Hegseth, Democrats accuse the other of politicizing military
A Thursday congressional hearing meant to examine the Defense Department's $1 trillion budget request instead focused heavily on a metastasizing debate over politicization of the U.S. military, with members of both parties declaring one another's principles extremist and an existential threat to the institution's nonpartisan foundation.
Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee accused President Donald Trump and his defense secretary, the former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, of conducting an all-out assault on the military's independence: firing generals and admirals for insufficient loyalty, holding a political rally at an Army fort and deploying U.S. troops against American citizens protesting the administration's immigration policies.
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32 minutes ago
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How Israel's campaign to wipe out Iran's nuclear program unfolded
Israel launched a wave of unprecedented strikes on Iran shortly before sunrise Friday morning, hitting key sites in the nation's nuclear program as well as residential areas in upscale neighborhoods of Tehran and killing some of the country's highest-ranking military leaders. A CNN analysis of satellite imagery and dozens of videos shared on social media offers insight into how the wide-ranging operation unfolded across the country. The attacks landed hundreds of miles from Tel Aviv, with strikes continuing through the afternoon as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the bombardment could go on for days. Israel's military said it used 200 fighter jets in the operation, called 'Rising Lion.' Based on a review of strike targets, the attack had several prongs: Heavy strikes against at least one of Iran's uranium enrichment sites as well as its stockpiles of ballistic missiles, and more targeted strikes in Tehran to decapitate the regime's military leadership. It aimed to halt what Israel said was Tehran's rapid progress in developing nuclear weapons. Videos geolocated and verified by CNN reveal multiple residential neighborhoods were hit across Tehran, including in the north, west and east. Aftermath footage showed crowds and emergency workers surrounding collapsed buildings in densely populated areas. The Israeli operation came after years of threats and days of heightened speculation. Earlier in the week, the US had made efforts to withdraw non-essential personnel from locations around the Middle East, with one official citing 'developing tension' in the region. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump told reporters in the White House that he did not want Israel to target Iran while talks to reach a new agreement to limit Iranian nuclear enrichment were ongoing. In retaliation, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israeli territory, Israel's military said, and then a barrage of ballistic missiles. Here's what we know about how Israel's attack unfolded, minute by minute. All times are local to Iran. The first reports of explosions in Tehran came at around 3:30 a.m. local time Friday. Video geolocated by CNN showed a fire burning across several floors of an apartment block in northern Tehran, as emergency services arrived at the scene. Seven miles west of those buildings – still in the north of the city – another video showed damage from a strike on the upscale Chamran Town neighborhood. An entire wall had been stripped off one of the buildings, with people seen climbing through the rubble inside. One strike hit centrally near Laleh Park, the site of protests over the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died after Iran's morality police detained her for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Beyond the capital, a video showed a strike on the Piranshahr military base in western Iran, some 350 miles (about 560 kilometers) away from Tehran. The video showed the dark night sky being lit up by a series of rapid explosions, with smoke rising in the distance. Trevor Ball, a munitions researcher and former US Army senior explosive ordnance technician, told CNN the video indicated 'rocket motor burning,' which would be consistent with a strike on a ballistic missile storage facility. Strikes also hit the Natanz nuclear facility, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Tehran. Social media footage showed a huge fireball rising from the site. CNN obtained radar imagery from a space imaging company, Umbra, which captured damage to several areas of the facility. Other satellite imagery reviewed by CNN showed the same damage in more clarity; black plumes of smoke rising from multiple locations across the site. The Natanz nuclear facility includes two large underground halls believed to hold centrifuges for enriching uranium, according to a 2003 report from the Institute for Science and International Security, which includes satellite imagery of the site under construction in 2002. Based on that imagery, the latest attacks do not appear to have hit the underground buildings, but the full extent of the damage is not yet known. Iran's atomic energy agency said its primary nuclear enrichment facility 'did not encounter serious damage' and there were 'no radiation leaks that would cause concern to the people' after Israel attacked it. The spokesperson of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi, said on Iranian state media that the damage was on the ground level away from the underground facility at the plant. Rafael Grossi, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in a statement that 'radiation levels outside the Natanz facility remained unchanged' but added that there was 'radioactive contamination present inside the facility,' which 'can be managed with appropriate protective measures.' Soon after the first explosions rocked Tehran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it