program.

Top advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader killed in Israeli strikes, state media says

Ali Shamkhani, sanctioned by U.S. after Soleimani's death, was reportedly eliminated at his home in Tehran

Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s former Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday, according to Iranian state media reports.

Shamkhani was one of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s top senior advisors and was reportedly taken out in his home in Tehran by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike.

The death of Shamkhani marks another significant blow by the Israelis in dismantling Tehran's military leadership.

Shamkhani served as one of Iran's top military officials for decades, beginning as the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Ground Forces.

The IRGC is one of the country’s most powerful centers. It was created after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and has evolved from a paramilitary, domestic security force into a transnational force that has come to the aid of Tehran’s allies in the Middle East, from Syria and Lebanon to Iraq, per the Times of Israel.

Lisa Daftari, Iran expert and Foreign Desk Editor-in-Chief, told Fox News Digital the elimination of Shamkhani "signifies a strategic escalation aimed at destabilizing Iran's regime at its core."

"This precise strike highlights a dual objective—not only targeting its nuclear ambitions but signaling an unequivocal threat to the power structure itself. Shamkhani's close ties to Khamenei amplify the gravity of the message, casting uncertainty and fear among the political elite," said Daftari.

She added, "The calculated nature of this move underscores an effort to fracture the regime from within, leaving no figure immune from vulnerability. This marks a chilling precedent for Iran's leadership."

Supreme Leader Khamenei entrusted Shamkhani and appointed him as commander of the Artesh Navy in 1989, where he helped rebuild Iran's naval capabilities post-Iran-Iraq War, according to the group United Against Nuclear Iran.

The Artesh Navy was left disorganized and with minimal levels of equipment following the war. Most notably, the U.S. Navy made a large mark, taking out nearly half of Iran’s Navy during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988, according to the Strauss Center.

Iran focused on naval procurement, building up its force with patrol boats, anti-ship missiles, and fast attack craft warships.

Israel strikes at the heart of Iran's nuclear ambitions in Isfahan offensive
IDF confirms successful attack on metallic uranium production facility that was key to bomb development

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) hit the Isfahan nuclear site in Iran on Friday night, a location where uranium moves beyond enrichment to the "reconversion" process of building a nuclear bomb.

"The strike dismantled a facility for producing metallic uranium, infrastructure for reconverting enriched uranium, laboratories, and additional infrastructure," the IDF said on Friday.

On Friday evening, video footage posted by Iranian media showed Iranian air defenses attempting to intercept a fresh wave of Israeli attacks on the site, adding it to a list of nuclear sites targeted that includes the key Natanz facility.

The IAEA has confirmed that a nuclear facility in Isfahan was struck by Israel. In a statement on X the IAEA posted that four critical buildings "were damaged in yesterday’s attack, including the Uranium Conversion Facility and the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant. As in Natanz, no increase in off-site radiation expected."

"Isfahan’s uranium conversion facility is at the heart of Iran’s quest for domestic fuel cycle mastery," Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy’s Iran program, told Fox News Digital.

At Isfahan, uranium is converted into a state suited for gaseous enrichment.

"Crippling this capacity at Isfahan would disconnect the dots between Iran’s diverse nuclear industry and potentially handicap future efforts to prepare uranium for enrichment."

Netanyahu calls on Iranian citizens to seize 'opportunity' for regime change

Just hours following Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a direct appeal to the Iranian people and said: "This is your opportunity to stand up [to the regime]."

The regime’s standing not only with the international community, amid its vast support of state-sponsored terrorism, which has impacted neighboring nations from Syria and Yemen to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, coupled with years of internal unrest, could mean regime change is on the horizon.

"We are in the midst of one of the greatest military operations in history," Netanyahu said Friday. "The Islamic regime, which has oppressed you for almost 50 years, threatens to destroy our country."

The Israeli leader said Jerusalem’s goal in hitting Iran’s top military targets is to thwart the nuclear and missile threats that Iran poses towards the Jewish nation, which he argued weakens the regime and poses a unique opportunity for dissidents within.

Minority groups make up some 50% of the Iranian population, and some Iranian specialists have argued that if the minority groups, which are frequent targets of oppression in Iran, were to unite against the regime, they could play a critical role in toppling the regime.

Iran has faced increasing opposition since the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman, who in September 2022 was arrested by Iran's morality police and later died in a hospital due to her injuries.

Israel’s actions against Iran create strategic opportunity for US in nuclear talks, experts say

Israel’s precision strike on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure may open a rare strategic window for the Trump administration. With experts telling Fox News Digital the U.S. has an opportunity to pressure Tehran toward a nuclear agreement — one that could not have been achieved through diplomacy alone.

The Israeli military told Fox News Digital that the operation in Iran was carried out by Israeli forces but in coordination with the United States. While U.S. troops did not participate in the attack, defense cooperation continued throughout the strike — and during Iran’s retaliation on Friday, when U.S. forces helped intercept Iranian missile attacks on Tel Aviv.

