Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined participants of the American Legion Mountaineer Boys State at Jackson’s Mill in Weston, W.Va. Afterwards, she traveled to Elkins, W.Va. to address the participants of the Rhododendron Girls State at Davis and Elkins College.
“Boys State and Girls State are events I look forward to participating in every year. I am always so encouraged by the enthusiasm, leadership, citizenship, and patriotism exemplified by these young women and men. I’m grateful to the American Legion’s continued commitment to instilling the values we hold dear in West Virginia’s young people and helping them learn the lessons and skills that will equip them to be the leaders of tomorrow,” said Senator Capito.
Photos from the events are included below:
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) addresses American Legion Mountaineer Boys State participants at Jackson’s Mill in Weston, W.Va.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) meets with outgoing Boys State governor Haden Hodge, whom she nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) addresses Rhododendron Girls State participants at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, W.Va.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) meets with Rhododendron Girls State participants at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, W.Va.
Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran who served in the Iowa Army National Guard, released the following statement ahead of the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday tomorrow:
“From Bunker Hill and Gettysburg to the Beaches of Normandy and the Iraqi desert, the U.S. Army has fought to secure and protect the freedoms that we hold so dearly as Americans,” said Ernst. “The real story behind the 250 years of the Army is revealed in the brave young men and women who have stepped up and answered the call to serve our country. My own time in the Army opened my horizons to a life of service, and I am honored to have played a small part in the decorated history of America’s oldest military branch. I will continue working to ensure our military remains the most lethal, efficient, and effective fighting force the world has ever seen.”
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Background:
Senator Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been a leading voice in Washington supporting the new Army Transformation Initiative emphasizing the need to bring greater efficiency and readiness to our armed forces.
Ernst has also led the charge to build upon the success of military recruitment under the Trump administration through her SERVE Act that promotes the benefits of service by expanding access for high school students.
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote to President Trump questioning his administration’s decision to remove National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Vice Chair Alvin Brown. The move is especially alarming given that NTSB plays a critical role in investigating transportation accidents like the deadly January 29th collision that killed 67 people.
In their letter the senators highlighted the independent nature of NTSB and stressed the need to have qualified individuals serve on the board.
The senators wrote,“Congress designed the Board to represent a range of viewpoints by mandating that no more than three of the five members be of the same political party. Additionally, Congress removed the Board from the Department of Transportation and reestablished it as an independent establishment of the U.S. government to ensure the NTSB retains its independence and that NTSB staff are able to fulfill their mission of performing investigations into certain transportation accidents, including every civil aviation accident in the United States, by determining the probable cause of the accident and issuing safety recommendations.”
They continued,“The NTSB provides support to the victims, survivors, and families following a transportation accident – including facilitating the recovery and identification of fatally injured passengers. The NTSB has earned the trust of the transportation industry and millions of Americans through many grueling investigations; because of the NTSB, improved transportation safety has come out of calamity and tragedy.”
The senators also questioned the rationale behind President Trump’s decision to remove Vice ChairBrown without naming a replacement, leaving a vacancy in this crucial role that manages nearly 1250 investigations in the United States and supports more than 150 foreign investigations each year.
“Mr. Brown’s removal is consistent with your Administration’s dismissals of federal government leaders on the basis of bald partisanship and animus, however it is inconsistent with the law. The recklessness of vacating a leadership role on the NTSB in this critical moment in aviation safety runs counter to your obligations to the American people,” they wrote.
This is only the latest in the Trump administration’s reckless purge of qualified federal workers for political reasons. Earlier this week, Sen. Warner lead a group of colleagues objecting to Director of National Security Tulsi Gabbard’s decision to unilaterally terminate the Acting Counsel of the Office of the Intelligence Community Inspector General, and he has repeatedly warned of the lasting damage of the Trump administration’s continued politicization of nonpartisan government positions and removal of employees.
A copy of letter is available here and text is below.
Dear President Trump:
On January 29, 2025, 67 souls were lost in the midair collision between an American Airlines flight inbound to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and a U.S. Army helicopter. The survivors of the loved ones lost and our unanimous commitment is to prevent a tragedy like this from happening ever again. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB or Board) is vital to ensuring that outcome which is why we were alarmed by the abrupt firing of Alvin Brown who recently served as the Vice Chair of the Board. We urge you to reevaluate your Administration’s actions related to Mr. Brown and reinstate his membership to the NTSB.
The law directs the President to appoint, and the Senate to consent to, the five members of the Board, each serving a term of five years. Congress designed the Board to represent a range of viewpoints by mandating that no more than three of the five members be of the same political party. Additionally, Congress removed the Board from the Department of Transportation and reestablished it as an independent establishment of the U.S. government to ensure the NTSB retains its independence and that NTSB staff are able to fulfill their mission of performing investigations into certain transportation accidents, including every civil aviation accident in the United States, by determining the probable cause of the accident and issuing safety recommendations.
The NTSB provides support to the victims, survivors, and families following a transportation accident – including facilitating the recovery and identification of fatally injured passengers. The NTSB has earned the trust of the transportation industry and millions of Americans through many grueling investigations; because of the NTSB, improved transportation safety has come out of calamity and tragedy. Upwards of “82 percent of NTSB recommendations have led to the implementation of safety improvements deemed acceptable by the Board.”
