US begins evacuating Mideast embassies,
army bases as Iran nuclear talks come
to a head
Posted By: Dreadnought, 6/12/2025 12:03:00 AM
The United States is drawing down the presence of people who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East due to the potential for regional unrest, the US State Department and military said Wednesday as tensions with neighboring Iran rose amid deteriorating nuclear talks. “President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad. In keeping with that commitment, we are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies. Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our Mission in Iraq,” a State Department official told The Times of Israel. Trump later confirmed
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A federal judge has blocked an executive order (EO) from President Donald Trump that sought to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Friday.
The article said several Democrat state attorneys general challenged the order as unconstitutional, saying it “usurps the States’ constitutional power and seeks to amend election law by fiat.” The AP also noted the EO required officials to accept only mailed ballots that came in by Election Day.
The initial executive order that was signed on March 25 required potential voters to show documents
When even CNN's own political analysts are calling out a Democrat senator for manufacturing a publicity stunt, you know something has gone seriously wrong. That's exactly what happened when Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) decided to crash a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and resist Secret Service agents. Instead of universal condemnation of how the Secret Service treated him, Padilla faced uncomfortable truths from his media allies.
The spectacle unfolded when Padilla showed up uninvited to Noem's press conference, apparently expecting to grandstand his way into the headlines. He not only disrupted her while she was speaking, but he also wasn't wearing his security pin,
Sirens sounded across Israel following the launch of Iranian missiles and after the IDF had sent an initial warning on Friday to civilians to take shelter as Iranian missiles made their way to Israeli territory.
Initial defense assessments indicate that Iran has fired at least dozens of missiles toward Israeli territory. Another barrage was fired by Iran minutes after the initial barrage, the IDF said. Witnesses reported to The Jerusalem Post sightings of interceptions in Israel's skies.
Seven people injured
A woman sustained a minor head injury from fallen shrapnel, a MDA spokeswoman said, Israeli media reported on Friday.
New: Israeli Strikes on Iran Much Larger
Than Initially Thought, Stunning Details Emerging 10 replies
Than Initially Thought, Stunning Details Emerging 10 replies
As RedState reported, explosions were reported in Iran earlier on Friday morning local time, and it didn't take long for Israel to confirm they had struck. The attacks came after months of the Trump administration trying to give the Mullahs a diplomatic out that they simply refused to take.
But while initial assumptions were that this was a smaller, precise strike on Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities, the details emerging point to a far larger operation. Not only did Israel hit over a dozen nuclear sites in Iran, but they targeted the country's top military leadership as well. That includes Hossein Salami,
Israel's Attack on Iran Was Made Possible
by Clandestine Drone and Missile Bases
Built Inside Iran 7 replies
by Clandestine Drone and Missile Bases
Built Inside Iran 7 replies
Israel's highly successful attack on Iran's nuclear weapons enterprise and other regime targets was the product of years of preparation. Overnight, while the world was watching Israel Air Force strikes throughout Iran, on the ground, Israeli commandos from the IDF and Mossad were engaged in their own war. Precision-guided missiles, smuggled into Iran, attacked Iranian air defense installations and opened the way for Israeli strike fighters. Drones were launched from a clandestine base built inside targeted key Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. In a sequence of events resembling Ukraine's destruction of a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet, Israel used guided missiles mounted on civilian vehicles parked near
Trump Drops an All-Time Troll on Iran,
As What Happened Behind the Scenes Comes
Into View (Updated) 5 replies
As What Happened Behind the Scenes Comes
Into View (Updated) 5 replies
Israeli attacks on Iran are continuing on Friday, with reports of nuclear facilities, ballistic missile sites, and the IRGC leadership being totally decimated. This was not a warning shot to get the Mullahs back to the negotiating table. It was a decapitation of Iran's military capabilities, both nuclear and traditional.
As RedState reported, IRGC supreme commander Hossein Salami was among those killed, along with what is reportedly most of his leadership structure and the nation's top nuclear scientists. The Iranians were caught off guard, not believing an attack was imminent, and their air defenses were completely ineffective.
The most obvious thing in the world probably doesn't qualify as "news" to most HotAir readers but it does to the folks over at NBC News. Today they have a story up about some of the far-left online accounts that are pushing for more violence and destruction from a group of people who have already done a lot of damage in Los Angeles.