"This was an Israeli operation," an IDF official said, "but we were closely coordinated with the Americans. There was real-time intelligence and continuous contact."

Avner Golov, vice president of Mind Israel, told Fox News Digital "We’re not trying to pull the U.S. in — Israel is the right model for what a responsible ally looks like: doing the hard work, asking for minimal support, and delivering strategic value."

He added, "No one wants a war. Israel achieved this result in just a few days. It was effective and disciplined. We don’t want to stay in a prolonged war — and certainly don’t want to drag the U.S. into one. Israel is the model — a way for the U.S. to stay globally influential through a partner that delivers results with minimal investment."

Robert Greenway, director of the Allison Center for National Security at The Heritage Foundation, said, "The President’s messaging so far has been careful to distinguish that these attacks are unilateral Israeli actions — not U.S. attacks. That’s largely to prevent retaliation against American infrastructure. But if U.S. assets were attacked, we would become a participant — and Iran can’t handle Israel, let alone the United States."

"The President made it clear that he preferred a diplomatic solution," Greenway added, "I believe that was sincere, even though he knows the Iranians full well. He anticipated that the prospects might have been remote — but it was worth trying."

Videos, Pictures Show Aftermath of Iranian Strikes on Tel Aviv

Israeli authorities triggered alerts for renewed missile attacks on Sunday, including around Tel Aviv, after deadly Iranian missiles destroyed buildings overnight and President Donald Trump urged both sides to "make a deal."

Why It Matters

Israel launched the first of a series of airstrikes across Iran late on Thursday, U.S. time, kicking off a "preemptive" campaign it said was needed to take out Iran's nuclear facilities, its ballistic missile stockpile and other military sites.

An Iranian official said 78 people were killed and more than 300 injured in Tehran as Israel declared a state of emergency and prepared for Iran's response.
Tehran then launched waves of drone and missile strikes on Israeli territory. Israel said it had intercepted "most" of the missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles.

Both sides have continued firing at one another in the days since.

Iran canceled planned negotiations with the U.S. on its nuclear program on Sunday, and both sides indicated they would launch further strikes.

Trump on Sunday said in a post to his Truth Social platform said "many calls and meetings now taking place" to secure "PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran." The fate of the nuclear limitation talks is not clear.

What To Know

The Israeli military said on Sunday afternoon local time that sirens were sounding across the country after Iran launched an unspecified number of missiles. Local media later reported the alerts had ended.

Iranian state media said the military had attacked the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv, Haifa, in the north, and Ashkelon in the south.

At least seven people were killed and more than 100 injured when an Iranian ballistic missile hit Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv, overnight on Sunday, domestic media reported. Other reports put the death toll at six people.

Israel's police said residential buildings took a "direct hit that caused extensive damage."

Another four people were killed in Tamra, a Palestinian-Israeli town in Israel's north, authorities said.

A total of 13 people have been killed in Israel since Friday, and nearly 400 more injured, Israeli authorities said on Sunday. Nine of the injured are in a serious condition, officials said.

Houthis Say '1000 Leaders' in Store Amid Israel Assassination Strike Report

Asource within Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, has told Newsweek that the group would persist in its battle with Israel after reports that Israeli forces carried out a targeted strike against senior figures at a meeting.

The Israeli attack, which comes amid an unprecedented exchange of strikes between Israel and Ansar Allah's Axis of Resistance coalition ally, Iran, was reported by a number of Israeli outlets as well as Saudi Arabia's Al-Hadath network.

The reports cited unnamed sources suggesting that the target was Ansar Allah military Chief of Staff Mohammed Abdel Karim al-Ghamari. Al-Hadath also reported that Ansar Allah-led Supreme Political Council President Mahdi al-Mashat was in attendance as well at the meeting.

Their fates have yet to be confirmed.

The Ansar Allah source with whom Newsweek spoke to declined to discuss the details of the strike but affirmed that the group was prepared to move forward with its missile and drone campaign against Israel even in the case of losing high-level leaders.

"We are all projects of martyrdom, and we are not afraid of being targeted," the Ansar Allah source said. "Every leader is succeeded by a thousand leaders."

Israel Escalates Conflict with Iran, Striking World's Largest Gas Field

Israel has escalated its ongoing conflict with Iran, striking the world's largest gas field and other energy infrastructure as part of a two-day assault that had otherwise largely targeted sites and personnel tied to the Islamic Republic's armed forces and nuclear program.

Iranian semi-official media outlets, including Tasnim News Agency and Fars News Agency, reported on Saturday that an Israeli drone struck Iran's South Pars Gas Field, which is shared with Qatar, where it is known as the North Dome Gas Field. The attack was said to have targeted Phase 14 refineries of the Iranian section, with at least one unit reportedly on fire, leading to a suspension in operations.

