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Trump gets into shouting match with Sen. Bill Cassidy over Iran war in closed-door meeting

WASHINGTON — President Trump and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) got into a shouting match during a lunch meeting Wednesday over the US war with Iran, according to sources and lawmakers who were in attendance.

GOP senators described Trump as being “mad as a murder hornet” and raising his voice at the Louisiana Republican for joining three other Republicans in a vote limiting his wartime authority.

Cassidy — who later quipped that the talks went “swimmingly” — called the president “my brother” several times during the heated exchange to lower tensions, Senate GOP sources said. The president spat back that Cassidy wasn’t his brother and told him to sit down, per CNN.

“[Trump] did not particularly care for my comments, raised his voice, I lost my temper,” Cassidy later recounted to reporters. “It’s the Irish in me.”

“But again I matched his tone and his volume, and it went back and forth,” he further explained. “So I sat down and tried to de-escalate. I guess my point is, though, that the American people need to know more than we are being told. The Senate needs to know.”

Cassidy lost his re-election bid this year when Trump backed his primary opponent in Louisiana.

“We had a really great meeting, and we’re very proud of the party. We like our leader. We like everybody. Really, in the room, we don’t like a few people, but that’s OK,” Trump told reporters afterward, refraining from naming names. “For the most part, we had a really well-unified party.”

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) sarcastically told reporters the exchange was “very pleasant” before describing how Trump and Cassidy butted heads.

“Very much like a hospital board meeting when a bunch of doctors are yelling at each other, but at the end of the day, we’ll figure out a way to get along,” said Marshall, a practicing OB/GYN before entering politics. “Voices were raised. … I think the vote yesterday on the War Powers Act, the president’s very disappointed.”

“[The administration is] trying to negotiate that [Iran deal], and they feel like that vote from Republicans chopped their legs out from under them,” added the Kansas Republican.

“The president was mad as a murder hornet about the War Powers vote,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) also said.

Congressional disapproval of the Iran war was going to “undermine the negotiators” working on terms of a peace agreement, Marshall said.

Cassidy and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) changed their votes to no and present, respectively, later Wednesday.

Senate Democrat avoids answering where socialism has been ‘beneficial’ after far-left candidates win in NYC

Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester avoided answering where socialism has been “beneficial” when giving her thoughts on the recent New York primary elections.

Blunt Rochester was asked on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Wednesday morning about the results of the primaries where three socialist candidates not only won their elections but defeated two incumbent lawmakers.

Rather than comment on what impact this could have on the broader Democratic Party, Blunt Rochester celebrated the wins as a whole.

“I think that, first of all, the fact that people are engaged at a level they’ve never been engaged before is a positive thing, especially in the 250th anniversary of this country,” Blunt Rochester said. “We want people to participate. What I can say, though, about Democrats, and as someone who is working to win the majority, what I can say is that politics are local.”

She described how Democratic candidates will run differently depending on where they’re running, adding how Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola is campaigning on “fish, family and freedom.”

“Fish might not work in New York, or it might not work in North Carolina, but that works there. And so for us, the most important thing is that we hear the people. We want to be known that we’re listening to them and that we’re fighting for them. And again, it might look different in different places across the country, but we do believe that people are concerned about this economy and the cost of things. And so we’re going to continue to fight for them. So to me, it’s a win-win,” Blunt Rochester said.

“Where has socialism ever worked, senator?” CNBC host Joe Kernen asked.

“Is that another question or is that for the next interview?” Blunt Rochester responded.

Tlaib defends antifa members convicted in shooting of Texas cop, calls sentences a 'travesty'
Benjamin Song received the maximum 100-year sentence after being convicted of attempted murder of a police officer

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., sparked fierce backlash after her apparent defense of accused antifa cell members sentenced to decades in prison for a violent attack on a Texas immigration facility that federal prosecutors called an act of terrorism.

One of the defendants, Benjamin Song, a former Marine Corps reservist, was handed a 100-year prison sentence — the maximum punishment — Tuesday after being convicted of attempted murder for shooting Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross, who survived a bullet to the neck.

Seven other suspects, allegedly of the North Texas antifa cell, were given sentences spanning 30 to 70 years for charges such as providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use weapons and explosives, and rioting.

"These sentences are a travesty and totally unjustified, but that's the point," Tlaib, a progressive lawmaker associated with "the Squad," wrote on social media. "Americans hate the fascist Trump regime, so the only way they can try to cling to power is brute force."

Tlaib sharply criticized a 2025 document, known as the National Security Presidential Memo 7, that President Donald Trump released in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination and that classified antifa as a "domestic terrorist organization."