On May 5, 2025, you fired the Vice Chair of the NTSB, Mr. Alvin Brown. Mr. Brown was appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate in December 2024 to a term expiring on December 31, 2026. When you fired Mr. Brown, you failed to identify a potential replacement, creating a vacancy on the Board as it manages nearly 1,250 investigations in the United States, and supports close to 160 foreign investigations. You provided no justification or explanation for Mr. Brown’s abrupt removal even as the law requires that a Board member may only be removed for cause in the form of inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance of office. When your Administration removed Mr. Brown from his position on the National Transportation Safety Board, you made it clear that it was for reasons unrelated to those enumerated in law and even thanked him for his service. Had Congress intended NTSB members in good standing to be removable by the President at will, it would have written the law accordingly. Mr. Brown’s removal is consistent with your Administration’s dismissals of federal government leaders on the basis of bald partisanship and animus, however it is inconsistent with the law. The recklessness of vacating a leadership role on the NTSB in this critical moment in aviation safety runs counter to your obligations to the American people.
The traveling public relies on the NTSB to be a strong watchdog for transportation safety. Too many advances in aviation safety have come on the heels of a tragedy; but since 1967, the NTSB has worked to ensure the lessons learned are integrated into the aviation industry. Your recent actions indicate that your priorities for aviation safety are focused more on partisan politics rather than the safety of the millions of Americans who use our skies. We hope you will prove us wrong and ask that, in the absence of a showing that your actions to remove Mr. Brown complied with the law, you immediately reinstate Mr. Brown to the NTSB to complete his term of service as Vice Chair and to affirm your commitment to upholding the independence of the NTSB and allow the Board to perform their Congressionally-mandated duties to keep America’s transportation systems safe.
The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, chaired a video conference meeting earlier today to assess the consequences of the military escalation in the Middle East. The meeting was also attended by Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers Matteo Salvini, Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, Undersecretaries of State Alfredo Mantovano and Giovanbattista Fazzolari, and the heads of Italy’s intelligence services.
During the meeting, the IAEA reports finding Iran in violation of its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons were noted with concern.
In this context, full support was reaffirmed for the negotiations between the United States and Iran regarding an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, as shown by the two rounds of negotiations held in Rome, and it was stressed that a diplomatic solution must remain the top priority.
The Italian Government will continue to work with all partners to support a de-escalation and to best ensure the safety of Italian citizens and military personnel in the region.
Constant coordination is to be carried out to ensure continuous monitoring of the situation, allowing for the necessary measures to be adopted at any time.
WASHINGTON – Rashad King, 20, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in Superior Court to eight and a half years in prison for assaulting a man at the Navy Yard Metro station in July 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
King pleaded guilty March 27, 2025, to one count of aggravated assault while armed. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman ordered five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, just before midnight on July 20, 2024, King approached the victim at the Navy Yard Metro Station and, unprovoked, started to punch him until he fell to the ground. The defendant then stomped on the victim’s head over twenty times. As the victim lay unconscious, King took the victim’s bag and fled the scene. An off-duty FBI Special Agent saw the encounter, followed the defendant, and observed him enter a Metro Bus. The agent flagged down an officer and pointed out the defendant.
King was arrested and has been in custody since. At the time he was arrested, the defendant had the victim’s bag, which contained the victim’s license.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke Albi and Mark Levy, who prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Unit at the United States Indo-Pacific Command (CGRU USINDOPACOM) held a change of command ceremony, Thursday, on the historic USS Battleship Missouri Memorial.
For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac
In the week of 16 June, Members’ work will be centred on Parliament’s plenary sitting, and Committees will meet only in exceptional cases.
During this week, the Committee on Budgets will vote on a proposal to amend the ERDF, Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund in the context of the mid-term review. Members from the BUDG and ECON Committees will hold the 19th Recovery and Resilience Dialogue, focusing on Member States’ progress towards achieving transparency requirements, payment requests and ongoing implementation challenges.
Additionally, Commissioner Kubilius will present the Defence “omnibus” to SEDE Members, proposing changes to boost and strengthen European Defence. ITRE Members will meet with Commissioner Jørgensen, who will present a key proposal from the RePowerEU roadmap to end EU dependency on Russian energy. Follow the links below to discover this week’s highlights.
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to Israel’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear program:
“We do not yet know the full scope of Israel’s military operation against Iran, the justification for striking on the eve of the Trump administration’s latest negotiating session with Tehran, or the likely consequences of these strikes. The Trump administration has made clear that Israel acted unilaterally against the Iranian regime’s nuclear sites and that the United States remains committed to a diplomatic solution.
“Tonight, my first concern is for our nation’s men and women stationed overseas and their families. I am glad the administration began evacuating military families and non-essential personnel from the Middle East earlier this week, and I urge them to do everything they can to protect American servicemembers and civilians alike from Iranian reprisals. I also pray for the safety of Israelis and civilians across the region who are in harm’s way tonight.
“I have long believed that the world cannot tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran and that Iran and its proxies pose a serious threat to American interests. I am deeply concerned by the IAEA Board of Governors’ determination earlier today that Iran has failed to comply with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Iran’s defiant subsequent declaration of a new underground enrichment facility. Even so, tonight’s actions have the potential to lead to dangerous escalation and a full-scale regional war. I am following developments closely tonight and am urging restraint.
