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“We’re over here just grinding away on banger memes, dude. There’s an entertainment factor to what we do. But ultimately, it boils down to the fact that no one has ever attempted to communicate with the American public this way before.”
— A senior White House official, quoted by Politico, on producing TikTok-style videos to promote the Iran war.
“An American citizen now appears to be in charge of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel, potentially complicating U.S. efforts to eradicate the narcotics trade here,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“U.S. intelligence agencies may now face legal hurdles in directly targeting and collecting personal data on Valencia González because of his place of birth. That risks hindering a significant tactical partnership that has developed between Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Washington that is making increasing use of information provided by U.S. military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth started a press briefing Thursday on the latest Operation Epic Fury news by blasting “ungrateful” European allies and “a dishonest” media, as the war enters Day 20, The Hill reports.
“Iran executed three men on Thursday who were accused of killing police officers during protests in January, with activists warning of the risk of a new surge in hangings as war rages with Israel and the United States,” AFP reports.
The UFC fight President Trump is holding on the White House’s South Lawn on June 14 is — at least according to him — the “hottest ticket that I’ve ever seen,” Axios reports.
“Donors, lobbyists, members of Congress and well-connected fans are clamoring for tickets.”
“But in a Trumpian twist of marketing, the tickets’ elusiveness is building buzz for the event, which will be on the president’s birthday, and Flag Day, in the run-up to America’s 250th on July Fourth.”
California lawmakers are considering renaming Cesar Chavez Day, a state holiday, in light of sexual assault allegations against the late labor leader, Politico reports.
Nate Silver notes Donald Trump has hit a new low in his job approval tracking.
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: “We are making six gubernatorial race rating changes this week, all in favor of Democrats.”
“The most notable ones come in Arizona, Georgia, and Ohio, while the others are blue state governorships in Minnesota, New York, and Rhode Island moving to Safe Democratic.”
When Danish soldiers were flown to Greenland in January, they brought explosives so that they could destroy the runways in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq to prevent U.S. military aircraft from landing soldiers on the island if President Trump chose to take it by force, DR reports.
France and Germany were also prepared to help defend Greenland.
The Economist: “Although President Donald Trump says he has ‘destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military Capability’, the 0% that remains is playing havoc with the global economy by choking off 10-15% of its oil supply.”
A new J.L. Partners survey found that 83% of likely Republican voters “strongly” or “somewhat” support Operation Epic Fury, while just 9% say they “strongly” or “somewhat” oppose military action against Iran.
Earlier for members: The MAGA Revolt That Isn’t
Washington Post: “Republican politicians are ramping up attacks on Muslims and facing few political consequences, and sometimes seeing political benefit, unnerving civil rights advocates and signaling a new normal of open Islamophobia heading into campaign season.”
“Rather than rebuke broad criticism of Muslims in the wake of terrorism — as President George W. Bush once did after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 — GOP leaders have allowed the most blatant anti-Muslim comments to go largely unchallenged.”
“Vice President JD Vance is projecting loyalty to Donald Trump as the president leads the United States into the type of war the Iraq veteran didn’t want — and as the new conflict complicates Vance’s political future,” the Washington Post reports.
“Vance allies have downplayed the impact the operation in Iran could have on his presidential ambitions, insisting that a mission involving the U.S. military only for a matter of weeks won’t stay in voters’ memories. People close to the vice president have also conceded to The Washington Post, however, that a months-long conflict will pose a problem for whoever is the next Republican nominee.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) told Politico that he “wouldn’t take AIPAC money.”
He explained that doing so would be akin to “endorsing what’s happening right now.”
He called Israeli settlement in the West Bank and wars in the region “disgusting.”
Playbook: “It’s Day 20 of the war in Iran, and the risk of a major escalation is spiraling fast.”
“Trump last night demanded Israel and Iran halt their tit-for-tat strikes against the vital infrastructure serving the world’s largest gas field. Analysts now fear an all-out energy war, with catastrophic effects for global supplies.”
“Remember: This stuff doesn’t get fixed quickly once it’s been blown up.”
“Expect a flood of questions for Trump today about whether he knew in advance that Israel planned to escalate the conflict by targeting Iran’s oil fields. Trump claimed in his Truth Social post that he had no prior knowledge,” Politico reports.
Wall Street Journal: “Trump, who knew about the Israeli strike on South Pars in advance, supported it as a message to Tehran over its block of the Strait of Hormuz.”
“The president believes Iran got the message and is now against attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure… But Trump could once again be open to targeting more Iranian energy facilities depending on Tehran’s future actions in the strategic waterway.”
Some companies complained to the Trump administration that Corey Lewandowski has stood to personally profit from the Department of Homeland Security’s contracting process, NBC News reports.
“Most Americans will likely soon be paying over $4 per gallon as the war in Iran drives one of the sharpest gas price surges in recent history,” Axios reports.
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.
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