Not an original point but worth saying again - there is not a single element in this picture that identifies any of these folks as law enforcement agents. No badges, no uniforms, no vests. Out of context it just looks like a bunch of random guys are kidnapping a mayoral candidate.

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— Jeff Lazarus (@jlazarus.bsky.social) 17 June 2025 at 19:21

They aren't going to turn against him, they'll whine for a day before they come up with a 100 reasons on why they're bending over, again. 

But I was referring to the American public in general, left and right, the Iraq war support was not nearly as unpopular as the war on Iran, even in the UK, a Labour led government approved of the involvement and deployed troops on the ground. Madness. The concept of the war on terror and regime change back then didn't sound as ridiculous as it sounds today. Manufacturing consent was a lot easier. 

As for Kier, no comment. Every few weeks Labour makes the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Odd u-turns that win over no one, for every step forward there are 2 steps back. I don't see how Labour can compete without new faces taking over, Rachel and Kier are only getting less popular by the hour. UK jets flew to the Middle East to de-escalate? yeah... I weep for Ukraine. 

Judge Bennett: Does the US really believe that the court has *no* role in deciding whether conditions for federalizing National Guard are met, or just a lot of deference?

DOJ (Brett Shumate): The court has *no role*.

— Joshua J. Friedman (@joshuajfriedman.com) 17 June 2025 at 20:05

Judge Bennett: Is it your view that if the president simply invokes the statute, gives no reasons, provides no support, and there is nothing that appears to justify it, the court still has no role? No role at all, even with no reasons, no facts?

DOJ: That is correct. Unreviewable.

— Joshua J. Friedman (@joshuajfriedman.com) 17 June 2025 at 20:06

Trump admins argument is that the courts have no power at all, okay then.

At least Bush had ‘the dignity to lie’, says advocate

Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), a think-tank that promotes diplomacy, says Trump’s rejection of the US intelligence community’s assessment that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon shows that the war is his choice.

“Is Netanyahu now calling the shots and giving the president intelligence that he values over the United States’s intelligence? That’s why that that remark is so shocking,” Abdi told Al Jazeera.

“I mean, at least when George W Bush started his endless war, he had the dignity to lie to us about WMDs. Trump is just saying: ‘I don’t care what the facts are. We’re just doing this anyway because I say so’.”


Trump: ‘We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran’

Trump says “we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran” despite US forces having not announced direct engagement in the hostilities.

It is not clear who the “we” in the statement is referring to.

“Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured ‘stuff.’ Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

Iran claims to shoot down 28 ‘hostile aircraft’

Iran’s army says it has tracked and intercepted 28 “hostile aircraft” in the past 24 hours. It says one of them was a spy drone trying to gain intelligence on “sensitive” sites.

Iran’s military has previously claimed to have shot down numerous Israeli fighter jets.

Israel denies this and says no crews or planes have been harmed during the operations in Iran.

US lawmaker introduces bill to limit Trump’s power to strike Iran

Congressman Thomas Massie, a member of Trump’s Republican Party, has introduced a measure that would require the US president to seek the approval of Congress before attacking Iran.

The bill orders Trump to “terminate” any attacks on Iran that are not authorised by lawmakers.

On Monday, a similar measure was introduced in the Senate.

While the proposed legislation would likely face a presidential veto if Congress approves it, advocates said the effort could add to the pressure Trump is facing from opponents of war with Iran.

I just introduced an Iran War Powers Resolution with @RepRoKhanna to prohibit U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war.

This is not our war. Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. pic.twitter.com/LuIl59lt45

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 17, 2025

Trump ally in Congress renews opposition to ‘another foreign war’

Right-wing US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene says Americans say the United States government should focus on issues at home, including safety, education and housing.

“Considering Americans pay for the entire government and government salaries with their hard earned tax dollars, this is where our focus should be,” she wrote in a social media post. “Not going into another foreign war.”

Don't forget the eggs!



Ex-IAEA chief warns Israeli attacks may encourage countries to seek nukes

Mohamed el-Baradei, who won a Nobel Peace Prize as the head of the UN nuclear watchdog in 2005, says Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities are illegal.

He warned that the assault on Iran “is a sure way to destroy” the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, saying that it “sends a clear message to many countries that their ‘ultimate security’ is to develop nuclear weapons”.

For #Israel to attack #Iran including its nuclear facilities (prohibited by international law) and for #Trump to ask Iran for “total surrender” and forgo a treaty right (uranium enrichment) in a clear act of national humiliation, on suspicion that it is developing nuclear weapons…

— Mohamed ElBaradei (@ElBaradei) June 17, 2025

REPORT: Israel BLOCKS ESCAPE, Uses US Citizens As HUMAN SHIELDS

Krystal and Saagar discuss Israel reportedly blocking escape, trapping Americans amid their war with Iran.

Trump faces revolt from top advisers on Iran war amidst setback for Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday met his core team to decide if the US should help Benjamin Netanyahu in his war against Iran in light of Tehran’s ability to inflict pain on Israel. According to US media reports, Trump faced opposition from his advisers in the National Security Council. Many Republic lawmakers too have come out in the open warning Trump against the idea of dragging the US to an illegal war in the Middle East.

Rifat Jawaid explains why Trump is playing with fire by succumbing to Netanyahu’s pressure and not being guided by common sense.

Iraq War 2.0: Glenn Greenwald EXPOSES Media's IRAN PSYOP

The internet is erupting because Tucker Carlson has given Ted Cruz a slightly challenging interview, by the looks of it. Americans are really funny, man.

I have no love for our British media, but our politicians are regularly challenged and embarrassed on national TV. Whether they're conservatives or Labour. Which is probably why we don't have as much as of a problem idolising these people compared to Americans, whose entire media apparatus serve to preserve the image of their politicians and shine their shoes, we simply don't treat Kier or BoJo with kids' gloves, their charm quickly dissipate!

YouGov has taken a couple national surveys on Saturday's massive No Kings Day protests, which organizers claim drew an estimated 5 million participants: one contemporaneously as they happened, and one three days later.

The first poll indicated that 45% of Americans supported the day of protest while 37% opposed it.

The second poll indicated that 49% supported the No Kings Day protests while 35% opposed them.

Both suggest these events lacked clear majority support, but enjoyed plurality support from the public (i.e. more support than opposition) and that opinion has only grown more favorable in the aftermath. Now you know. Being an attendee myself, I just felt the need to rub it in today. You're welcome. You may now up-vote.