“Everyone’s goal must now be the prevention of a full-blown regional war. The Trump administration and our regional partners must work together to reduce the risks of escalation and work towards a path forward that provides safety and stability for the entire region.”
Senator Coons is ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
What you need to know: Following new reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has shared Medicaid beneficiary information with the Department of Homeland Security, Governor Newsom slammed the Trump administration for their dangerous abuse of personally identifiable information.
Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today slammed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for reportedly providing Medicaid beneficiary information to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to the Associated Press, “President Donald Trump’s administration this week provided deportation officials with personal data — including the immigration status — on millions of Medicaid enrollees, a move that could make it easier to locate people as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown.”
“We deeply value the privacy of all Californians. This action by the federal government has implications for every person on Medicaid, but it is especially alarming for our immigrants and American mixed-status families who are already under relentless, indiscriminate attack by this administration. The federal government continues to instill fear across this nation and shroud its continued violation of Americans’ privacy rights in propaganda.
“Sharing Medicaid beneficiary information with the Department of Homeland Security – which is itself legally dubious – will jeopardize the safety, health, and security of those who will undoubtedly be targeted by this abuse, and Americans more broadly. Federal law requires emergency care to be provided to all to save lives, and the federal government helps pay for it for low-income individuals, regardless of immigration status. Every state should be concerned about this data sharing and its implications for the safety and health of its communities. We will continue to vigorously defend Californians’ privacy rights and explore all avenues to protect their information and safety.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
The federal government funds some aspects of Medi-Cal, including emergency services, and the state is required to share certain information with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency within HHS. Last month, California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) responded to a federal data request to demonstrate that federal Medicaid funds were claimed only as permitted and allowable by federal rules. DHCS did not provide any demographic data to CMS that CMS does not already receive on a regular basis, as is federally required.
Medicaid Beneficiary Information
CMS serves as the focal point for federal health insurance programs such as Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California). These critical health coverage programs serve millions of families, children, pregnant women, adults without children, and also seniors and people living with disabilities. California is required to share certain information with CMS under the expectation that the federal government uses that information for administering the Medicaid program, within the confines of federal law and policy.
CMS regularly receives data for every person enrolled in Medi-Cal, including immigrants with lawful status who are eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal, and undocumented immigrants who, under federal law, are eligible for Medicaid emergency services. Emergency Medi-Cal provides coverage for medical emergencies, including childbirth, for all eligible low-income residents of California, including undocumented immigrants. Every state has an emergency Medicaid program. Emergency Medi-Cal eliminates the financial obstacles that can prevent individuals from seeking emergency care and helps keep open hospital emergency departments, who must meet a federal requirement to provide emergency services regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
California’s privacy protections
California is committed to protecting the privacy rights of all Californians consistent with Article 1 of the California Constitution, the Information Practices Act of 1977, and other state and federal laws. The state limits the collection of personal information and safeguards the privacy of everyone’s personal information collected or maintained by our departments. Additionally, each department utilizes industry-standard best practices to store and manage all data in its possession.
The state only uses Medi-Cal application information to determine eligibility. Authorized access, use, and disclosure of sensitive data are governed by federal and state laws designed to protect confidentiality and program integrity.
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Iran’s immediate response – the firing of about 100 drones into Israel, many of which were shot down – appears an opening gambit; meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country’s airstrikes would continue “for as many days as it takes.”
The Conversation turned to Javed Ali, an expert on Middle East affairs at the University of Michigan and a former senior official at the National Security Council during the first Trump administration, to talk through why Israel chose now to strike and what the implications are for U.S. policy on Iran.
Why did Israel strike now?
There was a combination of factors that led up to this moment.
One of the more immediate reasons was that an International Atomic Energy Agency report found that Iran was making progress toward enriching uranium to a degree that, in theory at least, would allow Tehran to very quickly upgrade to a weapons-grade level. That is the thrust of what Netanyahu has said by way of reason for the attack now – that intelligence shows that Iran was getting closer to a possible breakout status for a nuclear weapon.
But there is a confluence of other factors that have built up over the last year and a half, ever since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas in Israel.
Iran’s proxy Axis of Resistance – that is, regional groups aligned with Iran and supported militarily by Tehran, including Hamas and Hezbollah – doesn’t present the same level of threat to Israel as it did in the pre-Oct. 7 landscape.
In the past, an Israeli attack of the sort we are seeing now would have invited a multidirectional response from all corners of the resistance – and we saw this in the early days after the Oct. 7 attack.
As of now, none of Iran’s resistance partners have done anything in response to the latest strike – and that is, in large part, due to the fact that Israel has successfully degraded these group’s capabilities through a series of campaigns and operations. The United States has also contributed to this effort to a degree with sustained operations against the Houthis in Yemen from March to May this year, including hundreds of airstrikes.
Further, Israel’s previous attacks on Iran in April and October 2024 managed to degrade Iran’s ballistic and surface-to-air missiles and air defense radar systems. This likely played into Israel’s calculations, too.
Lastly, Israel knows that it has a strong supporter in the White House with President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress. Washington may not be 100% aligned with Tel Aviv on every issue, but at the moment there is no criticism from the the White House or Republican members of Congress on Israel’s attacks.
