WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services&nbsp;(CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz today met with industry leaders to discuss their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/health-plans-take-action-to-simplify-prior-authorization" target="_blank">pledge,</a>&nbsp;to streamline and improve the prior authorization processes for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, Health Insurance Marketplace® and commercial plans covering nearly eight out of 10 Americans, according to a media release from the agency.

(Click below to watch the full press conference.)

(Click below to watch Kan. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall's statement)

In a roundtable discussion hosted by HHS, health insurers pledged six key reforms aimed at cutting red tape, accelerating care decisions, and enhancing transparency for patients and providers. Their commitments reinforce the role of CMS in monitoring outcomes and promoting accountability. Companies represented at the roundtable included Aetna, Inc., AHIP, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Centene Corporation, The Cigna Group, Elevance Health, GuideWell, Highmark Health, Humana, Inc., Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare.

“Thank you to the insurance companies for making these commitments today. Americans shouldn’t have to negotiate with their insurer to get the care they need,”&nbsp;said Secretary Kennedy.&nbsp;“Pitting patients and their doctors against massive companies was not good for anyone. We are actively working with industry to make it easier to get prior authorization for common services such as diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and outpatient surgery.”

“These commitments represent a step in the right direction toward restoring trust, easing burdens on providers, and helping patients receive timely, evidence-based care,”&nbsp;said Administrator Oz.&nbsp;“We applaud these voluntary actions by the private sector, which is how these types of issues should be solved. CMS will be evaluating progress and driving accountability toward our shared goals, as we continue to champion solutions that put patients first.”

Participating health insurers have pledged to:

Praise from members of Congress regarding today’s developments:

“It was an honor to attend this discussion with Secretary Kennedy and CMS Administrator Dr. Oz,”&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) said.&nbsp;“This is an important topic that has continued to be an issue for far too long. I applaud the leadership of Secretary Kennedy and President Trump for bringing us all to the table to find solutions for our patients and providers.”

“Thank you to President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Administrator Oz for working to improve the prior authorization process for American patients,”&nbsp;Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) and co-chair of the House GOP Doctors Caucus, said.&nbsp;“As a physician for over 30 years, I witnessed the ridiculous and ever-increasing obstructions caused by insurance companies to delay or deny care to patients. These bureaucratic hurdles end up hurting patients and those who care for them. Practices have had to hire many more staff just simply to fight with insurance companies. I have made reform a top priority of mine since coming to Congress. I am grateful for the collaborative effort by stakeholders to make commitments to streamline approvals and look forward to them delivering on this pledge.”

These private sector reforms complement ongoing regulatory efforts by CMS to improve prior authorization interoperability within Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, Health Insurance Marketplace®.

CMS encourages continued innovation and collaboration but reserves the right to pursue additional regulatory actions if necessary.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750759207379.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall spoke at the press conference" />
                        <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall spoke at the press conference</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services&nbsp;(CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz today met with industry leaders to discuss their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/health-plans-take-action-to-simplify-prior-authorization" target="_blank">pledge,</a>&nbsp;to streamline and improve the prior authorization processes for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, Health Insurance Marketplace® and commercial plans covering nearly eight out of 10 Americans, according to a media release from the agency.</p><p>(Click below to watch the full press conference.)</p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xNgRQoegEPs?si=mF0kiTW6krdJ0w3v&amp;start=769" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p>(Click below to watch Kan. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall's statement)</p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xNgRQoegEPs?si=WYiAgkHir103cICv&amp;start=1670" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p>In a roundtable discussion hosted by HHS, health insurers pledged six key reforms aimed at cutting red tape, accelerating care decisions, and enhancing transparency for patients and providers. Their commitments reinforce the role of CMS in monitoring outcomes and promoting accountability. Companies represented at the roundtable included Aetna, Inc., AHIP, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Centene Corporation, The Cigna Group, Elevance Health, GuideWell, Highmark Health, Humana, Inc., Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare.</p><p>“Thank you to the insurance companies for making these commitments today. Americans shouldn’t have to negotiate with their insurer to get the care they need,”&nbsp;said Secretary Kennedy.&nbsp;“Pitting patients and their doctors against massive companies was not good for anyone. We are actively working with industry to make it easier to get prior authorization for common services such as diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and outpatient surgery.”</p><p>“These commitments represent a step in the right direction toward restoring trust, easing burdens on providers, and helping patients receive timely, evidence-based care,”&nbsp;said Administrator Oz.&nbsp;“We applaud these voluntary actions by the private sector, which is how these types of issues should be solved. CMS will be evaluating progress and driving accountability toward our shared goals, as we continue to champion solutions that put patients first.”</p><p>Participating health insurers have pledged to:</p><ul>
                        <li>Standardize electronic prior authorization submissions using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®)-based application programming interfaces.</li><li>Reduce the volume of medical services subject to prior authorization by January 1, 2026.</li><li>Honor existing authorizations during insurance transitions to ensure continuity of care.</li><li>Enhance transparency and communication around authorization decisions and appeals.</li><li>Expand real-time responses to minimize delays in care with real-time approvals for most requests by 2027.</li><li>Ensure medical professionals review all clinical denials.</li>
                    </ul><p>Praise from members of Congress regarding today’s developments:</p><p>“It was an honor to attend this discussion with Secretary Kennedy and CMS Administrator Dr. Oz,”&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) said.&nbsp;“This is an important topic that has continued to be an issue for far too long. I applaud the leadership of Secretary Kennedy and President Trump for bringing us all to the table to find solutions for our patients and providers.”</p><p>“Thank you to President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Administrator Oz for working to improve the prior authorization process for American patients,”&nbsp;Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) and co-chair of the House GOP Doctors Caucus, said.&nbsp;“As a physician for over 30 years, I witnessed the ridiculous and ever-increasing obstructions caused by insurance companies to delay or deny care to patients. These bureaucratic hurdles end up hurting patients and those who care for them. Practices have had to hire many more staff just simply to fight with insurance companies. I have made reform a top priority of mine since coming to Congress. I am grateful for the collaborative effort by stakeholders to make commitments to streamline approvals and look forward to them delivering on this pledge.”</p><p>These private sector reforms complement ongoing regulatory efforts by CMS to improve prior authorization interoperability within Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, Health Insurance Marketplace®.</p><p>CMS encourages continued innovation and collaboration but reserves the right to pursue additional regulatory actions if necessary.</p>

RFK Jr.: Health insurers promise to improve prior authorization process

June 23, 2025 (Omaha, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— A Nebraska State Trooper was injured this evening in Omaha when the trooper’s patrol unit was struck by a large truck.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. Monday. Troopers were performing traffic control on Interstate 80 near 50th&nbsp;Street as the Omaha Police Department was handling a single-vehicle crash in the area. The initial crash was blocking the shoulder and one lane of traffic. Troopers were assisting OPD by blocking the lane of traffic.

While the trooper’s unit was parked, with emergency lights activated, a box truck struck the cruiser. The trooper was inside the cruiser at the time and was injured.

Additional troopers and Omaha police officers were on scene immediately and helped the trooper exit the vehicle safely. The trooper has been transported to Bergan Mercy Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Nebraska State Patrol has asked the Omaha Police Department to investigate the crash.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750763197257.jpeg" alt="Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Injured Monday in Omaha when cruiser was struck by box truck on I-80" />
                        <figcaption>Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Injured Monday in Omaha when cruiser was struck by box truck on I-80</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>June 23, 2025 (Omaha, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— A Nebraska State Trooper was injured this evening in Omaha when the trooper’s patrol unit was struck by a large truck.</p><p>The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. Monday. Troopers were performing traffic control on Interstate 80 near 50th&nbsp;Street as the Omaha Police Department was handling a single-vehicle crash in the area. The initial crash was blocking the shoulder and one lane of traffic. Troopers were assisting OPD by blocking the lane of traffic.</p><p>While the trooper’s unit was parked, with emergency lights activated, a box truck struck the cruiser. The trooper was inside the cruiser at the time and was injured.</p><p>Additional troopers and Omaha police officers were on scene immediately and helped the trooper exit the vehicle safely. The trooper has been transported to Bergan Mercy Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Nebraska State Patrol has asked the Omaha Police Department to investigate the crash.</p>

Trooper Injured When Cruiser Struck on I-80 in Omaha

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump on Israel and Iran: &quot;We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xrztmebALZ">pic.twitter.com/xrztmebALZ</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1937468807536169315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">⭕️&quot;In light of the severe violation of the ceasefire carried out by the Iranian regime, we will respond with force.&quot;<br><br>-The Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir in a situational assessment now</p>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1937427038090006827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 Sirens sounding in northern Israel due to missile fire from Iran 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/woGhqD7VCK">pic.twitter.com/woGhqD7VCK</a></p>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1937414143637639295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

=🎥Trump uses the 'f bomb' to describe Israel and Iran

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">Zach Wendling</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Two years after a motion-filled and filibuster-riddled 2023 session, Nebraska lawmakers in 2025 settled into a new rhythm as stall tactics again dominated legislative debate.

Throughout the 89-day session that concluded June 2, Nebraska lawmakers filed 347 motions, according to legislative records. It’s the second-highest tally for any session except 2023, when a record 1,160 motions were filed throughout the 88-day session. Similar to that year, State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/18/nebraska-lawmakers-adjourn-but-break-will-be-short-lived-as-special-session-looms-this-summer/">again filed the most motions</a>.

In 2023, Cavanaugh filed 437 motions (38% of the total filed). In 2025, she filed 80 (23%).

The extent of filibustering also has changed — the procedural effort to extend debate to time limits as set by the speaker of the Legislature. At those limits, 33 votes are required to enact “cloture” to advance legislation, instead of the usual 25.

