'So Close To Getting It': Kayleigh McEnany Roasted Over Truly Ironic 'Fanaticism' Claim
Asked about the growing conflict in the Middle East, McEnany predicted that Trump will 'take out Iran's nuclear program' and 'end the Iranian regime's pursuit of nuclear weapons forevermore.'
McEnany, who served as Trump's press secretary during his previous term, said Iran's pursuit of those weapons is especially dangerous because of its ruler, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
'When you combine fanaticism, no care for self-preservation and radical religious beliefs with nuclear weapons, that is a danger,' she told the network's Jesse Watters.
But critics said those same factors could apply equally to her former boss and his most devoted followers:
She's so close to getting it. https://t.co/oLAF6Jcy4Y
— Hemant Mehta (@hemantmehta) June 19, 2025
She just described the Trump admin slash heritage foundation slash project 2025.
— Political Punk (@actingliketommy) June 19, 2025
No awareness or intelligence to realize that she just described the United States under Trump.
— Lance Whitney (@lancewhit) June 19, 2025
Does irony just escape her? It's so bizarre watching them describe Trump while referring to someone else. I bet psychiatrists are having a field day.
— Fookin Chookay 🎗️🇺🇸🦅🇳🇴🇮🇪🏳️🌈🌊🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@slayergoddess69) June 19, 2025
She is talking about Trump right?
— bostonteaparty (@bostonteapartyd) June 19, 2025
pic.twitter.com/gonesd88O0
— TayoMurph (@TayoMurph) June 19, 2025
Agreed. Which is why Trump's admin is a danger to us all.
— Darren Haber (@darrenhabermft) June 19, 2025
So, trump?
— Patrick (@Crimsonkiller21) June 19, 2025
Kayleigh: When you combine fanaticism, no care for self-preservation, and radical religious belief with nuclear weapons, that is a danger=> OMG! She's right! Kayleigh's right. Tell me I didn't just type that... :\
— Jeff Fleischmann ☮️ 🌊 (@Philosocrat) June 19, 2025
Congratulations @kayleighmcenany I never thought you'd see the light about Trump. 👏 https://t.co/KFl923C94f
— J Rance (@WillaRance) June 19, 2025

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Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Sparks Gun Group Lawsuit Within Hours
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Newsweek has contacted the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—which are listed as defendants in the lawsuit—for comment via a contact form on the DOJ's website and email. File photo: Donald Trump signs the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2025 in Washington, D.C. File photo: Donald Trump signs the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2025 in Washington, Context The National Firearms Act was first enacted in 1934 to regulates firearms considered the most dangerous and crack down on gangland crime in the Prohibition era. The law had imposed a $200 tax on machine guns and shotguns and rifles with barrels shorter than 18 inches, and also required the federal registration of these types of firearms. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminates the $200 fee that gun owners are charged when purchasing silencers and short-barreled rifles, but it remains in effect for machine guns and explosive devices. What To Know In a press release on Thursday, Gun Owners of America said its team had been "working behind the scenes" with lawmakers since the November election to repeal the NFA fully. The group said congressional Republicans had allowed "an unelected bureaucrat" to block the provision. GOA added that Congress ultimately "settled for reducing the NFA's $200 excise tax to $0 on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapons or AOWs—teeing up GOA's legal challenge." GOA also said it has also long argued that the NFA's registration mandates "violate the Second Amendment and are an unconstitutional overreach of federal power." The authors of the NFA "left no doubt that the NFA was an exercise of the taxing power, and the Supreme Court upheld it on that basis," says the lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. "But the NFA no longer imposes any tax on the vast majority of firearms it purports to regulate. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Congress and the President enacted on July 4, 2025, zeros the manufacture and transfer tax on nearly all NFA-regulated firearms. That means the constitutional foundation on which the NFA rested has dissolved. And the NFA cannot be upheld under any other Article I power. With respect to the untaxed firearms, the Act is now unconstitutional." What People Are Saying Erich Pratt, senior vice president of GOA, said in a statement: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dismantle one of the most abusive federal gun control laws on the books. With the tax struck down by Congress, the rest of the NFA is standing on air. We're ready to take this fight to the courts and finally end the federal registry once and for all." Sam Paredes said in a statement on behalf of the board for Gun Owners