The frustration with the Rand Paul and Thomas Massie political opposition is understandable.  However, this approach by President Trump comes with the possibility of a backfire.

PRESIDENT TRUMP – “Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is. Actually, MAGA doesn’t want him, doesn’t know him, and doesn’t respect him. He is a negative force who almost always Votes “NO,” no matter how good something may be. He’s a simple minded “grandstander” who thinks it’s good politics for Iran to have the highest level Nuclear weapon, while at the same time yelling “DEATH TO AMERICA” at every chance they get.

Iran has killed and maimed thousands of Americans, and even took over the American Embassy in Tehran under the Carter Administration. We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the “bomb” right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!) but, as usual, and despite all of the praise and accolades received, this “lightweight” Congressman is against what was so brilliantly achieved last night in Iran.

Massie is weak, ineffective, and votes “NO” on virtually everything put before him (Rand Paul, Jr.), no matter how good something may be. He is disrespectful to our great military, and all that they stand for, not even acknowledging their brilliance and bravery in yesterday’s attack, which was a total and complete WIN. Massie should drop his fake act and start putting America First, but he doesn’t know how to get there — he doesn’t have a clue!

He’ll undoubtedly vote against the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill, even though non-passage means a 68% Tax Increase for everybody, and many things far worse than that. MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague! The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I’ll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard. MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians, of which Thomas Massie is definitely one. Thank you to our incredible military for the AMAZING job they did last night. It was really SPECIAL!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.” (LINK)

(more…)

Vice-President JD Vance appears on Meet the Press with Kirsten Welker to discuss the administration’s intent and purpose of bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities.

JD Vance notes there have been multiple illegal alien entries into the United States during the Biden administration during the open borders, and some of them are likely terrorist threats to the nation.  All efforts are underway to ensure those illegal entrants would be tracked down and extracted from our country.

.

(more…)

In this interview, the insufferable Margaret Brennan attempts to match intellect with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ms. Brennan fails miserably.  The outcome is an epic broadcast of media bias, dramatic acting by Brennan and a very visible smackdown from a highly competent Rubio.

Margaret Brennan attempts to tell Marco Rubio what intelligence assessments are and how they are used.  Now keep in mind as a U.S. Senator Marco Rubio was the Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a member of the Gang of Eight conducting intelligence oversight for years.  Brennan thought she could match wits with Rubio, she failed miserably; embarrassingly so.  WATCH:

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary of State and acting White House National Security Adviser Marco Rubio now joins us. Mr. Secretary, I know it has been an intense few hours, but so far, it does not appear that Iran has yet retaliated against the United States. What intelligence do you have at this point about their capabilities to respond, the intent of their proxies? Is there any kind of command and control structure left to activate them?

SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO: Yeah, well, we’ll see what Iran decides to do. I think they should choose the route of peace. We have been- we’ve done everything. We have bent over backwards, okay, to create a deal with these people. Steve- Steve Witkoff has traveled the world extensively, met with them- well not even met with them, met through the Omanis with them, and discussed back and forth. We even put an offer to them that they wanted elements of it in writing, and we offered it to them- very generous offer by the way. We’ve done- and we’re prepared right now.

If they call right now and say, we want to meet, let’s talk about this. We’re prepared to do that. The President’s made that clear from the very beginning. His preference is to deal with is to deal with this issue diplomatically, but he also told them we had 60 days to make progress or something else was going to happen. And I think they thought they were dealing with a different kind of leader, like the kinds of leaders they’ve been playing games with for the last 30 or 40 years. And they found out that’s not the case.

So this mission was a very precise mission. It had three objectives, three nuclear sites. It was not attack on Iran. It was not an attack on the Iranian people. This wasn’t a regime change move. This was designed to degrade and, or destroy three nuclear sites related to their nuclear weaponization ambitions, and that was delivered on yesterday. What happens next will now depend on what Iran chooses to do next. If they choose the path of diplomacy, we’re ready. We can do a deal that’s good for them, the Iranian people and good for the world. If they choose another route, then there will be consequences for that.

(more…)

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:

.

(more…)

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

(more…)

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:

.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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 †

.

(more…)

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.

.

(more…)

Via President Trump on Truth Social:

[SOURCE]

UPDATE:

(more…)