Footage circulating on news channels and social media appeared to show flames and smoke rising from a section of the complex, which is located in the Kangan area of Iran's south coast province of Bushehr. The Iranian Petroleum Ministry also issued a statement Saturday confirming strikes against the South Pars Oil Field and the Fajr Jam Gas Refining Company.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has yet to publicly comment on the attack.

Fox News cited an Israeli official as saying Saturday that Israel conducted a single strike on Iranian gas infrastructure near the southern city of Bander Abbas, serving as a warning against Iranian strikes against Israeli population centers.

The accuracy of the comments has been confirmed to Newsweek.

A 'New Phase'

The Israeli attack marks the first of its kind against Iranian energy infrastructure, raising concerns about the potential broader impact of the escalating conflict on global energy security and prices.

Gregory Brew, senior analyst specializing on Iran and energy at the Eurasia Group, referred to the strike as "a warning shot from Israel, threatening more damage against Iran's energy infrastructure in the event Iran escalates its retaliatory operations."

"The target of the Israeli attack was one of four onshore gas processing facilities and was linked to phase 14 of the enormous South Pars field—a portion of the fields output will be affected, but most will not," Brew told Newsweek.

"South Pars supplies a significant portion of Iran's domestic gas market," he added. "Israel—which is concentrating on military targets and Iran's nuclear program—is clearly signaling that it is prepared to escalate against Iran's energy infrastructure, if necessary."

Nader Itayim, a Dubai-based editor specializing in Middle East energy politics at Argus Media, also described the Israeli strike as "a warning shot to Iran," one meant to indicate that Israel could take the conflict "to that next level."

And it's been confirmed by other reports like A look at Iran’s oil and gas facilities, including those targeted by Israel.

As Iran-Israel Conflict Escalates, Battered Hezbollah Stays Out of Fight

A Hezbollah spokesperson told Newsweek on Friday that the Lebanese group remains committed to a ceasefire agreement with Israel after the country launched a sweeping series of attacks against Iran.

"Hezbollah is committed to the ceasefire agreement, even though Israel has not respected this commitment over the past period," the spokesperson said. "It continues to kill, assassinate, and attack areas, including entering border villages and remaining at the five points."

Reuters also cited a Hezbollah official on Friday as saying that the group "will not initiate its own attack on Israel in retaliation for Israel's strike."

Hezbollah was one of several factions aligned with the Iran-led Axis of Resistance coalition to intervene in support of the Palestinian Hamas movement when it launched its October 7, 2023, surprise attack that set off a still-ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Last year, Israel intensified operations against Hezbollah, killing its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in September, and destroying much of the group's senior command and weapons stockpiles. Hezbollah signed a truce with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in November, though Israeli forces have continued to conduct occasional attacks in Lebanon and occupy five areas across the border.

Hezbollah portrayed the ceasefire as a defeat for Israel, while Israel announced victory over the group. Hezbollah has since repeatedly accused Israel of "breaking its promises" by failing to adhere to the terms of the deal, while rejecting Israeli allegations that the group was violating the conditions of their ceasefire.

At least for the time being.  Let's see if this impasse lasts more than a week.

Putin's Messages to Iran and Israel as Conflict Boils Over

Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday after Israel pelted Iran with a series of strikes.

Why It Matters

Israel launched strikes against Iran in the early morning hours Friday as it mobilized Operation Rising Lion, an effort Israeli officials say is designed to preempt a reportedly planned Iranian attack and disrupt Tehran's nuclear capabilities. Israel and the U.S. have both been concerned about whether Iran could be working to create nuclear weapons.

Russia is a key ally to Iran on the world stage.

The strike marks an escalation in the longtime tensions between the two adversaries, fueling concerns of a wider war, particularly about possible involvement of the U.S., which has military bases in the region. The diplomatic and economic impacts of the attack rippled across the globe on Friday.

What To Know

The Kremlin on Friday confirmed Putin's communications with both countries' leaders in a statement posted online Friday.

"President of Russia emphasised," in his call with Netanyahu, "the importance of resuming the negotiations and resolving any issues pertaining to Iran's nuclear programme exclusively via political and diplomatic means. In addition, the Russian leader expressed willingness to provide mediation so as to prevent further escalation," the Kremlin said in a statement posted on its website.

Speaking to Pezeshkian, Putin "stressed that Russia condemned Israel's actions, which had been carried out in violation of the UN Charter and international law. The Russian side has been fully supporting the efforts to resolve the situation around Iran's nuclear programme peacefully and has proposed concrete initiatives aimed at reaching mutually acceptable agreements," the statement said.

China Reacts to Israel's Attack on Iran

China said it is "deeply worried" by Israel's strikes on Iran and that it is willing to play a role in de-escalating the situation, which threatens to plunge the Middle East region into all-out war.

Why It Matters

Israel hit Iranian military and nuclear sites and killed a number of senior officials, including the commander-in-chief of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami.