Foundation: "The Supreme Court has made clear that the NFA survives only as a tax law. Once the President signs this bill and the tax disappears, the registry becomes an unconstitutional relic. GOF is prepared to go to court and challenge every remaining provision that violates the Second Amendment." Representative Mike Thompson, a Democrat and chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday: "Congressional Republicans are giving a handout to the gun lobby by eliminating the $200 tax on silencers and easily concealable short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns. We've regulated silencers and these guns for 90+ years for a reason: to keep people safe." Emma Brown, the executive director of GIFFORDS, an organization focused on preventing gun violence, said in a statement this week: "Almost 100 years of precedent has kept silencers and short-barreled firearms out of easy reach for criminals. But with this bill, Republicans are laying the groundwork to gut safeguards that stopped criminals from getting these deadly weapons. This vote is proof that the 'law and order' rhetoric Donald Trump has pushed for years rings hollow. In siding with the gun industry CEOs, he has handed criminals a win, and communities will suffer the deadly consequences." What Happens Next The lawsuit asks the court to declare that the NFA's registration and transfer requirements pertaining to untaxed firearms "exceed Congress's enumerated powers" and block the defendants from "implementing, enforcing, or otherwise acting under the authority of the NFA with respect to untaxed firearms."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump's Social Security Tax U-Turn — What Retirees Need To Know Now
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He went on to explain that, 'It's not as generous as eliminating Social Security taxes completely — that could've saved some retirees $2-3K annually — but it's targeted at folks who need it most.' But the concession wouldn't help everyone on Social Security. The maximum Social Security benefit in 2025 is $5,108/month, or $61,296 a year. 'If a retiree has even modest supplemental income — from a pension, IRA withdrawals or rental income — they're likely hitting the 85% taxable range, so no tax relief on Social Security means many retirees are handing Uncle Sam more of their fixed income than they expected,' Peter Diamond, a Federally Licensed Tax, Accounting, Real Estate, and Structure and Certified Bankability Expert® explained. With that in mind, Diamond said most retirees don't have other revenue sources. 'They're not flipping properties or trading options on their phones,' he said. 'They're living off what they saved, and Social Security is often the biggest piece. 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It helps lower-income seniors who really need it — I've seen firsthand how an extra $500 to $1000 annually can make a real difference for many of my retired clients living on fixed incomes.' Trump flipped his stance, and retirees will not receive the tax break on Social Security he vowed. While it would have been a win for middle-class retirees, it would have bankrupted the program, according to experts. Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 7 Things You'll Be Happy You Downsized in Retirement The 5 Car Brands Named the Least Reliable of 2025 This article originally appeared on Trump's Social Security Tax U-Turn — What Retirees Need To Know Now


New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Between horror and hope ordinary Iranians brave an uncertain future
'To the whole world I have a message from Iran . . . This war is not our choice. We are not supporting it. But we feel that Israel is supporting us, caring about us . . . We are hostages here.' The face of the Iranian woman in the viral video from late June is masked under a black headwrap; only her eyes remain uncovered. Her voice is resolute, her words sharp and her English flawless. 'Help us because we cannot stand against them with bare hands . . . We are scared not from Israel and the United States but from our own regime.' 6 Israel's 12-Day War to dismantle Iran's nuclear ambitions appears to have been successful, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls upon Iranians to consider toppling the Islamic regime. POOL/AFP via Getty Images The unknown woman is one of the many thousands who have declared their solidarity with the United States and Israel for trying to end Iran's nuclear weapons program. To the surprise of many Iran watchers a 'rallying around the flag' did not happen during the nation's war with Israel. 'We haven't done it and we will not do it,' remarked another anonymous face in a different video, 'because this is not our flag.' Advertisement The disconnect between the aspirations of the Iranian government and the hopes of the Iranian people is aptly phrased by Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment for Peace. 'The Iranian people want to be South Korea, while the regime wants to be North Korea. This is an untenable situation.' 