NBC hasn't completely separated itself from the "fiery but peaceful" mob of other media outlets but in this piece they do at least notice that there is a clear pattern to how the far-left operates. [emphasis added]
It was approaching nightfall in Los Angeles on Sunday when black-clad
Iran launches over 100 drones at Israel
in response to nuclear site strikes, IDF confirms 18 replies
in response to nuclear site strikes, IDF confirms 18 replies
IDF Spokesman Effie Defrin on Friday morning told a press conference that Iran had launched over 100 drones toward Israel in recent hours.
He also noted that over 200 IDF aircraft have attacked over 100 targets in Iran with over 330 munitions.
He did not say when they would reach Israel, but in April 2025, it took such drones several hours.
During that Iranian attack and another attack by Tehran on Israel in October 2024, Israel had a wide alliance of US, Brits, French, and other countries helping to defend it.
Late last night the IDF began what it said would be several days of airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear program and associated assets.
Good for Israel, acting as it has before (the 1967 war, the takedown of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear program in 1981 and strikes on Syria in 2007) to preempt a clear existential threat to its continued existence.
No serious player on the world stage can honestly deny that Tehran has been on its final run gaining nuclear weapons, and while some will quibble about whether the regime intended to use nukes to destroy “the Little Satan”
Vacation ruse, phantom trip, hostage decoy:
How Israel misled Tehran before Iran strike
– source 12 replies
How Israel misled Tehran before Iran strike
– source 12 replies
Israel deliberately labeled Thursday night’s security-cabinet meeting as a discussion on hostage negotiations in order to lull Tehran and green-light the pre-dawn strike inside Iran, a senior Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post on Friday. According to the official, ministers were briefed in advance that the agenda would focus on the stalled talks for the release of Israelis held in Gaza. “The aim was to put Iran to sleep,” the source said. Once inside the secure forum, the cabinet unanimously approved the military operation and every minister signed a strict non-disclosure agreement, known as a Shomer Sod (“guardian of the secret”) document. Only a handful of officials
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says the military launched its attack on Iran’s nuclear program and military “because the time had come; we’d reached the point of no return.”
“We cannot wait for another time to act, we have no choice,” he says in remarks published by the IDF.
“History, both distant and recent, has taught us that in the face of ambitions to destroy us, we must not bow our heads, and so we fight to preserve our existence. Freedom is granted to those who are willing to fight for it,” he adds.
A federal judge late Thursday ruled that the federalization of parts of California's National Guard by President Donald Trump was "illegal," and ordered Trump to return control of the Guard to state Gov. Gavin Newsom "forthwith."
But Judge Charles Breyer stayed his temporary restraining order from taking effect until 3 p.m. ET on Friday to allow the Trump administration to appeal his decision. The administration promptly did just that, asking the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to block Breyer's ruling from taking effect.
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Dems Already Forming Narrative: Schumer,
Hispanic Caucus Flipping Out Over Padilla Takedown 32 replies
Hispanic Caucus Flipping Out Over Padilla Takedown 32 replies
We just reported the wild action at Department of Homeland Security (DHS) head Kristi Noem's briefing.
On Thursday, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) tried to interrupt the briefing, and then got in a scuffle with agents on the side of the room, was hauled out, and taken down to the ground. [Tweets, videos]
Now if you look at the event, you can see the senator starts loudly interrupting, coming up the side of the room, without initially identifying himself at about 6:30 in this video. Then they stop Padilla, and he's pushing back against them as you can see in the video Bill Melugin posted.
A federal judge late Thursday ruled that the federalization of parts of California's National Guard by President Donald Trump was "illegal," and ordered Trump to return control of the Guard to state Gov. Gavin Newsom "forthwith."
But Judge Charles Breyer stayed his temporary restraining order from taking effect until 3 p.m. ET on Friday to allow the Trump administration to appeal his decision. The administration promptly did just that, asking the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to block Breyer's ruling from taking effect.
Louisiana doesn’t do everything right. Senator Bill Cassidy remaining in office is a clear depiction of that. In light of the insane protests we’ve seen from the far left over the past week (the same far left that has been fighting to keep illegal aliens from deportation), the Louisiana Freedom Caucus sent out a strong reminder to citizens of the state—essentially reminding them that if they feel threatened by protestors while in their car, they can legally run them over.
Standing alongside a hundred civic leaders as police sirens blared in the background, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass delivered her most impassioned critique of the federal response to anti-ICE protests to date Thursday.
