No-Nukes Pledge Sits at Center of Emerging US-Iran Deal

President Donald Trump's demand that Iran permanently abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons appears to be the central pillar of a peace agreement he said Thursday is moving into its final stages.

Trump said Iran's leadership has agreed the Islamic Republic will "not have, purchase, develop in any way, shape, or form, a nuclear weapon," framing that pledge as the foundation of the emerging accord.

Trump said the agreement has been approved at the highest levels of Iran's government and by regional partners involved in the negotiations, though Iranian officials have disputed that a final deal has been reached.

Reporting by the New York Post said the emerging framework under discussion pairs Iran's nuclear commitment with broader steps aimed at ending the conflict and stabilizing the region.

Trump said one of the key elements of the deal would be reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil shipping route through which about one-fifth of global supply flows.

The New York Post reported that commercial shipping through Hormuz would resume once a formal agreement is signed.

The Post also reported that the arrangement would extend the current ceasefire while launching additional negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and other unresolved issues.

Trump said he canceled planned U.S. military strikes against Iran after negotiators made substantial progress toward a diplomatic resolution.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump called the effort a "great deal" and said avoiding war while securing concessions was his preferred outcome.

Trump described the negotiations as advancing quickly and suggested a signing ceremony could take place in Europe within days.

Trump said Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent the United States at any formal signing ceremony.

The emerging agreement is being described by officials as a framework rather than a final peace treaty, according to the New York Post.

The Post reported that sanctions relief and broader economic concessions remain unresolved and are expected to be addressed in later rounds of talks.

Iranian officials have pushed back on Trump's characterization of the negotiations, saying no final decision has been made and that Tehran will not accept compromises on its core demands.

Even so, reporting by the New York Post and comments from Trump suggest the emerging agreement is being structured around several core components, including Iran's commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, an extension of the ceasefire and a broader follow-on negotiating process to address remaining disputes.

Officials involved in the talks, as cited in New York Post reporting, describe the arrangement as a framework agreement designed to set conditions for continued negotiations rather than a comprehensive final settlement resolving all outstanding issues.

© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

 

Bloody Thursday for Starmer: Two More Ministers Quit, Seven Gone in a Month

Seven ministers have now resigned from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government in the span of a month. Thursday's back-to-back departures from the Ministry of Defence brought the tally to seven, and made clear the crisis has reached a new level.

Defence Secretary John Healey resigned Thursday morning, accusing Starmer and the Treasury of refusing to give Britain's military the resources it needs to meet growing threats. Hours later, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns followed him out the door.

Two resignations from the Ministry of Defence in a single day. This isn't a dispute over a line item in Britain's Defence Investment Plan (DIP). It's a government in revolt, and it has now consumed the very department responsible for keeping Britain safe.

Healey posted his resignation letter to social media Thursday morning. 

 

It left no doubt about why he was leaving.

"You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats."

"Without a DIP that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe." 

Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch wasted no time.

"John Healey has acted honourably and in the national interest. He has exposed the war that is going on behind the scenes. He has shown that our Prime Minister is too weak to make difficult decisions or to face down his backbenchers."

She went straight for the jugular on welfare.

"Labour is not funding defence because they want to spend all their money on welfare. They're taxing everybody to pay for welfare, and this cannot go on."

It was about to get worse.

 Earlier Thursday, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns sat down for an interview and openly suggested he was weighing whether he could stay in government if the defense funding dispute wasn't resolved.

Asked whether he was considering his position, Carns responded:

"I need to do what is right by the armed forces, and if I don't think that's right, then I will absolutely consider my position."

At the time, it looked like a warning shot. It was a resignation notice.

Carns did not have Number 10's approval to give the interview. After it aired, further discussions with Downing Street went nowhere, and he quit.

Carns announced his resignation on social media Thursday afternoon.

"We owe those who serve the UK the kit to do the job and the loyalty to stand by them when it's done. We are failing on both.

"I've spent my whole time in government making that case. Number 10 will not listen, so I am resigning as Minister for the Armed Forces."