Since 2023, it has been more routine for legislative opponents to file all three kinds of filibuster motions ahead of debate — to&nbsp;<b>recommit</b>&nbsp;to committee, to&nbsp;<b>bracket</b>&nbsp;(or delay debate) to a set date or&nbsp;<b>indefinitely postpone&nbsp;</b>(or kill a bill).

Motions to&nbsp;<b>reconsider</b>&nbsp;those motions and various amendments also are common. Introducers have more frequently filed these “kill” motions to their own bills because they get the chance to introduce the motions and speak ahead of opponents trying to stop their proposals from advancing.

A total of 24 measures reached cloture votes in 2025, the second most in a “long” session behind only 2023, which had 58 separate votes held for cloture motions. This year, four bills fell to filibusters, compared to one in 2023.

In 2025, 47 of Nebraska’s 49 lawmakers had a bill reach the governor’s desk, whether on its own or after being folded into various legislative packages, including the budget. The two exceptions: State Sens. Rob Clements of Elmwood and Loren Lippincott of Central City.&nbsp;

Clements, chair of the Appropriations Committee, played an instrumental role in ushering several budget bills to passage, which ultimately faced no line-item vetoes from Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;over a gubernatorial attempt to trim $14.5 million in general fund spending, most of that to the Nebraska Supreme Court. Lippincott also serves on the Appropriations Committee.

The state will end with a final positive budget balance of $4.15 million for the next two fiscal years. Lawmakers started with a projected budget deficit of $432 million in January.

Speaker John Arch of La Vista has already warned senators to pay attention to changing fiscal dynamics, including in Congress, ahead of the 2026 legislative session, which begins Jan. 7.

2025 statistics — from 89 days in session

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750762609472.png" alt=" Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature John Arch of La Vista addresses state senators on the final day of the 2025 legislative session. June 2, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
                        <figcaption> Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature John Arch of La Vista addresses state senators on the final day of the 2025 legislative session. June 2, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">Zach Wendling</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a></p><p>LINCOLN — Two years after a motion-filled and filibuster-riddled 2023 session, Nebraska lawmakers in 2025 settled into a new rhythm as stall tactics again dominated legislative debate.</p><p>Throughout the 89-day session that concluded June 2, Nebraska lawmakers filed 347 motions, according to legislative records. It’s the second-highest tally for any session except 2023, when a record 1,160 motions were filed throughout the 88-day session. Similar to that year, State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/18/nebraska-lawmakers-adjourn-but-break-will-be-short-lived-as-special-session-looms-this-summer/">again filed the most motions</a>.</p><p>In 2023, Cavanaugh filed 437 motions (38% of the total filed). In 2025, she filed 80 (23%).</p><p>The extent of filibustering also has changed — the procedural effort to extend debate to time limits as set by the speaker of the Legislature. At those limits, 33 votes are required to enact “cloture” to advance legislation, instead of the usual 25.</p><p>Since 2023, it has been more routine for legislative opponents to file all three kinds of filibuster motions ahead of debate — to&nbsp;<b>recommit</b>&nbsp;to committee, to&nbsp;<b>bracket</b>&nbsp;(or delay debate) to a set date or&nbsp;<b>indefinitely postpone&nbsp;</b>(or kill a bill).</p><p>Motions to&nbsp;<b>reconsider</b>&nbsp;those motions and various amendments also are common. Introducers have more frequently filed these “kill” motions to their own bills because they get the chance to introduce the motions and speak ahead of opponents trying to stop their proposals from advancing.</p><p>A total of 24 measures reached cloture votes in 2025, the second most in a “long” session behind only 2023, which had 58 separate votes held for cloture motions. This year, four bills fell to filibusters, compared to one in 2023.</p><p>In 2025, 47 of Nebraska’s 49 lawmakers had a bill reach the governor’s desk, whether on its own or after being folded into various legislative packages, including the budget. The two exceptions: State Sens. Rob Clements of Elmwood and Loren Lippincott of Central City.&nbsp;</p><p>Clements, chair of the Appropriations Committee, played an instrumental role in ushering several budget bills to passage, which ultimately faced no line-item vetoes from Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;over a gubernatorial attempt to trim $14.5 million in general fund spending, most of that to the Nebraska Supreme Court. Lippincott also serves on the Appropriations Committee.</p><p>The state will end with a final positive budget balance of $4.15 million for the next two fiscal years. Lawmakers started with a projected budget deficit of $432 million in January.</p><p>Speaker John Arch of La Vista has already warned senators to pay attention to changing fiscal dynamics, including in Congress, ahead of the 2026 legislative session, which begins Jan. 7.</p><h2>2025 statistics — from 89 days in session</h2><ul>
                        <li>715 bills introduced, an average 15 per senator. An additional 18 constitutional amendments and six policy-based resolutions introduced.</li>
                    </ul><ul>
                        <li>347 motions filed, about one-fourth (23%) from State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha (80). State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha followed with 29 motions.</li>
                    </ul><ul>
                        <li>Top bill targeted:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59124" target="_blank">LB 316</a>, from State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/05/30/proposal-to-ban-most-thc-consumable-hemp-products-in-nebraska-delayed-until-at-least-2026/">ban most consumable hemp and other tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products</a>&nbsp;(22 motions). The runner-up was&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59447&amp;docnum=LB258&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 258</a>, from State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/21/nebraska-minimum-wage-would-see-fixed-annual-increases-under-new-compromise-amendment/">weaken voter-approved minimum wage provisions</a>&nbsp;(17 motions).</li>
                    </ul><ul>
                        <li>Top senator targeted: State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha (55 motions).&nbsp;The runner-up was State Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse (33 motions).</li>
                    </ul><ul>
                        <li>24 bills were forced to maximum debate limits, or cloture. Four efforts to end debate failed: moving the state’s allocation of presidential electors to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/08/winner-take-all-bill-stalls-in-nebraska-legislature-a-blow-to-governor/">winner-take-all</a>&nbsp;(<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58830&amp;docnum=LB3&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 3</a>), reducing the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://update.legislature.ne.gov/?p=38878" target="_blank">inheritance tax</a>&nbsp;(<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58985&amp;docnum=LB468&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 468</a>), adding&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/05/19/sales-tax-tobacco-tax-push-doom-nebraskas-one-big-beautiful-bill-for-property-tax-relief/">property tax relief</a>&nbsp;by expanding sales taxes (<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59157&amp;docnum=LB170&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 170</a>) and providing clearer regulatory guardrails to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/05/20/absolute-failure-medical-cannabis-regulatory-bill-stalls-in-nebraska-legislature/">medical cannabis</a>&nbsp;(<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58979&amp;docnum=LB677&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 677</a>). Two more bills were pulled before they reached maximum debate, because they likely lacked the 33 votes needed to stop a filibuster — one to legalize online sports betting (<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58877&amp;docnum=LR20CA&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LR 20CA</a>) and the other to ban most consumable hemp or THC products (<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59124&amp;docnum=LB316&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 316</a>).</li>
                    </ul><ul>
                        <li>204 bills passed — 177 laws and 27 accompanying appropriations bills. Two bills were vetoed.</li>
                    </ul><ul>
                        <li>One constitutional amendment passed —&nbsp;to ask voters in 2026 whether to extend lawmaker term limits to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/05/28/nebraskans-to-decide-in-2026-whether-to-allow-three-four-year-terms-in-legislature/">three four-year terms</a>. They can currently serve up to two full terms (<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59458&amp;docnum=LR19CA&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LR 19CA</a>).</li>
                    </ul>

By the numbers: Nebraska’s 2025 legislative session

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750552826391.png" alt="File photo President Trump returning to the White House Saturday-image White House" />
                        <figcaption>File photo President Trump returning to the White House Saturday-image White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🚨 <a href="https://t.co/lzIfANo7sd">pic.twitter.com/lzIfANo7sd</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937271127958573387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!&quot; –President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/c5u6uneVBY">pic.twitter.com/c5u6uneVBY</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1937242445026050171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE...&quot; –President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/hLTBT34KnG">pic.twitter.com/hLTBT34KnG</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1937275983603597473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Peace through STRENGTH! <a href="https://t.co/ykFdscPAW6">https://t.co/ykFdscPAW6</a></p>&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1937277441778565233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/FvLK6djP9w">https://t.co/FvLK6djP9w</a> <a href="https://t.co/36Q8EJiqqq">pic.twitter.com/36Q8EJiqqq</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1937280247340388696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

President Trump says Israel, Iran agree to 'complete and total ceasefire'

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/sLix9I0PWO">pic.twitter.com/sLix9I0PWO</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937237851571134524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/AYbDjEBZWC">pic.twitter.com/AYbDjEBZWC</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937240686325006762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/y2PfbJGgZY">pic.twitter.com/y2PfbJGgZY</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937238331009695862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Read President Trump's statement after Iran's strike on U.S. air base

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The next hurdle for Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate and the “big, beautiful bill”: Democrats — and possibly a few of their own members — in a marathon voting session will make last-ditch attempts to change the tax and spending cut measure.

The vote-a-rama, as it’s known, is expected to begin sometime during the last full week of June as Congress heads toward the Fourth of July recess. It will likely begin in the afternoon and&nbsp; last overnight into the next morning. Senators will debate and vote on dozens of amendments attempting to revise the massive legislation that could have an effect on nearly every American.

