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Senate shaken: Bipartisan worry erupts after incident involving California Democrat
Fox News talked to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who are rattled by the incident with Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif.
Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held a news conference regarding the recent protests in Los Angeles earlier Thursday.
Even some Republicans are privately concerned about how Padilla was treated, although they concede his tactics were aggressive.
This is where some GOPers believe this is theatrical, as Democrats struggle to find a message against the Trump administration that resonates.
PADILLA CUFFED, MCIVER INDICTED: CAN CONGRESS COME BACK FROM THE BRINK?
Senators are particularly shaken. The Senate is a body of equals. And if this can happen to one of them, well, there’s a worry they could be next.
Democrats demand a full-blown investigation.
California Democrats and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus hectored House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in the hall yesterday, accusing him of lying.
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: GOP LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO SLASH $9.1B FROM USAID, NPR, AND PBS IN RARE VOTE
Johnson believes Padilla should be censured.
Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., said she had a private conversation with Johnson on Thursday. She wants to lower the temperature but said only President Donald Trump can do that.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., spoke to Padilla and Senate Sergeant at Arms Jennifer Hemingway about the incident.
"I remain hopeful that Leader Thune and other Republicans can walk us back from the brink. But I am not so sure anymore," said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii.
Heading to Trump’s military parade? Here’s everything you need to know
As the U.S. Army celebrates its 250th anniversary this Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to converge on the nation’s capital to witness a massive Flag Day military parade commissioned by President Donald Trump.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump hyped up the parade and accompanying festivities, saying, "We’re going to celebrate our country for a change."
So, here is everything you need to know to attend the historic parade.
The 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade will take place on Saturday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m.
The parade is being held to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, which is one year older than the country. The festivities also coincide with Flag Day and Trump’s 79th birthday.
The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. and concludes at 9:30 p.m. Guest entry begins at 2 p.m. With hundreds of thousands expected to attend, guests will likely begin lining up early.
Tickets are free to the public and can be obtained on the America250 website. Two tickets are allowed per phone number.
According to the parade map published by the U.S. Army, the parade will take place by the National Mall on Constitution Avenue NW, between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument (23rd and 15th streets).
The parade will begin near the Lincoln Memorial at 23rd Street and end by the Washington Monument at 15th Street.
REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT TO HALT FLIGHTS FOR TRUMP-HOSTED MILITARY PARADE NEXT WEEK
Attendees will be able to view the parade along Constitution Avenue NW or from the Washington Monument grounds.
Rain showers are expected Saturday morning, with thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. Expected temperatures are in the eighties.
Approximately 6,600 U.S. Army soldiers wearing uniforms from all U.S. historic eras, as well as modern uniforms, will participate in the parade. The parade will also include 150 Army vehicles, including the Abrams tank and 50 aircraft, including the Black Hawk.
There will also be a flyover and a parachute jump.
LIBERAL MEDIA MELTS DOWN OVER TRUMP’S MILITARY PARADE PLAN, CALLING IT ‘AUTHORITARIAN’
The District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department has a full list of prohibited items, which is available here.
Several major roads in the city will be closed surrounding the National Mall, including Constitution Avenue NW, Virginia Avenue, Rock Creek Parkway, Independence Avenue and the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
The U.S. Army released a detailed map of road closures, which is viewable here.
The Smithsonian Metro Station's northwest entrance will be closed; however, the station’s southwest entrance on Independence Avenue will be open.
There will be an Army birthday festival on the National Mall between 7th and 14th streets. The festival entrance is on the National Mall at 7th Street.
There will be a concert at the Ellipse in front of the White House after the parade. The celebration will also conclude with a fireworks show.
DEMOCRAT CRITICIZES DEFENSE SECRETARY OVER MONEY FOR MILITARY PARADE
Many protesters are anticipated to converge on Washington this weekend. In Washington, visitors and locals can expect the Refuse Fascism protest, an "Equity March" in downtown Washington, D.C., as well as a "Pro-Democracy Picnic" at Fort Reno Park, Fox Digital found.