Carns, a decorated Royal Marine veteran who served four tours in Afghanistan, argued in his resignation letter that Britain was trying to meet modern threats with outdated priorities.

"We are asking our Armed Forces to operate in a more dangerous world on a budget written for a calmer one."

Then came the line that will define this moment:

"A serious country funds its defence to meet the threat it actually faces, not the threat it wishes it faced."

The fallout quickly reached the floor of Parliament.

As news of Carns' resignation spread through Westminster, former minister Jess Phillips could be seen checking the announcement on her phone before showing it to former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, both of whom had already walked out on Starmer themselves.

Streeting, who quit last month vowing this leadership succession won't be a "coronation," has been sharpening his knives ever since.

On the floor of the House of Commons, Conservative Shadow Minister for Defence Mark Francois demanded an urgent statement from the government on Healey's resignation. Deputy Speaker Carolyn Nokes indicated that the government wasn't prepared to respond, as ministers were still scrambling to react to a crisis unfolding in real time.

That said everything about where Starmer's government stands.

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Read More: New: Starmer Calls Belfast Stabbing 'Sickening' As Officials Suppress Migrant Video

If You Want to See How Cowardly Liberals Can Be, Here's Starmer's Reaction to His Party's Massive Loss

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And they were the latest in a cascade of ministerial departures, seven in a single month, as Labour trails Reform UK in polling and Starmer's grip on his own party visibly loosens. 

Governments can survive individual resignations. What becomes much harder to contain is a steady stream of ministers walking out while their former colleagues openly position themselves for what comes next.

By the end of the day, Starmer had lost both his Defence Secretary and his Armed Forces Minister, replaced by a man inheriting a department in open revolt.

Carns' final words said it all.

"Number 10 will not listen."

Seven ministers in a month. And the people walking out aren't the fringe. They're the ones responsible for keeping Britain safe.

 

Utah Court Clerks Allegedly Pulled a ‘Hannah Dugan’ for Illegals

On June 3, former Utah court clerks Jennifer Joma (27) and Lauren Morrow (26) were indicted on conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, and obstruction of proceedings before departments and agencies. Joma is also charged with transporting illegal aliens. 

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative where the full resources of the Justice Department are being brought to bear to combat illegal immigration and its requisite cartel and transnational crime. Both women face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, and Joma is facing an extra five years for the additional charge of transporting illegal aliens. 

It appears these ladies allegedly decided it was a good idea to take a page from former Milwaukee, Wisconsin, judge Hannah Dugan,

 

 who was convicted of a felony for helping an illegal alien avoid ICE arrest by shepherding him through a back exit to avoid the agents. You would think Dugan would be a cautionary tale; instead, these women seemingly decided she was a role model. 

An indictment was unsealed, and two former Utah state court clerks have been arrested after they allegedly helped an illegal alien evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest. The clerks also allegedly obstructed immigration proceedings and the lawful enforcement of United States immigration laws by helping at least one of three other illegal aliens escape out a backdoor of the Logan City Municipal Justice Court so that ICE could not arrest or deport them. 

According to allegations in court documents, on April 9, 2026, Joma and Morrow were working at the Logan City Municipal Justice Court in Logan when an ICE Enforcement and Removal Officer (ICE-ERO) entered the justice court to arrest an illegal alien for immigration related charges. The ICE officer had an administrative warrant for the illegal alien who was at the justice court for a court hearing. The ICE officer left the secure area and eventually went outside and waited in his car for his target to leave the courthouse before trying to make the lawful arrest.

Joma and Morrow allegedly accessed court databases without permission to discover the immigration status of people scheduled on the court's docket. When the two identified the non-U.S. citizens, they would find them at their courtrooms and prevent them from leaving the courthouse. And then, they allegedly pulled a Dugan, leading the illegal aliens through a secure area, down several hallways, and out through a back door of the courthouse.

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Read More: Judge Hannah Dugan, Convicted of Concealing an Illegal Alien From ICE, Just Got Bad News From the Court

Accused Charlie Kirk Assassin Tyler Robinson Wants Secrecy - the Court Just Voted for Sunlight

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These charmers were not even hiding their glee over their actions, with one of them even giving the middle finger to the security cameras.

