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Trump says that he’s waiting two weeks for more information about Iran before he makes his decision on whether to attack. That may be true. Then again, it seems likely that he’s waiting for social media and Fox reporters to discuss the matter and let him know what his base is thinking. That’s a problem: Some MAGA folk want to give ‘em hell and some want Trump to be the “no forever wars” president as he promised.
The White House said on Thursday that Trump will make a decision on whether the U.S. will strike Iran "within two weeks." That announcement came amid growing concerns from some of the president's most vocal supporters, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former Trump senior adviser Steve Bannon. They argue Trump is betraying his America First principles. (NPR)
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What if he does attack? NPR offers information on the “bunker busters” that might be used and why only the US could use them.
"What actually differentiates them from other weapons is their hardened steel casing," says Brobst. "They actually often have a smaller explosive payload than other weapons, but it's the casing that allows them to dig into the ground, kind of like a drill, and then destroy these targets."…
Because of its size, the GBU-57 has to be dropped from a B-2 stealth bomber, which only the U.S. possesses. Israel does not have heavy bombers capable of carrying such a weapon….
Speaking late last week, Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the IAEA, called the attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran "deeply concerning."
"I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, as it could harm both people and the environment," he said, warning that the consequences of a major attack could go well beyond the boundaries of Iran. (NPR)
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This probably won’t play well in Idaho, where Republicans take pride in their public lands and where hunting is a way of life.
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Millions of acres worth of public land would be put up for sale in the Senate version of Trump’s big, ugly bill.
It’s a massive privatization of a public good that everyone gets to enjoy – all to finance tax cuts that predominantly flow to the super-rich.
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— Robert Reich (@rbreich.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 3:45 PM
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If you’re not calling your congressmen for sale of public lands, call for the risk of rural hospitals closing as Medicaid funds dry up.
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Robert Reich has details on why Palantir poses danger to Americans.
Palantir is now busily combining personal data on every American gleaned from the Department of Homeland Security, Defense Department, Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, and Internal Revenue Service, including their bank account numbers and medical claims…
Thirteen former Palantir employees signed a letter this month urging the corporation to stop its endeavors with Trump. Linda Xia, a signee who was a Palantir engineer until last year, said the problem was not with the company’s technology but with how the Trump administration intended to use it. “Combining all that data, even with the noblest of intentions, significantly increases the risk of misuse,” she said.
Palantir’s work on such a project could be “dangerous,” Representative Warren Davidson, Republican of Ohio, told the Semafor news site. “When you start combining all those data points on an individual into one database, it really essentially creates a digital ID. And it’s a power that history says will eventually be abused.”
The article isn’t long and is well worth a read.
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Last week I put in a note about an elder veteran who was arrested for peaceful protest and was led away handcuffed so that he couldn’t use his walker. NPR looked into his story.
Capitol Police said officers arrested about 60 people last Friday who illegally crossed a police line while running toward the Rotunda steps. All are facing charges, including unlawful demonstration and crossing a police line.
Spitzberg said he crossed the barrier because he saw officers manhandling his fellow protesting veterans.
"I just couldn't stand there behind those barricades while my fellow veterans were being pummeled," he said.
"My goal was to go and help the veterans so they wouldn't be hurt."
Regarding the parade, he said
"I think the parade was a colossal slap in the face of the American people," said Spitzberg, an Army and Air Force veteran. "And the president of the United States apparently sees himself as more than the people's president. He sees himself as a king or, I don't even know, an emperor."
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Saying there are “too many non-working holidays” on Juneteenth is so on brand for a man who is actively trying to erase Black history.
This from the same man who’s wasted over $26 million in taxpayer dollars and spent more than 30 days golfing since January 20, 2025? Please.
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— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@repjasmine.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM
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More on ICE and immigration raids:
There might have been an ICE raid on Dodger stadium. Or maybe not.
On Thursday afternoon, the official Dodgers X account said the team denied ICE personnel entry into the stadium.
"This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization," the post read. "Tonight’s game will be played as scheduled."...
On X, ICE contradicted the team: "False. We were never there."
Which begs the question: Who were those masked men?
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But more seriously, a Virginia man takes hunting immigrants into his own hands. The incident points out the problem not only with ICE’s made-for-TV violence but also the way that the administration fuzzes the details about migrant crime in order to meet capture quotas. People who don’t look white are all immigrants; immigrants are all illegal; illegal immigrants are all engaged in crime.
A Caroline County man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to pursuing and ultimately shooting two Latino men because of his “anger at illegal immigration.”
On Wednesday, June 18, Douglas W. Cornett of the Ruther Glen area pleaded guilty to two counts of federal hate crimes involving attempts to kill and one count of discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence…
Notably, neither victim was identified as an undocumented immigrant within court documents.
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The Trump ICE strategy isn’t winning loyalty for him.
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Harry Enten: "I think we can say Donald Trump has lost the political battle when it comes to what has happened in Los Angeles. Trump's net approval rating on LA - way, way underwater at -15 points... this is happening on what should be on Donald Trump's best issue ... he's losing on his core issue"
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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
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Even his fans are feeling rather meh about him.
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The Economist has a new state-by-state estimate of Trump’s approval out this week (built in small part on a MRP model I wrote while I worked there).
Trump is underwater in 15 states he won in 2024, including:
WI -8
MI -8
PA -7
NV -5
GA -4
NC -4
AZ -4
www.economist.com/interactive/...
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— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris.com) June 20, 2025 at 8:27 AM
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Warning: this man has nuclear codes.
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Just for fun: the NPR weekly news quiz.
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It’s the First Day of Summer, the longest day of the year, falling on June 20 this year.
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It’s National Seashell Day (always celebrated on the first day of summer).
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It’s National Hike with a Geek Day. That means….it’s like… well, just watch this.
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It’s National Kouign Amann Day. The name comes from the Breton words for cake, kouign, and butter, amann. In Brittany, Kouign amann is a popular and traditional pastry. There it originated in 1860 when flour was scarce, but butter was abundant. (Sounds like a nice problem to have.)
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It’s National Ice Cream Soda Day!
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It’s Vanilla Milkshake Day! Where were you when you had your first real soda fountain shake?
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It’s National American Eagle Day!
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It’s National Take Your Dog To Work Day!
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And it’s Anne and Samantha Day, for two girls whose stories are of war and peace. This day is celebrated twice a year on the solstices. “Anne” is Anne Frank. “Samantha” is Samantha Smith whose story isn’t as well known. In 1982, having concerns about the Cold War, she wrote this letter to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov:
Dear Mr. Andropov,
My name is Samantha Smith. I am ten years old. Congratulations on your new job. I have been worrying about Russia and the United States getting into a nuclear war. Are you going to vote to have a war or not? If you aren't please tell me how you are going to help to not have a war. This question you do not have to answer, but I would like to know why you want to conquer the world or at least our country. God made the world for us to live together in peace and not to fight.
Sincerely,
Samantha Smith
He responded with a long letter, including this reassurance:
In America and in our country there are nuclear weapons — terrible weapons that can kill millions of people in an instant. But we do not want them to be ever used. That's precisely why the Soviet Union solemnly declared throughout the entire world that never — never — will it use nuclear weapons first against any country. In general we propose to discontinue further production of them and to proceed to the abolition of all the stockpiles on Earth. - Yuri Andropov
Happy Friday, Shadesters!