There may have been some dialogue between Netanyahu and the Trump administration over the timing of the Israeli strike preceding yesterday’s attacks, during which Israel would have made the case that the time is right now to launch a very different type of campaign to really set back Iran’s nuclear program. In recorded remarks about Israel’s operations, Netanyahu stated he directed his national security team to begin planning for a large-scale campaign against Iran’s nuclear program last November.
Perhaps the White House did push back, saying that it wanted to see if any progress could be made in the talks. Certainly, it has been reported that Trump told Netanyahu in a phone call on June 10 that he believed a deal with Tehran could be negotiated.
Regardless, Netanyahu still went ahead with the strike.
Indeed some observers have posited that collapsing the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran may have been one of the intentions of Netanyahu, who has long opposed any deal with Tehran and has reportedly been irked by Trump’s reversal on the issue. During his first administration, Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of a previous nuclear deal.
A newspaper shows the portraits of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, who were due to meet in Oman. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images
What should we make of the US response to the strike?
The White House hasn’t criticized Israel in its response to the strike, merely stating that it wasn’t involved.
In my assessment, the White House appears to be sincere in the substance of what it is saying: that there was no overt and direct U.S. involvement with Israel during the actual strike. As for U.S. involvement in any planning or intelligence sharing ahead of the strike, we may never know.
But this is largely messaging for Iran: “We didn’t attack you. Israel attacked you.”
The U.S. is clearly worried that any response in Tehran may involve U.S. assets in the region. In the past, parts of Iran’s proxy network have hit American bases in Jordan and Iraq. Backing up this being a real concern in Washington is the fact that in advance of Israel’s strike, it already made moves to protect some of its assets in the region and remove personnel.
Has Iran said whether US targets will be included in its response?
On June 11, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasrizadeh warned that if Israel were to attack, Tehran would respond against U.S. personnel and bases in the region – but that hasn’t happened yet.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and military officials must know that attacking U.S. targets would be very risky and would lead to a significant response that would likely be even more damaging than Israel’s latest attacks – including putting a potential deal over its nuclear program at risk. And the U.S. has the capability to hit Iran even harder than Israel, both militarily and through the extension of sanctions that have already been very punishing to the Iranian economy.
Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, points to a red line he drew on a graphic of a bomb while addressing the United Nations on Sept. 27, 2012. Mario Tama/Getty Images
Ultimately, it will be Khamenei who decides Iran’s response – and he remains firmly in control of Iran’s national security apparatus despite his advanced age. He knows he will have to walk a fine line to avoid drawing the U.S. into a military campaign.
So how might Iran respond in coming weeks?
Despite the challenges facing Iran at the moment, Iran will, I believe, have to respond in a way that goes beyond its previous attacks on Israel.
Reports of drone attacks against Israel on June 13 fit within the framework of the attack Iran launched against Israel in April 2024 that included a combined salvo of almost 300 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones over several hours. Despite the damage Israel has inflicted against Iran through its series of operations, Iran probably still possesses thousands or tens of thousands of these types of weapons that it can use against various targets in the region.
Iran could look at targets outside Israel, without necessarily hitting the U.S. directly – for example, by attacking maritime targets in the Persian Gulf and in effect closing the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. military planners have long been concerned about Iranian naval attacks using small boats for ramming or small arms attacks against shipping in the Persian Gulf.
Another option would be for Iran to increase its involvement in terrorism activities in the region. Tehran’s proxy groups may be diminished, but Iran still has its Quds Force, through which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conducts nonstate and unconventional warfare. Will the Quds Force look toward targeted assassinations, bombings, or kidnappings as part of Iran’s retaliatory options? It has employed such tactics in the past.
And beyond conventional weapons, Iran also has pretty significant cyber capabilities that it has used against Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia, among others.
Where does this leave US-Iran talks?
It would appear Trump is still holding open the possibility of some kind of deal with Iran. In his statement following the Israel attack, he warned Tehran that if it didn’t come back to the table and cut a deal, the next Israeli attack would be “even more brutal.”
The attack could push Iran into reengaging in talks that were seemingly stalling in recent weeks. Certainly that seems to be the thrust of Trump’s messaging.
But the killing of Iranian nuclear scientists in the attack, and the apparent wounding of one of the negotiators, may convince Tehran to double down on a path toward a nuclear weapon as the only means of a deterrence against Israel, especially if it suspects U.S. involvement.
Javed Ali does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Democratic leaders and a lone Republican senator, Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, quickly decried the treatment of U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla of California and called for an investigation after he was removed from a press conference with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on June 12, 2025, in Los Angeles, handcuffed and forced to the ground.
“Sir! Sir! Hands off!” Padilla, 52, shouted as several federal agents surrounded and moved him out of the room where Noem was speaking about the Los Angeles protests against immigration enforcement. “I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have a question for the secretary.”
Padilla, who unexpectedly appeared at the press conference and interrupted Noem as she was speaking during her prepared remarks, was released soon after and met with Noem. Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, shared a video of the incident with Padilla on X, and wrote, “Incredibly aggressive behavior from a sitting US Senator. No one knew who he was.”
Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor at The Conversation, spoke with Boise State University political scientist Charlie Hunt, an expert on Congress, to understand how political polarization and a shift in American political decorum may have contributed to the shocking moment of an American senator being forcibly removed from a press conference.
What is striking to you about what happened to Sen. Padilla?