 After sneaking out the back door of the courthouse for the first time with an alien, Morrow and Joma were spotted on a surveillance camera waving and smiling at it, and Morrow used her middle finger in an obscene gesture at the camera. On the second trip, Joma drove off with three aliens in her car before returning alone to the courthouse for work. 

Joma and Morrow appeared in U.S. District Court on Thursday morning, where they both pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. Their attorneys are doing their jobs: trying to paint the women as good people with poor judgment who have been caught up in this "political climate."

"She had a ton of family support in the courtroom today," said Nate Duncan, attorney for Joma. "She has a sweet little three-year-old daughter. Jennifer is a sweet, wonderful person and it's a tragedy to see that she's in this situation right now."

He and Adam Crayk, the lawyer for Morrow, want to learn more about the charges, much of which could be provided in discovery. Crayk noted "the political climate" in responding to questions post-hearing.

"You're talking about people who have zero criminal history," Crayk said. "People who are good, hard-working."

One could argue that anyone with judgment that terrible should not be trusted with sensitive information and legal matters at all. If these women were "good" and "hard-working," they would not have found the time to allegedly manipulate the court system and actively thwart immigration enforcement.

Between the legal shenanigans of the defense counsel for the man charged with Charlie Kirk's murder and these two brain trusts, Utah's court system is not looking very stable or competent.  

 

Texas Loser John Cornyn Tries to Insult Scott Presler and, Yeah, THAT Didn't Go Well for Him

Our tagline here at Twitchy is to 'own the libs.' When it comes to politicians, that usually means they have a D after their name, and there is no shortage of their horrible takes on X that we can pounce on (if you will forgive the expression). 

Unfortunately, there are far too many politicians with an R after their name who are standing in the way of conservative policies to make America great again. We won't go so far as to call them leftists, in most cases, but they are definitely lib-adjacent.

But this year, many of those RINOs are finding out that conservative -- and even normie -- America has had enough of them. Bill Cassidy? Out. Dan Crenshaw? Out. Thomas Massie (who isn't so much a RINO as he is someone who has just gone batpoop insane)? Out. 

And three-term incumbent Texas Senator John Cornyn? OUT! 

 While Cornyn is a reliable Republican vote on the easy issues, his support of red flag laws for gun ownership, along with lax border enforcement and immigration policies, ensured his recent landslide loss to state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican primary. Not to mention his obstruction of the SAVE America Act, easily the most important piece of legislation before the current Senate.

Thankfully, in an exchange with GOP voter registration paragon Scott Presler on X last night, Cornyn reminded every Texas voter why they made the correct choice with Paxton to face off against certified Democrat weirdo James Talarico in November. 

It all began innocently enough, with Presler noting a polite conversation he had with Cornyn about the SAVE Act in a chance encounter at the airport. 

Just had a conversation with Senator John Cornyn at the airport.

I was very gracious & asked him to pass the SAVE America Act.

— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) June 11, 2026

Recommended

Fair enough. Eighty percent of Americans support voter ID requirements in our elections. And, as anyone who has ever had a conversation with Presler can attest, we know he was honest about being gracious to the outgoing Senator.

But what followed from Cornyn was simply bizarre in its snide and childish tone.

Grifter https://t.co/Nu22P8OXGp

— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) June 11, 2026

Uhh ... what? Scott Presler is a grifter?

There is no American who works harder to help Republicans win elections. And Presler does it the old-fashioned way, with shoe leather and a shoestring budget. He's hardly getting rich off his efforts.

Whew. Talk about your sore losers. After Cornyn's mean-spirited attempt to insult him, Presler dropped the gloves, BIG TIME. 

Dear Senator Cornyn,

I approached you respectfully at the airport, extending my hand & introducing myself.

We were at the ticket gate with literally dozens of witnesses — passengers inches away.

Despite a quib reply back from you, I kept things professional & focused on the… https://t.co/acjk2UDQ5n

— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) June 12, 2026

The rest of the long post continued: 

... SAVE America Act. 