The Texas trial was the first time federal prosecutors successfully brought terrorism charges against accused members of the far-left antifascist movement following the memo and an executive order associating the militant group with domestic terrorism.

"NSPM-7 is a grave threat to all of us and more bulls--- ‘terrorism’ charges like these are coming," she added.

The comments sparked sharp criticism from conservatives, who argued Tlaib appeared to excuse the behavior of the violent rioters.

"Counterpoint: Her friends shot a cop," conservative columnist Kurt Schlichter wrote on social media.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller fired back at Tlaib for "defending antifa terrorists who tried to massacre state and federal law enforcement" as a member of Congress.

Bolton Is Latest Trump Associate to Plead Guilty—Where Others Are Now

John Bolton, who served as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser during his first term in office, pleaded guilty to mishandling classified information on Friday, joining the list of Trump associates who have been involved in crimes.

Bolton pleaded guilty to one count of illegally retaining classified information after being charged last October with 18 counts of retaining or disseminating classified information. The plea deal could help him avoid prison time, capping his sentence at five years.

Prosecutors accused Bolton of sharing more than 1,000 pages of notes with two family members who lacked security clearances. He allegedly routinely transcribed his handwritten notes into lengthy documents and sent them through personal email accounts and a commercial messaging app.

Bolton served in Trump’s administration for more than a year from 2018 to 2019 and has become a vocal critic of Trump since leaving office. He published his memoir, The Room Where It Happened, in which he detailed critical accounts of the Trump presidency, in 2020.

Numerous officials and associates of Trump have faced legal issues over the past decade. Here is a look at where those individuals are now:

Steve Bannon

Bannon served as a strategist and counselor to Trump during his first term in office. In 2022, he was convicted of defying a subpoena to testify in front of the January 6 House Select Committee, which investigated the violent protests of Trump’s supporters at the U.S. Capitol over his 2020 electoral loss.

Bannon was released from prison after serving four months in 2024. He remains a vocal Trump supporter and influential in conservative politics as the host of the War Room podcast.

Michael Cohen

Cohen was Trump's longtime personal attorney and pleaded guilty to campaign finance and tax violations related to a hush-money payment made during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. He later pleaded guilty to making false statements to Congress about plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.

He served a little over one year in prison before being released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He completed his sentence in November 2021.

Cohen has become a frequent and vocal critic of Trump. He suggested he could apply for the DOJ’s anti-weaponization fund before acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration would no longer be pursuing it.

Mike Johnson Warns Impeachment Not ‘The Big Concern’ if Dems Win Midterms

House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that the prospect of another impeachment of President Donald Trump is not the biggest concern if Republicans lose control of the House in the 2026 midterm elections, arguing instead that Democrats would likely use a majority to go after Trump's family and others in the president's orbit.

Speaking to a crowd at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference on Friday, Johnson said in part, "If we were to lose the midterms, heaven forbid, these Democrats, y'all, impeachment's not even the big concern," contending that potential Democratic committees would "go after" Trump's family, donors, friends and Cabinet members.

"Half of you in this room will be targeted. I run the protection program. I'll take care of you," Johnson added.

When reached for comment about Johnson's remarks, White House Spokeswoman Olivia Wales told Newsweek, "President Trump is the unequivocal leader of the Republican party who was elected in a landslide victory to enact his commonsense, conservative agenda. It has been shown time and time again that President Trump’s America First agenda is a winning formula for success, and the President is committed to maintaining Republicans’ majority in Congress to continue delivering for the American people.

"In just over one year, the President has made our country greater than ever before with the most secure border in American history, the largest middle-class tax cuts ever, and the lowest murder rate since 1900. In the months ahead, President Trump will continue fighting to lower costs for working families while traveling across the country to highlight his accomplishments alongside Republicans in Congress."

What To Know

The remarks echo warnings Johnson has made that Republicans must retain their House majority to prevent Democrats from taking over. He has framed this midterm cycle as a battle between common sense and crazy.

Reacting to Johnson's remarks, Democrats of the House Committee on Homeland Security said on X, "We are the Homeland Security Committee Democrats and we approve this message."

Also reacting to Johnson's warning to Republicans about potential Democratic investigations, Columbia University professor Robert Y. Shapiro told Newsweek in part that, "First, all of these are real concerns since there are a lot of alleged misdeeds to be investigated. Johnson is pointing out this reality, perhaps especially to mobilize the MAGA and broader Republican base to turn out and vote. There seems to be more anger and enthusiasm to vote on the Democratic side, and the Republicans are very vulnerable to losing both the House and Senate, despite the effort to redistrict their way to stay in control of the House.

