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NATO Allies Seek to Win Over Trump After Iran Ire

NATO allies will showcase surging defense spending at a summit in Turkey's capital Ankara on Tuesday as they hope to appease President Donald Trump after his fury over Europe's response to the war with Iran.

The two-day gathering at Turkey's sprawling presidential palace comes a year after NATO members pledged to ramp up security-related spending to 5 percent of GDP under pressure from the U.S. leader.

NATO chief Mark Rutte

 

 insists European countries are "delivering" on their promise by bolstering military budgets and moving to take more responsibility for the defense of their continent in the face of Russia.

"Just one year later, we already see transformational progress," Rutte told journalists in Ankara on the eve of the summit.

In a bid to impress Trump, NATO has lined up a series of headline-grabbing figures.

"This is showtime," a senior European diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

At an industry forum on Tuesday ahead of the main summit, leaders are set to unveil new arms deals worth tens of billions to show Trump they're delivering on their words.

Underscoring that push, Canada announced on Monday that it had selected Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to build its new fleet of submarines, a multi-billion-dollar programme Ottawa framed as part of a broader effort to deepen defense ties with European NATO allies.

But Trump -- still smarting after European countries imposed restrictions on U.S. forces using bases to attack Iran and didn't join efforts to free up commercial traffic in the Hormuz Strait -– has spent the run-up to the summit slamming allies for not moving fast enough for his liking.

 

"Ridiculous for the U.S.A. to continue along this one-sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal. They were not there for us!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social last week.

- 'Real shift' -

European leaders are aiming at least to avoid a bust-up with the mercurial U.S. leader that could deal a further blow to NATO's credibility after Trump repeatedly cast doubt on the U.S. commitment to protecting its allies.

Diplomats are banking on Trump's good relationship with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan,

 

 and an unstinting charm offensive by NATO chief Rutte, to keep his mood in check.

But with Trump having had fallings out with a string of other leaders -- most recently Italy's Giorgia Meloni -- there is plenty that could ignite his anger.

Seeking to show willingness on Iran, European allies spearheaded by France and Britain have put together a potential naval mission to help in the Strait of Hormuz and countries have shifted vessels closer to the region to be ready.

But the situation remains volatile and the Europeans want clarity on how a fragile U.S. deal with Iran is panning out before sending in their navies.

While they'll be hoping that Trump strikes a conciliatory tone, European leaders have begun to come to terms with the reality that the U.S. is inexorably pulling back from their alliance.

Washington has been clear it wants its allies to take the lead on the conventional defense of the continent and recently announced it was cutting back the assets it makes available to NATO commanders.

European nations will look to prove they're ready to play a greater role while also trying to keep Trump, and the vast might of the U.S. military, as engaged as possible.

"All of this is evidence of a real shift in mindset," Rutte said. "This is NATO 3.0. A stronger Europe in a stronger NATO."

- 'Strong decisions' -

Beyond taking greater responsibility for their own defense, European countries have also taken over the support of Ukraine almost entirely as Trump has wound back U.S. aid.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 

 

-- who will attend the leaders dinner on Tuesday -- will score a commitment from his European backers at NATO to keep at least 70 billion euros ($80 billion) of military aid flowing to Kyiv each year in both 2026 and 2027.

Zelenskyy -- who is set to hold talks with Trump at the Ankara summit -- urged the alliance to take "strong decisions" on boosting Ukraine's air defenses after a devastating Russian blitz killed nearly 30 people.

The Ukrainian leader will look to convince Trump -- who held a phone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin ahead of the gathering -- that Kyiv is turning the tide in the war and that he should pressure Moscow back into serious peace negotiations.

 

Spencer Pratt Torches NYC Mayor Mamdani in New Viral Takedown

Boy, howdy, if you want a new, young, up-and-coming Republican to keep an eye on, you could hardly do better than to watch Spencer Pratt. He was edged out of the Los Angeles mayoral election, so the City of Angels now has to choose between the commie in place and the younger, dumber commie for the big chair in that city. But Mr. Pratt has been on fire every since, and he's worth listening to.