What stood out to me was the aggressiveness with which Noem’s security officers detained Sen. Padilla and took him out of the room. We do not ever see something like this happen to members of Congress and particularly members of the Senate. Sen. Padilla represents 39 million people – he is not some back-bencher member of the House of Representatives. I think it’s safe to say that no other modern presidential administration has come close to treating an individual member of Congress in this way.
This is also a real turn in terms of the completely autocratic way in which Department of Homeland Security staff responded to the incident. They claimed in a social media post that Padilla didn’t identify himself at the briefing, even though, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla” were the first words out of his mouth in the video that they themselves shared.
What safeguards, if any, do members of Congress have that might protect their ability to speak freely, and publicly oppose the executive branch?
Members of Congress enjoy the same basic free speech rights that all Americans do, but they do also have an additional set of protections that are relevant to this incident.
Members of Congress have significant oversight power, which involves doing due diligence on what actions the executive branch is taking and making sure they’re complying with laws that Congress has passed.
As a Senate member from California, it’s perfectly legitimate for Padilla to want clarity on immigration enforcement actions that are taking place in Los Angeles. Padilla even clarified after the incident that he was at the press conference to get answers from the Department of Homeland Security that he and other Senate members have been seeking for weeks about deportations.
This is completely in line with Congress’ oversight power. Senators often question officials in committee hearings like we typically see, but they also conduct fact-finding missions to learn how executive actions are affecting their constituents.
Congress members also have protections stemming from the Constitution’s speech and debate clause. Essentially, they cannot be arrested or indicted for things they say in their official capacity, which – because of Congress’ oversight responsibility – Padilla was clearly within the bounds of here.
Yes, of course, Padilla was also trying to draw attention to himself and the issues he’s focused on. But it’s not against the law to be a little bit disruptive or to engage in political theater, especially thanks to these additional protections members of Congress typically enjoy.
What other factors led to this moment?
Something I’ve written about previously is a phenomenon called negative partisanship. This means that voters and Congress members alike are driven not so much by loyalty to their own party but instead a sort of seething hatred for the other political party. What gets the most clicks and views, and what drives voters more and more, is the idea that “we don’t just want to see voting along the party line – we want to see our team beating the other side into submission.” This incident with Sen. Padilla was a very literal embodiment of this principle.
We have seen violence during Trump’s campaigns, where hecklers would be roughed up by participants at rallies, at Trump’s encouragement. Certainly, we saw it at the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, and Trump’s subsequent pardons of those rioters.
Does Padilla’s removal have anything to do with Donald Trump specifically?
We can’t ignore the singular role Trump has played here. This is a uniquely authoritarian presidency, even much more so than the first Trump administration. By authoritarian, I mean a leader who tries to rule on his own and suppress all dissent. Trump didn’t create partisanship, political violence or negative partisanship. But there’s no getting around the fact that his past behavior and openness to violence have lowered the bar for decorum in American politics.
For example, if you have convinced your supporters that the people on the other side of the political aisle are “sick” or “nasty,” that they are going to ruin the country, then those supporters will become more willing to accept some of the actions Trump has taken, such as calling in the Marines on protesters in Los Angeles, or pardoning the Capitol attackers – even if they wouldn’t have been willing to accept that kind of response 20 years ago.
All of these things combined – negative partisanship, plus having a leader on one side that is willing to lower the decorum bar beyond where we thought was possible – is a recipe for things unfolding like we saw with Padilla.
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat from California, speaks to news reporters outside the Wilshire Federal Building after he was forcibly removed from a press conference on June 12, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
What will you be watching for as this situation plays out?
My concern is the balance of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government. We expect competition between the branches, for “ambition to counteract ambition,” as James Madison put it, to ensure one branch doesn’t get too powerful. This incident was a huge step in the wrong direction.
As a result, authoritarian presidents and administrations see an opening to treat them this way without consequences. What Congress does in the next several days about this episode will speak volumes – or not – about whether it intends to ever reassert itself as an equal branch of government.
Democrats held the floor in the Senate all afternoon to demand answers about Padilla’s treatment. It will be revealing how Senate Majority Leader John Thune and others respond. Lisa Murkowski has said she’s pretty appalled by what happened. Meanwhile, Lindsey Graham seemed to imply that Padilla deserved what he got. Which route will Republicans, who control Congress, take?
Charlie Hunt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), released the following statement in response to Israel’s defensive strikes against the Iranian regime:
“Iran’s accelerating nuclear program, developed in secret and in violation of international agreements, poses a direct threat to our national security and the safety of the entire region. With a long track record of supporting terrorism – particularly through its regional terrorist proxy network – obstructing international inspections, and calling for the destruction of Israel, the Iranian regime has made its intentions unmistakably clear.
“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has long directed and armed terrorist proxies including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen – groups responsible for deadly attacks on civilians, Israeli population centers, and U.S. personnel and assets across the region.
“Faced with an existential threat, Israel acted to protect its citizens and prevent a nuclear-armed adversary from gaining ground. I support Israel’s right to defend itself and to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of its people.
“Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is critical not only for Israel, but for the security of the United States and our allies. This is a moment that calls for resolve and unity from the international community.
“In Congress, there is strong bipartisan agreement that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. I will continue working across the aisle to uphold that commitment. As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense and Homeland Security, I remain focused on strengthening our strategic partnerships, supporting our allies, and safeguarding peace and security at home and abroad.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a meeting held to mark the 120th birth anniversary of veteran leader Chen Yun at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 13, 2025. (Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/Xinhua)
BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for learning from veteran leader Chen Yun and carrying forward his legacy with an enterprising spirit and hard work to build China into a strong country.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting held in the Great Hall of the People to mark the 120th anniversary of Chen’s birth.