While I respect that you say you want to ensure wins this November, I speak for millions when I say that voters will be more likely to vote upon the passage of the SAVE America Act.

Voters see what’s happening in California & wonder why our Senate isn’t doing everything in its power to secure our elections.

Did you know that former Congresswoman Michelle Steel (R-CA) lost by 653 votes in 2024? Did you know that former Congressman John Duarte (R-CA) lost by 187 votes?

I have no doubt that the SAVE America Act would have prevented these losses.

Why are we normalizing an expectation for California to count votes for weeks after Election Day — like Spencer Pratt’s election.

In North Carolina, the State Board of Elections found 34,000 dead voters on the voter rolls — fact-check me. (CC: Senator Tillis)

How can Americans have confidence in our elections & how are Americans going to be inspired to vote if you don’t legislate as the majority?

Last — & I mean this with the utmost of respect — for the $150 million that was spent on the Texas Senate primary/runoff, we could have built massive voter registration/get out the vote operations in every single swing state.

While I understand it might be difficult to contemplate an American citizen doing this work because it’s the right thing to do, I’m proud to say that I don’t take PAC $ — not even from my own organization.

I can’t be bought, which frustrates the political establishment.

My one singular mission is doing right by the American people and delivering legislative wins that the popular vote delivered in 2024.

I’m on the way to the Texas GOP Convention to help ensure all of our Republican candidates win this November — I hope you’ll do the same.

I hope you’ll do the right thing & encourage your colleagues to pass the SAVE America Act — let’s win big.

That's called killing him with kindness. Even after Cornyn's snide remark, Presler remained focused on the issues -- the ONE issue. Protecting our elections. 

But everyone knows what he really did. He exposed Cornyny for the petty, fake conservative he is. 

Sadly, Presler's plea to Cornyn will go unheeded, as the soon-to-be EX-Senator has already declared that he won't help Paxton defeat Talarico in the fall. 

Other people were, to say the least, less polite than Presler. 

Loser pic.twitter.com/uciJ01UoVb

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 11, 2026

OOF! 

We haven't seen a Republican lose a primary that badly since Liz Cheney in Wyoming. 

And now we know why Cornyn got trounced so resoundingly. 

Out of all the people on this app…

Scott Pressler is absolutely NOT a grifter.

He puts in SO MUCH WORK… one of the few who works JUST AS HARD as he cares.

He’s one of the good ones, you should be ashamed of yourself.

— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) June 12, 2026

Like most Democrats, we're beginning to believe Cornyn has no sense of shame or self-awareness. 

You're talking to this mirror. pic.twitter.com/zkUyNIf6jl

— Aggie The Barbabe (@AggieTheBarkeep) June 12, 2026

If he even owns a mirror, it would definitely look like that. 

This is why I told him he should've kicked you inna nuts

— Rowdy Rick Robinson (@RowdyRick73) June 12, 2026

As gratifying as that would have been, Presler's response to Cornyn was absolutely perfect. 

Ha! @ScottPresler has done MORE for the party in the past 3 years than you’ve done in 3 decades! 🤡 https://t.co/dGuBtFQYiy

— Hunter Eagleman™ (@Hunter_Eagleman) June 12, 2026

Fact check: true. 

I find it odd that this guy considers it a great idea to demonstrate conclusively that the people who rejected him conclusively were absolutely right https://t.co/HR4hbCz1YN

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) June 12, 2026

If he wanted to make Texas Republicans feel better about kicking him to the curb in the primary, then mission accomplished. 

Aren’t you glad @KenPaxtonTX wiped the floor with this thoroughly unpleasant elitist cockwomble? https://t.co/1MBcrPU3yW

— Matthew Marsden (@matthewdmarsden) June 12, 2026

Yes. Yes, we are. And bonus points for the British slang. 

— The🐰FOO (@PolitiBunny) June 12, 2026

Cornyn was so petty with his post, it would not surprise us if he started actively opposing the legislation during his remaining days in the Senate. 

Scott spends more time registering and talking to GOP voters than anyone I know. It’s how he knows that they are furious over the failure to pass the Save Act, a fury I have also encountered. Maybe try listening to him instead of insulting him. https://t.co/zsUNr1XfQW

— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) June 12, 2026

Clearly, Cornyn has not been listening to any conservatives lately, least of all his constituents in Texas. 