Nationwide, "No Kings" protesters are anticipated to flood cities to protest what they say is Trump leading the nation like a "king," according to its website.
Trump has said that violent protesters "will be met with heavy force."
Global calls to avoid escalation pour in after Israeli strikes on Iran
Much of the world voiced concern on Friday following Israel’s early-morning strikes on over 100 targets in Iran, urging both nations to avoid further escalation.
Iran responded with a drone counterattack, and Israel declared the strikes were only the first wave in a broader campaign to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Israel acted unilaterally, stating the U.S. was not involved in the strikes, while President Donald Trump warned Iran the next round of Israeli attacks would be "even more brutal."
Here is a roundup of global reaction to the attacks.
Iran's foreign minister called the attacks a "declaration of war" and claimed the U.S. was involved. Israel's "aggression against Iran could not have been carried out without the coordination and approval of the United States," Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said.
"Consequently, the U.S. government, as the primary patron of this regime, will also bear responsibility for the dangerous repercussions of the Zionist regime’s reckless actions," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.
The Kingdom strongly condemned Israel’s actions, calling them a violation of international law.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran," its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "These attacks undermine Iran’s sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms."
Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan spoke with Araghchi, stating, "His Highness affirmed the Kingdom’s rejection of the use of force and stressed the importance of dialogue to address disputes. The Israeli attack undermines efforts toward de-escalation and diplomatic solutions."
Efforts by the U.S. to broker a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia had already stalled due to the war in Gaza.
TRUMP SAYS ISRAEL’S NEXT IRAN ATTACK WILL BE EVEN MORE BRUTAL: ‘MAKE A DEAL’
Qatar also condemned the strikes, calling them, "A blatant violation of Iran’s sovereignty and a clear breach of international law and its established principles."
Qatar’s foreign minister met with Iran’s ambassador on Friday to discuss bilateral cooperation and ways to deepen diplomatic ties.
The UAE "condemned in the strongest terms" Israel’s actions.
Turkey called for an immediate end to hostilities. "Israel must immediately cease its aggressive actions that could lead to broader conflicts."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar held calls with several European leaders, who expressed concern over escalation while affirming Israel’s right to self-defense.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated, "We affirm that Israel has the right to defend its existence and the safety of its citizens. We call on both sides to refrain from actions that could escalate the conflict and destabilize the entire region."
ISRAEL LAUNCHES SWEEPING STRIKE ON IRAN WHILE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SEEKS DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
Sa’ar told German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul, "We made this decision at the last possible moment, after all other avenues had been exhausted. The world saw that Iran was not ready to stop. The latest IAEA report illustrates serious Iranian violations. We know challenging days lie ahead, but we have no other choice."
"France has repeatedly condemned Iran’s ongoing nuclear program and has taken all appropriate diplomatic measures in response," French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday.
"In this context, France reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself and ensure its security. To avoid jeopardizing the stability of the entire region, I call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to de-escalate."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the Israeli strikes "concerning" and urged all parties to step back and reduce tensions.
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský expressed sympathy for Israel’s position. "Iran has long failed to meet its international obligations and continues building its nuclear program while voicing threats against Israel. I understand the need for military action to deter nuclear development in the region."
"Unprovoked military strikes against a sovereign U.N. member state, its citizens, peaceful cities, and nuclear energy infrastructure are categorically unacceptable," the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters.
"The international community cannot afford to be indifferent to such atrocities, which destroy peace and damage regional and international security."
Beijing criticized the strikes as a violation of sovereignty.
"China opposes the violation of Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian. "We oppose the intensification of conflict and are willing to play a constructive role in de-escalation."
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya called the strikes "deeply regrettable" amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear issue.
"The use of military force undermines peaceful negotiations. The government strongly condemns this action, which only escalates the situation."