Israel said the operation, called "Rising Lion," is ongoing and could last days. Israel said the strikes were pre-emptive and to prevent a planned Iranian attack, and also to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.

What To Know

In response to Israel's attack, Lin Jian, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said, according to state media, that "China is highly concerned about Israel's attacks on Iran and deeply worried about the potential serious consequences of these actions."

Lin also said Beijing, which has been developing closer ties with Tehran, including a 25-year cooperation agreement, "opposes any violation of Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and opposes actions that escalate tensions and expand the conflict."

"The renewed sharp escalation of the regional situation is not in the interest of any party," he continued.

"China urges all relevant parties to do more to promote regional peace and stability and to avoid further escalation of tensions. China is willing to play a constructive role in helping to de-escalate the situation."

Arab World Reacts to Israel's Strikes on Iran

Arab countries that have often been at odds with Iran joined in condemning Israel's massive attack on the Islamic Republic and its nuclear program.

Newsweek contacted the Israeli government for comment.

Why It Matters

The Arab condemnation of Israel's attack raises a question over long-term peace prospects in the region and the reconciliation that had been pursued under the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab countries from the first presidency of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Despite often being at odds with Shiite Iran, the largely Sunni Arab countries have been trying to avoid a regional war that could also prove damaging to their economies and see them placed in the firing line.

What To Know

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reacted strongly to the Israeli attacks, denouncing the strikes on what it called "the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran".

"While the Kingdom condemns these heinous attacks, it affirms that the international community and the Security Council bear a great responsibility to immediately halt this aggression," it said in a statement.

The United Arab Emirates, which has some of the closest links with Israel of any country in the Middle East, also brought strong condemnation.

"The Ministry reaffirmed the UAE's belief that promoting dialogue, adhering to international law, and respecting the sovereignty of states are the best foundations for resolving current crises," its foreign ministry said.

USA

Manhunt after two Minnesota state politicians targeted, one of them killed

A manhunt is under way in Minnesota after two state lawmakers were targeted and one of them killed on Saturday morning in what Governor Tim Walz called an "act of targeted political violence".

Melissa Hortman, 55, a Democrat, and her husband were killed in Brooklyn Park, a city near Minneapolis.

John Hoffman, 60, also a Democrat, and his wife were shot several times at their home about 15km (nine miles) away in a related attack. He is out of surgery and stable.

A search is on for the suspect who police say was impersonating an officer. He has been named as Vance Luther Boelter, 57 and there is a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

The roads around the scene in suburban Brooklyn Park were quiet on Saturday night, with a discreet police presence and little sign locally of the manhunt for the suspect.

Boelter served on the state's workforce development board with Hoffman, a state senator, but officials are still investigating whether he knew either politician.

Police said he tricked his way into the victims' homes using a false badge and uniform and was even driving a car that looks like a police vehicle equipped with emergency lights.

The first emergency call was made at 02:00 local time regarding the incident involving state senator Hoffman and his wife.

Then another call was placed to police at 03:35, which led officers to check on House Speaker Hortman.

The police exchanged gunfire with the suspect at Hortman's home, but he managed to escape.

Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said police are engaged in an "extensive manhunt" alongside the FBI, SWAT and hundreds of police officers. He said police took the suspect's car and believe he is travelling on foot.

Authorities are warning people in the area not to answer their door for a police officer unless there are two officers together.

But let's learn WHY did this might have happened in the first place.

Assassinated Minnesota Dem Melissa Hortman had just crossed party lines to cast decisive vote against illegal migrant handouts: ‘What leaders do’

The Dem Minnesota state lawmaker who was assassinated by a crazed gunman in a rubber mask crossed party lines just days earlier and made a critical vote revoking health care coverage for illegal migrants.

Melissa Hortman, the state House Democratic leader, was the only member of her party to side with Republicans and vote to repeal taxpayer-funded healthcare coverage for adult illegal immigrants as part of this year’s budget bill.

She and her husband were gunned down on Saturday in Brooklyn Park just outside of Minneapolis, shortly after the same assassin is believed to have gravely wounded Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

Cops are on the hunt for the suspect, Vance Luther Boetler, 57, a political appointee of Gov. Tim Walz, who allegedly left behind a sick “manifesto” listing the names of 70 politicians, including Walz, according to authorities.

Just days earlier, on June 10, Hortman cast the decisive vote on a state budget bill that stripped access to MinnesotaCare benefits for illegal migrants over the age of 18.

“I did what leaders do, I stepped up and I got the job done for the people of Minnesota,” she told KTTC-TV, adding that she understood the anger of her fellow DFL members.

“They’re right to be mad at me. I think some of them are pretty, pretty angry. I think that their job was to make folks who voted for that bill feel like crap, and I think that they succeeded,” she said.

She appeared visibly upset as she said she had voted for the healthcare provision solely to uphold the budget deal, which was later passed by the state Senate. Walz is expected to sign the budget into law.