Democrats, who have 47 votes in the Senate compared to 53 for Republicans, plan to zero in on Medicaid, taxes, corruption, policies that could raise energy costs and proposals that would increase the deficit, according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and the committee chairs tasked with drafting pieces of the package have spent weeks combing through the House-passed bill to figure out what needs to be altered to avoid divisive floor votes.&nbsp;

They’ve rewritten numerous policy proposals to comply with the strict rules that go along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/five-questions-and-answers-about-reconciliation-us-senate" target="_blank">the complex reconciliation process</a>&nbsp;and are now trying to work out disagreements among GOP senators that could doom or complicate a final deal.

The goal is to avoid a protracted debate over core GOP provisions in full public view once the vote-a-rama begins, though some senators are already predicting votes on GOP amendments.

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-senators-warn-mega-bills-new-medicaid-cuts-will-hurt-rural-hospitals" target="_blank">who has raised concerns about the bill’s impact on rural hospitals</a>, said he hopes GOP leaders reach a consensus before vote-a-rama but didn’t rule out offering his own amendments if they don’t settle their disputes.

“Amending it on the floor, that’s a potentially messy process,” Hawley said. “I would hope that we could get to a good place before that. But we have to fix the rural hospital issue.”

Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he will likely propose amendments during floor debate, though he declined to say what specific policies he’d seek to change or eliminate from the package.

“Yeah, we’ll have some,” Tuberville said. “And we’ve got them all, we just haven’t turned them in yet.”

Thune said he and other negotiators are making “headway” toward consensus on the more significant provisions in the package, which in many respects is far from its final form.

“The meetings right now are on the major provisions in tax and health. We have sort of pre-litigated a lot of that,” Thune said. “But there are a lot of the other provisions in the bill, chapters in the bill that are still subject to going through the Byrd bath, and we’re in the process of doing that. But hopefully that’ll be done by early next week.”

Republicans are using the reconciliation process to pass their sweeping tax and spending cuts package through the Senate with just a simple majority vote, requiring them to comply with the Byrd rules.

That includes the Byrd bath — going before the Senate parliamentarian to explain how each provision has an impact on federal revenue or spending that is not “merely incidental.” Democrats then usually debate before the parliamentarian the various changes that don’t meet that threshold. The process is named after the late Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat.

Once the parliamentarian rules what elements comply and which need to be removed, the bill can go to the floor and senators can trudge through vote-a-rama. Eventually, all 100 lawmakers will vote to approve or disapprove of the legislation.

GOP senators passing their version of the package would send it back to the House, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">passed its version</a>&nbsp;on a slim 215-214 vote earlier this year — and could make yet more changes in the Senate bill.

Democrats are hoping to highlight policy divisions among Republicans during the vote-a-rama. And even if they don’t succeed in getting any of their amendments adopted, several votes could serve as fodder for campaign ads during next year’s midterm elections.

Schumer said Wednesday during a press conference it would be “difficult” for Democrats to peel off at least four GOP senators from the rest of the party in order to get an amendment adopted, but said he’s hopeful Republicans will “vote with us on some things they’ve all said they’ve agreed with.”

Democratic senators, he said, have created a task force to reach out to Republicans on major issues in the package, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/medicaid-cuts-rippling-through-rural-america-could-bring-hospital-closures-job-losses" target="_blank">how it would impact rural hospitals</a>.

“Many of these hospital administrators and employees are Republican,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. “In many of the rural hospitals, they are the largest employer in the county, and in most they’re the only supplier of health care. It infuriates the rural counties, and they tend to be Republican.”

‘It’s just a show, it’s a charade’

West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said she’s not concerned about having to vote on dozens of amendments.&nbsp;

“We’re here to vote,” Capito said. “As a creature of the House, we voted all the time on everything, so this doesn’t bother me. And, you know, just let the body work its will. If some changes are made, those will have to be dealt with. But I’m not worried about that.”

Arkansas Republican Sen. John Boozman said he expects the vote-a-rama will be “a very late night” and that he’s not planning to offer any of his own amendments.

As chairman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Boozman expects to spend a considerable amount of time during vote-a-rama arguing against amendments seeking to change those provisions — including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-tries-ease-pain-states-sharing-costs-snap-benefits" target="_blank">controversial cuts</a>&nbsp;in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food aid for lower-income families.

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said he plans to spend much of the vote-a-rama “going back and forth from my hideaway,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/clip/qa/senate-hideaways/5109792" target="_blank">the ceremonial office</a>&nbsp;that every senator holds in the Capitol building.

But Johnson cast doubt on actually being able to amend the package during that process, saying changes to the various bills that Senate committees have released need to be agreed to before then.

“You’ve got to get this before it ever goes to the floor. I mean, you’re not going to change things substantially or significantly with amendments. I know people have some idealized version that happens. It doesn’t,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to get these things in the base bill. Amendments; it’s just a show, it’s a charade.”

The Senate has held two vote-a-ramas so far this year, and both demonstrated how difficult it is to change a piece of legislation.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/why-did-us-senate-pull-all-nighter-budget-look-inside-vote-rama" target="_blank">first all-nighter</a>&nbsp;in February went along with Senate debate on its budget resolution and included votes on 25 amendments, with lawmakers adopting just two — one from Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and one from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-wins-approval-sprawling-budget-blueprint-shipping-it-house" target="_blank">second vote-a-rama</a>&nbsp;took place in April just before the Senate voted to approve the budget resolution that ultimately cleared the way for Congress to use the budget reconciliation process to advance the “big, beautiful bill.” Senators debated 28 amendments, voting to adopt one change from Sullivan.

Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, ranking member on the Finance Committee, said he and staff on the panel will continue to parse through details of the panel’s bill, which Republicans just released Monday.

Wyden said he plans to hold several town hall meetings in GOP areas of his state over the weekend to gauge how residents there view the policy revisions Republican senators have put forward.

“We’ve had this bill for basically 36 hours. The first time I had it, I stayed up all night, so last night I got a little sleep,” Wyden said on Wednesday. “But on the plane, I’ll be working through it. And I expect to be working through it all through the next few days, except when I’m having these town hall meetings where I’ll have a number of questions.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747785438346.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — The next hurdle for Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate and the “big, beautiful bill”: Democrats — and possibly a few of their own members — in a marathon voting session will make last-ditch attempts to change the tax and spending cut measure.</p><p>The vote-a-rama, as it’s known, is expected to begin sometime during the last full week of June as Congress heads toward the Fourth of July recess. It will likely begin in the afternoon and&nbsp; last overnight into the next morning. Senators will debate and vote on dozens of amendments attempting to revise the massive legislation that could have an effect on nearly every American.</p><p>Democrats, who have 47 votes in the Senate compared to 53 for Republicans, plan to zero in on Medicaid, taxes, corruption, policies that could raise energy costs and proposals that would increase the deficit, according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.</p><p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and the committee chairs tasked with drafting pieces of the package have spent weeks combing through the House-passed bill to figure out what needs to be altered to avoid divisive floor votes.&nbsp;</p><p>They’ve rewritten numerous policy proposals to comply with the strict rules that go along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/five-questions-and-answers-about-reconciliation-us-senate" target="_blank">the complex reconciliation process</a>&nbsp;and are now trying to work out disagreements among GOP senators that could doom or complicate a final deal.</p><p>The goal is to avoid a protracted debate over core GOP provisions in full public view once the vote-a-rama begins, though some senators are already predicting votes on GOP amendments.</p><h2>‘A potentially messy process’</h2><p>Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-senators-warn-mega-bills-new-medicaid-cuts-will-hurt-rural-hospitals" target="_blank">who has raised concerns about the bill’s impact on rural hospitals</a>, said he hopes GOP leaders reach a consensus before vote-a-rama but didn’t rule out offering his own amendments if they don’t settle their disputes.</p><p>“Amending it on the floor, that’s a potentially messy process,” Hawley said. “I would hope that we could get to a good place before that. But we have to fix the rural hospital issue.”</p><p>Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he will likely propose amendments during floor debate, though he declined to say what specific policies he’d seek to change or eliminate from the package.</p><p>“Yeah, we’ll have some,” Tuberville said. “And we’ve got them all, we just haven’t turned them in yet.”</p><p>Thune said he and other negotiators are making “headway” toward consensus on the more significant provisions in the package, which in many respects is far from its final form.</p><p>“The meetings right now are on the major provisions in tax and health. We have sort of pre-litigated a lot of that,” Thune said. “But there are a lot of the other provisions in the bill, chapters in the bill that are still subject to going through the Byrd bath, and we’re in the process of doing that. But hopefully that’ll be done by early next week.”</p><p>Republicans are using the reconciliation process to pass their sweeping tax and spending cuts package through the Senate with just a simple majority vote, requiring them to comply with the Byrd rules.</p><p>That includes the Byrd bath — going before the Senate parliamentarian to explain how each provision has an impact on federal revenue or spending that is not “merely incidental.” Democrats then usually debate before the parliamentarian the various changes that don’t meet that threshold. The process is named after the late Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat.</p><p>Once the parliamentarian rules what elements comply and which need to be removed, the bill can go to the floor and senators can trudge through vote-a-rama. Eventually, all 100 lawmakers will vote to approve or disapprove of the legislation.</p><p>GOP senators passing their version of the package would send it back to the House, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">passed its version</a>&nbsp;on a slim 215-214 vote earlier this year — and could make yet more changes in the Senate bill.</p><h2>Democrats develop strategy</h2><p>Democrats are hoping to highlight policy divisions among Republicans during the vote-a-rama. And even if they don’t succeed in getting any of their amendments adopted, several votes could serve as fodder for campaign ads during next year’s midterm elections.</p><p>Schumer said Wednesday during a press conference it would be “difficult” for Democrats to peel off at least four GOP senators from the rest of the party in order to get an amendment adopted, but said he’s hopeful Republicans will “vote with us on some things they’ve all said they’ve agreed with.”</p><p>Democratic senators, he said, have created a task force to reach out to Republicans on major issues in the package, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/medicaid-cuts-rippling-through-rural-america-could-bring-hospital-closures-job-losses" target="_blank">how it would impact rural hospitals</a>.</p><p>“Many of these hospital administrators and employees are Republican,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. “In many of the rural hospitals, they are the largest employer in the county, and in most they’re the only supplier of health care. It infuriates the rural counties, and they tend to be Republican.”</p><h2>‘It’s just a show, it’s a charade’</h2><p>West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said she’s not concerned about having to vote on dozens of amendments.&nbsp;</p><p>“We’re here to vote,” Capito said. “As a creature of the House, we voted all the time on everything, so this doesn’t bother me. And, you know, just let the body work its will. If some changes are made, those will have to be dealt with. But I’m not worried about that.”</p><p>Arkansas Republican Sen. John Boozman said he expects the vote-a-rama will be “a very late night” and that he’s not planning to offer any of his own amendments.</p><p>As chairman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Boozman expects to spend a considerable amount of time during vote-a-rama arguing against amendments seeking to change those provisions — including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-tries-ease-pain-states-sharing-costs-snap-benefits" target="_blank">controversial cuts</a>&nbsp;in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food aid for lower-income families.</p><p>Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said he plans to spend much of the vote-a-rama “going back and forth from my hideaway,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/clip/qa/senate-hideaways/5109792" target="_blank">the ceremonial office</a>&nbsp;that every senator holds in the Capitol building.</p><p>But Johnson cast doubt on actually being able to amend the package during that process, saying changes to the various bills that Senate committees have released need to be agreed to before then.</p><p>“You’ve got to get this before it ever goes to the floor. I mean, you’re not going to change things substantially or significantly with amendments. I know people have some idealized version that happens. It doesn’t,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to get these things in the base bill. Amendments; it’s just a show, it’s a charade.”</p><h2>Vote-a-rama after vote-a-rama</h2><p>The Senate has held two vote-a-ramas so far this year, and both demonstrated how difficult it is to change a piece of legislation.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/why-did-us-senate-pull-all-nighter-budget-look-inside-vote-rama" target="_blank">first all-nighter</a>&nbsp;in February went along with Senate debate on its budget resolution and included votes on 25 amendments, with lawmakers adopting just two — one from Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and one from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-wins-approval-sprawling-budget-blueprint-shipping-it-house" target="_blank">second vote-a-rama</a>&nbsp;took place in April just before the Senate voted to approve the budget resolution that ultimately cleared the way for Congress to use the budget reconciliation process to advance the “big, beautiful bill.” Senators debated 28 amendments, voting to adopt one change from Sullivan.</p><p>Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, ranking member on the Finance Committee, said he and staff on the panel will continue to parse through details of the panel’s bill, which Republicans just released Monday.</p><p>Wyden said he plans to hold several town hall meetings in GOP areas of his state over the weekend to gauge how residents there view the policy revisions Republican senators have put forward.</p><p>“We’ve had this bill for basically 36 hours. The first time I had it, I stayed up all night, so last night I got a little sleep,” Wyden said on Wednesday. “But on the plane, I’ll be working through it. And I expect to be working through it all through the next few days, except when I’m having these town hall meetings where I’ll have a number of questions.”</p>