Wayfair's Epic Summer Sale features up to 72% off everything
Wayfair kicked off its Epic Summer Sale with up to 72% off outdoor and indoor furniture, grilling accessories, kitchen gadgets and more until June 16. It’s a great time to refresh your home with massive savings on home furnishings for the inside and outside. If you are looking for great deals on outdoor furniture, you should also check out Wayfair's Big Outdoor Sale.
Original price: $400
This Costway wood-fired pizza oven makes good, crispy-crust pizzas. You can also cook other items like steaks, bread, roasted chicken and vegetables, turning it into a grill or even a smoker in some models.
Original price: $249.99
The Blackstone 17-inch tabletop griddle with hood is a portable flat-top grill you can use for outdoor cooking. Take it camping, tailgating, RVing or even on small patios to experience the griddle cooking experience while on-the-go.
6 ITEMS THAT WILL INCREASE YOUR HOME'S CURB APPEAL
Original price: $927
The Shavon outdoor chaise lounge set with table is designed to provide a comfortable and convenient lounging experience for outdoor spaces like patios, poolsides or decks. This set is weather-resistant and made of durable resin designed to have a wood-like look.
Original price: $175.99
The Red Barrel Studio carved-back floral garden bench is designed to add decorative and functional outdoor seating options to your garden, patio, porch or backyard. The backrest of the bench has intricate scrollwork that will add a touch of elegance to any space.
Original price: $295
This Tournesol outdoor acacia wood picnic bench is durable and naturally resistant to moisture, rot and insects. It features a simple, classic picnic bench design, with a slatted seat and clean lines.
Original price: $445
The Market Sunbrella umbrella is 108 inches in diameter when fully opened, providing ample shade for a standard outdoor dining table or a small lounge area. This umbrella uses a crank system to easily open and close the canopy.
Original price: $555
Bring a summer boho vibe to your indoor living space with this braided ottoman and foot stool by Jaipur Living. The pouf's exterior is created by hand-braiding jute fibers, giving it a rich and tactile surface with an organic, natural look.
FUTURE-PROOF YOUR HOME APPLIANCES WITH THESE 9 PRODUCTS
Original price: $555
The Minehead Upholstered Side Dining Chair comes in a set of four chairs designed to offer a blend of modern style and comfortable seating for various areas of your home. The chairs feature a scoop-style silhouette and tapered dowel legs, giving them a sleek, minimalist and mid-century modern aesthetic.
Original price: $236.89
This BISSELL Crosswave Turbo wet dry vac cleans and washes your floors simultaneously, saving you time on cleaning. The vacuum features two-tank technology to keep the clean water and cleaning solution separate from the dirty water and debris that the machine picks up.
Original price: $330
Cuisinart’s air fryer and convection toaster oven combines the functions of several countertop appliances into one to save space and offer a wide range of cooking options. It offers the benefits of a full-size toaster oven, air fryer and convection oven.
For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals
Original price: $75
Cuisinart’s five-speed hand mixer features a 220-watt motor that is powerful enough to handle a wide range of tasks, from light batter and whipped cream to denser cookie dough and even mashed potatoes. It is lightweight and easy to handle.
Jewish student settles religious discrimination suit against Columbia
FIRST ON FOX: A Jewish student who alleged she was forced out of her graduate program in part because of her Shabbos observance has settled her religious discrimination lawsuit against Columbia University.
The terms of the settlement in the lawsuit filed by The Lawfare Project and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP were confidential, but Lawfare Project executive Ziporah Reich said it included financial compensation and other relief.
"These outcomes reflect the power of legal action to bring about meaningful change, we are proud to stand behind a courageous student who chose to stand up for her rights," Lawfare Project Director Brooke Goldstein told Fox News Digital in a statement.
A Columbia spokesperson confirmed the settlement, saying, "We have reached a mutually agreeable confidential settlement with Forrest that did not include any admission of liability."
