A rock legend showed us how to fight Trump — and it's working: analyst

The Vietnam vets who are fighting Trump in court

Shaun Byrnes did two tours in Vietnam. He had hoped to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery when his time came. Now he's not so sure — and Donald Trump is the reason why.Byrnes, 83, is one of several Vietnam veterans who have filed suit to stop construction of a 250-foot triumphal arch that Trump wants to build between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The structure, which resembles Paris's Arc de Triomphe and has been dubbed the "Arc de Trump," would stand more than double the height of the Lincoln Memorial."It's disrespectful to those that I served with who didn't come back," Byrnes, a Navy veteran, told CBS News in a Sunday report. "And then, of course, to all those who are lying in Arlington National Cemetery."Byrnes and his fellow plaintiff Jon Gundersen, 81, a retired Army Special Forces officer, argue the project has been rushed through without proper congressional approval and would destroy a carefully considered sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and the Robert E. Lee Memorial — a symbolic connection meant to convey national unity after the Civil War.But their objection runs deeper than architecture. Both men spent decades in the military and State Department, including postings to Moscow and newly independent Eastern Bloc countries after the Soviet collapse. They say they know what this kind of monument means."We know how authoritarian dictatorships work," Gundersen said. "There's no rule of law, there's no consent of the governed, and there's monuments for the leaders there."Trump himself, when asked by a CBS News reporter who the arch is for, pointed to himself. "Me," he said.That answer didn't surprise the veterans. But it hardened their resolve. The lawsuit, led by the Public Citizen Litigation Group, argues the administration lacks legal authority to proceed. The Justice Department has moved to dismiss it, claiming the plaintiffs lack standing. Last month a federal judge denied a motion to temporarily halt construction, though the project has not yet broken ground.Last week, the U.S. Commission for Fine Arts approved the arch despite what its own secretary described as overwhelming public opposition — "100% of the comments were against the project," he told the panel. An urban planning commission stacked with Trump allies could sign off on the project as early as June.Gundersen dismissed Trump's claim that the arch would be paid for by private donations rather than taxpayer money. "Even if you took private donations, is that how we want to build monuments? To the oligarchs who give money for favors?"For Byrnes, the suit is ultimately about the fellow fighters who never made it home from Vietnam — and what they deserve."It's more about the duty I feel towards my colleagues and friends who did not come home," he said, "to stand up against this project, regardless of who's in charge."

Trump says Gulf States should recognize Israel as part of deal to end Iran war

President Donald Trump said he is “mandatorily requesting” that several Gulf States join the Abraham Accords, a landmark agreement between Israel and multiple Arab nations to establish relations, as a part of a broader deal with Iran to end the conflict. The Trump administration is negotiating an end to the war in Iran, but there […]

Trump's retribution tour has only just begun — as loyal Republicans face a catch-22

At the White House congressional picnic on Tuesday evening, as Abba's "Dancing Queen" echoed across a lawn dotted with cornhole games, a ferris wheel, and food stations serving short ribs and apple pie, Donald Trump took time to celebrate a political scalp, according to a new story in The Guardian. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican and persistent critic of the president, had lost his primary race and was conspicuously absent from the festivities. "We won the Massie thing," Trump announced to picnic guests. "He was a bad guy. He deserves to lose."The moment exemplified Trump's ongoing campaign to purge the Republican Party of dissenters, a mission that has accelerated during his second term. Massie became the latest casualty in what observers describe as a revenge tour designed to consolidate Trump's grip on the party and eliminate those he views as insufficiently loyal. Yet this vindictive strategy may carry significant costs, potentially destabilizing the very legislative agenda Trump needs to advance and weakening the Republican coalition heading into November's midterm elections.Massie's defeat in the most expensive congressional primary in history—orchestrated largely through Trump-backed spending against the president's handpicked challenger, former Navy Seal Ed Gallrein—follows a pattern established during Trump's first term. Republicans including Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Justin Amash faced similar fates. In Trump's second term, the retribution has intensified. Five Indiana state senators lost their seats after resisting Trump's demands on congressional redistricting. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana fell to a primary challenge after voting to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial.Massie's particular offense included questioning government spending, challenging Trump's war powers assertions, and pushing for transparency regarding files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In his concession speech, Massie signaled defiance, hinting he would intensify his scrutiny during his remaining congressional tenure, particularly regarding the Epstein Files Transparency Act.The strategic problem for Trump is becoming apparent. By decimating the political careers of Republicans whose primary sin was insufficient loyalty rather than substantive policy disagreement, Trump has created a cadre of legislators with nothing to lose. Cassidy, still serving in the Senate, almost immediately threw his support behind a Democratic war powers resolution forcing Trump to end the Iran war, helping push it through after seven previous failures. Similarly, Senator Thom Tillis and former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene have begun breaking ranks, while Trump continues threatening further retribution against Senators Rand Paul and Lauren Boebert for supporting Massie.With razor-thin majorities in both chambers, Trump paradoxically needs the votes of the very people whose political destruction he orchestrated. Conservative analyst Charlie Sykes observed that Trump's victories benefit the Republican Party rather than undermining Democrats, which should concern strategists. Meanwhile, Trump's national approval rating has plummeted to 37%, while Republicans trail Democrats 39% to 50% on generic congressional ballot polling.Trump's recent endorsement of scandal-plagued Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in Texas exemplifies the dilemma. The expensive Paxton race would drain resources from crucial battleground states, potentially sacrificing Republican prospects in November for personal loyalty considerations. Republicans find themselves trapped: Trump remains powerful in primary contests but may prove catastrophic in general elections where independent voters have decisively turned against him

These 'very scary numbers for Republicans' have GOP lawmakers quietly panicking: analyst