Chen was recognized as a great proletarian revolutionary and statesman, and as one of the founding figures of the country’s socialist economy. He was a key member of both the Party’s first generation of central collective leadership with Mao Zedong at the core and the second generation of central collective leadership with Deng Xiaoping at the core, according to Xi.
At the meeting, Xi recalled Chen’s glorious life, hailing him as “a tested, distinguished Party and state leader,” who had made significant contributions to the cause of the Party and the people.
Xi encouraged Party members to learn from Chen’s lofty spirit and qualities, urging them to remain steadfast in their ideals and convictions, bolster their confidence in success, and maintain political resolve in a complex environment full of turbulence and change.
Xi further underlined the significance of learning from Chen’s wealth of leadership expertise and striving to enhance the Party’s capacity for leading economic and social development as well as its self-building competence.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing the Party’s leadership over economic work and deepening the understanding of the laws governing socialist economic development.
“It is important to comprehensively deepen reform at a swift and steady pace, and to remain steadfast in pursuing higher-standard opening up,” he said.
Xi also praised Chen for his adherence to the principle of seeking truth from facts and for viewing research and studies as a vital prerequisite for decision-making.
He urged CPC members to adopt this scientific methodology in thinking and working, make sound assessments of situations, plan effectively for the future, and improve their research and studies, so they can make decisions that better reflect reality and meet the people’s expectations.
Chen was born in 1905 and joined the Party in 1925. He died of illness in 1995 at the age of 90.
Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, who are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting.
Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.
A meeting is held to mark the 120th birth anniversary of veteran leader Chen Yun at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 13, 2025. Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — China remains committed to promoting the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. military ties, Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said Friday.
As Jiang Bin emphasized, the Chinese side has always firmly adhered to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
He expressed the hope that the United States will stop hyping up the so-called “China threat,” respect China’s core interests and major concerns, and move to meet China halfway so as to strengthen communication and dialogue, properly handle differences, and enhance mutual understanding and trust.
The official representative also called on the parties to jointly improve and develop relations between the armed forces of the two countries. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin on Friday called on individual countries to firmly abide by the one-China principle in practice and stop sending any wrong signals to separatist forces advocating “Taiwan independence.”
Jiang Bin made the statement while commenting on events held in Taiwan: a chief-of-staff war game organized by a Taiwanese civil group with the participation of former senior military officials from the United States and Japan, as well as a U.S.-Taiwan defense industry forum in Taipei.
Recalling that the Taiwan issue is an exclusively internal affair of China that does not tolerate outside interference, Jiang Bin pointed out that any actions that encourage and support separatists advocating “Taiwan independence” will only undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region, and will inevitably backfire on their initiators, bringing them bitter consequences.
“Any attempt to achieve ‘Taiwan independence’ by relying on external forces or to use Taiwan to contain China is doomed to failure, the spokesman concluded. -0-
U.S. Geological Survey field crews are measuring flooding across Texas and Oklahoma following significant rainfall over the past three days.
Much of Texas and parts of Oklahoma have experienced significant rainfall, with many regions receiving more than 5 inches. This heavy precipitation has resulted in flooding, particularly along the I-35 corridor and areas to the east.
Currently, 21 USGS streamgages show active flooding. USGS real-time maps of flood and high flow conditions for Texas and Oklahoma can be accessed from the USGS National Water Dashboard.
This information is critical for resource managers and emergency responders to help protect life and property. These data are used by the National Weather Service to develop flood forecasts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manage flood control, and by county flood control districts and other state and local agencies in their flood response activities.
In Texas, 11 USGS field crews are measuring floodwaters in Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, with some teams also collecting water quality samples. Oklahoma City also has one team collecting flood measurements. Crews are anticipated to work throughout the weekend as NWS is predicting heavy rainfall in the region. Over the next three days, heavier rainfall is anticipated to move towards the Texas coast, potentially exacerbating flood conditions.
There are more than 1,000 USGS-operated streamgages across Texas and Oklahoma that collect water data. When flooding occurs, USGS crews make numerous flood measurements to verify the data USGS provides to federal, state and local agencies, as well as to the public.
For more than 130 years, the USGS has monitored flow in selected streams and rivers across the U.S. The information is routinely used for water supply and management, monitoring floods and droughts, bridge and road design, determination of flood risk and for many recreational activities.
Access current flood and high flow conditions across the country by visiting the USGS National Water Dashboard. Receive instant, customized updates about water conditions in your area via text message or email by signing up for USGS WaterAlert.
Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)
The horrific passenger jet crash on January 29, 2025, involved a flight originating in Kansas and killed Rhode Island Mother and Son
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Congressman Ron ESTES (R-KS) are calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Acting Inspector General Mitch Behm to audit the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) oversight of airspace operations at Washington National Airport (DCA) following the horrific mid-air crash of a passenger jet and U.S. Army helicopter on January 29, 2025.