Who is Alexander Mercado? Chicago Man Charged in White House UFC Plot

A Chicago man has been arrested and charged in connection with a foiled plot to carry out a violent attack targeting a high-profile Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held at the White House earlier this month, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, is accused of obstructing a federal investigation into the alleged attack plan, which authorities say was disrupted days before the June 14 event. Prosecutors allege Mercado played a role in concealing evidence tied to the plot, although he is not charged with carrying out the planned assault itself.

According to the Department of Justice, Mercado allegedly deleted the encrypted messaging app Signal from his phone after being contacted by an FBI agent, effectively erasing communications related to the group suspected of planning the attack. Investigators say the deletion occurred one day before the UFC event, which was attended by thousands, including President Donald Trump and other government officials.

The obstruction charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. Mercado, the eighth suspect charged in connection to the purported plot, is expected to appear in federal court in Chicago later Friday. It's unclear if he's hired an attorney.

Authorities say the case is part of a broader investigation that has already led to multiple arrests across several states, including Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California. Prosecutors allege the group was plotting a mass-casualty attack targeting government officials and attendees at the event, which was staged on the White House South Lawn as part of celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Court documents and statements from law enforcement indicate the alleged plan involved using drones and firearms to target individuals at the event, potentially causing widespread casualties. The FBI said it became aware of the threat just days before the fights took place and moved quickly with state and local partners to disrupt the plot and make arrests.

Hundreds of rabbis demand Mamdani apologize for putting 'target' on American Jews with AIPAC 'monster' remarks
Mamdani's words 'matter because antisemitism in America is rising,' the rabbis' letter read

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing a call from more than 700 rabbis to apologize for recent remarks he made disparaging the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The rabbis argue that the mayor's remarks amounted to an act of "dehumanization" that endangers Jewish Americans and their allies.

During a June 18 rally ahead of New York City's Democratic primaries, Mamdani referred to AIPAC as "monsters" who use "millions in dark money to accomplish a single goal — to preserve their power, so that they can turn us against one another."

The remarks sparked backlash, with a letter signed by hundreds of rabbis expressing concerns that Mamdani's rhetoric could contribute to increased antisemitism.

The letter noted that the rabbis who signed it represented congregations with various views on Israel, American politics and the war in Gaza. It said, "By casting pro-Israel civic participation as monstrous, conspiratorial and anti-democratic, Mr. Mamdani has put a target on the backs of American Jews and their allies."

"Mr. Mamdani’s words matter because they were spoken by the leader of the city with the largest Jewish population outside Israel. They matter because antisemitism in America is rising," the letter reads.

The letter called the comments "beneath the office he holds." The signers included dozens of rabbis from New York City but also hundreds more around the country.

Mamdani defended his remarks on Monday when answering questions after signing an executive order. In response to Fox News Digital's request for comment, Mamdani's team pointed to that statement.

"We're talking about a status quo where children are being killed on a daily basis," Mamdani said in response to a reporter's question regarding criticism of his remarks.

"And when I am speaking about AIPAC, I'm speaking about an organization that has been supportive of the status quo, that has fought any attempt to actually deliver safety to people not just in Palestine, but frankly, through much of the region. And it is a status quo for immorality. It is one that I will not accept," he added.

Carville declares he 'can’t be in the same party' as Mamdani-backed candidates, calls for formal schism
'I actually do think it's time for Democrats to talk ‘the S-word.’ ‘Schism.’ I really do,' Carville warned

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville and his podcast co-host Al Hunt lamented a recent primary winner in New York as part of a movement they say does not belong in the Democratic Party.

Democratic socialist candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier was one of three candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who won shocking primary victories in New York Tuesday. Hunt suggested on Thursday’s episode of "Politics War Room" that they may "complicate the politically existential question of winning in November."

Carville and Hunt agreed that Republicans are overplaying these three candidates as somehow representing the broader Democratic Party or its future trajectory, but nonetheless called for an explicit firewall to keep them out, citing reporting from The New York Times.

"I have the quote right here, I’ll get to it. She has attacked interracial relationships and the American flag. Lady, I ain't in the same party as you. I'm sorry," Carville said. "I’m just not, and I actually do think it's time for Democrats to talk ‘the S-word.’ ‘Schism.’ I really do."

"Everybody's always said, 'No, no, we're coalition. We're a big tent,’" he said. "And there's some – there's just some s--- that I can't be in the same tent with."