“I know that people will be hurt by that vote, and we worked very hard to get a budget deal that didn’t include that provision,” she told the House on Tuesday following a four-hour debate,

The state legislature in Saint Paul is extremely narrowly divided. The state House is controlled by Republicans, who have a majority of just one seat (67-66) and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (as Minnesota Dems are called) holds the state Senate by the same margin (34-33).

Based on a previous report, authorities might have found a manifesto and No Kings papers, plus 70 names of politicians including Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. Let's see if the investigators confirm this later on.

Accused Minnesota assassin Vance Boelter’s wife detained after traffic stop — cops find passports and weapon in car: report

The wife of suspected political assassin Vance Boetler is being detained and questioned after cops found a weapon, ammunition, cash and passports in her car during a traffic stop on Saturday morning, a report said.

Jenny Boetler was stopped by police while driving in a car with several relatives near Onamia, Minnesota, late Saturday morning around 10 a.m., local KTSP reported.

[Photo & Footnote: Jenny Boetler was listed as the president and CEO of Praetorian Guard Security Services.]

In the car she had a weapon, ammunition, cash and passports, that report stated citing law enforcement officials.

Two cop cruisers were at the scene for two to three hours, according to that report.

Boetler was held for questioning but was not arrested.

It is not clear whether the Boetlers lived with each other, as Vance Boetler was known to live at a residence in Camden, Minnesota, which was raided by SWAT teams on Saturday afternoon.

The couple previously ran the company Praetorian Guard Security.

Jenny was the President CEO of the company and was billed as bringing “years of organizational operations and logistical oversight,” according to the company’s website.

Vance Boetler boasted security experience in Eastern Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East, including in the West Bank, Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, the website stated.

Flashback: Republican Steve Scalise Shot at Alexandria Baseball Practice

Published Jun 14, 2017 at 8:28 AM EDT
A mass shooting at an early morning GOP baseball practice in Viriginia Wednesday has left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and several aides shot.

Scalise was shot while he stood near second base, Alabama Representative Moe Brooks told CNN.

At least one other aide was also hit in the chest by a gunman with a rifle who opened fire the a baseball practice in Virginia Wednesday morning, Fox News confirmed.

Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown gave an update on the shooting at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park. The shooting, he said, took place at about 7:09 a.m. and that police were there within three minutes of the report.

"Two of our officers returned fire," he said, adding that he would not give any other details Brown said that the FBI are collecting evidence and collaborating with Alexandria police. "It's an active scene," he said. In their initial report police said there were multiple gunshots.

Republican senator Rand Paul of Kentucky told MSNBC that he saw two congressional staffers on the ground after the shots began. Paul, who was practicing his swing in a batting cage next to the field, said he hid behind a tree with a staffer.

Police say they have arrested the shooter. Brooks, who was an eye-witness to the shooting, told CNN that the shooter "appeared to be a white male. "He wasn't skinny, but he did not appear to be obese either," he said.

President Donald Trump quickly issued a statement. "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy," he said of the shooting. "Our thoughts and prayer are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all other affected." Trump said he and Vice President Mike Pence are "monitoring developments closely."

So it has become a terrible anniversary for the US and state politicians indeed.

Officers injured as Portland rioters breach ICE building with explosives and rocks

Multiple police officers were injured in Portland, Oregon Saturday night during a violent riot at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

A mob launched fireworks, smoke grenades and threw rocks at federal law enforcement, as they broke glass and forcibly entered the ICE facility, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital.

Four officers were injured during the attack, though federal law enforcement was able to secure the facility.

The riot came after the city hosted a “No Kings” protest at 1 p.m., which officials labeled a “large-scale free speech gathering.”

Tens of thousands of people marched through downtown and returned to Waterfront Park at about 4 p.m., which is about five miles from the ICE field location.

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) declared an unlawful assembly near the facility at about 6:30 p.m. local time, warning it would use crowd control measures, including impact munitions or other physical force, if necessary.

About 30 minutes later, PPB said a medical event was reported within the ICE facility and medical personnel needed to enter.

They warned rioters not to interfere with police, or “force may be used against you,” the bureau wrote on social media.

At about 8 p.m., PPB said officers observed criminal activity including assault and criminal mischief and would be making targeted arrests.

“Do not interfere with police action,” the agency wrote in a subsequent post. “Failure to adhere to this order may subject you to citation or arrest.”

White House slams 'utter failure' of anti-Trump protests as America celebrates Army's historic milestone

White House communications director Steven Cheung addressed the nationwide "No Kings" protests on Saturday, describing them as "a complete and utter failure with minuscule attendance."

Thousands of planned protests, which remained peaceful as the Army’s 250th anniversary parade commenced, followed a week of violent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles and other cities.

No Kings organizers chose to hold the demonstrations the same day as the military parade, which coincided with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

"It is sad Democrats and liberals would rather support criminals and illegals instead of celebrating the 250th anniversary of our great U.S. Army and Flag Day," Cheung wrote in an X post. "But many more Americans are commemorating our brave military men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to serve our country."