Mackenzie Forrest, an Orthodox Jewish student from Florida, claimed she was forced out of the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) program at the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW), after she requested that she be allowed to attend classes remotely out of concern for her safety amid widespread antisemitic campus unrest following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
Forrest alleged that she attended the Columbia School of Social Work specifically because of her interest in the DBT program. However, when she informed the program’s director, Andre Ivanoff, Ph.D., that she would not be able to engage in classroom activities that fall on the Jewish Sabbath shortly after she was accepted in Spring 2023, Ivanoff allegedly replied that that would be a "problem," court documents say.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PUNISHES STUDENTS WHO TOOK OVER BUILDING DURING ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS
The Jewish graduate student received further pushback regarding her religious practices when she informed Ivanoff that she would be unable to attend a weekend-long workshop on suicide risk assessment because it fell on Shabbos, also known as the Sabbath.
Despite Forrest saying that she could attend the parts of the workshop that did not occur between Friday night to Saturday night, Ivanoff allegedly told her she would need a "dispensation" from her rabbi to attend the workshop. Eventually, Ivanoff decided he would assign her substitute coursework in lieu of the workshop when Forrest informed him he could not attend.
Following the Oct. 7 attacks in 2023, Columbia’s campus exploded into a hotbed of antisemitism. In light of what the plaintiff claimed was widespread verbal abuse and a physical assault of a pro-Israel student who was allegedly beaten with what appeared to be a broom, Forrest requested that she be allowed to attend class remotely out of fear for her safety.
Not only was the grad student’s request denied, but soon after she claimed she faced retaliation from the university. Despite being a straight-A student, Forrest was told she was at risk of failing the field-based internship portion of her curriculum, according to the claim. The Jewish student alleged that she had never previously been told she was under-performing by her academic advisor, whom she met with regularly.
USA Fencing changes policies that prioritized LGBTQ-friendly states, prevented playing of national anthem
USA Fencing's board of directors voted to amend its current policy that prioritized states with LGBTQ-friendly laws for host sites for competitions and a policy that prevented the playing of the national anthem at some events.
The decision comes after months of criticism for punishing a woman fencer who refused to fence a trans opponent, which included scrutiny from federal lawmakers at a congressional hearing in early May.
The changes were voted into effect at a board of directors meeting on Saturday.
An official announcement states that USA Fencing "adopted a streamlined policy that applies criteria prioritizing cost, safety and convenience to every national-event bid across all 50 states." The new policy "ensures host cities meet stringent member-safety and cost-efficiency standards."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Meanwhile, the board's new national anthem policy will go into effect at the 2025 Summer Nationals and will be reviewed annually by the tournament committee.
"On recommendation of the tournament committee, the board adopted a uniform national anthem policy governing all USA Fencing national events," the announcement said, adding that the new policy will "provide consistent, respectful minimum guidance for honoring the flag and anthem across nine annual tournaments."
Back in December, the board held a vote to play the national anthem at the start of tournaments before "all NACs and National Championships," but it was voted against 8-2 with one abstention.
The previous host site policy, which was announced in November 2022, gave preference when selecting host cities for national tournaments to states without laws that "harm members of LGBTQ communities" and states that do not "have laws undermining the reproductive health of women."
That policy went into effect in the 2023 season, the same year it changed its gender policy. It later released a list of states that it intended to "avoid where possible" and the states that it flat out would not allow hosting major events.
The states on the "do not allow" list were Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.
The states on its "avoid where possible" list included Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.
The previous policy became one of the organization's biggest points of criticism after fencer Stephanie Turner ignited global backlash against the organization when she recorded a video of her kneeling in protest of a trans opponent during a competition in Maryland in late March.
USA GYMNASTICS ASSESSING TRANSGENDER INCLUSION POLICY
The footage went viral amid news that Turner was disqualified from the event and dealt a black card for refusing to fence.