Carville suggested that many of the recent far-left candidates do not actually like the Democratic Party, but are nonetheless running as Democrats, and proposed, "Let's negotiate a terms of a schism here. Maybe we can part under some kind of advantageous terms for both of us, but I'm done. And I'm not in that f---ing political party."

He elaborated further, "I am totally comfortable in a political party that spends time questioning the policies of the government of Israel. In fact, I'm enthusiastic about that. I don't want to be in a political party that denies the right of the state of Israel to exist. That's just not — I just can't do that. I'm sorry. It's just not doable."

"They are a great gift to Donald Trump," Hunt replied, suggesting it would be beneficial if other Democrats stand up. "Certainly people like Obama, but also some of the younger Democrats and said, ‘This is not us.’"

Four charged in alleged billion dollar healthcare fraud tied to Russian transnational criminal organization
Two Georgian nationals allegedly laundered proceeds from a massive scheme that exploited Medicare using stolen identities, DOJ says

Four people in New Hampshire have been charged for their alleged roles in a long-running, $3 billion healthcare fraud and money laundering operation, prosecutors announced this week.

Fructoso de Jesus Gomez Agudelo, 76, of Nashua, is charged with wire fraud and accused of stealing another person's identity.

Kakha Bendeliani, 48, and Goga Danelia, 31, both from the country of Georgia, were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering by submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare.

Bendeliani and Danelia allegedly laundered proceeds for a Russian transnational criminal organization that participated in the largest identity theft-driven healthcare fraud scheme ever prosecuted, authorities said.

The investigation began after thousands of people, including the elderly and those with disabilities, contacted Medicare after receiving Explanation of Benefits (EOB) forms. The forms indicated they had received durable medical equipment (DME) that they never actually ordered or received.

The criminal network orchestrated the multi-billion-dollar healthcare fraud and money laundering scheme that sought to steal from Medicare, other government-sponsored health insurance programs and private health insurance companies, prosecutors said.

"These charges expose the staggering scale of fraud and money laundering that Transnational Criminal Organizations are willing to inflict on our health care system and the people of New Hampshire," Erin Creegan, U.S. attorney for the District of New Hampshire, said of the charges against Danelia and Bendeliani.

Separately, Rima Gerges-Maalouf, 60, of Massachusetts, was charged with diverting controlled prescription drugs while working as a pharmacist in New Hampshire. Investigators accused her of opening up drug capsules to steal the powdered medication inside.

The indictments allege a wide variety of fraud.

Agudelo allegedly stole and assumed the identity of a U.S. citizen for over 20 years, using the stolen persona to apply for and steal over $500,000 in public assistance — including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, housing and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Meanwhile, Bendeliani allegedly acted as the "nominee owner" of a fraudulent medical equipment front company called Centennial Med Supply LLC. He allegedly allowed others to use his personal information to buy the business and set up bank accounts across six U.S. banks.

He then allegedly withdrew $12,589,770 in fraudulent Medicare payouts derived from a massive $3 billion urinary catheter billing scam. He used cashier's checks to hide the money's origin before wiring more than $12.5 million to overseas accounts.

Trump crackdown uncovers $6.5B in fraud — and your taxes were wasted on diamonds, Ferraris and a boat named Butt Nekkid

More than 450 alleged fraudsters — including 90 doctors and medical professionals — were busted for bilking at least $6.5 billion in fake Medicare and Medicaid claims, with one greedy nurse splashing her ill-gotten gains on an $865,000 Bulgari necklace, a $594,000 Ferrari and a $4.6 million Philippines beach resort, authorities said.

The colossal crackdown, which spanned 45 US states and territories, was announced Tuesday by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who called it “the greatest combined federal and state effort combating health care fraud in history.”

In total, 455 people were netted — including alleged con artists who took the taxpayer funds meant to help the poorest Americans and blew them on luxury cars, jewelry, mansions, fine art, an NFL box and a yacht cheekily named Butt Nekkid.

In one of the most egregious cases, a student athlete in Florida died during basketball practice — after the doctor who was part of an $89 million fraud scheme signed off on his cardiovascular test after giving it only a cursory glance, the Department of Justice charged.

Texas nurse claims $906 million, buys Bulgari necklace and builds Philippines resort

A nurse in Texas was charged with billing Medicare for $1 million for each patient to whom she applied unnecessary tissue grafts, the feds alleged.

Marizel Yukee, 49, of Las Vegas, was charged with fraudulently billing $906 million in claims for which she was paid $297 million.
She allegedly funneled the stolen funds to buy posh cars, real estate, jewelry and even built a $4.6 million beach resort in the Philippines, prosecutors claimed.