Republican lawmakers cheered the effort, describing it as an "incredible opportunity" to showcase the strength, discipline and teamwork of the U.S. military.

"It’s an honor to support our service members in our nation’s capital," Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., wrote in an X post. "Thank you to every man and woman in uniform for your dedication and service to our country!"

However, Democrats mostly criticized the Army celebration, citing its cost and alleging it was an excuse to celebrate Trump's birthday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke out shortly after the parade began on Saturday, saying the celebration "should be about" service members.

AOC warns Cuomo will use NYC mayoral win as stepping stone to presidency as lefty rep stumps for Zohran Mamdani: ‘Unconscionable’

Lefty New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warns that if former Gov. Andrew Cuomo wins the city’s mayoral race, he will use it as a stepping stone for a presidential bid.

“This is not just about New York City, but this is about the United States,” the far-left Dem told an enthusiastic crowd she stumped for fellow socialist and mayoral wannabe Zohran Mamdani at Terminal 5 in Manhattan on Saturday.

“I mean that literally, because Andrew Cuomo has made clear that if he wins this race, he wants to run for president of the United States of America,” AOC said.

Ocasio-Cortez, 35, an acolyte of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 83, also fussed about Cuomo’s age and suggested that the 67-year-old is standing in the way of a new generation of leadership — after she became one of the first prominent Dems to support the re-election bid of memory-addled 82-year-old then-President Joe Biden last summer.

“In a world and a nation that is crying to end the gerontocracy of our leadership that wants a new day, that wants to see a new generation ascend, it is unconscionable to send Andrew Cuomo to Gracie Mansion once again,” the city congresswoman said.

Cuomo has never actually held Gracie Mansion before, as he was never mayor of the Big Apple, though he did serve as governor of the Empire State from 2011 to 2021.

“I have no idea where the far left got this silly new talking point, but the governor has said that — death aside — he’ll be finishing his own term,” Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi told The Post.

'Spectacle of himself': Senate Republicans blast Alex Padilla after his forcible removal from DHS presser

After Democratic California Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and detained during a press event in his home state involving Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, his Republican colleagues blasted the senator for potentially breaking the law and making "a spectacle of himself" rather than doing his job.

Video of the incident showed Padilla trying to walk up to Noem while she was speaking at a podium during a press conference in Los Angeles. Padilla simultaneously attempted to shout over Noem, but law enforcement stepped in and forcefully stopped Padilla's advance.

Padilla was eventually taken to the ground and handcuffed, the video showed. Fox News reporters who were present said Padilla appeared to be detained for a period of time.

"I think [Padilla] should have been here in Washington voting," Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said of the incident when asked for a reaction. "He has a responsibility to his constituents, to show up at work, not to go try to make a spectacle of himself."

While Democrats are angerd by the way law enforcement handled the incident, Republicans like Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno and Majority Leader John Thune have signaled they want to learn the facts of what took place. Moreno said if Padilla broke the law, it would have been right to arrest him.

"The important facts are, was he committing a crime? Right? The fact that I'm a United States senator doesn't make me immune from laws. In fact, the Democrats are the ones that like to say 'nobody's above the law,'" said Moreno, who had not seen the video at the time Fox News Digital spoke to him.

"If you walked into the Senate chamber right now and started yelling and screaming and asking questions, you couldn't say, ‘Wait a second, I have a First Amendment right to do this.’ It would be more than frowned upon. The Capitol Police would escort you out of the building. If you refuse to leave, they would arrest you."

Moreno added he thought it was "a little ironic" that Democrats "cheered" as federal law enforcement raided President Donald Trump's house "with almost completely no justification whatsoever" but are condemning law enforcement now that one of them is caught in the crosshairs.

LA Mayor Bass downplays anti-ICE riots as limited to small part of city, says 'zero comparison' to 1992 unrest

Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says what is happening in her city does not compare to the 1992 Rodney King riots that followed the acquittal of white police officers who were videotaped beating the Black motorist.

Despite a growing list of arrests, tens of thousands of people taking to the streets and curfew put in place, Bass told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that this is nothing like what happened more than 30 years ago.

"There is zero comparison," Bass told host Dana Bash. "I was at the epicenter when it was occurring."

"It was a citywide civil unrest," she continued. "It was the nation's worst in terms of the most costly, the number of people died, the number of people arrested. There is no comparison. And unfortunately, that is what is being pushed, as though the city is in chaos, there's civil unrest everywhere. For most Angelenos, they're like, what city are they describing? They are definitely not describing Los Angeles."

Bass said the anti-ICE riots are occurring within one to two square miles of a city that is 500 square miles. While speaking with Bash, she acknowledged that both police officers and rioters were injured during the unrest. 

The mayor criticized ICE raids for their economic impact, noting the construction, fashion and restaurant industries.