On the 250th anniversary of American liberty, Mr. Pratt took to his X account and gave us a video that not only spoke in glowing terms about our nation and its history, but also slammed leftists, especially the Mayor of New York, the "democratic socialist" (communist) Zohran Mamdani, for trying to erase our history.

What's more, Mr. Pratt lays out a pretty good notion of why the commies want to erase 250 years of American history. NOTE: Language alert. Watch:

 

Here's a key excerpt:

Notice how the communist always attacks your history? The communist must attack your history. Why? 

Because history is what anchors you. It's what makes us attached to something. Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. History breeds an almost irrational attachment to things. An attachment that is more powerful than anyone can imagine. Erasing history is how you demoralize people, how you unmoor them and detach them from their society so you can take it from them and rewrite it in your image. 

Think of your country like a home. What makes your home special? It's not the marble countertops or the expensive furniture or the fancy appliances. It's the memories you have there. That backyard is where we got married. That living room rug is where our son took his first step. Hey, don't touch that. That was his first teddy bear.

That's an adept comparison, especially on a weekend when most Americans are celebrating the 250th anniversary of our home, our nation, our way of life. Yes, it's tempting to become worried about the future of our nation when you see a disgusting performance from an elected official like New York's "democratic socialist" mayor and his minions. I'm not immune to that myself. But for every Zohran Mamdani, every commie out there who wants to erase America and tear it down, there is a Spencer Pratt, along with millions of other Americans, who stand in his way.

Mr. Pratt has done a great job of reminding us of that.

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Read More: Spencer Pratt Lost the Election. City Hall May Have a Bigger Problem Now

Karen Bass Blames Environmental Racism For Boyle Heights, Spencer Pratt Nails Her to the Wall

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Mr. Pratt concludes:

Not only is it a miracle that this radical experiment in self-governance even survived past 1776, but we are the champions of the world. Be proud of that. Be proud of your history. Millions of your ancestors fought and died to preserve it. Zohran Mamdani's ancestors never bled for this country. He has no history here, so he has no attachment to our home. He has no place to rewrite our history and lecture us about what our country stands for. 

So celebrate today. Show some American pride. Honor your history. Raise your flag, raise a finger, and say, f**k you, communist! This is our home, and you can't have it!

I will be somewhat amazed if this young man doesn't run for president at some point. Yes, Spencer Pratt is correct; they may have squeezed him out of the LA Mayor's race, but in striking him down, they Obi-Wan Kenobied him: They have made Spencer Pratt more powerful than they could possibly imagine.

 

How's Communism Work? Like This: Cuba Goes Dark As Island Nation Hit With Massive Blackout

It’s only 90 miles off the coast of Florida, but it’s a whole different world down in communist Cuba than it is here in the United States. 

As the U.S. has ratcheted up economic pressure with punishing sanctions and as the DOJ indicted the late dictator Fidel Castro’s 95-year-old brother Raúl in May for the 1996 killings of four Americans, the island nation has been feeling the heat.

On Monday, they suffered a total blackout, leaving millions of people without power:

BREAKING: Cuba has been hit by another island-wide blackout, leaving roughly 10 million people without power.

Officials say the cause is under investigation as the country's aging electric grid continues to struggle and fuel reserves run low.

It's the second nationwide blackout this year, with hospitals and critical services among those impacted as Cuba faces an ongoing energy crisis.

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MORE: Rubio Hits Cuba Hard: New Sanctions Now Target Castro Kin and GAESA

Fidel Castro's Filmmaker Grandson Lives It Up at Lavish Parties While the Cuban People Starve in the Dark

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Their power operations have always been touch-and-go:

Grid operator UNE said it was investigating the cause of the ⁠nationwide blackout.

Cuba has for months suffered from hours-long, and more recently, days-long power outages linked in part to a decrepit grid and a U.S. imposed oil blockade that has cut off the island's fuel supply.

It’s an especially bad time for this to happen for citizens, because we’re right at the height of summer.

The nationwide outage is more bad news for Cubans ‌already ⁠exhausted from rolling blackouts that make it impossible for many to work or sleep in the Caribbean summer heat.