The controversy was then the subject of a federal hearing on May 7. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee's "Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports" saw Turner testify against USA Fencing chair Damien Lehfeldt.
Lehfeldt took harsh criticism from Republican lawmakers for the organization's transgender inclusion and host site selection policies.
DOGE Subcommittee Chairwoman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., called out the organization for its host city policy.
"In selecting sites for its national fencing events, for instance, the board policy is to avoid states whose laws and policies on LGBTQ rights and abortion it opposes. It uses ‘Equality Maps’ to determine which states to blacklist from its competitions, and which to favor," Greene said.
"This ends up favoring a lot of blue states and harming a lot of red ones. So, it creates politically-determined winners and losers — but it has absolutely nothing to do with fencing. And it contradicts USA Fencing’s statutory duty as an NGB to 'develop interest and participation throughout the United States' in fencing."
USA Fencing also announced that it is preparing to change its current policy that allows trans athletes to compete in the women's category back in April.
"In the event that USA Fencing is forced to change its current stance in accordance with oversight bodies or federal legislation, the new policy states athletes competing in USA Fencing-sanctioned tournaments must compete according to their biological sex," the announcement read.
The proposed updated policy ensures that the women's category "will be open exclusively to athletes of the female sex." The men's category "will be open to all other athletes who are otherwise eligible for competition."
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
California candidate for governor blasts Newsom while walking through LA riot aftermath
California GOP gubernatorial candidate, Steve Hilton, and former Democratic state senate leader Gloria Romero spoke to Fox News Digital outside a graffiti-covered Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) station as anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots ravage the streets of LA.
"I've been here for days, seeing what's going on with these riots. One of the most shocking things is the scale of the graffiti," Hilton told Fox News Digital. "Everywhere you go in downtown LA, every surface is covered in vile, disgusting graffiti. And to me it is a really vivid symbol of the total collapse of law and order of civilized values, that they just let this happen. All of this could have been prevented."
MARINES TO BEGIN OPERATIONS IN LOS ANGELES FRIDAY, AHEAD OF NATIONWIDE ANTI-TRUMP PROTESTS
Hilton, who declared his candidacy for governor in April, has not shied away from critiquing Gavin Newsom’s leadership in the Golden State.
But with the nation watching the battle between the sitting California governor and President Donald Trump over squelching the riots and ICE deportations, Hilton went as far as to say that "Newsom is a total joke."
"He's shown in the last few days he is not fit to be governor of this state," Hilton explained to Fox. "He is certainly not fit to be President of the United States, which is the only thing he seems to be focused on, which is why right at the beginning of all this, instead of acting immediately to make sure that things didn't get out of hand and to protect communities, to protect small businesses and to prevent law and order and uphold civilized values."
LOS ANGELES RIOTERS DELAY HUNDREDS OF LEGAL MIGRANTS FROM RECEIVING CITIZENSHIP: DHS
Hilton was joined in the interview with Fox News Digital by Gloria Romero, a former Democratic California senate leader turned Republican who previously represented East Los Angeles.
"For years and years, I tried to fight for reform within the party," Romero told Fox. "Finally, like my friend[s] Leo Terrell, Bobby Kennedy, Tulsi Gabbard, I said, the [Democrat] party left me. It is so woke. It is gone."
"Today we are looking at what happens then when those who are unvetted come in, and we're looking at not only just the Maryland man as they described him, the California man, but we're looking at rapists, convicted rapists, sex traffickers, murderers," Romero added.
Newsom has stood firm in refusing to back down from Trump as riots raged on, and some see his rhetoric and decision-making as a means to propel himself as the leader of the anti-Trump movement as well as possibly the Democrat party as a whole.
Speculation that Newsom could make a run for the Democratic ticket for president in 2028 heightened during his national address this week, where he said "California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next."
Newsom is termed out as California governor, giving Hilton and other GOP hopefuls a chance to flip the state red for the first time since Arnold Schwarzenegger over 14 years ago.