"The disruption and the fear that has been caused by the raids has really had a devastating effect and has been a bodyblow to our economy. I don't think the president understands that we have entire sectors of our economy that cannot function without immigrant labor," she said.

On Saturday, the scene took a turn from peaceful to violent as rising unrest spurred police to deploy tear gas.

"The demonstration has taken the street. A DISPERSAL ORDER has been issued for all persons located on Alameda south of Aliso and North of Temple to immediately leave the area," the LAPD wrote in a warning on X.

"People in the crowd are throwing rocks, bricks, bottles and other objects. Less lethal has been approved. Less lethal may cause discomfort and pain. It is advised that all persons leave the area," another alert read.

'No Kings' Protests See Major Crowds, Violence in Some States

Demonstrators turned out across the U.S. on Saturday to participate in coordinated "No Kings Day" protests, aimed at denouncing President Donald Trump's leadership.

While many of the events reportedly remained largely peaceful, several cities saw violent altercations, including a vehicular assault in Virginia and a shooting in Utah.

Why It Matters

The protests took place in hundreds of U.S. cities, according to Reuters, with large-scale gatherings reported in major hubs such as Philadelphia; Los Angeles; Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon; and New York.

The rallies coincided with the president's 79th birthday and the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary parade in Washington D.C.

What To Know

In Portland, Oregon, officers deployed tear gas and flash grenades, with demonstrators breaching an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, according to the Daily Mail, which reported that four police officers were injured during the clashes.

In Culpeper, Virginia, a 21-year-old man, Joseph R. Checklick Jr., was arrested after allegedly driving his SUV into a dispersing crowd in a parking lot, striking at least one person.

Meanwhile, in Salt Lake City, shots were fired during a No Kings march, critically injuring one person. KUTV reported that police took a person of interest into custody after the shooting, which occurred downtown just before 8 p.m., according to the outlet.

ABC drops Terry Moran after he calls Trump a 'world-class hater'

ABC News dropped veteran correspondent and anchor Terry Moran on Tuesday after he had posted on social media that President Trump and a senior White House official were "world-class" haters.

"We are at the end of our agreement with Terry Moran and based on his recent post — which was a clear violation of ABC News policies — we have made the decision to not renew," the network said in a statement released by a spokesperson. "At ABC News, we hold all of our reporters to the highest standards of objectivity, fairness and professionalism, and we remain committed to delivering straightforward, trusted journalism." (Moran did not respond to NPR's requests for comment.)

Moran had been a foreign correspondent, chief White House correspondent and anchor of Nightline over his nearly three decades at ABC News. At one time, he was considered by executives as a potential evening news anchor in the mold of the late Peter Jennings.

Just six weeks ago, Moran had interviewed Trump, earning acclaim from many of his peers for gently pressing the president over his false claims about a man deported by the administration to El Salvador. Trump, irritated, told Moran in the middle of the exchange that he had "never heard of you."

"You're not being very nice," Trump said, suggesting Moran should not push back given the "big break" he had been given in getting the sit-down interview.

In December, the Walt Disney Co., ABC's corporate parent, agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump as a private citizen last fall over repeated assertions by anchor George Stephanopoulos that Trump had been found liable for rape in a civil trial. In fact, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil trial in New York City. (Disney agreed to pay $15 million to a foundation for Trump's eventual presidential library and $1 million for legal fees incurred by his lawyers.)

Trump hails favorable federal appeals court ruling on his sweeping tariff policy as a ‘great’ win

President Donald Trump on Wednesday hailed a favorable decision by a federal appeals court over his sweeping tariff policy as a “great” win for the United States.

Trump said on his social media site that the court’s decision Tuesday night to let the government keep collecting his sweeping import taxes while challenges to his signature trade policy continue on appeal means the U.S. “can use TARIFFS to protect itself against other countries.”

“A great and important win for the U.S.,” Trump wrote.

The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit extends a similar ruling it made after another federal court struck down the tariffs May 28, saying Trump had overstepped his authority. Noting that the challenges to Trump’s tariffs raise “issues of exceptional importance,″ the appeals court said it would expedite the case and hear arguments July 31.

The case involves 10% tariffs the Republican president imposed on almost every other country in April and bigger ones he imposed and then suspended on countries with which the United States runs trade deficits. It also involves tariffs he plastered on imports from China, Canada and Mexico to pressure them to do more to stop the illegal flow of immigrants and synthetic opioids across the U.S. border.

In declaring the tariffs, Trump had invoked emergency powers under a 1977 law. But a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled he had exceeded his power.

That ruling from the Court of International Trade came after several lawsuits arguing Trump’s tariffs exceeded his authority and left the country’s trade policy dependent on his whims.

The tariffs upended global trade, paralyzed businesses and spooked financial markets.