 

That's why he lost by more than 30 points. 

The only griftor is you Cornyn. You don't want the Save america act to pass because you hate Donald Trump and his agenda.

That's why Texas rejected you and elected Ken Paxton in the primary.

Scott Presler wants this passed just like the rest of us 78 million of us.… https://t.co/1Yc3ta18VR

— Matthew Zimmerman 🇺🇸 (@MattZimmerman26) June 12, 2026

My God. Contemptible and a complete lack of class. https://t.co/g8ahRTN4VD

— Elaine (@elbh) June 12, 2026

Well, somebody is big mad... https://t.co/TiinM07iFl

— Amy 🐘🦙🚫🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️ (@WaltzingMtilda) June 12, 2026

There's being a sore loser, and then there's this. Utterly inexcusable. 

I’m enjoying your ratio…happy you’re done in Texas. Don’t bother trying to grift here either. pic.twitter.com/pKlFU7P0FH

— Calvin 𝕏 🎙🍿🐿️ (@DarthCalvin) June 12, 2026

What a disappointing response.

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) June 12, 2026

That's the understatement of the year. 

.@ScottPresler drove around the country explaining why voting was important and helping people get registered. What did @JohnCornyn do? No seriously, I live in Texas, I can't name one thing he accomplished.
You're a small, small man, Senator. pic.twitter.com/96dICZT2R7

— Jules! (@sparkly_jules1) June 12, 2026

“Make him show the true liberal bitterness within!” pic.twitter.com/JH3N57QMRy

— Tickle (@TickleTexts) June 12, 2026

— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) June 12, 2026

Ouch! 

That score is going to leave a mark. It's just as embarrassing for him as his margin of defeat. 

But not nearly as embarrassing as his attempt to attack a true American hero when it comes to elections, Scott Presler. 

Yes John, you are! Or whoever is writing this on your behalf. https://t.co/1hQtCeLN6V

— The Chris Salcedo Show (@CSalcedoShow) June 12, 2026

Cornyn doesn't spend a lot of time on X. (Judging by the nuclear abomination he called brisket that he posted a couple of years ago, we can understand why he doesn't.) Some guessed that this was posted by a staffer, not the Senator himself. 

But it doesn't matter. It has been up all night. Under his name. 

And it is a perfect representation of why, next year, Texas will have a new Senator who is not named John Cornyn. 

 

Karmelo Anthony's Dad Pushes Race Hoax Speaking About Son's Trial and Verdict

Karmelo Anthony’s father, Andrew, told a blatant lie during his interview with CBS News. Anthony was convicted of murder this week and sentenced to 35 years in prison for fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf in Frisco, Texas, in 2025. The case drew national attention. Naturally, race intensified the case, as Austin was white and Anthony was black. 

 

Andrew said that the one thing that grabbed his attention in the courtroom was the all-white jury.

"What stuck out to me, number one, was the all-white jury, but I was trying to be, you know, like, all right, it's not that big of a deal. I mean, the truth is on our side,” he said. 

That’s not true, sir. And Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) also spread the falsehood (via Fox News):

 "I’m not necessarily convinced — not that I could tell you the name of one person on this jury — that we had 12 impartial White folk out of Collin County sitting on a jury for this young black man," she said, exhibiting her empathy for the convicted murderer.

Her claim about the jury is patently false.

Sources close to the trial confirmed to Fox News Digital that the jury was not made up only of white people, despite Crockett's claim, which has been parroted by activists online.

Of the 12 jurors, three were racial minorities, including Asian and Indian, eight were women and four were men. They confirmed that of the 18 total jurors, including alternates, six were minorities.

The jury in the trial, which spanned nine days in a Collin County, Texas, courtroom this month, found that Anthony intentionally stabbed Metcalf, then 18, to death on April 2, 2025.