The mayor — flanked by faith leaders, business leaders and immigrant rights advocates and others — defended the city’s ability to handle the sometimes chaotic protests that have swept across downtown L.A. for the last week, while accusing the Trump administration of deliberately misrepresenting the city as overwhelmed by violence.
“To characterize what is going on in our city as a city of mayhem is just an outright lie,” Bass said,
Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem was in Los Angeles Thursday giving a briefing to reporters on the response to the Los Angeles anti-ICE rioting. Then suddenly off to the side you can hear a commotion and someone shouting.
After he created a scene and they were removing him, he identified himself as a senator.
Noem said she would speak with him later.
When I leave here, I’ll have a conversation with him, but I think everyone would agree that wasn’t appropriate,” she said once the press conference began.
“When I leave here, I’ll find him and visit and find out really what his concerns were.
Iran launches over 100 drones at Israel
in response to nuclear site strikes, IDF confirms 18 replies
in response to nuclear site strikes, IDF confirms 18 replies
IDF Spokesman Effie Defrin on Friday morning told a press conference that Iran had launched over 100 drones toward Israel in recent hours.
He also noted that over 200 IDF aircraft have attacked over 100 targets in Iran with over 330 munitions.
He did not say when they would reach Israel, but in April 2025, it took such drones several hours.
During that Iranian attack and another attack by Tehran on Israel in October 2024, Israel had a wide alliance of US, Brits, French, and other countries helping to defend it.
Longtime Democratic Washington, D.C., Delegate to the House of Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton told reporters Tuesday that she intends to run for reelection in 2026. Norton, who turns 88 on Friday, replied “yeah, sure,” after she was asked if she is seeking reelection, Politico reported. When asked how she would respond to anyone questioning whether she is capable of continuing to serve in Congress at her age, Norton stated “I’m going to run,” adding “I don’t know why anybody would even ask me,” the outlet reported. Norton’s comments come after several recent reports have highlighted concerns over her age and ability to continue serving in Congress effectively.
Walmart heiress Christy Walton promoted a planned nationwide protest against President Trump by running a full-page advertisement that ran in the New York Times on Sunday. The ad, which notes that it was paid for by the billionaire heiress, calls on people to participate in the "No Kings" protest slated to take place across the U.S. on June 14 — the same day a military parade celebrating the Army's 250th Anniversary is set to take place in Washington, D.C. The date of the parade and protests also coincides with Mr. Trump's birthday. The ad lists eight declarations, including "WE honor our
In the midst of a busy few weeks on the news front, the resolution of an old story managed to slip out — and it raises new questions about former President Joe Biden, ex-Secret Service head Kimberly Cheatle, and how they handled one of the highest profile White House scandals.[snip]a report from RealClearPolitics’ Susan Crabtree — [snip]the baggie of cocaine found in a White House locker in July 2023 — reported that the Secret Service acted to destroy the evidence the day after it closed the case and appears to have punished the official who Cheatle overruled when it came to destroying the narcotic substance.
A Boeing
Dreamliner plane bound for London with 242 people aboard crashed Thursday moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad in western India.
Video posted on social media appeared to show the jetliner descending followed by a fireball and a dark plume of smoke. It appeared to be the first fatal crash of a Boeing Dreamliner.
“It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,” G.S. Malik, the police commissioner for Ahmedabad, told The Associated Press, adding that “some locals would have also died” when the plane crashed into a residential area where offices were also located. “Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained,” he said.
Earlier today, while hosting Hugh Hewitt's show, I asked former Senator Jim Talent whether we could expect Israel to finally attack Iranian nuclear sites, after the mullahs refused to stop enriching uranium.[snip] Update: Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that this is not a one-night operation:[snip] JUST IN: Intel suggests ALL of Iran’s general staff, including the head of the military were ELIMINATED in tonight’s strikes by Israel[snip] Islamic Republic of Iran state media says the top commander of the IRGC, Hossein Salami, was targeted in the Israeli airstrikes and is dead.
What a difference a few hours makes. Just when California Governor Gavin Newsom thought he had scored a political victory against President Trump, reality came crashing down courtesy of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
On Thursday night, Clinton-appointed Judge Charles B. Breyer handed Newsom what appeared to be an early Christmas present, ordering Trump to return control of the California National Guard to the Golden State's governor. Breyer claimed Trump's federalization of the Guard was "illegal" and violated both statutory authority and the Tenth Amendment.
“That’s not where we live. We live in response to a monarch. This country was founded in response to a monarch,”