Middle East on edge as Israel, Iran trade blows ...Middle East

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Happy Friday! What a busy weekend in D.C.:

In today's issue:

?️ NEWS THIS MORNING

Fears of war mount after Israel, Iran strikes:

Israel launched a major, unprecedented attack on Iran overnight, dramatically escalating the long-simmering tensions between the two countries. The country lobbed strikes in the Iranian capital of Tehran, targeting nuclear and military facilities.

The world is now bracing for a potential war in the region.

Why did Israel escalate?: Israel sees Iran’s expanding nuclear program as a threat to its very existence. The U.S. has been trying to negotiate a deal with Iranian officials to lessen their nuclear weapon capability, but those talks have hit an impasse.

Has Iran retaliated yet?: Yes, Iran has launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, but Israel has been intercepting them.

? The big, looming question: Iran has signaled more retaliation. Would the U.S. assist Israel if and when that happens?

?️ Follow today’s live blog— This is particularly useful on days like this.

? What we know about the attack

?Maps and photos of the attack

Rare footage of the attack: Israel’s spy agency released footage that reportedly shows Israel’s covert operations and targeted drone strikes in Iran. ? Watch the footage

➤ THE U.S. RESPONSE:

President Trump met with his National Security Council at 11 a.m. EDT.

Washington is warning Iran not to attack any American bases or U.S. citizens as part of its retaliatory action. The U.S. does not want to get pulled into this conflict.

Trump told NBC News this morning that Iran “may have another opportunity” to make a nuclear deal with the U.S., suggesting that Iranian officials have been calling him to speak.

^ There are reports that Iran’s chief negotiator was killed in the attack. That would complicate the Trump team’s efforts for talks. And don't forget Trump ripped up the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, which put in motion years of trying to get Iran back to negotiating table.

Trump posted on Truth Social this morning that those his team was dealing with are “DEAD.” He sarcastically told CNN’s Dana Bash that “they didn’t die of the flu; they didn’t die of Covid.” 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio distanced the U.S. from Israel’s strike: Rubio released a statement shortly after the strike stressing that the U.S. was *not* involved in Israel’s escalation. “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said.

Was Trump aware of Israel’s plans?: Yes, Trump told The Wall Street Journal that his team knew about Israel’s plans to attack Iran.

Trump also warned Iran: The president warned of “even more brutal attacks” unless Iranian officials agree to a deal, per WSJ, urging them to do so “before there is nothing left.”

Republican lawmakers back Israel’s attack: “Game on. Pray for Israel,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) posted on X. Other GOP lawmakers echoed similar sentiments.

➤ THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE:

The U.N. Security Council is meeting today after Iran requested an emergency session, per Reuters.

^ Speaking of: A U.N. watchdog decided Thursday that Iran has been breaking the rules on its nuclear nonproliferation rules. The Iranian government called the resolution “politically motivated” and announced it will launch a new uranium enrichment facility in response.

➤ MORE READS ON THE SITUATION:

The Atlantic: Israel’s Bold, Risky Attack: The Israeli campaign may be necessary, but preventive wars carry great moral and practical risks.

Axios: Israel's strike on Iran was 8 months in the making

Foreign Policy: Israel Is Going for the Death Blow on Iran: The Israeli attack on Iran is about much more than its nuclear program.

The Wall Street Journal: In Twist, U.S. Diplomacy Served as Cover for Israeli Surprise Attack

The New York Times: Striking the Heart of the Iranian Regime, Netanyahu Looks to His Legacy

A court rejected Trump’s appeal:

“A federal appeals court in an 8-2 vote Friday declined President Trump’s bid to rehear his appeal of a jury verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, leaving the Supreme Court as Trump’s only remaining pathway,” reports The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld.

Back story: “In 2023, the New York jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s and defaming her by denying her story when she came forward during Trump’s first presidency. The jury ordered Trump to pay $5 million. “

Read more: ‘Appeals court rejects Trump’s bid to overturn E. Jean Carroll verdict’

⏱️ON CAPITOL HILL

What a wild scene:

Federal agents pushed Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) to the ground and handcuffed him Thursday when he interrupted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference in Los Angeles.

The imagery is remarkable: The video of the incident is shocking to watch. “I’m Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” he is heard saying. ? Watch the footage

This set the political world aflame: This is a poignant example of the rising tensions arising from President Trump’simmigration crackdown and deportation efforts.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) said the video “sickened [his] stomach” watching the “manhandling” of a U.S. senator.

Padilla later condemned the incident: “I will say this: If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, I can only imagine what they’re doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country,” he said.

The Hill’s Niall Stanage weighed in with some context. He boiled this incident down into five takeaways:

1. The imagery matters more than anything else

2. Democrats see evidence of Trump’s creeping authoritarianism

3. The White House says Padilla to blame

4. The immigration debate has become partly a battle of visual images

5. Could the political tide turn on immigration?

Context for each

?️ THIS WEEKEND

Everyone is competing for your attention this weekend:

? President Trump is hosting a massive military parade in Washington tomorrow to officially mark the Army’s 250th anniversary, on what happens to be Trump’s 79th birthday. The daylong festival, culminating in a 6:30 p.m. EDT parade, will feature military tanks, armed fighting vehicles, helicopter flyovers, parachute jumps and fireworks. ? Military parade details

? And if that’s not your thing: Organizers are hosting demonstrations across the country to counter Trump’s celebration. ?Where “No Kings” protests are planned

⛪ And if you’d rather turn your attention somewhere totally different: Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather at the Chicago White Sox’s Rate Field on Saturday to celebrate the new American pope, Chicago native and lifelong Sox fan Pope Leo XIV. The pope will deliver virtual remarks(!) The program starts at 3:30 p.m. EDT, followed by a mass at 5 p.m. ? Event details

➤ IT COULD RAIN ON TRUMP’S PARADE:

Rain and thunderstorms are forecast for Washington on Saturday.

COMING UP

The House and Senate are out. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST)

1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs reporters.

3:30 p.m. Saturday: Pope Leo XIV will deliver virtual remarks at Chicago’s celebration of his papacy at Rate Field.

6:30 p.m. Saturday: Trump’s military parade. ? Details and schedule

Sunday: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) will appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

4 p.m. Monday: The Senate returns. ?Today’s agenda

? INTERNET BUZZ

??Celebrate: Today is National Cupcake Lover’s Day,and Saturday is National Strawberry Shortcake Day!

? AND FINALLY…

Because I’d like to leave you on a lighter note before the weekend, here’s a bird that I think may be Kendrick Lamar’s spirit animal.

Read More Details
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