Congressmen Amo and Estes write:
“The FAA plays a critical role in regulating and managing the U.S. National Airspace System. We have one of the busiest and most complex aviation networks with over 45,000 flights operating in our country daily. That is why this crash raises serious questions about the effectiveness of FAA airspace management, communication processes, and deconfliction procedures in one of our nation’s most sensitive and congested aviation corridors.”
“We respectfully request your office audit the FAA’s oversight of airspace operations at and around DCA, and the FAA’s procedures for managing military aircraft operating within civilian-controlled airspace.”
Read Bi-partisan Amo, Estes LetterHere.
BACKGROUND
On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter as the passenger jet approached DCA.
3 servicemembers operating the helicopter, and all 64 passengers and crew on the American Airlines flight were killed in the collision,including Rhode Island residents Christine and Spencer Lane. The mother and son were traveling with the Boston Skating Club group returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships where Spencer had competed.
On May 23, 2025, Congressmen Amo, Subramanyam, and Beyer led 16 of their colleagues in requesting that the Department of Transportation facilitate an independent review of Washington, DC airspace as part of the Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2026 transportation funding bill.
On March 3, 2025, Congressman Amo supported the House passage of a resolution to commemorate the victims.
On June 13, commencing at 5:15 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Dileita Mohamed Dileita, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Djibouti.
At the outset, Minister Iwaya welcomed President Dileita’s visit to Japan, and stated that Djibouti, located along with the important sea lanes linking Europe and Asia, is a strategically important partner in promoting a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)’, and that it is a pleasure to witness the steady deepening of cooperation between the two countries in the field of maritime security.
Referring to the good relations between the two countries and his own special attachment toward Japan, President Dileita expressed his appreciation and gratitude for Japan’s development cooperation in various fields and for the Self-Defense Force (SDF) facility in Djibouti, and explained the strategic importance of Djibouti.
The two sides also exchanged views on issues, including regional situation in Africa and in East Asia such as their policies toward North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and concurred to further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in regional and international arena, with a view to the TICAD 9 to be held in August and Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Families heading to this year’s Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day are in for a treat, with a packed programme of activities and displays designed to thrill visitors of all ages — especially the younger ones.
While the skies will be alive with the roar of the Red Arrows, daring parachute display teams, and the unmistakable sights and sounds of the Spitfire and Hurricane, there’s just as much excitement to be found on the ground.
Children and families can explore a range of interactive exhibits, including a hands-on stand from the Army Medical Corps and a close-up look at the Air Corps’ Gazelle helicopter. The 165 Port and Maritime Regiment will also be showcasing the Army’s vital maritime operations.
Back by popular demand, the Fort Cumberland Guard and Vectis Guards will be performing historical displays on the beach during the afternoon.
For those with a sense of adventure, the Army Cadets are bringing something extra special this year.
Event organiser Ian Dore explained: “It’s been tricky to fit this in because frankly, it’s a whopper. But Chris, our site manager, has done a sterling job of getting it in place.
“The Army Cadets will be unveiling a 30-metre inflatable assault course! You won’t miss it — it’s big, green, and set up in the Rose Gardens near the stage.”
Also returning is John Cattle’s Skate Club, offering free skateboarding lessons in the Skate Park — a great opportunity for kids to try something new.
Add to that a wide array of military vehicles, live music from military bands, and plenty of space to relax, and it’s shaping up to be a bumper day out for everyone.
The event on Sunday, 29 June, at Eastern Gardens in Ryde, officially opens at 10am with a spectacular parachute display from the Royal Navy team.
If all goes to plan, Red 10 from the Red Arrows will make a dramatic entrance by helicopter, landing right on the beach. Shortly after, the marching parade will get underway, marking the start of a full day of festivities.
Organisers are encouraging visitors to arrive early, bring a picnic, and set up on the beach to make the most of the day.
(June 13, 2025) LEBANON BOROUGH, NJ – Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) hosted his annual Service Academy Send-Off Reception on May 28, 2025, at Raritan Valley Community College to recognize 16 students from New Jersey’s 7th District. Each student received a nomination from Congressman Kean and subsequently was offered an appointment to attend a United States Service Academy as part of the Class of 2029.
Each year, Members of Congress have the honor of nominating high school seniors for admission to the U.S Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy. All applicants must meet strict qualifications and undergo a rigorous selection process, including an interview with Congressman Kean’s independent Academy Review Board.
In addition to the send-off reception, Congressman Kean hosted an information session the same evening for high school students interested in applying for a Service Academy nomination. Representatives from all five U.S. Service Academies shared insights into their programs and the admissions processes.
Congressman Kean’s office has opened its 2025 online application for students seeking a Service Academy nomination. The application deadline is October 17, 2025. For more information, visit his websiteHERE.
“Congratulations to the 16 outstanding students from across our district who will be joining the ranks of cadets and midshipmen at our nation’s premier Service Academies,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “These young men and women have answered the call to serve and will soon begin their journey as future leaders in our Armed Forces. It is a tremendous privilege to be a part of this process, and I wish each of them great success as they embark on this honorable path of preparing to serve our nation with courage and distinction.”
Students Appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point:
Turner Boyle of Somerville
Emma Ciocon of Bridgewater
Abraham Cunningham of Basking Ridge
Gabrielle Drucks of Budd Lake
John Farabee of Lebanon
Emma Ferraro of Westfield
Matthew Levanda of Branchburg
Kabir Srivastav of Westfield
Students Appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy:
Cormac Flanagan of Phillipsburg
Caedyn Ricciardi of Sparta
Ryan Swan of Basking Ridge
Student Appointed to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that they have cosponsored the Fit to Serve Act, a bill to support our military readiness and national security by prohibiting discrimination against transgender service members. The lawmakers’ bill comes as the Trump Administration is taking actions that undermine our national security and dehumanize the thousands of transgender service members who have made meaningful contributions to our armed forces.