When she was arrested, the feds seized $30 million from her bank accounts, $467,000 in cash, a $594,000 Ferrari 296 GTS, seven other luxury vehicles, an $865,000 custom Bulgari necklace and another million worth of jewelry, officials claimed.

Separately, three Florida nurses were busted for a $118 million tissue graft scheme. Leigh Tesar allegedly spent $215,000 on a luxury box suite at the Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play, according to a criminal indictment.

 There are reports claiming that the fraudsters have stolen up to $10 billions by now!

‘Central figure’ in $250M Minnesota fraud case arrested hiding out in Somalia

A “central figure” in a $250 million Minnesota welfare fraud scheme was arrested in Somalia this week after spending nearly four years on the run, the Justice Department announced Friday.

Abdikerm Eidleh, 42, was one of the original suspects indicted in connection to the nation’s largest COVID-19 fraud scheme – the infamous Feeding Our Future scam. He was taken into custody in Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu on Thursday, according to prosecutors.

In September 2022, Eidleh was hit with 31 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering for his alleged role in the scheme to steal pandemic relief funds from a federal program meant to feed hungry children in need.

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald – President Trump’s fraud czar – described Eidleh as a “central figure in one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history.”

“He not only stole taxpayer dollars, but he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately needed,” McDonald said in a statement.
“Rather than answer for his crimes in the United States, he fled to Somalia in a futile attempt to evade justice,” the DOJ official continued. “That attempt ended thanks to the exceptional work of our FBI partners.

“The Department of Justice will continue to track down and prosecute fraudsters wherever they run and wherever they hide.”

Minnesota US Attorney Daniel Rosen said Eidleh’s arrest demonstrates that “if you commit fraud against the American taxpayer, and try hiding across the globe, the long arm of justice will find you.”

The indictment against Eidleh alleges he was responsible for recruiting and supporting criminals who set up sham food sites and fake vendor networks to bill the government for millions of meals that were never actually served to children.

Charlie Kirk judge denies Tyler Robinson's attempt to have potential death penalty removed
Deputy Utah County Attorney Chris Ballard was held in civil contempt of the court, but the request to strike the death penalty was deemed 'disproportionate' and denied

Charlie Kirk's accused assassin, Tyler Robinson, can still face the potential death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder, a Utah judge ruled Friday.

Judge Tony Graf Jr. found Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard was in contempt of a court order for statements he made about his opinion on the strength of evidence in the case — but he was not wrong for making other statements in which he disputed a misleading characterization about specific ballistic evidence from a defense court filing.

As a result, Graf denied Robinson's argument that the appropriate remedy would be to remove the potential death penalty — and instead he said he would expand the jury selection process to ensure a fair trial.

"The court finds that striking the death penalty is grossly disproportionate to the misconduct and legally unavailable in this civil contempt framework," Graf said in court.

Prosecutors had countered that they did not violate the gag order or any other court rules when they "set the record straight" after what they call a misleading statement from a defense filing led to viral news coverage suggesting that the ATF could not match the bullet that killed Kirk to the suspected murder weapon, Robinson's grandfather's rifle.

The ATF could neither identify nor exclude Robinson's grandfather's rifle as the source of the bullet fragment recovered from Kirk, describing the tool mark analysis as inconclusive, according to court records. But the caliber was consistent, and a spent casing was also a match.

Neither the gag order in Robinson's case nor state court rules prohibited prosecutors from correcting what they saw as the defense's misleading court filing, according to prosecutors. But Ballard went further in at least one interview, Graf said, where he expressed confidence in the totality of the evidence against Robinson.

By doing so, Graf said he improperly shared an opinion about Robinson's guilty, which was improper and the basis for the civil contempt ruling.

Prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted of assassinating Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

Hoarder parents accused of murder, ‘terrible neglect’ of obese son, 7, who died weighing 255 pounds

The hoarder parents of an obese 7-year-old boy who weighed 255 pounds when he died of heart failure have been charged with his murder for their “extraordinary, terrible neglect,” according to prosecutors

Damien O’Brien, 40, and his wife Jessica O’Brien, 41, are additionally facing child abuse and torture charges in the death of their 7-year-old son, Casper — who had never been to school and only ever visited a doctor once.

“On the face of it, this is cruel and extreme suffering from this child caused by the neglect of the parents,” Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton told WJRT of the couple, who also have a 5-year-old daughter.

Police responded to a 911 call for a child in distress at the family’s dilapidated home in Flint Township, Michigan on Nov. 4, 2025.