Both parties prep for mega-bill marathon in U.S. Senate vote-a-rama

The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States. Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks. Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020. The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland. Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks.

Issued:&nbsp;&nbsp; June 22, 2025Expires:&nbsp;&nbsp; September 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET

The Iranian Government has publicly condemned direct US involvement in the conflict.

Listen to local authorities and public safety officials.

If You See Something, Say Something®. Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement or call 911.

The National Terrorism Advisory System provides Americans with alert information on homeland security threats. It is distributed by the Department of Homeland Security. More information is available at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/advisories">www.dhs.gov/advisories</a>. To receive mobile updates:&nbsp;<a href="http://x.com/dhsgov">x.com/dhsgov</a>

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750613857435.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States. Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks. Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020. The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland. Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks.</p><h2>Duration</h2><p>Issued:&nbsp;&nbsp; June 22, 2025Expires:&nbsp;&nbsp; September 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET</p><h2>Additional Information</h2><p>The Iranian Government has publicly condemned direct US involvement in the conflict.</p><ul>
                        <li>Both hacktivists and Iranian government-affiliated actors routinely target poorly secured US networks and Internet-connected devices for disruptive cyber attacks.</li><li>US law enforcement has disrupted multiple potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots in the United States since 2020. During this timeframe, the Iranian government has also unsuccessfully targeted critics of its regime who are based in the Homeland for lethal attack.</li><li>If Iranian leadership were to issue a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against specific targets in the Homeland, it could increase the likelihood that a supporter of the Iranian regime is inspired to commit an act of violence in the Homeland.</li><li>Since the start of the conflict, we have seen media releases by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs)—including HAMAS, Lebanese Hizballah, the Houthis, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, among others—some of which have called for violence against US assets and personnel in the Middle East because of Israel’s attack.</li><li>The conflict could also motivate violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators seeking to attack targets perceived to be Jewish, pro-Israel, or linked to the US government or military in the Homeland.</li>
                    </ul><h2>Resources to Stay Safe</h2><h2>Report Potential Threats</h2><p>Listen to local authorities and public safety officials.</p><ul>
                        <li>DHS’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/">Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)</a>&nbsp;offers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/topics/cybersecurity-best-practices">cybersecurity best practices</a>&nbsp;for securing US networks.</li><li><a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices">The Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI)</a>&nbsp;is a collaborative effort by DHS, the FBI, and law enforcement partners to identify and report threats of terrorism and other related criminal activity.</li><li><a href="https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something">If You See Something, Say Something®</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/publication/suspicious-activity-reporting-indicators-and-behaviors">Report suspicious activity</a>&nbsp;and threats of violence, including online threats, to local law enforcement,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices">FBI Field Offices</a>, or your local&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices">Fusion Center</a>. Call 911 in case of emergency.</li>
                    </ul><h2>If You See Something, Say Something®. Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement or call 911.</h2><p>The National Terrorism Advisory System provides Americans with alert information on homeland security threats. It is distributed by the Department of Homeland Security. More information is available at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/advisories">www.dhs.gov/advisories</a>. To receive mobile updates:&nbsp;<a href="http://x.com/dhsgov">x.com/dhsgov</a></p>

DHS advisory warns of heightened threat in U.S. after Iran attack

The U.S. bombers struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, according to a statement from President Donald Trump.&nbsp; The Pentagon held a press briefing to provide additional details on the mission.

<p>The U.S. bombers struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, according to a statement from President Donald Trump.&nbsp; The Pentagon held a press briefing to provide additional details on the mission.</p><p>(click the videos below to watch)</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine (<a href="https://twitter.com/thejointstaff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thejointstaff</a>) on Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER: &quot;This was the largest B-2 operation strike in U.S. history.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VeyUjP84JT">pic.twitter.com/VeyUjP84JT</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1936763649411973190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (<a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a>): &quot;We devastated the Iran nuclear program...Iran&#39;s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/39zW06zFtm">pic.twitter.com/39zW06zFtm</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1936761039011414133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Pentagon: Dramatic details of Iran bombing 'Operation Midnight Hammer'

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750556562229.png" alt="File photo U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Curtis Campbell, 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, helps lift and guide a GBU-38 bomb into position to be moved to the bomb bay of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew S. Domingos)" />
                        <figcaption>File photo U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Curtis Campbell, 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, helps lift and guide a GBU-38 bomb into position to be moved to the bomb bay of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew S. Domingos)</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For decades, Iran has chanted ‘death to America’ and pledged to wipe Israel off the map. When foreign adversaries pledge to destroy us, we should believe them.<br><br>President Trump has always been clear: Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon – and I agree. Today, his administration…</p>&mdash; Senator Deb Fischer (@SenatorFischer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorFischer/status/1936583023014695018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump gave Iran ample time to come to the negotiating table on its nuclear program. Tonight&#39;s strikes mean Iran is further from possessing a nuclear weapon.<br><br>I’m thankful for the heroes who carried out this strike and for our service members in the Middle East and…</p>&mdash; Senator Pete Ricketts (@SenatorRicketts) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorRicketts/status/1936587365528555622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Iran with a nuclear weapon is an existential threat. Pres. Trump is protecting America. 🇺🇸</p>&mdash; Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDonBacon/status/1936578846842921282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight, President Trump took bold steps to ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. Keeping Iran from becoming a nuclear power will not only help keep America safe but can provide peace and stability around the world. Thank you to our brave service members who…</p>&mdash; Rep. Mike Flood (@USRepMikeFlood) <a href="https://twitter.com/USRepMikeFlood/status/1936600956365377985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Through months of talks between negotiators from his administration and Iranian officials, President Trump has shown he is committed to achieving peace for the United States and our allies. Today, he and brave American servicemembers acted decisively when it became clear the…</p>&mdash; Rep. Adrian Smith (@RepAdrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAdrianSmith/status/1936592982729203791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>0</p>

Nebraska lawmakers comment on U.S. bombing of Iran

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Donald J. Trump Delivers Address to the Nation, June 21, 2025 <a href="https://t.co/yutRDvtWv0">https://t.co/yutRDvtWv0</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1936602999553433965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0eDnzuBAGJkTkYPzYhbNGHiGVMjbEJr79xgwPEwbCPQDaoDyvNppzHEyJQ8KSMtbfl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="645" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

🎥 President Trump address to the nation after attack on Iran

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750540951558.png" alt="FILE PHOTO -- The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.&nbsp; (U.S. Air Force photo by Bobbie Garcia)" />
                        <figcaption>FILE PHOTO -- The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.&nbsp; (U.S. Air Force photo by Bobbie Garcia)</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/wu9mMkxtUg">pic.twitter.com/wu9mMkxtUg</a></p>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1936573183634645387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750552826391.png" alt="President Trump arriving back at the White House Saturday afternoon" />
                        <figcaption>President Trump arriving back at the White House Saturday afternoon</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/5z5p2JMPf1">pic.twitter.com/5z5p2JMPf1</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1936578685986910309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/C5vWu396WF">pic.twitter.com/C5vWu396WF</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1936587221483577642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

President Trump: US attacked three Iranian nuclear sites

President&nbsp;Donald Trump kept silent Thursday about the Juneteenth Holiday.&nbsp; Late Thursday, the President finally wrote on social media to complain about too many non-working holidays..

