- Friday July 24th, 2026
- "It Is Not A Question of Who Is Right Or Wrong But What Is Right Or Wrong That Counts."
- --Geoff Metcalf
- Providing an on line Triage of the news since 1998
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World & Nation
Netanyahu to Visit Trump Amid Iran Tensions
Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington on Monday at
President Donald Trump's invitation, setting up a high-stakes White
House meeting as the administration weighs whether to expand military
operations against Iran.
Netanyahu will
meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday during his first official
visit to Washington since the Iran war began.
The Israeli
leader also will attend the funeral of the late South Carolina Sen.
Lindsey Graham, whom his office described as "a friend of Israel."
Drones Target Northern Iraqi City Where US Forces Are Based as US-Iran Fighting Escalates
Drones
carrying explosives targeted a city in northern Iraq where U.S. forces
are stationed, and sirens rang out in Bahrain on Friday, hours after
the American military said it finished its 13th night of strikes
against Iran.
The conflict has flared again over the past week, as the U.S. pounded
Iran while Tehran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted
U.S. assets and allies in the region.
The strait, which is a crucial passage for the world's energy supplies,
is at the center of the latest fighting since Iranian attacks can
effectively shut the waterway, sending fuel prices soaring worldwide
and causing widespread economic turmoi
Iran threatens US hotels, banks and Trump properties as attacks reported in Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan
Iran’s
notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) paramilitary warned
residents of seven Middle Eastern countries to keep their distance from
US interests — including American-owned hotels, banks, and corporate
headquaters.
“To all
citizens and residents of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait,
Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria,” the IRGC wrote in a message on
the social media platform Telegram. “For your safety, you are urged to
immediately stay away from military and security bases, facilities, and
headquarters, as well as locations where U.S. forces are deployed. Do
not approach any area witnessing military movements or exceptional
security measures.
“Immediately
maintain a distance of at least 500 meters (1,640 feet) from any covert
or concealed accommodations used by U.S. military personnel,” the
message continued. “These locations include American hotels, American
banks, American companies, high-rise towers, properties owned by the
Trump family, and investments associated with them.”
Trump says Xi, Putin told him China and Russia won't sell weapons to Iran
President
Donald Trump announced Friday that China's President Xi Jinping and
Russia's President Vladimir Putin both agreed not to sell weapons to
Iran.
"President Xi,
at our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that he would not,
under any circumstances, give or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic
of Iran — And that statement included Chinese Companies. Considering
our relationship, I take him at his word and, besides, l am doing him
very big favors," Trump wrote in a Friday post on Truth Social.
"Likewise,
President Putin, despite the horrible War going on in Ukraine (The
relationship remains, as it does with President Zelenskyy), told me
that he would not sell Weapons to Iran. He understands that I do not
sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries. They pay full price,
and how those Weapons are distributed, I have no idea," Trump's message
continued.
"Therefore, two
major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my
opinion, not participating. If they did, it would be very bad for them
— Certainly not in their best interests," he concluded.
Mamdani mocks wealthy New Yorkers about ‘fair share,’ sparks online firestorm
Mayor Zohran
Mamdani is taking flack on social media for celebrating New York’s new
pied-à-terre tax with a taunting statement to wealthy residents.
“If you have a
second home in New York City worth more than $5 million, check your
mailbox when you’re back in the five boroughs — because you’ve got
mail,” the democratic socialist mayor posted on X Thursday.
“Today, we sent
notification letters to property owners, letting them know that our new
pied-à-terre tax is coming soon,” Hizzoner wrote. “The best city in the
world deserves the best parks, libraries, and schools in the world.
That’s only possible when we all pay our fair share. “
Mamdani’s post,
which had raked up more than 14 million views by Friday, sparked a wave
of backlash, with conservative users lambasting the lefty politician
for squeezing taxpayers to cover his freebie-filled agenda.
Fetterman nukes 'clown' Mamdani over Netanyahu arrest threat – you're mad he's killed terrorists 'you admire'
Democratic Sen.
John Fetterman of Pennsylvania took great delight in popping the
braggadocio balloon of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
For the past
week, Mamdani has been bathing in the media spotlight for reviving his
fantasy that he can arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if
Netanyahu comes to the United Nations.
The far-left
mayor has been told he does not have the power to fulfill his dream,
and he’s been told by President Donald Trump to drop the concept.
And now
Fetterman, fast becoming an endangered species by being a pro-Israel
elected Democrat, said Mamdani should accept that -- even though Israel
has blown away his terrorist idols.
Another top Seattle mayoral aide exits as Katie Wilson administration faces continued staff turnover
Sage Wilson's departure follows the communications director's resignation in June amid ongoing staff turnover at City Hall
Seattle Mayor
Katie Wilson's press secretary is leaving City Hall after less than
seven months on the job, marking the latest high-profile departure from
an administration that has already faced significant staffing turnover
during its first year.
Local outlet
PubliCola reported Wednesday that Sage Wilson made the call after
"deciding he’d be more effective as an advocate for progressive causes
outside the mayor’s office than inside it."
"Wilson, who
previously worked in media relations for the labor advocacy group
Working Washington and the progressive policy group Civic Ventures,
doesn’t have a job lined up yet; his last day will be in early August,"
the report continued.