Trump ends California electric car mandate and unveils plan to ban windmills: ‘One of the greatest scams’

President Trump signed legislation Thursday to override California regulations that sought to make nearly all new vehicles electric by 2035 — while announcing plans for a new ban on windmills citing the “junkyard” optics of the area around Palm Springs.

Trump, citing the fact that 17 states — including New York and New Jersey — generally follow California emissions rules, said he would “officially rescue the US auto industry from destruction” by scrapping the Golden State’s ambitious regulatory plan for cars and trucks.

Trump said a trio of bills that he signed in the White House East Room would “kill the California mandates forever.”
“You can’t do anything about it, they can’t take us to court, they can’t do any of the things they can do with executive orders, and it’s permanent,” he crowed.

“They said it couldn’t be done,” Trump said. “They’d pass these crazy rules in California and 17 states would go by them. Automakers wouldn’t know what to do because they’re really building cars for two countries, when you have 17 states.”

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) was the lone Democrat in the upper chamber to support any of the Republican legislation. In the House, 35 Democrats backed the three measures.

Sacramento had mandated that 100% of new cars in the state be “zero-emission vehicles” by 2035 — with carmakers required to sell at least 80% electric vehicles and allowed to make up the remainder of their offering with approved plug-in hybrids.

Just 23% of new cars sold in California were “zero emissions” electric or hybrid varieties in the first quarter of 2025, according to state government data — ahead of the national market share.

Trump announced other priorities in his wide-ranging remarks, including touting nuclear power and trashing windmills, which he said his administration would curtail.

“We’re not going to let windmills get built because we’re not going to destroy our country any further than it’s already been destroyed,” Trump said.

Former FBI Agent Advised Schiff Amid Russiagate. Now, He May Be Opposing Trump From Within the FAA.

A former FBI analyst who spent two years advising then-Rep. Adam Schiff while Schiff pushed the Trump-Russia narrative and led the first Trump impeachment subsequently “burrowed in” to the federal bureaucracy.

While presidents appoint more than 3,000 people for political positions, the federal government directly employs roughly 2.3 million people, most of whom serve in ostensibly nonpolitical, career positions. The Office of Personnel Management tracks when political appointees transition to career positions—a process often referred to as “burrowing in” to the bureaucracy—and Lucian Sikorskyj did so last September.

Sikorskyj moved from principal deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism at the Department of Homeland Security to associate administrator for materials and safety at the Federal Aviation Administration on Sept. 8, 2024, according to OPM records. He received a pay bump from $180,000 to $214,500.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Sikorskyj remains at the FAA. (He has verified his LinkedIn profile by proving his identity via government identification.) The FAA has not responded to The Daily Signal’s requests for comment to confirm whether he remains at the agency.

After nine years at the FBI, Sikorskyj joined the National Security Council in June 2016 under President Barack Obama, where he stayed until October 2017. After working at NATO in Brussels, Belgium, and serving eight months in the office of the director of national intelligence, he joined the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in February 2019. The FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on Sikorskyj’s work history.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Sikorskyj served as subcommittee staff director at the committee, working as “a senior advisor to the chair of the committee and nearly 15 members of U.S. Congress.” The profile also states that he “supported the speaker of the House of Representatives and their national security advisor.”

He also “led, co-led, or played a key role in major and complex congressional investigations, hearings, reports, and congressional delegations at home and abroad.”

In July 2021, he joined the Department of Homeland Security, where he stayed until May 2023, when he joined the White House National Security Council, according to LinkedIn.

Illegal migrant rioter charged with hurling Molotov cocktail at LA cops was once deported — as chilling footage captures him stalking police

An illegal migrant from Mexico is accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at cops during the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles last weekend — and he’d already been deported from the US once before.

Emiliano Garduno-Galvez now faces an attempted murder charge after being nabbed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Monday, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Ominous video footage released by ICE shows the Mexican migrant lurking around a tree wearing a black hoodie and face mask with what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail at his feet on Saturday, according to ICE

At one point he flicks a lighter, as if to test that it’s working, according to the footage.

Police were seen trying to push rioters away from the area before Garduno-Galvez allegedly chucked the explosive at them, ICE said.

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that “these are the types of criminal illegal aliens that rioters are fighting to protect,” in a statement Wednesday.

She added: “The Los Angeles rioters will not stop us or slow us down. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Mexican illegal migrant also had a rap sheet that includes two arrests last year for a DUI in Long Beach and grand theft in Anaheim.

A DHS official told The Post that local officials didn’t honor previous detainers to let ICE take Garduno Galvez into custody after his previous arrests.

Anti-ICE protests broke out in LA Friday after immigration agents raided multiple workplaces and hauled of illegal migrants, but kicked off in earnest on Saturday.

Rioters threw rocks and molotov cocktails at federal agents and local cops.

Protesters later began showing up at multiple locations across the city to block ICE raids, while picketing at the agency’s downtown detention center.

The protests, however, quickly turned violent as rioters began burning cars, shutting down highways and looting storefronts.