 

Cuba has frequently ⁠struggled to keep the lights on during a years-long economic crisis but the Communist-run government has ⁠entered unprecedented territory under increased pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Nearly two-thirds ⁠of the country was already without power when the grid collapsed on Monday.

Cameron Arcand, Senior Washington Correspondent over at our sister site Townhall, reports on the response from the White House:

As the democrat socialists are increasingly taking over the Democratic Party, it’s a stark reminder to those blithering communist idiots like NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: socialism and communism have been tried, they've never worked, and they suck.

🚨 HOLY CRAP! Almost ALL of Communist Cuba is WITHOUT POWER, more than 10 million people are suffering and furious

Officials are PANICKING trying to get the island back online

This is why President Trump has made clear communism can never be allowed to win in America.

Surgeries are being canceled, hospitals are desperate.

Cuba's energy infrastructure is crumbling into the ground, fuel supplies are dwindling, and the regime has NO CLUE how to fix any of it.

DOWN WITH COMMUNISM! 

Editor’s Note: New York City is now facing the consequences of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist takeover.

 

The U.S. Has Been Eliminated in the World Cup After a Historic Run

The United States has been eliminated from the World Cup after a loss to Belgium in the Round of 16. The result was 4-1, and marks an end to the historic run that the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team had mounted.

The U.S. could not overcome a multitude of costly mistakes and mental errors throughout the match, allowing the Belgians to score with ease. Despite a commendable offensive effort off of the back of yet another impressive free kick goal from Malik Tillman, the U.S. was unable to overcome their defensive lapses.

The eyes of the world were on the matchup after scores of Europeans were livid due to FIFA officials overturning an unjustly and incorrectly administered red card suspension to USMNT rising star striker Folarin Balogun with the help of President Donald Trump.

In the 2026 World Cup, the USMNT managed to win their first ever knockout round match and managed to win their group outright after only two matches. They will look to capitalize on their impressive growth as a squad when heading to the 2030 World Cup.

 

Scott Jennings Nuke the Dems' Narrative on Graham Platner in Less Than Two Minutes on CNN

Is that really what some Democrats are saying now that Graham Platner’s Maine Senate bid has already fallen apart? They didn’t vet him—are we hitting Hunter Biden’s crack pipe? Scott Jennings made mincemeat of that narrative in less than two minutes:

Scott Jennings just blew up the Democrats’ favorite excuse.

They’re now claiming Graham Platner wasn’t properly vetted, but Jennings wasn’t buying it for a second.

He reminded the CNN panel that prominent Democrats like Ro Khanna, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Tim Walz… pic.twitter.com/oMQ6AxjDwj

— Overton (@overton_news) July 7, 2026

JENNINGS: “The only thing I disagree with is when she said that he hadn’t been vetted.”

“No, he had been vetted!”

“All of the things that have been stated, it was all out in the public and people like Ro Khanna, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Tim Walz, the Bulwark, Pod Save America, all these people came together to overlook it all, to explain it all, to rationalize it all.”

“He was vetted. People knew all these things and a whole bunch of Democrats in Maine showed up and voted for him anyway. And a bunch of donors from around the country sent him money anyway.”

“I agree with Alyssa’s question. What changed? Why are you bailing on Graham Platner now?!”

“You already signed off on Nazi tattoo, a self-described communist, somebody who’s had rape fantasies, somebody who has been on a social media platform known as a playground for predators.”

 

“And on and on and on and on and on.”

“And the difference between this accuser and the previous one is simply this, she’s a liberal. It’s okay, I guess, for Democrats that their candidate’s assault conservatives.”

“But he broke into someone’s house. And apparently, according to her, raped her. And because her politics are correct, they can now believe it.”

“All of this whole thing is disgusting. But to say that they hadn’t vetted him, or that they didn’t know about all this is totally false.”

“They knew it and they signed up for it, and I don’t know why they’re backing away from this scumbag today when they had already signed off on all that other crazy behavior.”

Well said. 

Democrats have until July 13 to settle this issue in Maine and remove Platner from the ballot. The clock is ticking. 

 

Graham Platner urged to drop out of Senate race following bombshell rape allegation by ex-girlfriend

 

The battle for control of the U.S. Senate was thrown into limbo on Monday following a bombshell rape allegation against the Democrat nominee in Maine, Graham Platner.