During the Thursday press briefing,&nbsp; White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt thanked reporters for showing up to work on the Juneteenth Federal Holiday. "We are certainly here. We’re working 24/7 right now.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750269288982.png" alt="File image White House" />
                        <figcaption>File image White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>President&nbsp;Donald Trump kept silent Thursday about the Juneteenth Holiday.&nbsp; Late Thursday, the President finally wrote on social media to complain about too many non-working holidays..</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/5DPtr8EtwQ">pic.twitter.com/5DPtr8EtwQ</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935836246133080540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>During the Thursday press briefing,&nbsp; White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt thanked reporters for showing up to work on the Juneteenth Federal Holiday. "We are certainly here. We’re working 24/7 right now.”</p>

President Trump complains about too many 'non-working holidays'

by&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/author/mikhailzinshteyn/">Mikhail Zinshteyn</a><br><a href="https://calmatters.org/">CalMatters</a>

Donald Trump can continue to control the National Guard in California for the time being after a panel of judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals determined he followed the law in&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/national-guard-los-angeles-appeals-court/" target="_blank">deploying troops to Los Angeles</a>.

The order, handed down Thursday evening, is the latest in a fast-moving legal saga playing out over Trump’s decision to call up the National Guard and U.S. Marines to the Los Angeles area in response to protests after federal immigration law enforcement agents began worksite raids and arrests two weeks ago. California’s Democratic leadership, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom, has called the deployment&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/california-republicans-trump-military-los-angeles/" target="_blank">unnecessary and illegal</a>. The appeals court order in a lawsuit filed by Newsom contesting the deployment isn’t surprising; the panel signaled an openness to the Trump administration’s legal arguments during a legal hearing on Tuesday.

In court earlier this week, attorneys from the Trump administration argued the president’s deployment was “unreviewable” by courts.&nbsp;

The appeals court judges disagreed that the decision was beyond the reach of the judicial branch, but found the president had a legitimate interest in protecting federal employees when he called up the troops.&nbsp;

“The undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters ‘pinned down’ several federal officers and threw ‘concrete chunks, bottles of liquid and other objects’ at the officers.”Two of those judges were appointed by President Trump in his previous term.

<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/national-guard-los-angeles-legal/" target="_blank">Trump deployed the troops&nbsp;</a>through a presidential memo on June 7 and cited a rarely used federal statute permitting a president to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/12406" target="_blank">deploy the National Guard</a>&nbsp;in times of invasion, domestic rebellion or the inability for the federal government to carry out its laws. Trump’s order was for 60 days and technically applied to all of the state Nation Guards in the U.S.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/06/los-angeles-protests-downtown-life/" target="_blank">imposed a weeklong curfew</a>&nbsp;in the city’s downtown after Trump’s deployment. She and other California leaders have maintained that local law enforcement agencies were more than capable of addressing the unrest that followed high-profile immigration sweeps earlier this month.

Trump’s order marked the first time since 1965 that a president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state’s governor. A group of former service secretaries and four star military commanders wrote an amicus brief supporting Newsom’s lawsuit challenging the deployment.

“The court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court,” Gov. Newsom said in a written statement after the 9th Circuit released its ruling. “The president is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.”

What happens next could take one of several turns. On Friday a lower court judge, Charles Breyer, will hold a hearing on whether to return the troops to Newsom through a preliminary injunction. Breyer last week issued an order that would have temporarily halted Trump’s deployment, but the 9th Circuit blocked it. Now, the battle over whether federal troops can remain in Los Angeles is operating on three parallel tracks — the case the 9th Circuit decided today, which can be appealed; Friday’s hearing on the preliminary injunction; and the full merits of the case that would be argued through a prolonged trial.

For Newsom’s legal team to prevail in Friday’s hearing, they’ll have to clear a higher threshold of scrutiny than they did when they initially won back the National Guard last week, albeit for a few hours. That’s because anyone seeking a preliminary injunction must demonstrate that the merits of their arguments will likely prevail in the full trial.

The appeals court’s decision could influence Breyer’s thinking, legal thinkers said, even if he initially signaled support for the Newsom administration’s arguments.

“It’s kind of hard to disentangle the two processes when we think about how judge Breyer will be weighing” the preliminary injunction hearing, because a lot of that’s going to be informed by what these higher level courts decide,” said Christopher Mirasola, an assistant law professor at the University of Houston Law Center.

No matter what Breyer does after Friday, it’ll likely quickly go back to the appeals court. And if the appeals court keeps halting the lower court’s orders, Trump keeps the National Guard for the duration of the lower court’s full trial.

Would the Newsom team try to appeal the injunction with the Supreme Court?

On one hand, “why not shoot your shot when you got the opportunity, right?” asked Mirasola rhetorically.&nbsp; But there’s a chance the high court comes back with such a strong opinion favoring the Trump administration that it could “substantively affect how judge Breyer treats the merits of the case.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750414117167.jpeg" alt="Demonstrators protest against recent ICE immigration raids as National Guard officers stand guard in front of a federal building in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters" />
                        <figcaption>Demonstrators protest against recent ICE immigration raids as National Guard officers stand guard in front of a federal building in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>by&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/author/mikhailzinshteyn/">Mikhail Zinshteyn</a><br><a href="https://calmatters.org/">CalMatters</a></p><p>Donald Trump can continue to control the National Guard in California for the time being after a panel of judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals determined he followed the law in&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/national-guard-los-angeles-appeals-court/" target="_blank">deploying troops to Los Angeles</a>.</p><p>The order, handed down Thursday evening, is the latest in a fast-moving legal saga playing out over Trump’s decision to call up the National Guard and U.S. Marines to the Los Angeles area in response to protests after federal immigration law enforcement agents began worksite raids and arrests two weeks ago. California’s Democratic leadership, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom, has called the deployment&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/california-republicans-trump-military-los-angeles/" target="_blank">unnecessary and illegal</a>. The appeals court order in a lawsuit filed by Newsom contesting the deployment isn’t surprising; the panel signaled an openness to the Trump administration’s legal arguments during a legal hearing on Tuesday.</p><p>In court earlier this week, attorneys from the Trump administration argued the president’s deployment was “unreviewable” by courts.&nbsp;</p><p>The appeals court judges disagreed that the decision was beyond the reach of the judicial branch, but found the president had a legitimate interest in protecting federal employees when he called up the troops.&nbsp;</p><p>“The undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters ‘pinned down’ several federal officers and threw ‘concrete chunks, bottles of liquid and other objects’ at the officers.”Two of those judges were appointed by President Trump in his previous term.</p><p><a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/national-guard-los-angeles-legal/" target="_blank">Trump deployed the troops&nbsp;</a>through a presidential memo on June 7 and cited a rarely used federal statute permitting a president to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/12406" target="_blank">deploy the National Guard</a>&nbsp;in times of invasion, domestic rebellion or the inability for the federal government to carry out its laws. Trump’s order was for 60 days and technically applied to all of the state Nation Guards in the U.S.</p><p>Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/06/los-angeles-protests-downtown-life/" target="_blank">imposed a weeklong curfew</a>&nbsp;in the city’s downtown after Trump’s deployment. She and other California leaders have maintained that local law enforcement agencies were more than capable of addressing the unrest that followed high-profile immigration sweeps earlier this month.</p><p>Trump’s order marked the first time since 1965 that a president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state’s governor. A group of former service secretaries and four star military commanders wrote an amicus brief supporting Newsom’s lawsuit challenging the deployment.</p><p>“The court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court,” Gov. Newsom said in a written statement after the 9th Circuit released its ruling. “The president is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.”</p><p>What happens next could take one of several turns. On Friday a lower court judge, Charles Breyer, will hold a hearing on whether to return the troops to Newsom through a preliminary injunction. Breyer last week issued an order that would have temporarily halted Trump’s deployment, but the 9th Circuit blocked it. Now, the battle over whether federal troops can remain in Los Angeles is operating on three parallel tracks — the case the 9th Circuit decided today, which can be appealed; Friday’s hearing on the preliminary injunction; and the full merits of the case that would be argued through a prolonged trial.</p><p>For Newsom’s legal team to prevail in Friday’s hearing, they’ll have to clear a higher threshold of scrutiny than they did when they initially won back the National Guard last week, albeit for a few hours. That’s because anyone seeking a preliminary injunction must demonstrate that the merits of their arguments will likely prevail in the full trial.</p><p>The appeals court’s decision could influence Breyer’s thinking, legal thinkers said, even if he initially signaled support for the Newsom administration’s arguments.</p><p>“It’s kind of hard to disentangle the two processes when we think about how judge Breyer will be weighing” the preliminary injunction hearing, because a lot of that’s going to be informed by what these higher level courts decide,” said Christopher Mirasola, an assistant law professor at the University of Houston Law Center.</p><p>No matter what Breyer does after Friday, it’ll likely quickly go back to the appeals court. And if the appeals court keeps halting the lower court’s orders, Trump keeps the National Guard for the duration of the lower court’s full trial.</p><p>Would the Newsom team try to appeal the injunction with the Supreme Court?</p><p>On one hand, “why not shoot your shot when you got the opportunity, right?” asked Mirasola rhetorically.&nbsp; But there’s a chance the high court comes back with such a strong opinion favoring the Trump administration that it could “substantively affect how judge Breyer treats the merits of the case.”</p>

Appeals court rules Trump can keep control of California National Guard

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> shares an important message from President Donald J. Trump: &quot;Based on the fact that there&#39;s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Xh3rNuURn0">pic.twitter.com/Xh3rNuURn0</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1935759403510104118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">These architects of terrorism are officially done terrorizing the world. <a href="https://t.co/H19TzmsCe9">pic.twitter.com/H19TzmsCe9</a></p>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1935517962242322459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump gives Israel and Iran a deadline to broker peace

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/IvUbD8fPZg">pic.twitter.com/IvUbD8fPZg</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935720711919706165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

President Trump explains why he delayed the TikTok ban again

A SpaceX rocket exploded Wednesday night in Texas.