Israel releases video of strike on Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Jewish state
Israel released footage of its air force striking Iranian ballistic missiles that it says were aimed at the Jewish state.
Before Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, the Mossad set up a drone base in Iran, according to a senior Israeli security official. Once Israel’s strikes began, the drones were activated and launched toward surface-to-surface missile launchers, which the official said posed a risk to Israeli civilians.
ISRAEL ATTACKS IRAN’S NUCLEAR FACILITIES, FENDS OFF RETALIATORY BARRAGE OF DRONES
In a post on X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote in Hebrew that the Iranian ballistic missiles targeted in the strike were aimed at Israel. Additionally, a military official told reporters that Israel was working to combat what it considered to be an "immediate, concrete threat" to its citizens.
Early Friday morning Israel time, Jerusalem launched Operation Rising Lion, a historic attack on Iran with the goal of stopping Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
The Mossad, Israel’s equivalent of the CIA, carried out a series of covert operations inside Iran ahead of Israel’s preemptive attack. According to a senior Israeli security official, Mossad commando units deployed precision-guided weapons systems into open areas near Iranian surface-to-air missile systems. As Israel’s attack began, the systems were armed and launched at targets.
SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO: UNITED STATES 'NOT INVOLVED IN STRIKES AGAINST IRAN'
Additionally, the official said that there was a separate operation targeting Iranian air defense capabilities that threatened Israeli fighter jets. The Mossad secretly set up strike systems which "completely destroyed" the targeted defense systems.
The official also stated that the Mossad was able to establish a drone base in Iran, which was used during the attack to target surface-to-surface missile launchers. The official said that the launchers posed a threat to Israeli civilians.
Israel claims it has taken out the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Air Force commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, as well as "the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Commander of the IRGC, and the Commander of Iran’s Emergency Command." Additionally, Israel said it struck Iran’s largest uranium enrichment site.
Who were 2 of the top Iranian generals killed in Israeli strikes?
Israel’s targeted attacks on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure early Friday took out two top Iranian generals.
The Israel Defense Forces strikes took out Gen. Hossein Salami, the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), inflicting a significant blow to Tehran's governing theocracy. He had a history of threatening the U.S. and Israel.
Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, was also killed. His death further escalates the gravity of the strike and its implications for Iran’s military structure.
In addition to Gen. Hossein Salami and Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, at least 20 senior Iranian commanders were killed in the strikes, including Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the IRGC Aerospace Force.
ISRAEL LAUNCHES 'OPERATION RISING LION' ON IRAN, TARGETING NUCLEAR FACILITIES, TEHRAN
Their deaths came amid Israeli Defense Forces launched a sweeping strike on Iran, called "Operation Rising Lion." It followed months of attempted, and seemingly failed, nuclear negotiations between the Trump administration and Tehran. Israel said it launched the strikes to target Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.
Salami was the commander-in-chief of the IRGC since his appointment in 2019 by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2019, overseeing Iran’s elite military force.
His appointment came shortly after President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Salami first joined the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, rising through the ranks to lead the IRGC’s air forces and later its entire command.
The IRGC is one of the country’s most powerful centers. It was created after its 1979 Islamic Revolution and has evolved from a paramilitary, domestic security force into a transnational force that has come to the aid of Tehran’s allies in the Middle East, from Syria and Lebanon to Iraq, per the Times of Israel.
It operates in parallel to the country’s existing armed forces. It controls Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles, which it has used to attack Israel twice during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
ISRAEL HITS THE ‘HEART’ OF IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM IN NATANZ FACILITY STRIKE
Control over Iran’s missile arsenal
Under Salami, the IRGC evolved into a powerful transnational force, heavily involved in supporting Iran’s regional allies like Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
The Guard controls Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, which has been used against Israel, especially during the Israel-Hamas war.
Confrontational rhetoric
Salami was known for his aggressive rhetoric against both Israel and the United States, calling for the destruction of Israel as early as 2016.