Casper was rushed to a local hospital where he died a short time later from dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that leads to heart failure, with a contributing cause being morbid obesity, according to a medical report.

He was 4-feet, 2-inches tall and weighed 255 pounds when he died — far exceeding what the CDC considers a healthy weight for a 7-year-old boy of the same height, which is between 50 and 73 pounds.

“That is obesity. This child did not have a pediatrician, was only taken to the doctor I believe … once,” Leyton told WJRT.

Damien O’Brien has a good job and the family has health insurance.

The morning Casper died, they even called their veterinarian to have their dog treated, Leyton said.

EUROPE

AFD: German Far-Right on Brink of First State Government Since WWII

A German far-right party could be closing in on power at the state level for the first time since the Nazi regime's defeat in World War II 81 years ago.

Polling suggests Alternative for Germany (AfD) is far ahead of its rivals in Saxony‑Anhalt and, crucially, within striking distance of an outright majority that would defeat mainstream parties' traditional Brandmauer—or "firewall"—against a far-right government.

Germany's electoral system of proportional representation means that most governments at the national and regional level are coalitions. The "firewall" is an agreement of non‑cooperation in which mainstream parties do not govern with, or rely on votes from, the far right, especially the AfD.

But a theoretical distribution projected by Dawum, a firm which aggregates polling has suggested that the AfD could get an outright majority, eliminating the impact of the firewall to keep the far-right out.

The projection showed the AfD one seat short of the 42 needed for a majority in the northern state's 83-seat parliament for a September 6 vote. The only viable non-AfD majority would be a three-party alliance of the Christian Democrats, (CDU) the Left (Linke) and the Social Democrats (SPD) delivering 42 seats—just enough to govern, according to the polling.

That razor-thin margin means only a slight shift—well within normal polling variation—could decide the election.

"The likelihood that they get an absolute majority is extremely realistic," Markus Böckenförde, associate professor of Comparative Constitutional Studies at Central European University told Newsweek Wednesday. "If something special happens, like another terrorist attack, then I would take it for granted (they would win)."

A majority victory in Saxony‑Anhalt would mark the party’s transition from an insurgent force into a governing one.

"Let's assume for a minute that AFD gets 42 seats, then they have a slim but valid majority to form government," said Böckenförde.

The AfD's support is largely rooted in the former communist East, where the party has capitalized on anti-immigration sentiment and skepticism toward Germany's military support for Ukraine.

It has never formed a state government, largely because other parties have worked together to keep it out of power.

Russia Nuclear Bombers Followed By NATO Fighter Jets Off Europe

Two advanced NATO fighter jets shadowed Russian bombers capable of carrying long-range nuclear weapons during what Moscow called a scheduled training flight in the closely-watched Arctic region on Monday.

Although NATO countries frequently scramble jets when they detect Russian aircraft flying close to alliance airspace, nuclear-capable bombers skirting near NATO territory is generally seen as an intimidation tactic—particularly in the Arctic, where NATO is concerned about an increasing Russian and Chinese presence.

Russia's defense ministry said several of its Tu-160 supersonic bombers carried out a practice flight over the Barents and Norwegian Seas on Monday.

The strategic bombers were accompanied by Russian MiG-31 fighter jets on the 16-hour flight through international airspace, Moscow said.

"At certain stages of the route, the strategic bombers were escorted by fighters from foreign countries," the Russian government said, without specifying further.

A senior NATO military official told Newsweek that two Norwegian F-35s responded to the incident, with both air forces behaving "professionally."

Footage published by Russian authorities appeared to show at least one F-35 alongside the Russian aircraft.

Norway, a NATO member, has more than 50 F-35s, a handful of which are based at the Evenes Air Station in the north of the Nordic nation, looking out onto the Norwegian and Barents Seas.

Norway shares about 120 miles of land border with Moscow, with Norwegian soil stopping not far west of major Russian military bases clustered around the Arctic cities of Murmansk and Severomorsk, which are home to the all-important strategic nuclear submarines the Kremlin would deploy in a nuclear conflict.

Norway has long had what it calls a "quick reaction alert," meaning Oslo always has a pair of F-35s ready to scramble at any moment if they detect an unfamiliar aircraft.

The Norwegian military says it typically carries out around 40 quick-reaction alert missions each year on NATO's behalf, and the two F-35s are ready to be airborne within 15 minutes.

Chinese Navy Ships Reach Russia for Joint Training amid Tensions with US and Allies

A Chinese naval flotilla arrived in Russia's far eastern port of Vladivostok on Tuesday for four days of training and exchanges, underscoring deepening military ties between Beijing and Moscow amid rising tensions with the United States and its allies in the Western Pacific.