A new Gallup poll showing economic confidence at its lowest point in nearly four years is sending alarm bells through Republican ranks ahead of the midterms, according to MS NOW's Ali Vitali — and the numbers are bad enough that even the party's most loyal voters are starting to ask questions.Just 16 percent of Americans now rate the economy as excellent or good, according to the poll. Forty-nine percent say it is poor. And 76 percent say economic conditions are getting worse — the highest reading since 2023. Only 20 percent say conditions are improving."Very scary numbers for Republicans," said Morning Joe host Jonathan Lemire, who noted that midterm elections are historically decided on economic issues.Vitali agreed, but said the public optimism coming from Republican leadership masks a very different private conversation. "We are never going to hear the speaker say, gosh, yeah, things really do look bad for us," she said. "Once he starts doing that, the whole ball game is over." But she added that private Republican sentiment tells a different story entirely — one of genuine concern and handwringing.The economic anxiety is being compounded, Vitali said, by the Iran war's direct impact on household budgets, particularly at the gas pump. The average price of gas nationally now stands at around $4.52 per gallon, up from $3.19 a year ago.Making matters worse for Republicans is what Vitali described as a perception problem that could prove fatal in November: voters know Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, and they are going to hold them accountable for kitchen table issues regardless of what the party says caused them.That accountability is made sharper by what happened when Republicans left Washington last week for a weeklong recess without passing their signature reconciliation bill — a measure that was supposed to be straightforward immigration legislation but collapsed under the weight of Trump's demands, including $1 billion for a White House ballroom and $1.8 billion in potential slush fund payments to January 6th rioters."They haven't done a ton with their majorities," Vitali said, noting voters are noticing.The bigger question, she said, is whether key constituencies that swung Republican in 2024 — particularly Hispanic voters in states like Texas — are permanent members of the coalition or swing voters who can be won back. Democrats are already betting on the latter.

Trump’s big beautiful income tax dodge

The president's settlement with the Justice Department means he could never face IRS audits again

Trump's Possible Iran Deal May Be as Divisive as War Itself

Trump caught in a 'bear trap' with no easy way out: ex-GOP strategist

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) has been a passionate supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump's war against Iran, while MAGA Republicans and American First proponents like former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson have been highly critical. Trump himself, according to The Lincoln Party's Rick Wilson, is looking for an offramp from the war but is caught in a "bear trap" of his own making. In a "Fast Politics" video with liberal journalist Molly Jong-Fast, Wilson — a Never Trump and former GOP strategist — stressed that neither GOP war hawks nor the Iranian regime is backing down.Wilson told Jong-Fast, "So, there is a memorandum of understanding with the Iranian government right now that gives Iran full control of the Strait of Hormuz, gives Iran $100 billion of their currently seized and frozen assets back, agrees to pay Iran $250-some billion — maybe $250 or $280 — in reparations, pushes American forces out of the gulf essentially. After 60 days after this agreement is signed, Iran and the U.S. will sit down and then negotiate a separate agreement maybe concerning Iran's nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons program."The former GOP strategist continued, "This strikes me, Molly, as not great…. This is really dumb. This is dumb even at levels of dumb for Donald Trump…. But they really are very desperate to get this war done with." Trump, Wilson argued, "wants to get out of this thing" but is having a very hard time doing so."He really needs to get out of this thing," Wilson told Jong-Fast. "He is in a bear trap right now. And nobody's happy."Trump launched the Iran war in late February.When Jong-Fast noted that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) "came out against" the plan that Wilson described to her, the Never Trumper responded, "Well, Ted Cruz and (Sen.) Rick Wilson and Lindsey Graham and the entire conservative apparatus of think tank guys and national security guys, they're like, 'Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. We went to Iran, and now, we're going to do what?'.... This will set a precedent that will forever give control of the straits to Iran. And the idea that somehow, there's some last-minute genius negotiation on Donald Trump's part that's going to lead to a deal that's going to make sense for the U.S., it's nuts. It's just Coocoo Town." - YouTube www.youtube.com

Ex-Trump pal Megyn Kelly revives rape allegation against the president

Megyn Kelly used a conservative podcast appearance to unload a series of damaging personal accusations against Donald Trump, claiming he has cheated on every wife he has ever had — and resurfacing a rape allegation made by his first wife, Ivana Trump, that was later retracted."Trump has cheated on every wife he's had," Kelly said on Friday's episode of the Hodgetwins Podcast. "He met Marla Maples while he was still married to the mother of his children, Ivana. It was all over the New York papers. Like he was proud of the affair!"Kelly then went further, telling the hosts, "Ivana, his first wife, accused him of raping her" — before adding that she could not personally confirm the allegation. "I don't know whether that's true or not, but just saying, clearly not a great relationship there."The allegation dates to a sworn deposition Ivana Trump gave during the couple's bitter 1990 divorce proceedings, in which she described a violent sexual encounter with her then-estranged husband. Though she used the word rape under oath, she later walked it back after the claim appeared in a 1993 book, saying she "felt violated" but did not want her words taken "in a literal or criminal sense." When the allegation resurfaced during Trump's first presidential campaign in 2015, she dismissed it as "totally without merit." Trump has long and adamantly denied the accusation.Kelly's remarks were prompted by Trump's recent mockery of former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent for remarrying four years after his first wife, Navy officer Shannon Kent, was killed in combat. Kelly was unimpressed with Trump's moral standing to make that criticism."Talk about a glass house," she said.She closed with a pointed remark about Trump's current marriage to Melania, telling listeners, "If you think Trump's been faithful to Melania, that's great. You've got bigger issues than I can solve here."The comments represent a striking turn from Kelly, who spent years in Trump's orbit after leaving Fox News and had until recently maintained a complicated but largely friendly relationship with the president and his allies. Trump was convicted last year on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels, though he has claimed he was unaware of the arrangement.