There are many critical interviews today that will be highlighted.  We are at an important geopolitical inflection point with multiple consequences amid each chosen path.

The bombing of Iran has united the neocon pro-war groups within the Senate and legislative branch (pro-Ukraine, Pro-Israel) which may assist President Trump’s primary objective to get the Big Beautiful Bill over the finish line. That can be a big short-term strategic benefit, if the operational strikes on Iran do not escalate into a regional conflict.

That said, Secretary of State/National Security Advisor Marco Rubio is the principal person to watch as President Trump’s geopolitical agenda is carried out.  Here he is talking to CFR Maria Bartiromo in his first comments after the strike took place.  “No regime change” but the era of “playing games” is over. WATCH:

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The tone, attitude and rhetoric from the group demanding support for Israel-First above all interests, is the same tone, attitude and rhetoric from the group demanding unlimited support for Ukraine…

….. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with you for noticing the similarity.

You are stable, pragmatic and wise. You are also not alone.

The alignment of cheers from the Coliseum crowd for the attack on Iran from both Israel-first and Ukraine-Always groups is slightly unnerving in the way it makes you grimace -quietly- inside.

It is an understandable sense because you do not pretend, nor do you disqualify your intuition.

Perhaps like many, you are comfortably invisible, as you prefer to be, and you observe thoughtfully.

When you attend the July 4th celebration and parade, perhaps you do not join the crowd in gleeful clapping as you watch the latest military type police MRAP vehicles pass by. Instead you think of what they signify, a bigger picture.

You are prudent; yet you do not wish to disrupt the smiles of those who do not carry the same thoughts. It’s ok, you are not alone.

We hope for the best in all things, yet we do not carry the singularities of self-interest that demand conformity to our views or priorities. Those shouting in our ears demanding we clap and smile are not us.

For the recent Iran action, we hope for a ‘one-and-done‘, but we accept the unfortunate reality that hope is not a strategy.

And so we pray….

Love to all,

Steadfast!

~ Sundance

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At 8:00am this morning Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Dan Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press conference at the Pentagon to brief media on “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the Iranian nuclear strikes. WATCH:

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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Following what President Trump is calling a successful bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites, President Trump will address the nation tonight at 10:00pm ET.  Livestream Links Below:

According to media reports, six 30,000 lb. massive ordinance penetrators (MOPs) were dropped by B-2 stealth bombers on the Fordow facility, and 30 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles targeting Iran’s Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities, fired by submarines.

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Via President Trump on Truth Social:

[SOURCE]

UPDATE:

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This is an interesting insight when overlaid with what you know about foreign government and their influence operations within U.S. politics.

Michael Doran is director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East. As a professional political insider, this consulting business model is party based on the currency of access to key policymakers, staff and advisors.

In this podcast with Bari Weiss the discussion is about Israel and the attack on Iran. Both Weiss and Doran are aligned with the interests of Israel and very supportive. However, in describing President Trump’s position toward Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu there is an interesting moment when Doran explains how foreign governments lost access and influence; essentially, when spying became more difficult. [Reference point 28:51]

In part, Secretary of State/National Security Advisor Marco Rubio restructured the National Security Council, and when he did that “Europeans and those in the Middle East” lost their ability to “plug-in” to their contact sources. The “cultivated sources” they used were no longer in place.  It’s only about a minute on that aspect, but revealing when you consider influence operations and the push to war.  WATCH:

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This is madness.  Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sends a twitter message as if he’s ordering coffee from the guy down the street, telling NATO members not to forget to send him his $40 billion in “budgetary support.”

[SOURCE]

Budgetary support means we pay for the operational cost of Ukraine government, including govt payrolls, pensions, healthcare services, welfare and social services for the people in Ukraine.

The crazy thing is, unless Trump stops it, our congress will give it to him.  And even if Trump tries to stop it, congress will demand the payment as part of their appropriations process.

Maybe it’s just me, but the in-your-face hubris of it is, well, just off-the-charts.  As if we don’t have important priorities here at home that could better use these taxpayer funds.

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Multiple media reports are now outlining the movement of U.S. B-2 Stealth Bombers amid the possibility of strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.   However, despite what many media outlets might narrate, there is no way to determine the intent of the movements until some type of action actually takes place.  It is all supposition.

The media are giddy with excitement.

Daily Mail – Deadly stealth bombers, which only the US has in their arsenal, are on their way to a US Air Force base in Guam amid growing tensions with Iran, according to reports.

Six B-2 stealth bombers, docked at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, appeared to be on the move on Saturday morning, according to Fox News.

The bombers are said to have been refueled, which means they could have launched without full tanks due to the extraordinarily heavy bunker-buster bombs.

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