The murder took place after Anthony entered the Memorial High School track team's tent at a meet in Frisco, and refused 15 times to leave when asked. Witnesses testified that Metcalf lightly shoved Anthony in an attempt to remove him from the tent, after which the teen reached into his bag, pulled out a knife, and stabbed Metcalf in the chest.

Anthony could be released from prison in 17 years. 

 

Vance Boelter changes plea to guilty following murder of Minn. lawmaker and husband

 

Vance Boelter entered a surprise guilty plea in federal court, admitting to the assassination of Minnesota Democrat Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, last year.

 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Thursday that Boelter pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple charges. The counts stem from the stalking and fatal shooting of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the stalking and shooting of John and Yvette Hoffman and the attempted shooting of their daughter, Hope Hoffman.

 

Boelter killed Melissa Hortman (D-Minn.) and her husband at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025. The attack occurred roughly 90 minutes after Boelter had shot and severely wounded State Senator John Hoffman (D-Minn.) and his wife at their home nearby in Champlin, Minnesota.

“Court documents allege that Boelter acted with the intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate the victims, and that his conduct placed them in reasonable fear of death and serious bodily injury,” the DOJ stated. “During these attacks, Melissa and Mark Hortman were shot and killed, and John and Yvette Hoffman suffered life‑threatening injuries.”

 

“The change in plea by Vance Boelter represents an important step toward accountability for the devastating acts that shook our community,” said Interim Chief Bill Peterson of the Minneapolis Police Department. “While this outcome again reflects the unwavering partnership among local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the many others who’ve worked tirelessly on this case, no legal proceeding could undo the pain suffered by the Hortman and Hoffman families.

Boelter will now serve two life sentences plus an additional 40 years, with prosecutors agreeing not to pursue the death penalty. The move was approved by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, according to the court filing on Wednesday.

“The Attorney General has authorized and directed the government not to seek the death penalty against Defendant Vance Luther Boelter in accordance with the terms delineated in a proposed plea agreement, a copy of which has been submitted to the Court,” the filing states.

 Boelter also faces state charges including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, felony animal cruelty and impersonating a police officer.

Authorities allege that on the day of the shootings, Boelter was heavily armed and disguised as a police officer, wearing tactical armor, a police-style badge and a silicone mask when he arrived at the lawmakers’ homes.

The Hoffman family has also filed a civil lawsuit against Boelter, accusing him of assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. According to the complaint filed in April, John and Yvette Hoffman required approximately six weeks of hospitalization following the shooting. Their daughter, Hope — who was home during the attack and called 911 — was also forced to suspend her education due to severe emotional trauma, the suit states.

 

“There is no justice for Mark and Melissa Hortman,” Hoffman’s family said in the statement. “While the legal process may provide accountability, true healing requires something more from all of us. The choice we’ve made is to go forward with public service and being present for our community … This plea brings us closer to justice, but we remain committed to honoring the victims, protecting our community, and ensuring that accountability is achieved through the rule of law,” the DOJ stated.

 

Judge Leon Denies Freeze of President Trump's Anti-Weaponization Fund

The federal judge’s decision this week not to freeze President Trump’s so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund is more than a courtroom quibble. It’s a warning shot at bureaucratic gamesmanship and a reminder that if you create a remedy to stop government weaponization, you must either use it, scrap it, or admit it plainly. Judge Richard Leon refused to issue an emergency block because the Justice Department kept saying out loud it was not moving forward—but the money and the order still technically exist.

Judge Leon Denies Immediate Halt, But Keeps the Door Open

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon turned away a temporary restraining order from the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics. The judge said the case appears moot because Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and other DOJ officials have repeatedly told Congress and the court they are not going forward with the Anti-Weaponization Fund. That might sound like the end of it — except the fund was set up by a May order and has not been formally revoked. So Leon warned the Justice Department not to “play possum.” Translation: say what you mean, and mean what you say.

DOJ’s Mixed Signals Are the Real Problem

Here’s the plain truth: the administration’s spokespeople can say “we’re not moving forward” all they like, but until someone tears up the order or Congress gets a clear accounting of what happens to any allocated money, the fund remains a legal question. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics argues the fund could let the administration dip into the Treasury’s judgment fund without normal oversight. That’s not paranoia; it’s how Washington lawyering works. If you’re going to create a remedy to protect citizens from government weaponization, then provide transparency — or don’t create the expectation in the first place.

Why the Anti-Weaponization Fund Matters

Supporters of the fund see it as a small corrective: compensation for people who were harmed when the government was turned into a political tool. Critics feared it would be used as patronage or to reward bad actors who helped weaponize the state. Both sides have a point. The real failure would be leaving this in limbo so that nobody gets answers and everyone gets excuses. If the administration believes the fund is unnecessary, then cancel it formally. If it believes the fund is a just fix, then implement it with strong safeguards and public reporting so opponents can’t credibly cry foul.

What Comes Next and What Officials Should Do

Judge Leon made the sensible ruling: no emergency freeze for now, but keep watching. The court also left open the possibility of a preliminary injunction if the administration tries to revive the fund. That’s the right balance. Washington’s favorite hobby is bureaucratic wrangling; the cure is plain-speaking and paperwork. DOJ should either rescind the order in clear, formal language or spell out a transparent plan for how any compensation would be authorized, overseen, and reported. Anything less is just theater — and Judge Leon doesn’t seem inclined to clap on cue.

Dr. Aaron Spence Pressed Over Boys in Girls’ Bathrooms and Sleepovers

Republican members of the House Education and Workforce Committee put Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence on the hot seat this week. The short version: lawmakers demanded straight answers about whether boys who identify as girls can use girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and even sleep in the same rooms as girls on school trips. Dr. Spence stuck to the district line — treat students consistent with their gender identity and follow what he called federal law — and parents left the hearing angrier than before.

What happened at the House hearing

The full committee hearing, billed as an inquiry into parental rights, inappropriate content, and legal abuses, featured three superintendents testifying. Loudoun’s Dr. Aaron Spence faced pointed questions from Republicans like Rep. Virginia Foxx, Rep. Bob Onder, and Rep. Randy Fine. When asked plainly whether biological boys should sleep in the same rooms as girls on field trips, Spence replied that his district treats transgender students according to their “consistently identified gender” and that the approach is lawful. He even answered bluntly that he personally would not use a women’s restroom because he is a man — which drew the obvious follow-up from lawmakers asking why that standard doesn’t apply to students.

Key exchanges that caught fire

 Bathrooms, locker rooms, and field trips

The exchanges were simple and jarring. Rep. Foxx asked about sleeping arrangements. Rep. Onder asked about locker rooms. Spence said transgender girls should be allowed in women’s spaces and that federal law requires it. That claim is the hinge of the debate: if the law truly forces districts to mix sexes in private spaces, Republicans and parents will want to see exactly how officials read it. If it doesn’t, then why are Loudoun policies putting children in uncomfortable and potentially unsafe situations?

Why Loudoun parents are furious

This isn’t theory for Loudoun families; it’s history. The district has lived through charged incidents — including a widely reported locker-room assault and more recent allegations involving bathroom recordings and Title IX complaints. Those episodes fed national headlines and triggered federal probes. Put plainly: parents don’t want abstract legal lectures. They want clear, enforceable rules that protect privacy and safety for girls while respecting every child’s dignity.

Legal and political fallout — and what should happen next

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and other federal entities have been involved in investigations of the district before. Congress holding a hearing is a reminder that this fight is now national, not just local. Lawmakers should demand the written policies and legal memos that Dr. Spence says he relies on. If federal guidance forces mixed‑sex private spaces, Congress must fix that guidance. If it doesn’t, Loudoun should immediately rewrite policies to restore single-sex privacy options and clear protocols for overnight supervision on trips. Vague bureaucratic language about “balancing safety and nondiscrimination” won’t comfort a parent whose child’s privacy was violated.

Bottom line

The hearing made something plain: parents and lawmakers will not quietly accept school policies that blur basic privacy lines. Dr. Spence defended Loudoun’s approach, but defending policy on a committee stage doesn’t erase past harms or answer hard questions about overnight supervision and locker-room privacy. Republicans in Congress should press for transparency, precise legal guidance, and policy changes that put student safety and parental rights first. Loudoun’s problems did not happen overnight, and they won’t be fixed with bland assertions about federal law.

