Getting You Up To Speed...
Happy Monday!
Here’s everything you need to know heading into your week.
What Happened This Weekend?
Iran Strike
President Donald Trump entered the conflict between Israel and Iran Saturday night, targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan with roughly 125 military planes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday the attacks were intended to "destroy or severely degrade" Iran's nuclear program. The Joint Chiefs chairman says severe damage was done to Iranian facilities. It’s unclear exactly how much damage was exactly done.
The strike prompted some politicians in Washington to question the legality of this decision without getting prior approval from Congress. Many in Trump’s own party did not want to see the president enter a conflict, part of the America First policy he campaigned on. Key democrats say they weren’t told ahead of the strikes. Rep. Adam Smith, who is the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee says he believes four republicans were told.
Still, most lawmakers have agreed handicapping Iran might not be such a bad thing. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said Sunday that thought he strike shouldn’t have happened, “the destruction of these facilities is a positive in the sense that it will set back Iran’s program.”
Some countries, including China, Pakistan and Russia condemned the U.S. attack. France expressed “concern.” Ukraine put out a supportive statement saying it’s the regime’s “long-standing destructive policy aimed at undermining international peace and security- including its hostile attitude toward Israel and many other nations- that have led to current developments.” Head to my IG stories for the full statement.
Despite some Middle Eastern leaders condemning Trump’s attack on Iran, they are likely somewhat pleased with the decision, given the fact that the IRGC has long been deemed the “bully” of the Middle East, particularly through its proxy groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis.
The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Sunday.
Israel continues hitting IRGC targets including government buildings and nuclear targets, hitting the central city of Yazd for the first time Sunday. Iran’s health ministry says at least 400 people have been killed since Israel’s strikes began. Iran continues launching missiles into Israel hitting civilian targets, killing at least two dozen.
President Trump indicated potential support for a regime change over the weekend. Vice President Vance says the U.S. is not at war with Iran, but instead with the nuclear weapons program.
Michigan Church Shooting
A gunman opened fire during a service Sunday, wounding one person before being shot and killed by a security guard.
Police Chief Ryan Strong said Churchgoers saw the gunman driving recklessly and then saw him exit his car wearing a tactical vest and carrying a rifle and a handgun.
The gunman was a 31-year old white man who appeared to be having a mental health crisis according to Strong.
Mahmoud Khalil Released
The pro-Palestinian activist was released Friday evening from a detention facility in Louisiana and returned to New York Saturday afternoon. Khalil was reunited with his wife, newborn son, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Federal Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled the government could not detain or deport Khalil based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio's use of an obscure law, finding the Trump administration was violating Khalil's constitutional right to free speech.
Khalil had to surrender his passport and is only permitted to travel to New York and Michigan to see family, New Jersey and Louisiana for court matters, and Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress.
He says he’ll continue to protest on behalf of Palestinians.
Trump Harvard
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration Friday from forbidding international students as the case works its way through the court system.
Judge Allison Burroughs made the temporary block an indefinite one.
Pakistan Nominates Trump for A Nobel Peace Prize
The country nominated the president after he defused a crisis with India back in April following a massacre of tourists in Kashmir.
Less than 24 hours later, the country condemned Trump’s strikes on Iran, saying it “constituted a serious violation of international law.”
Hostage Bodies Recovered
The IDF recovered the bodies of three people murdered by Hamas on October 7th and whose bodies were taken to Gaza as bargaining chips.
Israeli officials identified the three people as Yonatan Samerano, Ofra Keidar, and Shay Levinson.
More than 50 hostages are still in Gaza. Less than half are believed to be alive.
Suicide Bombing
Nearly two dozen people were killed by a suicide bomber during Sunday mass at a church in Syria. 63 people were wounded.
According to the interior ministry, a man opened fire at the church before detonating his vest. He is believed to be a member of the Islamic State but the group has not claimed credit.
It’s the deadliest attack on Christians since the Assad regime fell.
What’s Up This Week?
Monday
Russia
Russia and Iran are set to hold talks, where Iran’s supreme leader reportedly asked President Vladimir Putin for more help from Russia, per Reuters.
Diddy
The government may rest in the Sean Combs trial today. We’re expecting a MUCH shorter case from his defense team.
Tuesday
NYC Mayor Election Day
New York City will hold its democratic mayoral primary. A poll released by Emerson College Monday has progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani jumping ahead of former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the 8th round of voting - 51.8% to 48.2% for the first time.
Boeing
The National Transportation Safety Board will give information about what caused the door plug to fly of an Alaska Airlines flight last June shortly after takeoff from Portland. No one was injured.
Wednesday
Execution
Mississippi’s longest-serving death row inmate will be executed following multiple death sentence appeals. Richard Gerald Jordan is 78 and was sentenced to death in 1976 for kidnapping and killing a woman. It’ll mark the second execution this week. The first is Tuesday in Florida.
Thursday
Abortion
A Kansas judge will hear a case from abortion providers regarding a new state law that requires them to tell patients that abortion medication can be reversed by using a specific regimen. Major medical groups say not only is this regimen ineffective, but it is also potentially dangerous.
Friday
Colorado Sentencing
Colorado funeral home owners will be sentenced for storing roughly 189 decomposing bodies and instead sending fake ashes to families. They also have been convicted of defrauding customers and the federal government of nearly $900k in pandemic aid. Their state sentencing is in August for 191 counts of corpse abuse.
Minnesota Political Murders
Vance Boelter will be back in court Friday for a detention and preliminary hearing. A judge will decide whether he’ll be released on bail and make trial date arrangements. He’s facing six federal counts, two of them may carry the death penalty for the killing of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. He also wounded a state senator and his wife.