had launched preemptive strikes against Iran's nuclear program. It said it used jets to strike 'dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran.' The statement came at 3:44 a.m. in Israel, which is 30 minutes behind Iran's time zone. Within minutes, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the US was 'not involved' in Israel's strikes and that Israel's actions were 'unilateral.' 'Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,' Rubio said in a statement on X, anticipating a potential Iranian response. Just one mile west of the strikes on Chamran Town, daylight video showed the aftermath of a strike on Tehran's Chizar neighborhood. A huge hole had been blown in the top two floors of a building, with twisted iron bars hanging from the concrete structure. Residents of Tehran later told CNN how they had been woken up by their homes 'shaking' from Israel's attack. A 17-year-old Iranian, who asked to remain anonymous, said people were 'screaming' in the streets. 'I didn't know what was happening. It was really scary,' the teenager said. As evidence of Israel's strikes began to pour in, Netanyahu gave a televised address, saying that Israel had acted to 'roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.' He said the operation would continue for as long as it takes 'to remove these threats.' Netanyahu claimed Iran had produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine nuclear weapons. In a report sent to member states May 31, the IAEA also judged that Iran had enough uranium enriched to 60% purity, near weapons-grade, potentially to make nine nuclear weapons. 'Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months,' Netanyahu said. 'This is a clear and present danger to Israel's survival.' The prime minister claimed Israel had struck Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz, which was corroborated by video of the site. As the sun rose, the full scope of Israel's attack became clearer. Videos published after 6 a.m. showed the aftermath of a strike on a military base and a cargo terminal in the western Kermanshah region, which borders Iraq, over 250 miles from Tehran and 167 miles from Baghdad. After Netanyahu claimed Israel had targeted the nuclear facility at Natanz, the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed that Natanz had been hit. 'The IAEA is closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran,' it said. The agency said it was in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels in the area. In a later statement, it said it had not observed an increase in radiation. The Israeli military said it had killed three of the most senior men in Iran's military and its nuclear program. Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, head of the secretive Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was the highest-profile of those killed. In its initial statement, Israel also said it killed Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, and Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, leader of Iran's emergency command. Later, the IDF said it had killed Ali Shamkhani, a close aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC's air force. Many of the strikes on Tehran appear to have been targeting these senior officials. Last year, Israel demonstrated its ability to assassinate its adversaries in highly targeted attacks on Iranian soil. In July 2024, it killed Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas – the Iran-backed militia in Gaza – by remotely detonating a bomb that had been hidden in his room in Tehran. While Friday's strikes appeared extremely targeted, there have been reports of civilian casualties. The IDF said that Iran had launched more than 100 drones towards Israeli territory, and that Israel's air defenses were preparing to intercept them. 'We're expecting difficult hours,' it said. Following previous Israeli attacks against Iran and its proxies in the region, Tehran fired back with huge salvos of ballistic missiles. The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank in Washington, DC, said it was 'possible that Israel somehow disrupted Iran's response by targeting Iran's ballistic missile launch sites and stockpiles.' Early afternoon, Iranian media reported that Israel had launched a fresh strike on the northwestern city of Tabriz. Tamsin news agency said the Tabriz Airport had come under 'heavy Israeli attack.' After learning the extent of Israel's attack, Trump urged Iran's leaders to agree to a new nuclear deal 'before there is nothing left' of their country. Trump said he had given Iran 'chance after chance' to make a deal. 'JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,' he wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform. Under a 2015 nuclear deal struck by President Barack Obama, Iran agreed to drastically limit its number of centrifuges and cap uranium enrichment at levels far below those required to make weapons, in exchange for sanctions relief. But during his first term as president in 2018, Trump withdrew from the deal, saying the 'rotten structure' of the agreement was not enough to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. He ramped up sanctions on Iran and threatened to sanction any country that helped the regime obtain nuclear weapons. In his second term, Trump has revived efforts to strike a new nuclear deal with Iran. Just hours before Israel's attack, the president on Thursday cautioned Israel against launching a strike while talks are ongoing. US officials have held several rounds of high-stakes nuclear talks with Iran in recent weeks, demanding that Tehran stop all uranium enrichment activity. Iran has long claimed that its nuclear program is peaceful. It has said it wants to keep enriching uranium for civilian purposes, like building a nuclear reactor, and not for weapons. 'Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an X post last month, setting out Tehran's red lines in the talks.