6 Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has begun to encourage his countrymen rally around a future where their nation is no longer controlled by the Mullahs in Tehran. Samuel Corum for NY Post By all accounts, the 'North Korea' of the Middle East is in far deeper trouble than it is willing to admit. Domestically, internal opposition is steadily growing with a mere 22% of Iranians surveyed preferring an Islamic Republic over other political systems. The same survey concludes that 86% of Iranians blame Iran's dire economy on 'domestic inefficiency and corruption.' Looking to deepen the divide between the regime and its people, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly reached out to Iranians' hearts and minds stating that he is not at war with the 'great' and 'brave' Iranian people, but with the Iranian regime. 'We are clearing the path for you to achieve your objective, which is freedom,' he said as the war began. Advertisement 6 Any reform in Iran takes place while considering the history of Mahsa Amini, the young woman killed by Iranian authorities in 2022 for failing to adhere to strict modest dress codes. IranWire via REUTERS His broadcasts in Farsi subtitles during prime evening hours across Iran have succeeded by at least one happy measure: an old but hugely popular song, 'Bibi-Gol' ('A flower called Bibi'), was recently dedicated to the Israeli prime minister (whose nickname is 'Bibi') in appreciation for his support of Iranians' call for freedom. Persian creativity aside, many of the Iranians I have spoken with are realistic, gripped with both hope and fear. Arvin, a 21-year old college student who wished to stay anonymous, feels the 'otherness' of being an Iranian and welcoming attacks on his homeland. But he blames the mullahs. 'My generation is suspended between two worlds: one that wants us to be free and prosperous. And another that rules over us with chain and lashes. We want to be part of the first world but are stuck in the second.' 6 Amini's death set off a global campaign for reform in Iran that ultimately failed to take hold. REUTERS Advertisement Despite the regime's weakened state and both Trump and Netanyahu's prodding to Iranians to rise up, for now Iranians have mostly opted to hunker down. Their fear is real. According to ISNA News and the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, a 'season of traitor killing' has begun: a crackdown on Iran's Bahai, Kurd, Baluch and Jewish citizens that has resulted in hundreds of arrests and scores of death sentences. Historically, when given a choice between reform and repression, Tehran has opted for strangulation, exacting revenge and enacting draconian measures to retain its grip on power. Azar, a 22-year-old nursing student who joined the jubilant Iranian protestors on the first night of the bombings, has been in hiding ever since. 'They have cameras that identify people,' she told me over a hushed phone call. 'I shouldn't be on this call with you.' 6 Like Amini (above), hundreds of Iranians have been arrested — and dozens killed — amid a crackdown by regime authorities in the wake of the war with Israel. How are Iranians coping? Hundreds of thousands leave the country annually — some 180,000 in 2019 alone — for North America and Europe where their advanced degrees and professional skill sets have been in high demand. Exact figures are hard to verify, but according to a 2014 study, this worsening 'brain drain' accounts for an annual loss of $150 billion to the Islamic Republic's economy. Advertisement The regime has no plans to reverse the tide, long branding those who leave as traitors. 'They say the brains escaped. Let them escape . . . they are treacherous brains,' railed the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, in 1985. Those who remain hang on to the faint hope that the regime will collapse under the weight of its own brutality. While the clerics are in the throes of reconstituting their power in the aftermath of the Israeli and American bombings, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has stepped up his activities to unite Iranians. Earlier this week he announced plans for a summit 'of national cooperation' to lead the country in a 'democratic transition.' 6 Despite efforts like this one by Iranian leaders such as President, Masoud Pezeshkian to rally citizens around the flag, the war with Israel has only revealed cracks in regime authority that have been deepening for decades. APAImages/Shutterstock For many others, the 12-day war and Israel's attacks on symbolic regime institutions — such as the Basij militia headquarters, the notorious Evin prison and the state television station (IRIB) — represent a new kind of hope, one that is backed by the hard power of Washington and Tel Aviv. 'This regime should end,' pleads the masked woman in perfect English. 'If you leave this regime with these wounds they will hurt all of us — here, in Europe and in America. Please help us.' Nazee Moinian is an adjunct fellow at the Middle East Institute.