<p>A SpaceX rocket exploded Wednesday night in Texas.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Credit where it&#39;s due to Musk. <br>He has made a radical new leap forward in SpaceX technology:<br>Now you don&#39;t have to wait until after launch for the devastating explosion.<br>👀 <a href="https://t.co/1OOHwB8kY1">pic.twitter.com/1OOHwB8kY1</a></p>&mdash; tern (@1goodtern) <a href="https://twitter.com/1goodtern/status/1935582164390969717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just a scratch</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1935638560276926914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase. A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted…</p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1935572705941880971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥SpaceX Starship Rocket Explodes During Routine Test

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">U.S. Senate unanimously passes resolution calling on streaming services to carry C-SPAN. <a href="https://t.co/TpM05yvPHs">pic.twitter.com/TpM05yvPHs</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935424808814035031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">U.S. Senate unanimously passes resolution calling on streaming services to carry C-SPAN. <a href="https://t.co/iQfi8ZuvOz">pic.twitter.com/iQfi8ZuvOz</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935419849494126703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Senate passes resolution asking streaming services to carry C-SPAN

WASHINGTON– FreshRealm establishments in San Clemente, Calif., Montezuma, Ga., and Indianapolis, Ind., are recalling chicken fettuccine alfredo products that may be adulterated with an outbreak strain of&nbsp;Listeria monocytogenes&nbsp;(Lm), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Tuesday. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is voluntarily recalling all products produced prior to June 17, 2025, that are available in commerce under the following brand names.

The following ready-to-eat products were shipped to Kroger and Walmart retail locations nationwide&nbsp;

The products bear the USDA mark of inspection on the product label as well as establishment numbers “EST. P-50784,” “EST. P-47770,” or “EST. P-47718” printed on the side of the packaging.

FSIS and public health partners are investigating an outbreak of&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;that currently includes 17 ill people in 13 states. As of June 17, 2025, there have been three reported deaths and one fetal loss associated with this outbreak. The outbreak strain of&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;was isolated from ill people on dates ranging from August 2024 – May 2025. 

The same outbreak strain was isolated from a routine chicken fettuccine alfredo sample collected by FSIS in a FreshRealm establishment in March 2025. The lot of chicken fettuccine alfredo represented by this sample was held during sampling, destroyed, and never entered commerce. The subsequent investigations at the establishment that produced this product, and into the product ingredients, have not identified the source of contamination. 

FSIS also used purchase records from two ill people to trace purchased chicken fettuccine alfredo products to FreshRealm establishments. An additional two ill people verbally described chicken fettuccine alfredo products they purchased. FSIS identified products produced by FreshRealm that matched the descriptions during follow-up at the retail stores where they shopped. This investigation is ongoing. FSIS is sharing what is currently known regarding products associated with the outbreak as the agency continues to work with public health partners to identify whether a specific ingredient in the chicken fettucine alfredo may be the source of this strain of&nbsp;Lm.

Consumption of food contaminated with&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, people outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their&nbsp;customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls">www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls</a>.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their meat products, including fresh and frozen, and to only consume premade meals like chicken fettuccine alfredo that has been cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F. The only way to confirm that premade meals are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart</a>.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact FreshRealm’s customer service at 888-244-1562. Media can contact Mary Beth Lowell, Director of Internal Communications, FreshRealm, at 425-531-0122 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:marybeth.lowell@freshrealm.com">marybeth.lowell@freshrealm.com</a>.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov%2FeCCF%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CMelissa.Cordell%40usda.gov%7C2ffd2d584176447889ea08dbb48bd749%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638302284933732023%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Jx%2BVgXbvTA0YVfEYBwKrSu9MQne%2BUQZ3bT04yRxlrAI%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750253967577.png" alt="Image USDA" />
                        <figcaption>Image USDA</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON– FreshRealm establishments in San Clemente, Calif., Montezuma, Ga., and Indianapolis, Ind., are recalling chicken fettuccine alfredo products that may be adulterated with an outbreak strain of&nbsp;Listeria monocytogenes&nbsp;(Lm), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Tuesday. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is voluntarily recalling all products produced prior to June 17, 2025, that are available in commerce under the following brand names.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750253948292.png" alt="Image USDA" />
                        <figcaption>Image USDA</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The following ready-to-eat products were shipped to Kroger and Walmart retail locations nationwide&nbsp;</p><ul>
                        <li>32.8-oz. tray packages containing “MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/27/25 or prior.&nbsp;</li><li>12.3 oz. tray packages containing “MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken, Broccoli and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/26/25 or prior.&nbsp;</li><li>12.5 oz. tray packages containing “HOME CHEF Heat &amp; Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with pasta, grilled white meat chicken, and Parmesan cheese” with best-by date 06/19/25 or prior.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
                    </ul><p>The products bear the USDA mark of inspection on the product label as well as establishment numbers “EST. P-50784,” “EST. P-47770,” or “EST. P-47718” printed on the side of the packaging.</p><p>FSIS and public health partners are investigating an outbreak of&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;that currently includes 17 ill people in 13 states. As of June 17, 2025, there have been three reported deaths and one fetal loss associated with this outbreak. The outbreak strain of&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;was isolated from ill people on dates ranging from August 2024 – May 2025. </p><p>The same outbreak strain was isolated from a routine chicken fettuccine alfredo sample collected by FSIS in a FreshRealm establishment in March 2025. The lot of chicken fettuccine alfredo represented by this sample was held during sampling, destroyed, and never entered commerce. The subsequent investigations at the establishment that produced this product, and into the product ingredients, have not identified the source of contamination. </p><p>FSIS also used purchase records from two ill people to trace purchased chicken fettuccine alfredo products to FreshRealm establishments. An additional two ill people verbally described chicken fettuccine alfredo products they purchased. FSIS identified products produced by FreshRealm that matched the descriptions during follow-up at the retail stores where they shopped. This investigation is ongoing. FSIS is sharing what is currently known regarding products associated with the outbreak as the agency continues to work with public health partners to identify whether a specific ingredient in the chicken fettucine alfredo may be the source of this strain of&nbsp;Lm.</p><p>Consumption of food contaminated with&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, people outside these risk groups are affected.</p><p>Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.</p><p>FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.</p><p>FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their&nbsp;customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls">www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls</a>.</p><p>FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their meat products, including fresh and frozen, and to only consume premade meals like chicken fettuccine alfredo that has been cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F. The only way to confirm that premade meals are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart</a>.</p><p>Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact FreshRealm’s customer service at 888-244-1562. Media can contact Mary Beth Lowell, Director of Internal Communications, FreshRealm, at 425-531-0122 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:marybeth.lowell@freshrealm.com">marybeth.lowell@freshrealm.com</a>.</p><p>Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov%2FeCCF%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CMelissa.Cordell%40usda.gov%7C2ffd2d584176447889ea08dbb48bd749%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638302284933732023%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Jx%2BVgXbvTA0YVfEYBwKrSu9MQne%2BUQZ3bT04yRxlrAI%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>.</p>

Meals sold at Walmart and Kroger recalled amid deadly listeria outbreak

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750268276007.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;The White House opened about 1800... and I&#39;ve always said, &#39;Why doesn&#39;t it have a flagpole from the grass?&#39; ... This is about the largest you&#39;ll ever see... We&#39;re about to lift it, and we also have one going on the front, or the north.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/2c8jsLuCGS">pic.twitter.com/2c8jsLuCGS</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935336846604558790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump on new flag poles at the White House: &quot;These are the best poles anywhere in the country, or the world actually.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JkWuo40zyN">pic.twitter.com/JkWuo40zyN</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935338113389195481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750257361875.png" alt="Image courtesy White House" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A new flag pole is raised on the South Lawn of the White House. <a href="https://t.co/TKQpSQJ2Ko">pic.twitter.com/TKQpSQJ2Ko</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935348717936071006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Happening Now—President Trump stops by to say hello and thank the workers who are installing the Beautiful American Flagpole on the South Lawn of the <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a>… <a href="https://t.co/QXtcdp35bu">pic.twitter.com/QXtcdp35bu</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1935349139291914441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump speaking to the <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a> press pool on the South Lawn as the flagpole is installed… <a href="https://t.co/F9eGy0ViEx">pic.twitter.com/F9eGy0ViEx</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1935350108813410774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750268324911.png" alt="Photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President" />
                        <figcaption>Photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/ravicGkEh3">https://t.co/ravicGkEh3</a> <a href="https://t.co/ULvnETTWi8">pic.twitter.com/ULvnETTWi8</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1935395446710747603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">View from the roof of the White House of the new flag being raised! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/9AgpbWTWg4">pic.twitter.com/9AgpbWTWg4</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1935410080179945685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/i5yGc8GbSA">pic.twitter.com/i5yGc8GbSA</a></p>&mdash; House Republicans (@HouseGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP/status/1935422118155665799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump shows off  new ‘magnificent’ flagpoles at the White House

