Happy Wednesday! It’s another scorching day in DC, so make sure to hydrate and don’t forget that sunscreen!
In today’s issue:
- The White House denies reports regarding an Iranian nuclear strike
- Trump likens the Iranian situation to WWII atomic bombings
- NATO Chief affectionately calls Trump “daddy” (Yes, you read that right)
- Mamdani’s win triggers waves within the Democratic Party
- Shake Shack offers a Dubai Chocolate Shake
🎤️ NATO Summit
The buzz around strategic decisions:
The White House today pushed back against various media reports stating that the recent U.S. attack did not dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.
For those who missed it: News outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and NBC pointed to an internal preliminary report which suggested the recent strikes on Saturday had limited success. President Trump claimed these strikes either rolled back Iran’s capabilities significantly or destroyed them entirely.
💡Why does this matter?: Conducting a strike against Iran is a complex maneuver in foreign policy. Even if the initial assessments are somewhat accurate, it still represents a win for the White House, as it has delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions for several months. However, Trump heightened expectations by asserting that the U.S. strike has set Iran back decades.
Trump concluded the NATO summit today with a flurry of press briefings, directing some comments towards the media.
He even drew parallels between the Iranian strike and WWII. Trump compared the U.S. strike on Iran to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, stating, “It was incredibly impactful. If you consider Hiroshima or Nagasaki, it concluded the war.” He insisted that while the circumstances differed, the devastation was real.
^It’s worth mentioning that around 200,000 people lost their lives in those bombings.
Furthermore, he dismissed claims that Iran had relocated nuclear materials before the attack. “If you understand the materials involved, moving them is both difficult and dangerous,” Trump said.
This morning, he referred to the press as “scum.”
Trump remarked: “What a tremendous victory thanks to our brilliant military pilots. Yet, scums like you don’t want to give credit where it’s due. CNN is scum; MSDNC is scum; The New York Times is scum. They work to downplay such a major accomplishment.” 📹 Watch Trump express his frustration
His team publicly supports him: The President’s national security team has firmly rejected the narrative presented in those initial assessments.
➤ Vice President: He issued a pointed criticism of American media, claiming that “our country is filled with curious yet uninformed individuals.” 🔎 Read Vance’s take
➤ Secretary of State: Marco Rubio stated in discussions with Politico that Iran is “now far from acquiring nuclear weapons.”
➤ Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegses announced an investigation into how the report was leaked, accusing certain media of attempting to politicize the situation to damage President Trump’s reputation and our national interests.
^Interestingly, Trump referred to Hegses as “the secretary of war,” showing a sense of pride in their efforts. “We consider ourselves warriors,” Trump remarked. 📹 check it out
Why is this significant?: An Iranian official claimed the attacks on Saturday “severely damaged” their nuclear infrastructure.
Important to note: Assessment outcomes can shift easily. Without ground assessments, it’s tricky to determine how effective the strike was. This guide from Brookings is useful for gauging strike success.
Returning to the NATO summit:
President Trump was at the forefront of discussions during the NATO summit. The Iranian strike was a primary focus, but he addressed several other pressing topics.
- Trump mentions a potential dialogue with Iran: “I plan to talk to them next week. I might even sign an agreement with them. I’m not sure,” Trump shared. “For me, an agreement isn’t essential. They had their conflict, and now they’re back in their realm. … I’m indifferent about the agreement.”
- Trump’s comments about Spain: While NATO allies consented to boost defense spending, Spain stood out as not fully supporting the plan. Trump criticized Spain, stating, “They want to stick to 2%. They’re the only country not complying fully.”
- On the Russian-Ukraine war: Reporters pressed Trump on why a resolution hasn’t emerged yet. “Honestly, it’s tougher than most realize,” he replied. “[Russian President Vladimir Putin] posed more challenges than anticipated. Dealing with [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky] has also been quite taxing.”
- Regarding Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell: Trump expressed disapproval, mentioning they’re interviewing candidates for the next Fed Chair. “Sure, I’ve got a few in mind,” he stated.
🗨🗨️ Tune into today’s live blog
➤ Tidbit – oh, no comments:
NATO Secretary General Mark Latte called Trump “daddy” today after some strong statements on Israel and Iran amid a fragile ceasefire agreement. 📹 check it out– around the 1-minute mark.
New York’s 🍎§
Cuomo vs. Mamdani in NY Primary:
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faced off against 33-year-old state legislator Zoran Mamdani in a startling Democratic primary. Though polls often had Cuomo ahead, Mamdani secured significant progressive endorsements.
Cuomo publicly acknowledged Mamdani’s success: “Tonight was certainly Mamdani’s evening.”
Why is this important?: The Democratic Party is trying to rebuild after setbacks in the 2024 elections. Mamdani promoted a progressive agenda, calling for free services and higher taxes for wealthy individuals.
His victory is striking, especially after losses by other prominent progressives recently.
📝5 takeaways:
Related, via the New York Times: “How could ranked-choice voting impact the mayoral race?”
➤ Tidbits:
📹 Oh: Watch former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio react to Cuomo’s loss. He definitely had something to say. 📹 Check out the clip
Some votes predicted this outcome: The Economist’s Mike Bird noted a previously dismissed analysis that could have affected Mamdani’s actual vote percentage.
Looking ahead:
Trump has departed the Netherlands. (All times EST)
This afternoon: Trump heads back to Washington.
4:15 pm: Senate votes are scheduled. 📆Check today’s agenda
4:15 pm: First and last House votes are on the agenda. 📆Today’s agenda
🐝 Internet topics
🍓 celebrating: Today is National Strawberry Parfait Day.
Dubai chocolate trends are real: Shake Shack has introduced a chocolate shake inspired by unique flavors.
🎸 Did you hear?: Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance at a charity concert in Nashville. 📹 Check it out
👋 And finally…
Since you’ve made it this far, if you’re not already craving mozzarella sticks, this record-breaking cheese pull just might change that.
