June 19, 2026 — Scott Johnson

I read the news today…

Featured image Actually, I read the Washington Free Beacon daily newsletter. Under “additional reading,” the Beacon summarizes two current stories (links in original): * * * * * • Barack Obama opened his monstrosity of a presidential “center” on Thursday as anyone would—with a land acknowledgment. “We honor the Anishinaabe, the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi Nations,” longtime Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett gushed. Unfortunately, none of »
June 19, 2026 — John Hinderaker

Good News: Iran Blocks the Strait

Featured imageThe Memorandum of Understanding with Iran appears not to have lasted for 48 hours, as Iran has once again blocked the Strait of Hormuz: Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz Friday instead of heading to Switzerland for nuclear negotiations, citing Israel’s refusal to pull forces out of southern Lebanon and US forces’ ongoing presence in the region. In a statement read over maritime radio channels, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps »
June 19, 2026 — Scott Johnson

“A step in the wrong direction”

Featured imageI’ve been looking for Senator Tom Cotton’s assessment of the Memorandum of Understanding. I don’t think he had publicly assessed the terms until he turned up for a brief interview with Marth MacCallum on Fox News yesterday. He prefaces his assessment with an expression of gratitude for all President Trump has done to set the Iranian regime back before explaining why “certain aspects of the deal are a step in »
June 19, 2026 — Scott Johnson

Barack to the future

Featured imageVice President Vance unloaded on Israel in a White House press conference (video here, transcript here) and other media appearances yesterday. He called out “people within Bibi’s cabinet” — let’s just say Israel — for attacking President Trump personally over the deal. I don’t think they have done that, but that’s what the man said. He called out Israeli forces for wanton killing in Lebanon while defending Israel against Hezbollah. »
June 18, 2026 — John Hinderaker

Pride Night In MLB

Featured imageInstitutions of many kinds sponsor “pride” events. “Pride” is one of those words that no longer needs any explanation. Everyone understands that it means pride in being a homosexual (or otherwise “queer,” as leftists put it). Of course, there are many people–a large majority I should think–who don’t think being gay is cause for public celebration. But almost all of us grin and bear it. A few, though, have deeper »
June 18, 2026 — John Hinderaker

Some Deal

Featured imageFor some weeks now, ever since the bombing stopped, I have been writing and saying on radio and television that there is no point in trying to make a deal with the IRGC, that we should finish up our bombing and go home. I was baffled as to why President Trump was so determined to negotiate an agreement, and chalked it up to his love of deal-making. But I consoled »
June 18, 2026 — Scott Johnson

Iran’s art of the deal

Featured imageConsistent with President Trump’s prior formulation, Iran lost the war but won the negotiation. Relying on the Wall Street Journal’s annotated analysis of the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran here, I broke down the provisions of the MOU into winners and losers for each side. NBC has posted a version of the final text of the MOU here. On second thought, however, it seems obvious that on balance the terms »
June 17, 2026 — John Hinderaker

Anti-Americanism In the Public Schools

Featured imageIt’s bad enough that our public schools are terrible. It’s worse that their curricula, in some states, are actively anti-American. In Minnesota, where I live, our legislature has mandated a change from teaching factual content to instilling left-wing activism. This is done in the guise of “Ethnic Studies” instruction. My organization campaigned hard against the legislative Ethnic Studies mandate and has since campaigned to repeal it. Nevertheless, it is going »
June 17, 2026 — Scott Johnson

U.S. v. Sant is the name of the case

Featured imageThe Department of Justice has issued a generously illustrated press release announcing the indictment of 15 defendants charged with crimes against ICE officers in the course of Operation Metro Surge. I have embedded the text of the indictment in United States v. Sant below via Scribd. At yesterday’s press conference announcing the indictment, United States Attorney Dan Rosen urged us to read it. I can’t find straight news coverage of »
June 16, 2026 — John Hinderaker

Southern Poverty Law Center, America’s Leading Supporter of Racism

Featured imageI don’t know whether the Department of Justice will be able to make its indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center stick, or not. I certainly hope so. There has rarely been a more despicable organization than the SPLC. The gist of the federal indictment is that the SPLC raised hundreds of millions of dollars by pretending to be an anti-racist organization, while in fact it devoted some of those »
June 16, 2026 — Scott Johnson

Antifa anti-ICE brigade charged

Featured imageUnited States Attorney for Minnesota Dan Rosen announced the unsealing of the indictment of 15 members of Minnesota’s Antifa brigade — members of Direct Action and Black Cat Worker’s Collective — at the press conference I attended this morning. Twelve were arrested this morning. Law enforcement is looking out for two more. One was already in custody. Dan took pains from the outset to distinguish legal protest from the crminal »
June 18, 2026 — John Hinderaker

Ladies of the View, Terror Plots, Antifa and More

Featured imageI was on the Rita Panahi Show yesterday, covering a number of topics: JD Vance venturing into the lion’s den of The View, the UFC terror plot and the ongoing risk of assassination attempts against President Trump, the Antifa indictments in Minnesota, Qatar’s investments in the U.S., and FIFA seeming to side with Iran’s regime. The video starts with Rita’s Lefties Losing It segment, featuring Jimmy Kimmel and others. I »
June 17, 2026 — John Hinderaker

Send Them Back!

Featured imageMass deportations may be coming to Europe. The European Parliament has voted (418-218) to pass the new “Return Regulation.” It will facilitate deportation of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants, and includes various enforcement measures. Watch the MEPs chant “Send them back!” Some, like this Member of the European Parliament, think it will lead to mass deportations: Done deal: Mass deportations from Europe will soon become reality✈️ pic.twitter.com/rQ66WpZL3P — Charlie Weimers »
June 17, 2026 — Scott Johnson

General Keane strikes again

Featured imageGeneral Jack Keane appeared yesterday for a brief segment on Fox News with Bill Melugin. He was great, as usual. Vice President Vance turns up in a clip at the beginning of the segment. I cannot square what Vance says in the clip about the right of destruction of Iran’s “enriched stockpile” under the Memorandum of Understanding with the terms as we have received them (no such provision exists). Whole »
June 17, 2026 — Scott Johnson

The terms of our surrender

Featured imageThe text of the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed formally by the United States and Iran has been posted here “as seen by Bloomberg News.” Bloomberg adds: “Iran’s Tasnim news agency cited an unnamed official on Wednesday as saying parts of the text published by Bloomberg are inaccurate. The report did not specify what was different. Bloomberg previously reported that there could be differences in the wording between the »
June 16, 2026 — John Hinderaker

JD Vance on The View

Featured imageJD Vance went on The View today, with a full complement of six harridans to harass him. Is that a good idea, bringing light into the darkness, or is it hopeless? If I were a politician I don’t think I would do it, but Vance girded his loins and waded in. The full video is below, but if ten minutes of The View is too much for you, here are »
June 16, 2026 — John Hinderaker

Plot Against Freedom 250 Event Foiled

Featured imageThe FBI has announced multiple arrests in connection with an alleged terrorist plot against the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House Sunday evening: The plot to attack the White House’s UFC Freedom 250 event Sunday involved at least 12 suspects across the US who adhered to an “accelerationist” ideology and hoped to bring down American capitalism, according to federal law enforcement sources. *** The suspects are in »