Hello readers, and welcome to another day of On Politics. Kathryn Palmer here. Happy voting day for the Illinoisans out there. Lots of big developments on the Iran war today, so without further ado, here's what to know for today. |
Intelligence chief says Trump duped into war |
Joe Kent, head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, stepped down today, posting his resignation letter to Trump on social media. He excoriated the administration's ongoing war with Iran , claiming the president was pressured into the war by Israel and its "powerful American lobby," no doubt referring to AIPAC. A 20-year Army veteran who served 11 combat tours throughout the Middle East, Kent is the first top Trump administration official to quit over the conflict. Kent wrote that Israel duped Trump "into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States," and that strikes on the country would lead to a quick victory. "This was a lie," Kent said. Trump has responded, pushing back on Kent's claims by saying Iran "was a threat," and insulting the former counterintelligence head as a "nice guy" who is "very weak on security." | Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joseph Kent testifies before the House Committee on Homeland Security in the Cannon House Office Building on December 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images |
Illinois Democrats tackle Trump, ICE in Senate primary |
Democrats clamoring for their party to get tougher on Trump will get a sense of just how much of it their base wants when voters in deep-blue Illinois today select a Democratic nominee to replace the retiring incumbent. The contest stands in sharp contrast to the nation's last tumultuous Democratic Senate primary in Texas, when questions swirled about candidates' electability. There are at least 16 candidates running, with 10 Democrats and six Republicans vying to replace 81-year-old Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate. Among the top issues in the race is immigration and the administration's aggressive use of executive authority: Last year, Trump sent thousands of immigration enforcement agents and 300 National Guard troops into Chicago. The top three Democratic candidates have all called for ICE to be overhauled, with two calling for the agency to be abolished or dismantled. |
Trump continues to threaten a Cuba takeover |
Trump told reporters yesterday he believes he'll have "the honor of taking Cuba" and called it a "very weakened nation," continuing his threats against the country roughly 90 miles south of Florida. "Whether I free it, take it – think I could do anything I want with it, you want to know the truth," Trump said. Cuba is grappling with an economic and energy crisis, after the United States captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, ordered the country to stop sending oil to Cuba and threatened to apply tariffs to countries that shipped fuel to the island nation. The country has experienced several blackouts in the last few months. The administration and Cuba have held talks in recent days, an indication the Caribbean nation is open to signing a historic economic deal with the United States. | | As the war enters its third week, Iran war injuries for U.S. troops have reached 200, according to U.S. Central Command. | | A federal judge blocked parts of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's vaccine policy, siding with medical groups. | | | | The Trump Kennedy Center's board voted unanimously to approve the president's proposed renovations and shutdown the center for two years. | | | | In an interview with Breitbart Texas, Bovino said he would be leaving the agency in the coming weeks but has not yet submitted the required paperwork. | | | | Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, confirmed that a member of her security team was shot and killed in a standoff with Dallas police. | | | | | Sign up for the news you want | Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don't miss out! We're always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. | | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment