Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem experienced an allergic reaction and was taken to a Washington, D.C., hospital as a precaution. She is reportedly alert and recovering. Secret Service agents were present at the hospital. Noem, a recent appointee to the Trump administration, has been a key figure in the administration’s immigration policies and has advocated for the dismantling of FEMA.
President Trump’s abrupt departure from the G7 summit was attributed by French President Macron to potential US involvement in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, a claim Trump later denied. While Trump cited unspecified “bigger” reasons for his early return to Washington, he confirmed receiving signals of Iran’s desire to de-escalate. Following a surprise Israeli attack on Iran, retaliatory strikes and escalating tensions prompted international calls for de-escalation, with concerns raised about potential environmental damage and Iran’s nuclear program. Despite the White House downplaying direct US military involvement, Macron warned against regime change through force.
Following Friday’s Israeli attacks on Iranian facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirms a direct hit on the Natanz underground enrichment plant. While inspections are currently impossible, the IAEA is providing ongoing assessments of the damage sustained at Iranian nuclear sites. The extent of the damage and its impact on Iran’s nuclear program remain unclear. Further updates from the IAEA are anticipated as the situation unfolds.
Senator Mike Lee deleted three tweets mocking the Minnesota shooting that killed a state lawmaker and her spouse. These posts, which included a photo of the alleged shooter and unfounded claims linking the shooting to Marxism, drew widespread condemnation. Following criticism from Senator Tina Smith and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Lee removed the offensive content. No statement was released by Lee’s office regarding the incident.
A new report reveals that Katie Miller, wife of Stephen Miller, pressured the Social Security Administration (SSA) to falsely claim 40% of calls involved fraudulent activity, a figure fabricated by the White House and Elon Musk. This false claim was made to support cuts to the SSA spearheaded by Musk’s initiative, DOGE. The acting SSA administrator, Leland Dudek, initially complied but was later replaced by Frank Bisignano, who contradicted Miller’s statement while simultaneously defending DOGE’s actions. The resulting staffing shortages and claim backlog demonstrate the negative consequences of this politically-motivated manipulation of agency data.
Adriana Smith, a 31-year-old Georgia nurse declared brain dead in February, delivered a premature baby boy, Chance, via emergency cesarean section. Chance, born at approximately six months gestation, weighs 1 pound, 13 ounces and is currently in the NICU. Smith’s family was initially told that state law prevented removal of life support due to the pregnancy, but the Attorney General clarified that the law did not mandate this. Smith will be taken off life support.
Following his arrest for brandishing a firearm at a Nashville protest, Elijah Millar, 19, was again taken into custody. A subsequent search of his Murfreesboro home by Murfreesboro Police and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force yielded evidence, including computers and other items. Millar faces three counts of illegal weapons possession, stemming from a recent incident and a prior discovery of firearms in his home. His arrest followed a reported suicide attempt and a psychiatric evaluation.
BAE Systems’ new £25 million Sheffield facility, opened by Defence Secretary John Healey, will manufacture M777 howitzers and other artillery systems, creating 200 skilled jobs and bolstering UK defence capabilities. The site will serve as the UK’s primary howitzer production hub, supporting over 60 UK suppliers and contributing to national self-sufficiency. This investment is part of a broader government initiative to revitalize UK artillery manufacturing and reinforces Sheffield’s industrial heritage. The facility’s output will include barrels for Ukraine and contribute to ongoing maintenance and repair of existing artillery pieces.
New research from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals China’s nuclear warhead stockpile is expanding at an unprecedented rate, adding approximately 100 warheads annually since 2023, reaching at least 600. This rapid growth, driven by Xi Jinping’s leadership, contrasts with previous policies emphasizing modest deterrence. At this pace, China could possess nearly 1,500 warheads by 2035, approaching the readily deployable arsenals of Russia and the U.S., prompting concerns particularly for Taiwan. The report concludes that the post-Cold War era of nuclear weapons reduction is ending.
President Trump is shifting towards a more aggressive stance on Iran, favoring military action over diplomacy, despite ongoing internal discussions favoring a diplomatic resolution. This involves considering US support for Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, potentially including refueling Israeli jets with US assets. Trump has publicly declared his impatience with negotiations, asserting US military superiority and knowledge of the Iranian Supreme Leader’s location. However, the ultimate decision on US military intervention remains unclear, with internal debate and external pressure from both hawkish and dovish voices influencing the president’s decision.
John Q. Hosedrinker