In 2020, after the U.S. killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, the IRGC Quds Force commander in 2020, Salami vowed retaliation. Just five days later, Iran launched missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq. He also warned that American and Israeli commanders would be targeted in future reprisals.
Launched unprecedented strike
Last year, Salami ordered a massive attack of more than 300 drones and missiles in response to the Israeli killing of seven Iranian generals in Syria.
Bagheri has served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces since 2016, coordinating operations across the army, IRGC, and air defenses.
He was a veteran of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and held multiple senior roles in intelligence and strategic command.
Intelligence power broker
Bagheri was instrumental in shaping Iran’s military doctrine and led efforts to modernize its missile and air defense systems. He represented Iran in military coordination with allies like Russia and Syria, particularly during joint operations in the Syrian Civil War.
As the brain behind Iran’s strategic military posture, Bagheri was on Israel’s radar for years as a high-value target.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ASRA NOMANI: The $2.1 billion machine behind 'spontaneous' anti-Trump protests
Early Tuesday evening, as National Guard troops faced off against protesters and rioters on the streets of Los Angeles, powerful teachers’ union president Randi Weingarten hosted a virtual town hall with Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.and two leading political operatives in Democratic Party politics, Leah Greenberg, founder of a political nonprofit, Indivisible, and Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of another political nonprofit, National Action Network.
Greenberg hailed an upcoming wave of protests this Saturday — set to sweep through even "really red areas of the country," marked with mostly Republican voters — as a stand against President Donald Trump. Throughout the call, Weingarten beamed, excited. Sharpton phoned in his enthusiasm about people with "different political beliefs" uniting. They touted Saturday’s campaign as the "#NoKings" protest.
PROTESTERS EXPECTED TO CONVERGE ON DC, NEIGHBORING CITIES AHEAD OF TRUMP'S MILITARY PARADE
But what they didn’t detail is the massive network of Democratic organizations funding and orchestrating this supposedly spontaneous uprising.
As editor-in-chief of the Pearl Project, a nonprofit journalism initiative I founded in honor of my friend and colleague, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, I’ve spent the past two decades investigating how ideology, identity politics, and sectarian hatred can turn violent. Radicalized Pakistani militants brutally murdered Danny after kidnapping him in 2002 on the streets of Karachi, Pakistan, and demonizing him as an American, a Jew and a grandson of Israel. I have warned about an unholy alliance between far-left radicalism and Islamist extremism, and it has now come home to the streets of the United States.
In my 2023 book, "Woke Army," I documented how this alliance has morphed into a new threat inside our institutions, from higher education to politics — weaponizing identity and cause-based activism, like immigration, to undermine civil society.
The #NoKings protest is the latest front in this propaganda war.
According to new research by the Pearl Project, the #NoKings protest is being organized by an estimated 198 groups, all of which are aligned with the Democratic Party and many of which claim tax-exempt, "nonpartisan" nonprofit status. Collectively, these groups take in $2.1 billion in annual revenues.
Here is the breakdown of 198 "partners" listed in the official publicity material for the financial and political machine behind #NoKings:
I’ve made the research public in an online database that I am working on making into a user-friendly digital encyclopedia for the protest industry, so everyone from parents to police officers can understand the organizations fomenting chaos from our streets to our campuses.
I’ve been tracking the anti-Trump protesters since 2017 when #Resistance became the buzzword for activists like Palestinian American Linda Sarsour, leading the Women’s March against Trump. Since Trump’s inauguration this past January, I’ve investigated the companies behind the #TeslaTakedown, #HandsOff and #MayDay protests that have marked "resistance 2.0" over the past several months against the Trump administration.
The groups include several organizations, including Jewish Voice for Peace and Sarsour’s MPower Change Action Fund, that represent the unholy alliance of Islamist sympathizers and leftists who have fueled fiery protests against the existence of the state of Israel, following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israelis. I’ve identified 1,500 groups in the anti-semitism protest industry.