The People's Liberation Army Navy's Task Force 83, composed of the training ship Qi Jiguang and the amphibious dock landing ship Kunlunshan, arrived in Vladivostok—the headquarters of Russia's Pacific Fleet—at the invitation of the Russian Navy. The vessels were greeted by flag-waving spectators gathered along the waterfront, as shown in images published by the Chinese state media outlet Xinhua.

While China has continued to present itself as neutral on Russia's war in Ukraine, it has also helped support Russia's sanctions-strained economy through booming cross-border trade, including dual-use exports and increased purchases of heavily discounted Russian oil and gas.

The United States and its European allies have repeatedly described China as a "decisive enabler" of Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war effort.
Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping reaffirmed their strategic partnership during the Russian leader's visit to Beijing last month, with both sides pledging to deepen cooperation across defense, energy, and technology sectors.

"The Chinese and Russian militaries will earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and continue to expand practical cooperation in various fields," China's Defense Ministry said in a statement released Monday ahead of Qi Jiguang and Kunlunshan's arrival in Vladivostok.

Crimea Bridge Fortifications Seen Up Close in New Satellite Pics

New satellite images show Russia's fortifications around the Crimean Bridge, which links the annexed peninsula south of mainland Ukraine to Russian territory, as Kyiv increases its pressure campaign on Crimea.

Russia has placed floating buoys around the bridge, images uploaded to Google Earth and from the European Union's Copernicus satellites appear to show. The images were captured between October 7, 2025, and June 16, 2026.

The Russian fortifications are designed to slow down Ukrainian drones packed with explosives traveling in the water, making it easier for Russian forces to intercept attacking surface vessels, said Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank in London.

Ukraine has, in recent weeks, upped its attacks on Crimea, saying it hopes to cut off the peninsula from Moscow by targeting Russian logistics sites propping up operations in southern Ukraine with medium-range drones, as well as the fuel facilities powering both the Kremlin's war effort and its economy. Ukraine has also persistently struck Russia's oil facilities in multiple regions, including a refinery just a few miles from the Kremlin in Moscow.

Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, the territory now hosting several major Russian military bases and remaining a major holiday destination for Russian tourists, despite persistent Ukrainian attacks.

Kyiv has vowed to reclaim Crimea and other regions internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, while Russia insists it will not give up control of the territory it currently controls. Territorial disputes have been the thorniest issue in now-stalled peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

The Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, connects Russia's Krasnodar region and the peninsula. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally unveiled the construction in 2018, the bridge quickly becoming a symbol reviled by Ukraine and an attractive target for Kyiv.

Russian-Occupied Crimea Declares State of Emergency as Ukraine Ups Strikes

The Moscow-appointed head of Russian-occupied Crimea declared a state of emergency Friday following a wave of Ukrainian drone strikes that have crippled the peninsula's energy grid, triggered widespread blackouts, and forced severe fuel rationing.

Sergei Aksyonov announced the emergency measures on social media, acknowledging that Crimea's energy supply "remains difficult" and that he hoped the supply in Sevastopol would be fully restored. The declaration follows months of intensifying Ukrainian bombardments targeting energy infrastructure across Russia and the peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

The return of Crimea is one of Kyiv’s stated war aims following Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022, and the peninsula has been hit hard by drone attacks and long queues at ⁠gas stations in recent months.

Sweeping Restrictions and Rationing

In Sevastopol, the home base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, Russian-appointed Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev implemented drastic measures to conserve dwindling fuel and power reserves. Public fuel sales were halted early this week, with remaining supplies strictly reserved for emergency and state vehicles.

Local authorities have also banned outdoor events, turned off streetlights, scaled back public transit, and suspended summer camps and tourist activities.

Razvozhayev noted that the emergency declaration would legally allow local business owners to invoke force majeure clauses and permit residents to seek financial compensation for electrical equipment damaged by the erratic power grid.

France Spends Billions on Ukraine—Debates Cost of AC at Home

A record-breaking heatwave in Europe has sparked a firestorm over whether countries should devote resources toward cooling buildings and breach longstanding taboos as they attempt to cope.

In France, heat linked to dozens of deaths has ignited a politicized battle over whether the country should rethink its longstanding reservations about air-conditioning, or “clim.” The French right has called for subsidized expansion of cooling systems, striking rare common ground with some green policy advocates. While traditionally opposed—instead advocating for insulation over energy-intensive cooling—members of the latter have recently acknowledged that a limited rollout may now be necessary.