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US Renews Iran Attacks; Tehran Says It Closed Strait of Hormuz

The United States launched a new wave of attacks against Iran on Wednesday night as efforts to end the three-month old war sputtered, and Tehran hit back by saying it will target any ship going through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command said American forces began "additional self-defense strikes" at 5:15 p.m. ET time, early Thursday in Iran, against multiple targets in Iran, in response to what it called Tehran's "unwarranted and continued aggression."

Iranian media reported explosions across the country's south near the Strait of Hormuz, the same area where U.S. forces had already bombarded air defense, radar and other sites on Tuesday. Iranian sources reported new hits by "enemy projectiles" in Qeshm, Kargan and Sirik.

The Iranian navy said it hit two ships trying to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, state television IRIB and the Mehr agency reported. Iranian media also reported that Iran had attacked the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, hitting communication antennas and radar facilities.

After the new American air strikes "any vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted," the Khatam al-Anbiya command said, according to Tasnim news agency. The strait is now closed "completely closed to all types of vessel," the command said.

But Centcom denied this, saying "commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz tonight."

President Donald Trump said that as the bombing was underway Iranian leaders called him directly in the White House Situation Room and asked him to halt the attack, Fox News reported.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards quickly denied Iran made such a request, the IRNA news agency said.

Trump said U.S. forces hit Iran with 49 Tomahawk missiles and some targets were as close as 40 miles (60 km) from Tehran, Fox said.

If Iran does not accept U.S. terms for ending the three-month-old war, "President Trump said, quote, 'We'll bomb the [expletive] out of them tomorrow night,'" said Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, who spoke to the president.

- 'Playing us for suckers' -

The second straight day of U.S. attacks followed Trump's complaint that Tehran's negotiators were taking too long and "playing us for suckers." Earlier this week he had suggested a peace accord was just days away.

"We hit them hard yesterday. We're going to hit them again hard today," Trump told reporters Wednesday morning. "We were really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along."

War Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested the strikes could extend into a third night, saying they would be "strong" and "clear."

The escalation drew international calls for restraint on the eve of the World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting and Iran is participating in.

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres cautioned against a return to "full war."

Twenty-two countries including the United States and European nations also warned Iran on Thursday to stop attacking people "on our soil."

"Attempts to kill, kidnap, harass, intimidate, or otherwise attack people on our soil, undermines national sovereignty and international norms. These actions must stop immediately," they said in a joint statement.

Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, meanwhile, rejected Trump's threat, saying "no sustainable deal can be reached through threats, intimidation, or the use of force."

But diplomacy had not collapsed entirely, with Qatari negotiators traveling to Tehran "to meet with the Iranians in an effort to bridge the remaining gaps," a diplomat with knowledge of the situation said.

The war began with massive U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, rattling the region and global markets before an increasingly shaky truce took effect.

The conflict has driven energy prices higher since Tehran retaliated by virtually closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil normally passes.

Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. military had secretly helped 100 million barrels of oil pass through the contested strait.

Global stocks mostly fell Wednesday as renewed fighting, higher U.S. inflation and weakness in technology shares weighed on sentiment, while oil prices climbed about two percent.

- Gulf on alert -

Iran said it attacked American bases in Jordan and Bahrain on Tuesday after U.S. strikes on the Islamic republic in retaliation for the earlier downing of a helicopter.

The Apache was the second crewed aircraft Washington has confirmed losing to Iranian fire during the war. Its two crew members were rescued, the US military said.

Bahrain said it intercepted and destroyed "a number of Iranian aerial attacks," while Jordan said it shot down five missiles, with no casualties or damage.

Kuwait's military said its air defenses were also engaging "hostile aerial targets."

Tehran's foreign ministry warned neighboring states against letting the US or Israel use their territory for attacks.

The U.S. military also said an American warplane fired on and disabled a tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was attempting to carry Iranian oil in violation of a U.S. blockade.

Iran has insisted that any deal to end the war must include a truce in Lebanon, drawn into the conflict when Iran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2.