Fearfully and Wonderfully
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, upheld a Tennessee law that bans puberty blockers and hormones from being administered to minors for the purpose of transitioning to the opposite sex. Twenty-seven states have similar laws on the books, and the Supreme Court’s ruling mostly ensures those laws will remain in effect.
NATO Summit
World leaders gathered in The Hague for the NATO Summit this week. The annual meeting focuses on security, and occurred this week as numerous conflicts rage, including between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Iran, and now—in at least a limited fashion—the U.S. and Iran. Leaders from the allied nations are discussing varied viewpoints on whether and how to intervene in each situation, as well as how much of their respective budgets to dedicate to both domestic security and collective world security.
Bunker Busters
U.S. bombers attacked three key Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend in an attempt to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities. B-2 stealth bombers based in Missouri were used for the heaviest bombing, including the deployment of 14 “bunker-buster” bombs used to penetrate the underground Iranian facilities at Fordo and Natanz.
Political Violence in Minnesota
Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, are dead, and Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are injured after a gunman went on an overnight shooting spree with apparent plans to target dozens of elected officials. Authorities say the suspect, who was later taken into custody near his home, had a target list of more than 40 Democrat lawmakers and attempted to harm at least two additional officials at their homes on the night of the attack.
Parade and Protests
The U.S. Army celebrated its 250th anniversary this week with a parade of troops, military equipment, and music in the streets of Washington, DC. It was among the first of what will be many events commemorating 250 years since many of the foundational moments in American history—including the adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The celebratory event was met by protests in many American cities but went off without major incident in DC.
All Out War
Israel and Iran are at war. The two countries have long been enemies and there has for some time now been sustained hostilities, proxy skirmishes, and recently direct engagement between them. This week marked a significant escalation, however, with Israel embarking on a multi-day and ongoing campaign to cripple Iran’s nuclear weapons capability. The result has been the destruction of multiple sites related to Iran’s nuclear enrichment and development, as well as the death of multiple Iranian military leadership.
Revoked
The U.S. State Department is “aggressively revok[ing] visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” according to a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The move comes amid increasing economic tension—including an ongoing tariff escalation—between the U.S. and China, and also as world observers warn about the possibility of a Chinese takeover of Taiwan.
Elusive Peace
There are yet again new rounds of negotiations to end the fighting in two major wars. First, Israel has reportedly signaled agreement with a U.S.-led framework that includes a ceasefire, hostage exchanges, and increased aid into Gaza. Hamas wants changes to the framework but has reportedly indicated an openness to continued negotiations.
All the Jobs
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is acquiring more responsibility, as U.S. President Donald Trump has named him interim national security advisor in addition to his current role leading the State Department.
Wrongly Raided
Federal agents obtained a warrant and used it to raid a house in Oklahoma, seizing possessions in an effort to secure evidence for a human smuggling case. Residents of the home claim there was one major problem with the raid—it was carried out on the wrong individuals. The residents of the home claim they had only recently moved in, are U.S. citizens, and are not alleged to be connected in any way to the crime that justified the warrant.
Minerals and Reconstruction
The United States and Ukraine have signed a long-anticipated deal that paves the way for continued U.S. investment in Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s ongoing invasion while guaranteeing the United States a share of both Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and the resulting profit from extracting those minerals.
Freed
The last living American hostage, Edan Alexander, has been released by Hamas. Edan Alexander was just 19 years old when he was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and he spent 583 days as a hostage before being freed in what Hamas described as a “goodwill gesture” in advance of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the region.
Mostly Done
Elon Musk is stepping back—though apparently not fully away—from his leadership role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk said his job at DOGE is “mostly done” and plans to focus most of his time going forward on his private companies. The White House says DOGE will continue to function without Musk’s round-the-clock guidance.
Who Pays? A Double Standard in Washington’s Wallet
There is a curious phenomenon in Washington politics that reappears with clockwork precision—always when Republicans suggest tax cuts. Suddenly, we hear the familiar chorus: “But how will we pay for it?” The talking heads emerge, budget charts in hand, warning of deficits, doom, and destitution.
Deportation Dispute
A legal dispute over deportations of alleged gang members continues to brew, as the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to temporarily pause the deportations while a challenge to the President’s authority to remove the detainees without full due process continues.
A Day in Court
The U.S. Supreme Court, in an unsigned opinion decided by a 5-4 vote, allowed the resumption of deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the authority of the Alien Enemies Act. The order, however, was unanimous that those facing deportation are entitled to judicial review, and the majority held that such review is properly considered wherever the accused is held (in this case, Texas).
Nuclear Negotiations
Leaders of the United States and Iran will meet this weekend in a high-stakes discussion about Iran’s nuclear program. The announcement comes immediately following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Greenland Election
Greenlanders made their way to the polls on Tuesday in a national election that would have typically involved little fanfare outside the borders of the giant and frigid island nation. This week’s elections, however, drew a great deal more attention in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s sustained interest in Greenland joining the U.S.
Liberation or Trade War?
U.S. President Donald Trump is announcing another round of tariffs Wednesday. The new tariffs follow previous levies on steel and aluminum, as well as imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, and are now expected to include a 25% tariff on all imported cars…