According to a report published by POLITICO, a Maine woman named Jenny Racicot, 41, alleges that Platner, 41, entered her home without permission in late 2021 while highly intoxicated and forced her to have sex with him — despite her “repeated, explicit objections.”

She later expanded on her claims during a detailed interview with CNN, recounting the specific events of that night.

Racicot, who had previously been in an on-and-off relationship with Platner after meeting him on a dating app in 2019, explained further that she cut off all contact immediately following the incident and informed him that their sexual encounter was not consensual.

 

“One of the reasons I didn’t come forward sooner was, the huge moral conflict that I had between supporting his politics, but not supporting him as a person,” she told the press. “I just want the truth out there. I just want people to have a whole scope of who he is as a person.”

In an exclusive interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on Monday Jenny Racicot said that Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, entered her home without permission and raped her when they were in a casual dating relationship. Racicot said the incident happened… pic.twitter.com/Gf2mWtDVBT

— CNN (@CNN) July 6, 2026

Jenny Racicot tells Jake Tapper there is zero chance Graham Platner could have believed the encounter was consensual.

She says he was apologizing during the incident while coming in and out of reality from being blackout drunk.

TAPPER: “You normally use protection?”

RACICOT:… pic.twitter.com/JLooiUa6Kf

 — Overton (@overton_news) July 6, 2026

The revelation comes just a week before a critical July 13^th ballot deadline, which represents the final opportunity under state law for Platner to voluntarily withdraw from the race and allow the Maine Democrat Party to select a replacement nominee for the November general election.

Platner, a combat veteran and left-wing progressive who secured the nomination in June after an insurgent campaign that drew widespread national attention, has adamantly denied the claim, calling it completely fabricated.

In a video statement released on social media shortly after the story broke, Platner said that any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically false and dismissed the report as a coordinated smear by establishment political operatives.

 

Nonetheless, Platner acknowledged the devastating political reality of the situation and announced that he and his team are now taking time to reflect on the best path forward.

“These allegations are very serious and Graham vigorously denies them. They are also coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives. For a year, opponents of this campaign have thrown everything they can at Graham –– calling him a Nazi, a war criminal, and a communist. None of it has been true and this is no different. It is not a coincidence that this story comes a week before the ballot deadline, just as the previous false allegations came a week before the primary. Graham began this campaign to fight for a Maine where everyone is treated with dignity and where Mainers are put first, and no amount of desperate smears will stop this movement from seeing that vision through,” Platner’s campaign responded to the allegations.

 

The campaign also immediately postponed multiple public events as senior staff reportedly hunker down to assess the long-term viability of his bid to unseat veteran Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins.

The fallout from the allegation has been instantaneous and severe, triggering a rapid wave of defections from a number of Democrats who had previously stood by Platner through a series of other campaign controversies.

Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) officially withdrew their endorsements on Monday afternoon, with Khanna stating that the “very serious and credible” allegations crossed a definitive red line and that Platner must drop out of the race. 

 

I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line. These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) July 6, 2026

In a joint statement, Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer and Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Kirsten Gillibrand emphasized that Platner should “immediately withdraw”.

“The allegations reported today are incredibly disturbing – violence, abuse and sexual assault are absolutely unacceptable,” they stated. “The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot.”

Within hours, the executive leadership of the Maine Democrat Party also issued a formal statement urging their nominee to step down immediately to focus on his family and personal well-being.

Since the sought after Maine Senate seat is widely considered an absolute must-win for Democrats hoping to reclaim the chamber, the party now faces a tight timeline to convince Platner to step aside before the 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time deadline next Monday, which would trigger a two-week window for party officials to choose a new candidate to anchor the ticket.

White House Report: Smithsonian Museum Has Become Activist Tool

The White House Domestic Policy Council dropped a 162‑page report this week accusing the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History of what it calls “ideological capture.” The report, titled “Saving America’s Story,” says the museum has shifted from sober scholarship to political activism. That is a big claim about a taxpayer‑funded institution that gets more than a billion dollars a year in federal support.

What the report says

The report lays out five main findings. It says the museum downplays the founders, makes the nation’s 250th birthday into a lecture in shame, swaps neutral historical words for modern activist talk, favors activism over scholarship, and fails its duty to the public. The Domestic Policy Council highlights public remarks by Anthea M. Hartig, the Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the National Museum of American History, including the line that history can be “a prime tool of social justice.” The White House uses those and other museum materials as evidence the museum is pushing an agenda instead of teaching history.

Why this matters to taxpayers

This isn’t just an academic debate. The Smithsonian receives large federal appropriations every year, and taxpayers have a right to expect museums they fund will tell the whole story — good and bad — without acting like political organizers. The report was a follow‑up to President Trump’s March executive order, and it notes real levers the administration could use: funding conditions, oversight through the Regents, or pressure on appointments. If a federally funded museum becomes a platform for partisan activism, accountability is reasonable to demand.

Smithsonian pushback and the evidence

The Smithsonian pushed back fast, defending its record of scholarship and saying it explores complex parts of our past. Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III has defended the institution’s mission. Fine. But the report didn’t invent its case out of thin air — it reproduces museum webpages, event materials, and public remarks. If museum leaders talk about “restorative history,” “reparations,” and “systemic intervention” as central aims, reporters and taxpayers will notice. Calling history an outreach tool is one thing. Turning the museum into a sermon is another.

What comes next — and what should happen

This is now a test of whether our public institutions put scholarship first or political fashion. Congress, the Regents, and museum leaders should read the 162‑page document, verify the quotes and sources it cites, and demand transparent answers. The Smithsonian should recommit to scholarship that educates rather than indoctrinates. If Americans fund a museum, they deserve real history — not a rotating menu of whatever social theory is trending this week. Museums should preserve our story, not rewrite it to win culture‑war applause.

 

Paul Pelosi Faces Misdemeanor Hit and Run Probe, DMV Recheck

 Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, is at the center of a fresh legal review after Napa County deputies say he was involved in a hit‑and‑run in Yountville. The sheriff’s office released details that drove national coverage: his convertible was badly damaged, he admitted he “hit something” but told deputies he didn’t know what, and prosecutors are now weighing misdemeanor charges. For a family used to big headlines, this one comes with a familiar whiff of “private matter” and public consequences.

What the Napa County Sheriff’s Office actually reported

Deputies say a witness reported a brown convertible struck a legally parked car, briefly stopped, and then drove away. Investigators located the convertible a short distance away and identified the driver as Paul Pelosi. Officials say the car had significant front‑right damage consistent with hitting the parked vehicle, and Pelosi admitted he had hit something but was unsure what or when and drove until the car became disabled.

Why prosecutors and the DMV are now involved

The sheriff’s office has recommended misdemeanor hit‑and‑run charges for property damage without injury and sent the case to the Napa County District Attorney’s office for review. Preliminary testing reportedly showed no alcohol in Mr. Pelosi’s system, and deputies referred him to the Department of Motor Vehicles for a re‑evaluation — a routine step when an older driver’s capacity is in question. So while this is not a repeat of the 2022 DUI conviction, it is not being treated as just a parking lot scrape either.

 

What to watch next

The key next steps are simple: will the DA file formal misdemeanor charges, and will the DMV take any administrative action after its re‑evaluation? If charges are filed, the story moves from a sheriff’s dispatch to court filings and possible arraignment. If the DMV finds diminished capacity, there could be restrictions on Mr. Pelosi’s license. Either outcome shifts this from a news blip to an accountability story — exactly the sort of thing that should interest people who believe the law applies equally to everyone, no matter who they marry.

Final take: accountability matters, and optics count

The Pelosi family issued a brief statement saying Mr. Pelosi apologized to the vehicle owner and would take responsibility, while Speaker Pelosi would not comment further. Fine — apologies and silence don’t change facts. The sheriff’s report and the DA review are the official record now. Conservatives who’ve long argued that high‑profile families get a lighter touch will watch closely to see whether the system delivers the same consequences it promises to ordinary citizens. If the law is applied fairly, the case will proceed on its merits. If not, the public will notice — and rightly so.

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