The United States is more energy-dominant than ever before. We lead the world in oil and gas production, producing more than at any other time in history. Yet the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz proves that energy dominance doesn’t protect us entirely from global shocks. The ultimate energy dominance is energy sovereignty, which requires […]
The U.S. military intercepted and shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones and struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone, a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Hill on Wednesday. Bandar Abbas is a port city on the southern coast of the…
Iran's military fired four one-way drones at a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, a senior U.S. official said.The U.S. military shot down the drones and attacked another Iranian drone-launching unit on the ground before, the official added.Why it matters: This is the second such skirmish in 48 hours. It happened as the U.S. and Iran are negotiating a deal to end the war.Driving the news: U.S. Central Command said in a statement that its forces "shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz." The statement added: "U.S. forces also struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone. These actions were measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire."What they're saying: Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported a military source saying that an American tanker tried to pass through the Strait of Hormuz by turning off its radar system.However, it said the tanker was forced to stop and return after Iran's navy fired at it.Tasnim reported the U.S. Army fired at a site around Bandar Abbas, a port city near the Strait of Hormuz, but this firing did not cause any casualties or property damage.Of note: The exchange came hours after President Trump said at a Cabinet meeting that he's in no rush for a deal and suggested that Tehran thought it could "outwait" him because of the upcoming midterm elections."I don't care about the midterms. Look what happened last night, that was a prelude to the midterms. People understand it," Trump said, in reference to candidates he endorsed winning their primaries, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who beat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in a GOP Senate primary runoff.Editor's note: This story has been updated with more details on the clashes and corrected to reflect that a senior U.S. official said Iran's military fired drones at a commercial ship (not at a U.S. Navy ship).
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced sanctions Thursday against Iran's new Persian Gulf Strait Authority and warned companies against paying tolls to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
Two major performing artists have bailed on President Trump’s America 250 celebrations on the National Mall since the administration included them in the lineup.Freedom 250 on Wednesday announced a list of performers for the “Great American State Fair,” which will take place from June 25 to July 10 in Washington, D.C.Just hours later, Morris Day and the Time dropped out.“Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & the Time will not be performing at the ‘“GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR,’” they posted in a graphic on Facebook captioned “It’s a no for me.”Rapper Young MC, best known for his song “Bust a Move,” followed suit, announcing that he’d be refusing to perform at the “Trump-backed” event.“I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT,” he wrote on Facebook. “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed.” I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”The other scheduled acts—the Commodores, Flo Rida, Milli Vanilli, Martina McBride, and Vanilla Ice—have yet to make any announcements. This lineup of artists was already questionable given that most of them haven’t been relevant in years. But now performers who were announced are dropping out, and at least one of them directly blamed President Trump for it. More withdrawals may soon come.
President Trump’s America 250 celebrations on the National Mall will feature military demonstrations, a 110-foot ferris wheel, and a slew of performers who are questionable at best. Flo Rida, Milli Vanilli, Martina McBride, and Vanilla Ice will headline the “Great American State Fair” in Washington, D.C., which runs from June 25 to July 10. Young MC, the Commodores, C+C Music Factory, Morris Day and the Time, and Bret Michaels will all also perform. Flo Rida, Milli Vanilli, and Vanilla Ice are not people who come to mind when considering which artists would best represent American art, history, and culture on its 250th birthday. But those people—from Stevie Wonder, to Bruce Springsteen, to Taylor Swift, to Beyoncé—probably wouldn’t be caught dead performing for this administration. We’ll have to wait and see who the next wave of performers brings.
The Republican National Committee is celebrating a major victory for clean elections after a Wake County Superior Court judge ruled that North Carolina’s State Board of Elections violated the state constitution by letting people who have never lived in the Tar Heel State cast ballots in federal elections. The post North Carolina Court Rules Democrat State Board Violated the State Constitution by Allowing ‘Never Residents’ to Vote in Federal Elections appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
WATCH: What Happens Next in Trump’s “Largely Negotiated” Iran Deal President Donald Trump’s effort to secure a negotiated agreement with Iran appears to be entering a critical new phase, with global leaders watching closely as talks continue over the future of the Strait of Hormuz, frozen Iranian assets, and Tehran’s nuclear program. The post Trump’s Iran Peace Deal Gains Momentum — Here Are the Latest Updates (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.