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33 minutes ago
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West Palm police warn of traffic delays, extreme heat ahead of 'No Kings' march to Mar-a-Lago
WEST PALM BEACH — Police are urging the public to prepare for traffic delays and extreme heat on June 14, as large-scale demonstrations are expected to draw crowds to downtown West Palm Beach. The demonstrations are part of a nationwide movement dubbed 'No Kings National Day of Defiance.' Meant to protest President Donald Trump's administration, these rallies coincide with both his 79th birthday and the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary military parade in Washington, D.C. Locally, the protest will include a caravan and march to Mar-a-Lago, and a rally at Meyer Amphitheater in West Palm Beach. More than 1,000 are expected to participate across Palm Beach County, including in Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton. 'No Kings': Everything you need to know about the anti-Trump protests on Saturday, June 14 in Palm Beach County Lev Parnas, a former associate of Rudy Giuliani and a onetime Trump insider-turned-critic, will deliver the keynote address at the Meyer Amphitheatre. The event will feature a lineup of speakers on topics ranging from gun control and women's rights to LGBTQ+ protections and veterans' issues. The West Palm Beach Police Department issued an advisory June 13 urging drivers to steer clear of downtown, warning of heavier-than-normal traffic throughout the area. 'Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead,' the department said. 'Several roadways may be impacted as the events unfold.' Forecasters also predict temperatures will climb into the mid-to-high 90s, raising the risk of heat exhaustion for those outside. The police department's spokesperson, Rachel Leitão, encouraged demonstrators and attendees to drink water, wear light-colored, breathable clothing, limit strenuous activity, apply sunscreen and seek shade regularly. The police department said it supports the right to peaceful assembly and will be present to ensure public safety. 'We are committed to the safety of all participants and members of the public,' Leitão said. 'Please stay aware of your surroundings and take care in the heat.' Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Police issue heat advisory ahead of 'No King's protest in West Palm Beach
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33 minutes ago
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D.C. readies for Trump's major military parade
This article was first published in the On the Hill newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Friday mornings here. Hello, friends. Hope you all are enjoying the plunge into summer (although your author is not enjoying the D.C. humidity or savage mosquitoes). Another busy week on Capitol Hill as Republicans start to feel the pressure of all the summer deadlines they have lined up in the coming weeks — some self-imposed, others purely by nature of the fiscal year. Lawmakers will be busy with negotiations over the coming days, but don't be surprised if they go home for the July Fourth weekend without their big, beautiful bill in Trump's hands. It's birthday weekend in Washington, D.C., — and President Donald Trump is looking to share his party with the U.S. military. Trump has long been looking forward to these kinds of events. It's the 250th anniversary of the country next year, a huge milestone that Trump has the honor to oversee as commander in chief. Among the first of these celebrations — dubbed the America 250 — is the Army's 250th anniversary on Saturday, which just so happens to coincide with Trump's 79th birthday. (And Flag Day!) As a result, no expense will be spared. The grand parade is expected to cost somewhere between $25 million to $45 million and will feature military tanks and other armored vehicles that will be a major component of the event. Trump himself will likely just be on the sidelines rather than in the parade. (It's being advertised as celebrating just the military, his birthday is being framed more so as a coincidence.) Roughly 6,000 soldiers will participate in the parade, including members from the National Guard, the Army Reserve, Special Operations Command, West Point and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. The march, which will follow a path beginning at the Lincoln Memorial and finish between the White House and Washington Monument, will feature at least 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, 34 horses and one dog. It'll be an interesting event, no doubt. Not only is it an event wrapped in fanfare rarely put on by the White House, but also the city isn't quite sure how to prepare for it. They're also not sure if D.C. is even built for it. The tanks that will be used to roll down the National Mall are expected to be double the weight limit allowed on D.C. roads without a permit, according to The Washington Post. That has raised concerns among city officials about possible road damage and how much that might cost. The Army has said they would pay for the damage, and the outlet reported that permits for the vehicles are being worked out. What could also be interesting to watch: Attendance among Republican lawmakers. The parade does come at an awkward time because it conflicts with Father's Day on Sunday, and several lawmakers will be traveling home for that. Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, is among those traveling home to be with family, as well as Reps. Blake Moore and Mike Kennedy. My friends Mia McCarthy and Lisa Kashinsky at Politico reported earlier this week that only a fraction of GOP lawmakers they spoke to plan to go to the event, including most of Republican leadership. But Republicans are emphasizing their absences aren't a snub. For most, it's just simply scheduling conflicts. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said it best in a post on X: 'This isn't a story. 1) Saturday is my 28th wedding anniversary. I choose to stay married. 2) This celebration is for patriotic Americans to honor the Army's 250th birthday. It's not about Congress.' So, there's that. And Democrats? Don't expect them there, either. Here's what House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters this week when asked about the event: 'What I find interesting is that the United States Army was formed to depose a king.' The day is sure to be a fun event for D.C. residents, with a concert at the White House ellipse following the parade and fireworks closing out the night. Utah could sell public lands after all: Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, reinstated language to make public land in Utah eligible for sale, adding the proposal back to President Donald Trump's massive tax package after it was removed by GOP leaders in the House last month. The states listed include Utah as well as Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. DOGE days: The House advanced the first round of requested spending cuts from the Trump administration in a narrow party-line vote, overcoming the first hurdle to enact a slew of recommendations made by the Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year. The $9.4 billion rescissions package specifically targets foreign aid and federal organizations the Trump administration has accused of being anti-conservative. Unrest in LA: As protests continue in Los Angeles over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, a struggle has broken out between President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom over control of the National Guard, our Lauren Irwin reports. Speaking of July Fourth … Not only is that the 249th anniversary of the country but it's also the day Republicans declared as their deadline to get Trump's big beautiful bill to his desk for enactment. But it looks like they'll fly past that day as the Senate hasn't even finished their legislative text yet. Senate leaders have started to roll out some portions of the reconciliation bill — Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, unveiled the energy-related section on Wednesday evening — but some of the most complicated and contentious policies are still being negotiated between GOP leaders and the White House. Senate GOP leaders are intent on getting their full reconciliation bill passed before the Fourth of July recess, but they've largely acknowledged that getting that version aligned with the House version will take a bit longer. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has said he would keep the Senate in session in the days leading up to Independence Day if needed to pass the reconciliation bill. The House? Don't bet on it. A handful of us asked Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., a moderate Republican often at the center of negotiations, who told us this: 'Now why ... would you doomcast like that? Are you trying to speak this into being?' 'No, nobody's talking about that, at least not to me,' he added. And to add a cherry on top: I tweeted that exchange earlier this week, and Dusty made sure to clarify: 'To be clear, I'm not bothered by the Senate being in that week.' From the Hill: Republicans push to ban noncitizens from voting in DC. … Congress renames press rooms after abolitionist Frederick Douglass. … Republicans defeat Democrats in record-breaking charity baseball game. From the White House: Trump shares how and when he plans to wind down FEMA. … RFK Jr. fires CDC expert panel on vaccines to 'restore trust.' … Why Trump dumped the Federalist Society. From the courts: The Supreme Court said no, but this legal battle lives on. … Supreme Court says family can sue over wrong-house raid (NPR). … Girl with epilepsy expected to make disability lawsuits against schools easier (AP) The House is out next week, the Senate will be in for a short three-day week before the Juneteenth holiday. It will mark the start of crunch time for Senate Republicans to get their reconciliation bill text finalized and ready for a vote. We'll see how that goes. As always, feel free to reach out to me by email with story ideas or questions you have for lawmakers. And follow me on X for breaking news and timely developments from the Hill.