Trump’s relaunched trade war with Canada scuttles major international bridge opening — named for sports icon
President Trump
crowed Friday that the US will be raking in 50% of the profits from
goods passing over the new Gordie Howe Bridge that connects Michigan
and Canada, days after he announced massive tariffs on America’s
neighbor to the north.
“Canada
disinvited the United States of America to the opening of the Gordie
Howe International Bridge, which is fine, considering they are paying
substantial TARIFFS to the United States, but the original Deal on the
Bridge, which was terribly negotiated by a previous Administration, no
longer stands,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
“We changed the terms of the Deal so that the United States of America now gets 50% of the Profit.”
Probe of EU Coming After Big Tech Fines
The United
States will open a formal investigation into the European Union's trade
practices, President Donald Trump said on Friday, claiming the bloc has
unfairly levied billions of dollars of fines against Google, Apple and
other U.S. tech giants.
Trump made the
announcement a day after the EU hit Google with a fine of $1 billion,
after it said the technology behemoth broke digital antitrust
regulations by setting up Google Play and its ubiquitous search engine
to corral consumers toward its own services and apps to the detriment
of competitors.
In a lengthy
post on social media, Trump said he has warned the EU about its
practice of fining U.S. tech companies. He named Google, Apple, Meta,
Amazon and others.
Alyssa Farah Griffin slams ‘The View’ co-hosts for initially backing Graham Platner
Alyssa Farah
Griffin ripped her fellow co-hosts on “The View” over their initial
backing of the controversial Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham
Platner.
The co-hosts on
Thursday debated how much character matters among political candidates
today, quickly turning to Platner’s candidacy, which had, at one point,
garnered the backing from prominent Democrats, including New York Mayor
Zohran Mamdani and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass).
“I don’t know
that I’m convinced either party puts up the best people. I’m just going
to be honest,” Farah Griffin said, before turning to Platner. “Like I
love you guys, but a lot of you guys defended a guy with the Nazi
tattoo who is credibly accused of a number of things.”
Meghan Markle accused of upstaging King Charles and Queen Camilla with latest move
Meghan Markle
just shared a bunch of images on her social media account, and
naturally, it has made headlines. Offering a look inside her family
holiday, a few of the pictures include a stop at Althrop, Princess
Diana’s childhood home and burial site. Given the timing of her
vacation carousel, a royal expert has opined that Markle might have yet
again 'upstaged' King Charles and Queen Camilla, who stepped up for the
grand opening of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Markle's family
photos on Instagram gave fans a peek into her summer getaway. One of
the standout snaps shows Prince Harry, Prince Archie, and Princess
Lilibet, walking down a quiet, tree-lined path with their backs to the
camera. According to PEOPLE, the photo is believed to have been taken
at Althorp, the Spencer family's ancestral estate where Diana grew up.
Harry and Archie are also seen carrying large bouquets of flowers,
which has sparked speculation that the family may have visited the late
Princess’ final resting place on the island in the middle of the
estate's Oval Lake.
Weighing in on
the same, royal commentator Robert Jobson argued on his Substack that
it was the timing of Markle's post that stood out. Referring to Charles
and Camilla's carefully planned arrival at the Commonwealth Games in a
Doctor Who-inspired TARDIS police box, Jobson stressed that the moment
was ultimately overshadowed by Markle's Instagram upload.
He wrote, “Then
there is timing. The King and Queen arrived at the Commonwealth Games
in a police box. Dr Who’s Tardis. A good gag, beautifully done, months
in the planning. They were upstaged by Meg again.”
Progressives want to tax billionaires first, and you're next on the list
Wealth tax plans mirror how the income tax went from millionaires to hitting two-thirds of Americans
Peter St. Onge, E.J. Antoni
Blue states face massive taxpayer exodus, costing billions in income
If you ever
wished you could be counted among billionaires, your wish might come
true soon if the socialists get their way. Of course, it’s not that
you’ll have a billion-dollar net worth, but rather you’ll be subject to
the same wealth tax that progressives say they want to foist onto
billionaires.
What Russian
revolutionary Leon Trotsky said of war applies to the wealth tax: you
may not care about it, but it cares about you. Recently, California
Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna published his own personal manifesto, "Why I
Support a Billionaire Wealth Tax." But he quickly pulled the mask back
even further, revealing the true targets of his tax scheme.
Khanna started
arguing to tax billionaires, then halfway through the manifesto decided
it should be centimillionaires — $100-million net worth. By the end, he
was going after $50-millionaires. At that rate, give it a year or two,
and the wealth tax will be $50 thousand, not $50 million.
Trump proves America can stand up to a power-mad foreign court
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces sanctions, visa bans and diplomatic pressure to reject ICC authority
By Sen. Mike Lee
At the very
core of the American project has always been a fierce defiance of
far-off powers, a stubborn opposition to those who would seek to
undermine our right to self-rule or impose their will on a people
determined to decide their own destiny.
This spirit not only brought America into being but is essential for our nation to preserve its sovereignty into the future.
America again
defied those who would undermine our right to self-rule on July 13 when
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration
would "dismantle" the International Criminal Court (ICC) and teach them
"the full meaning of American resolve."