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fed Chair Jerome Powell: &quot;In support of our goals, today the Federal Open Market Committee decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/6Lezvvzqyj">pic.twitter.com/6Lezvvzqyj</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935407886311579746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥No good news for borrowers on interest rates

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750269288982.png" alt="President Donald Trump speaks as a flag pole is installed on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>President Donald Trump speaks as a flag pole is installed on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Urgent notice! American citizens wanting to leave Israel- US Embassy in Israel <a href="https://twitter.com/usembassyjlm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usembassyjlm</a> is working on evacuation flights &amp; cruise ship departures. <br>You must enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) (<a href="https://t.co/rXymPRTQJJ">https://t.co/rXymPRTQJJ</a>) You will be alerted w/ updates.</p>&mdash; Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovMikeHuckabee/status/1935354233819193433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump: &quot;Nobody knows what I&#39;m going to do. I can tell you this, that Iran&#39;s got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/5IxVLjd4HC">pic.twitter.com/5IxVLjd4HC</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935342623708926350?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Q: &quot;Mr. President, what do you say to the Supreme Leader of Iran who says that they will not surrender?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;I say, &#39;Good luck.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/iXy5xfKNup">pic.twitter.com/iXy5xfKNup</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935341674055508457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We&#39;re not looking for long-term war. I only want one thing — Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That&#39;s it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/8gl7Wp2NBy">pic.twitter.com/8gl7Wp2NBy</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935347025954095376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on negotiations with Iran: &quot;Nothing is too late. The only thing too late is Powell.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/g7x5b9u8Gw">pic.twitter.com/g7x5b9u8Gw</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935338837695189018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Americans warned to evacuate Israel by air and sea as Iran crisis deepens

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750210174941.png" alt="Image White House" />
                        <figcaption>Image White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/kqUAgta0En">pic.twitter.com/kqUAgta0En</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935131324190203983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Presiden Trump on the North Lawn of the <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a> looking for the perfect spot to put a 100ft tall American Flag pole—he will determine a second spot on the South Lawn as well, at his personal expense… <a href="https://t.co/2ckAR0tndf">pic.twitter.com/2ckAR0tndf</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1915075327778320503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

President Trump's new 'magnificent' flag poles going up at the White House

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who was forcibly removed from a press conference with the secretary of Homeland Security, said Tuesday that his home state is the testing ground for President Donald Trump’s push to deploy the military within the United States.

Trump is using immigrants in the country without legal status as scapegoats to send in troops, said Padilla, who in a speech on the Senate floor choked up as he related how he was wrestled to the ground by law enforcement officials. “I refuse to let immigrants be political pawns on his path toward fascism,” Padilla said.

It’s the first floor speech the senior senator from California has given since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-us-sen-alex-padilla-california-cuffed-shoved-out-noem-press-event" target="_blank">the highly publicized incident in Los Angeles&nbsp;</a>last week. The Secret Service handcuffed Padilla after he tried to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was defending to reporters Trump’s decision to send 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to LA.

Trump sent in the troops following multi-day protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and against California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wishes. An appeals court Tuesday is hearing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-keeps-control-california-national-guard-la-now-after-appeals-court-order" target="_blank">arguments on a suit</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;California contending that the president unlawfully took control of the state National Guard.

“He wants the spectacle,” Padilla said of the president. “To justify his undemocratic crackdown and his authoritarian power grab.”

The LA protests were sparked after ICE targeted Home Depots, places where undocumented day laborers typically search for work, for immigration raids.

The Padilla incident, widely captured on video, was a stark escalation of the tensions between Democratic lawmakers and the administration over Trump’s drive to enact mass deportations.

A Democratic House member from New Jersey is&nbsp;<a href="https://newjerseymonitor.com/2025/06/11/n-j-congresswoman-indicted-over-fracas-outside-newark-ice-jail/" target="_blank">facing federal charges</a>&nbsp;on allegations that she shoved immigration officials while protesting the opening of an immigrant detention center in Newark. And on Tuesday, in New York City, ICE officers arrested city comptroller and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/election/nyc-primary-election-mayor-race-polls-candidates-june-17" target="_blank">mayoral candidate</a>&nbsp;Brad Lander while he was escorting an immigrant to their hearing in immigration court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brad-lander-nyc-immigration-court-arrest-6ed341297efab31a08a14421674d8ed8" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>.

In a statement to States Newsroom, DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said Lander “was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.”

“No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences,” McLaughlin said.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-directs-ice-target-3-big-democratic-cities-raids" target="_blank">The president late Sunday</a>&nbsp;directed ICE&nbsp;to conduct immigration raids in New York, LA and Chicago, the nation’s three most populous cities, all led by elected Democrats in heavily Democratic states.

“We will follow the President’s direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America’s streets,” McLaughlin said.

Padilla in his Senate remarks gave an account of the events that led to him being handcuffed and detained last week.

On June 12, he had a meeting scheduled with&nbsp;General Gregory M. Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, to discuss the military presence in LA.

Padilla, the top Democrat on a Judiciary panel that oversees DHS and immigration policy, said his meeting with the general was delayed because of a press briefing across the hall with Noem.&nbsp;

Padilla said he has tried to speak with DHS because for weeks LA has “seen a disturbing pattern of increasingly extreme and cruel immigration enforcement operations targeting non-violent people at places of worship, at schools, in courthouses.”

So Padilla said he asked to attend the press conference, and&nbsp;a National Guard member and an FBI agent escorted him inside.

“They opened the door for me,” he said.

As he listened, he said a comment from Noem compelled him to ask a question.

“We are not going away,” Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, told the press. “We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city.”

Padilla said her remarks struck him as “an un-American mission statement.”

“That cannot be the mission of federal law enforcement and the United States military,” he said. “Are we truly prepared to live in a country where the president can deploy the armed forces to decide which duly elected governors and mayors should be allowed to lead their constituents?”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Padilla said before he could finish his question, he was physically removed and the National Guard member and FBI agent who escorted him in the room “stood by silently, knowing full well who I was.”

As he recounted being handcuffed, Padilla paused, getting emotional.

“I was forced to the ground, first on my knees, and then flat on my chest,” he said.

Padilla said a flurry of questions went through his head as he was marched down a hallway, and as he kept asking why he was being detained: Where are they taking me? What will a city, already on the edge from being militarized, think when they see their U.S. senator being handcuffed just for trying to ask a question? What will my wife think? What will our boys think?

“I also remember asking myself, if this aggressive escalation is the result of someone speaking up about the abuse and overreach of the Trump administration, was it really worth it?” Padilla asked. “If a United States senator becomes too afraid to speak up, how can we expect any other American to do the same?”

In a statement, DHS,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/1933236707060822447" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;that the Secret Service did not know Padilla was a U.S. senator, although video of the incident shows that Padilla stated that he was a member of the Senate.

“I’m Sen. Alex Padilla and I have questions for the secretary,” he said as four federal law enforcement officers grabbed him and shoved him to the ground.

Noem met with Padilla after he was handcuffed, his office told States Newsroom.

“He raised concerns with the deployment of military forces and the needless escalation over the last week, among other issues,” according to his office. “And he voiced his frustration with the continued lack of response from this administration. It was a civil, brief meeting, but the Secretary did not provide any meaningful answers. The Senator was simply trying to do his job and seek answers for the people he represents in California.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that the Senate take action against Padilla, such as a censure. Johnson criticized the senator’s actions and accused him of charging at Noem, which Padilla is not seen doing in the multiple videos of the incident.

“I’m not in that chamber, but I do think that it merits immediate attention by other colleagues over there,” the Louisiana Republican said. “I think that behavior, at a minimum, rises to the level of censure. I think there needs to be a message sent by the body as a whole.”

Senate Democrats have coalesced their support around Padilla. During a Tuesday press conference, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Padilla for his speech on the Senate floor.

“It was basically a strong plea for America to regain the gyroscope of democracy, which has led us forward for so many years and now we’re losing it,” the New York Democrat said. “It’s a wake-up call to all Americans.”

Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749757448306.png" alt="Senator Padilla as shown in the video provided by U.S. Homeland Security" />
                        <figcaption>Senator Padilla as shown in the video provided by U.S. Homeland Security</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who was forcibly removed from a press conference with the secretary of Homeland Security, said Tuesday that his home state is the testing ground for President Donald Trump’s push to deploy the military within the United States.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenAlexPadilla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenAlexPadilla</a>: &quot;How many Americans in the year 2025 see a vindictive president on a tour of retribution unrestrained by the majority of this separate and co-equal branch of government and wonder if it&#39;s worth it to stand up or to speak out.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/RhCaix3Y3q">pic.twitter.com/RhCaix3Y3q</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935022858654089493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Trump is using immigrants in the country without legal status as scapegoats to send in troops, said Padilla, who in a speech on the Senate floor choked up as he related how he was wrestled to the ground by law enforcement officials. “I refuse to let immigrants be political pawns on his path toward fascism,” Padilla said.</p><p>It’s the first floor speech the senior senator from California has given since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-us-sen-alex-padilla-california-cuffed-shoved-out-noem-press-event" target="_blank">the highly publicized incident in Los Angeles&nbsp;</a>last week. The Secret Service handcuffed Padilla after he tried to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was defending to reporters Trump’s decision to send 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to LA.</p><p>Trump sent in the troops following multi-day protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and against California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wishes. An appeals court Tuesday is hearing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-keeps-control-california-national-guard-la-now-after-appeals-court-order" target="_blank">arguments on a suit</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;California contending that the president unlawfully took control of the state National Guard.</p><p>“He wants the spectacle,” Padilla said of the president. “To justify his undemocratic crackdown and his authoritarian power grab.”</p><p>The LA protests were sparked after ICE targeted Home Depots, places where undocumented day laborers typically search for work, for immigration raids.</p><h2>Arrests, confrontations</h2><p>The Padilla incident, widely captured on video, was a stark escalation of the tensions between Democratic lawmakers and the administration over Trump’s drive to enact mass deportations.</p><p>A Democratic House member from New Jersey is&nbsp;<a href="https://newjerseymonitor.com/2025/06/11/n-j-congresswoman-indicted-over-fracas-outside-newark-ice-jail/" target="_blank">facing federal charges</a>&nbsp;on allegations that she shoved immigration officials while protesting the opening of an immigrant detention center in Newark. And on Tuesday, in New York City, ICE officers arrested city comptroller and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/election/nyc-primary-election-mayor-race-polls-candidates-june-17" target="_blank">mayoral candidate</a>&nbsp;Brad Lander while he was escorting an immigrant to their hearing in immigration court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brad-lander-nyc-immigration-court-arrest-6ed341297efab31a08a14421674d8ed8" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>.</p><p>In a statement to States Newsroom, DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said Lander “was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.”</p><p>“No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences,” McLaughlin said.</p><p><a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-directs-ice-target-3-big-democratic-cities-raids" target="_blank">The president late Sunday</a>&nbsp;directed ICE&nbsp;to conduct immigration raids in New York, LA and Chicago, the nation’s three most populous cities, all led by elected Democrats in heavily Democratic states.</p><p>“We will follow the President’s direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America’s streets,” McLaughlin said.</p><h2>‘They opened the door for me’</h2><p>Padilla in his Senate remarks gave an account of the events that led to him being handcuffed and detained last week.</p><p>On June 12, he had a meeting scheduled with&nbsp;General Gregory M. Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, to discuss the military presence in LA.</p><p>Padilla, the top Democrat on a Judiciary panel that oversees DHS and immigration policy, said his meeting with the general was delayed because of a press briefing across the hall with Noem.&nbsp;</p><p>Padilla said he has tried to speak with DHS because for weeks LA has “seen a disturbing pattern of increasingly extreme and cruel immigration enforcement operations targeting non-violent people at places of worship, at schools, in courthouses.”</p><p>So Padilla said he asked to attend the press conference, and&nbsp;a National Guard member and an FBI agent escorted him inside.</p><p>“They opened the door for me,” he said.</p><p>As he listened, he said a comment from Noem compelled him to ask a question.</p><p>“We are not going away,” Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, told the press. “We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city.”</p><p>Padilla said her remarks struck him as “an un-American mission statement.”</p><p>“That cannot be the mission of federal law enforcement and the United States military,” he said. “Are we truly prepared to live in a country where the president can deploy the armed forces to decide which duly elected governors and mayors should be allowed to lead their constituents?”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Padilla said before he could finish his question, he was physically removed and the National Guard member and FBI agent who escorted him in the room “stood by silently, knowing full well who I was.”</p><p>As he recounted being handcuffed, Padilla paused, getting emotional.</p><p>“I was forced to the ground, first on my knees, and then flat on my chest,” he said.</p><p>Padilla said a flurry of questions went through his head as he was marched down a hallway, and as he kept asking why he was being detained: Where are they taking me? What will a city, already on the edge from being militarized, think when they see their U.S. senator being handcuffed just for trying to ask a question? What will my wife think? What will our boys think?</p><p>“I also remember asking myself, if this aggressive escalation is the result of someone speaking up about the abuse and overreach of the Trump administration, was it really worth it?” Padilla asked. “If a United States senator becomes too afraid to speak up, how can we expect any other American to do the same?”</p><h2>Padilla-Noem meeting</h2><p>In a statement, DHS,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/1933236707060822447" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;that the Secret Service did not know Padilla was a U.S. senator, although video of the incident shows that Padilla stated that he was a member of the Senate.</p><p>“I’m Sen. Alex Padilla and I have questions for the secretary,” he said as four federal law enforcement officers grabbed him and shoved him to the ground.</p><p>Noem met with Padilla after he was handcuffed, his office told States Newsroom.</p><p>“He raised concerns with the deployment of military forces and the needless escalation over the last week, among other issues,” according to his office. “And he voiced his frustration with the continued lack of response from this administration. It was a civil, brief meeting, but the Secretary did not provide any meaningful answers. The Senator was simply trying to do his job and seek answers for the people he represents in California.”</p><p>U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that the Senate take action against Padilla, such as a censure. Johnson criticized the senator’s actions and accused him of charging at Noem, which Padilla is not seen doing in the multiple videos of the incident.</p><p>“I’m not in that chamber, but I do think that it merits immediate attention by other colleagues over there,” the Louisiana Republican said. “I think that behavior, at a minimum, rises to the level of censure. I think there needs to be a message sent by the body as a whole.”</p><p>Senate Democrats have coalesced their support around Padilla. During a Tuesday press conference, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Padilla for his speech on the Senate floor.</p><p>“It was basically a strong plea for America to regain the gyroscope of democracy, which has led us forward for so many years and now we’re losing it,” the New York Democrat said. “It’s a wake-up call to all Americans.”</p><p>Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.&nbsp;</p>

🎥US Sen. Padilla blasts Trump ‘path toward fascism’ in LA immigration crackdown

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/iwagener/">Izzy Wagener</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>

Sophie and Colin Hortman, the children of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, issued a statement Monday calling on people to honor their parents’ legacy by doing “something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”

The Hortman children are grieving following the Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/14/minnesota-house-democratic-leader-dead-after-targeted-shooting-democratic-senator-also-shot/">killing</a>&nbsp;of their parents, in what has been called a political assassination. Rep. Melissa Hortman was a longtime Democratic-Farmer-Labor legislator beloved around the Capitol even as she scored major legislative victories.&nbsp;

“We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much,” the release said. “We want everyone to know that we are both safe and with loved ones. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, and we appreciate your respect for our family’s privacy as we grieve.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Hortman children thanked law enforcement for their efforts, which led to the&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/15/vance-boelter-accused-of-assassination-of-dfl-house-leader-melissa-hortman-apprehended/">arrest</a>&nbsp;of suspect Vance Boelter on Sunday night. Boelter also wounded Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, though they are on a path to recovery.&nbsp;

The Hortman children emphasized the legacy that their parents will leave behind.&nbsp;

“Our parents touched so many lives, and they leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them,” the release said.&nbsp;

The Hortmans asked that people do an act of kindness in the memory of their parents’ commitment to service, sharing a list of suggestions.

“The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”&nbsp;

They suggested planting a tree, telling a dad joke, and baking something to share — “bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa”.&nbsp;

“Pet a dog,” was on the list “A golden retriever is ideal but any will do.”&nbsp;

The Hortman family’s dog, a golden retriever named Gilbert, was euthanized after he was injured in the shooting. Hortman originally trained him as a service dog before he became a permanent member of the family.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750172631971.jpeg" alt=" A growing memorial for Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband stands Monday, June 16, 2025 at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)" />
                        <figcaption> A growing memorial for Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband stands Monday, June 16, 2025 at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/iwagener/">Izzy Wagener</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a></p><p>Sophie and Colin Hortman, the children of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, issued a statement Monday calling on people to honor their parents’ legacy by doing “something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”</p><p>The Hortman children are grieving following the Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/14/minnesota-house-democratic-leader-dead-after-targeted-shooting-democratic-senator-also-shot/">killing</a>&nbsp;of their parents, in what has been called a political assassination. Rep. Melissa Hortman was a longtime Democratic-Farmer-Labor legislator beloved around the Capitol even as she scored major legislative victories.&nbsp;</p><p>“We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much,” the release said. “We want everyone to know that we are both safe and with loved ones. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, and we appreciate your respect for our family’s privacy as we grieve.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The Hortman children thanked law enforcement for their efforts, which led to the&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/15/vance-boelter-accused-of-assassination-of-dfl-house-leader-melissa-hortman-apprehended/">arrest</a>&nbsp;of suspect Vance Boelter on Sunday night. Boelter also wounded Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, though they are on a path to recovery.&nbsp;</p><p>The Hortman children emphasized the legacy that their parents will leave behind.&nbsp;</p><p>“Our parents touched so many lives, and they leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them,” the release said.&nbsp;</p><p>The Hortmans asked that people do an act of kindness in the memory of their parents’ commitment to service, sharing a list of suggestions.</p><p>“The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”&nbsp;</p><p>They suggested planting a tree, telling a dad joke, and baking something to share — “bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa”.&nbsp;</p><p>“Pet a dog,” was on the list “A golden retriever is ideal but any will do.”&nbsp;</p><p>The Hortman family’s dog, a golden retriever named Gilbert, was euthanized after he was injured in the shooting. Hortman originally trained him as a service dog before he became a permanent member of the family.</p><p>Sophie and Colin Hortman ended the statement with a call to action.&nbsp;</p><p>“Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>