Most certainly, this week’s protests and the protests coming up are not an organic, citizen-led "resistance."
This is top-down political warfare, branded as grassroots activism but actually an AstroTurf political operation.
The anti-Trump protest industry is very broad, and these are some additional findings:
These organizations are not your local knitting club. They are professional protest organizers.
For the #NoKings protest, the "Indivisible Digital Asset Management" team has assembled an online digital "brand folder" with 29 brand "assets" in a folder marked "Flyers, Rally Signs, & Printed Materials," 25 "assets" in a "Graphics" folder, 8 "Templates," two logos, a brand palette of four vibrant branding colors, easy-to-read fonts and engaging "design elements."
MEET THE FAR-LEFT GROUPS FUNDING ANTI-DOGE PROTESTS AT GOP OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Indivisible also created a 12-page digital "NO KINGS Toolkit for Hosts," shared on Google Docs, with "messaging," "NO KINGS Mobilization Tactics," "sample event agenda" and tips on "getting media attention." Its tips noted: "Identify at least 1 group member to be responsible for firing up the crowd…" I’m including various parts of this orchestrated protest in an online protest industry folder.
Some of the sample messages for signs: "NO KINGS IN AMERICA!," "Stop the Shakedown!" and "We are Not For Sale!" They will be repeated across the country.
The templates have been leveraged to now create a cookie-cutter production of graphics on social media orchestrated around the hashtag #NoKings.
Importantly, just as the mainstream media examines the dynamics of "white supremacy," "fascism" and "MAGA," we must not be naïve about the ideological undercurrents driving "progressive" protests to violence.
A while back, The New York Times exposed a wealthy tech tycoon, Neville Roy Singham, for funding and promoting Chinese Communist Party propaganda, and he has been tied to funding many of the groups – Party for Socialism and Liberation, the People’s Forum, the Answer Coalition and CodePink — engaged in the most confrontational protests in recent days and months against Israel and the United States. These groups are proudly self-described socialist organizations stoking discontent to push an anti-capitalist, anti-American agenda.
While Singham doesn’t yet appear to have his fingerprints directly on the #NoKings protest, the ideological DNA is the same.
The #NoKings protest is likely to be the next playing field for the anti-ICE, anti-Trump agitators. Indeed, #ResistTrump, one of the "partners" for Saturday’s protests, promotes an "orientation" slide deck that itemizes the elements of "expressing political dissent" from "voting to violence." While the group claims to promote "non-violence," it includes – without comment – "political violence" as a part of the continuum of protest, including "armed revolts," "riots," "terrorism" and "insurrections."
#ResistTrump outlines a "theory of change" to "remove or replace Trump" and realize a "future without Trump."
As an investigative journalist, I am reporting on the protest industry and its propaganda, because these protests are not just political statements. They are well-financed, orchestrated performances—designed to generate viral imagery, manipulate public perception and blur the line between civic engagement and ideological agitation.
Fairfax County resident Lissa Kenkel, a researcher who helped me cull data for the #NoKings protest, has been studying protests since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas in Israel, and she said: "The irony is staggering about the groups driving the NoKings uprisings."
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"The very people bankrolling and leading these so-called grassroots movements are the crowned royalty of the non-profit world, sitting in their air-conditioned offices, collecting six-figure salaries, while encouraging the common folk to torch their own cities in the name of ‘saving democracy," she said. "It’s manufactured chaos, sold as revolution, by people who wouldn’t last five minutes in the rubble they’re creating."
Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, based in New York, earned $648,786 in annual income from the group, according to his group’s latest tax filing. At the American Federation of Teachers, Weingarten raked in $474,951, according to its last IRS filing. At the ACLU, its executive director, Anthony Romero, collected $1.3 million, according to the group’s latest tax filing.
We must not be fooled. True protest rises from the people. This? These are the kings and queens of the Democratic political machine summoning their minions to take to the streets to feign a fake people’s revolution.