This nationwide push, dubbed "plan clim," has been spearheaded by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party, which is advocating for air conditioning in all schools and hospitals. A spokesperson for the party told Le Monde that the plan also includes €20 billion ($22.8 billion) in state-backed, interest-free loans to help tens of millions of households install AC systems.

For reference, the country has sent over €6 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022, according to the latest estimates from the Kiel Institute, though this places below some of its European peers like Germany (€24.2 billion) and far behind the U.S. (€64.6 billion).

Europe Endures Record Heatwave

France's weather agency, Meteo-France, said that Tuesday was the hottest day recorded since 1947, and most of the country remains subject to “red vigilance” warnings over dangerously high temperatures.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Aemet agency said that both Monday and Tuesday marked the hottest June days on record, with a number of locations seeing temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F).

The United Kingdom likewise broke its June records on three consecutive days this week, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as several other countries across Western and Central Europe reported near-all-time highs.

MIDDLE EAST

US Strikes Back at Iran: Trump Slams ‘Foolish’ Hormuz Ceasefire Violation

The United States carried out strikes on Iran on Friday in response to a drone attack a day earlier on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, an incident President Donald Trump said violated a ceasefire agreement.

U.S. Central Command said American forces targeted Iranian missile and drone storage sites as well as coastal radar installations. The strikes lasted roughly an hour and concluded just before 1:30 a.m. local time in Iran, according to the Associated Press.

The military action came shortly after Trump declined to say whether the U.S. would retaliate or if the fragile ceasefire was still in place, telling reporters in the Oval Office at the White House: “You’ll find out.”

“I don’t like the fact that they took a shot yesterday, actually four, we knocked down three ... At a ship, not at an allied ship, but a very expensive ship. They shouldn't be doing that," Trump said at the White House shortly before the U.S. strikes.

The president added that the ship "took a little beating," but was "fine."

Iran has recently warned Gulf states trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz against helping the U.S. and international organizations establish new routes for ships through the vital waterway, as Tehran jockeys for leverage in talks on a final peace deal with Washington.

The stance, which further jeopardizes a fragile agreement with the U.S., comes a day after a cargo ship was attacked southeast of Oman in a suspected Iranian drone strike. That forced the U.N. to suspend its escort evacuation operation for 10,000 sailors stranded on ships in the strait.

Asked Friday why strikes were carried out despite his repeated claims that talks with Tehran were progressing, Trump offered a brief answer, saying of Iran: “They’re a little bit different.”

Following the U.S. strikes, Vice President JD Vance wrote on X, "Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence."

Hezbollah Reacts to New Israel-Lebanon Deal: ‘Our Hands Are on Our Weapons’

The Lebanese Hezbollah movement is willing to abide by a new U.S.-backed deal reached between Israel and Lebanon, but only if Israel were to commit in full, a spokesperson for the group told Newsweek.

Should Israel fail to withdraw entirely from Lebanese territory under the new agreement, which thus far only outlines a partial Israeli military pullback and did not include representation from Hezbollah, the group warned further clashes were inevitable.

"Our hands are on our weapons," the Hezbollah spokesperson said. "As long as there is occupation, there is resistance. The party did not participate in any discussions. We are committed if the occupation is committed, but we have the right to liberate our land and homes."

With Israeli troops still present across a six-mile span of southern Lebanon, the Hezbollah spokesperson rejected the notion of "surrendering our land to the occupier," likening the "unacceptable" situation to a person "who would hand over his wife, children and home to a neighbor, then simply walk away and concede."

"No one truly feels the weight of this issue except the people of the South," the spokesperson said. "They have sacrificed their blood and their children. Are they supposed to leave everything behind and surrender it to the enemy?"

Newsweek has reached out to representatives of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli Foreign Ministry for comment.

What We Know About the Deal

Representatives of Israel, Lebanon and the United States signed a new agreement Friday during a ceremony at the State Department in Washington.

The full details of the deal have yet to be made public, but Israeli media has reported that it would include the IDF's withdrawal from two areas within a six-mile "security zone" established by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Speaking at the signing, Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh called it "a first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing a permanent and final cessation of hostilities, enabling our people to go back to their land and allowing all Lebanese to live in peace, security and prosperity.”

Israeli counterpart Yechiel Leiter referred to a "trilateral framework agreement" in which "Iran is out, Hezbollah is out, and the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in.”

What Hezbollah militants should be saying under current circumstances is that they'll stop attacking Israeli territory. That has ALWAYS been the reason why Israel had to occupy Southern Lebanon several times now. And even before them, the PLO also launched attacks against Israel from that Lebanese region.