“Service members sign up to protect our country with patriotism and bravery,” said Merkley. “Banning highly-skilled transgender service members endangers the safety and security of our nation and takes us backward in our march towards equality.”
“Drumming out Americans from military service because of rank prejudice undermines our national defense and is a cruel slap in the face to transgender people,” Wyden said. “This bill acts on the core principle that equal treatment of Americans based solely on their ability to do the job must guide the armed forces and any other walk of life.”
In January 2025, President Trump signed an executive order banning transgender individuals from joining and continuing to serve in the military. The Department of Defense (DoD) forced service members in active-duty to self-identify for voluntary separation by June 6, 2025; service members in the Reserves have until July 7, 2025.
While the ban continues to be litigated in federal court, the Supreme Court has allowed the DoD to begin to implement the ban, threatening the careers of thousands of service members who serve as test pilots, Navy divers, intelligence analysts, weapons specialists, combat aviators, and other critical national security roles. The ban also risks wasting billions of taxpayer dollars invested in training these troops, many of whom have spent decades in the military, have been deployed multiple times, and have commanded large numbers of troops.
Former Pentagon officials have testified that allowing transgender service members to openly serve “fosters openness and trust among team members, thereby enhancing unit cohesion” and that “transgender service members who meet the standards required for their positions serve effectively and contribute positively to unit readiness.”?
To ensure the United States can continue to benefit from the service of transgender individuals who have raised their hand to defend and protect their country and meet the same rigorous standards as their peers, the Fit to Serve Act would prohibit the DoD from:
Banning transgender service members from the military;
Prescribing qualifications for service on the basis of gender identity;
Denying necessary health care for service members on the basis of gender identity;
Forcing a service member to serve in their sex assigned at birth; or
Otherwise discriminating against service members on the basis of gender identity.
In addition to the Fit to Serve Act, Senators Merkley and Wyden have joined their Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter demanding that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reverse course and not implement the Trump Administration’s un-American transgender military service ban. Merkley also led, and Wyden joined, the No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act, which would ensure that Trump’s hateful anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders, including the ban on transgender service members, have no force or effect, and that no federal funds are used to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out those executive orders.?
The Fit to Serve Act was led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). In addition to Merkley and Wyden, it is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
The full text of the Fit to Serve Act can be found by clicking here.
June 13, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) welcomed His Majesty’s Ship (HMCS) Frédérick Rolette into naval service with a commissioning ceremony.
A commissioning ceremony is a long-time naval tradition and a special event for the ship’s company. Today’s traditional event included a symbolic presentation of the commissioning pennant to the Commanding Officer, Commander Jolene Lisi, and the breaking of the ship’s pennant at the same time as the ship’s ensign.
HMCS Frédérick Rolette is the fifth Harry DeWolf class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) to be welcomed into the RCN’s fleet. These vessels enhance the RCN’s ability to enforce sovereignty in Canadian waters and helps meet future defence challenges in Northern waters.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on people to learn from Comrade Chen Yun, carry forward and glorify his legacy, and work tirelessly to build China into a powerful country.
Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech at a symposium held at the Great Hall of the People to mark the 120th anniversary of Comrade Chen Yun’s birth.
Chen Yun, born in 1905, joined the CPC in 1925. He was recognized as a great proletarian revolutionary and political figure, and one of the pioneers of China’s socialist economy. According to Xi Jinping, he was an important member of both the first-generation leading group of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core and the second-generation leading group of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Deng Xiaoping at its core. -0-
Headline: Around the Air Force: Risk and Readiness, Project Magellan, Pilot Training Overhaul
In this week’s look Around the Air Force, the Air Force Safety Center announces Phase II of the Chief of Staff’s Integrating Risk and Readiness campaign, Project Magellan earns international recognition by winning the 2025 Founder’s Award, and AETC aims to train 1,500 pilots per year.
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It’s Donald Trump’s birthday this weekend, and he is planning a big bash to celebrate. There will be a full-colour parade in the nation’s capital. Expected to attend are a whole bunch of military vehicles, from a second world war bomber to M1 Abrams battle tanks to Paladin self-propelled howitzers.
The cavalcade will take a route through the grander streets of Washington DC making its way along Constitution Avenue all the way to the Lincoln memorial, with an expected 6,600 soldiers in attendance. The whole thing is estimated by the Associated Press to cost around US$45 million (£33 million).
This splashy show of Trump’s power and the US’s military strength could serve as a warning to anyone who was thinking of crossing the US right now. Trump is, of course, the commander-in-chief of the US forces. And he was using the full strength of his position, some argue going beyond it, when he sent the national guard and the marines – bypassing the state governor – to the streets of Los Angeles in the past few days.
There are now, according to ABC News, more US troops on the streets of LA than in Syria and Iraq. This was necessary, Trump claimed, to address protests over immigration raids that broke out around LA. Something that Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesperson, said this week was “exactly what the American people voted for”.
While Trump is testing how far he can flex his political and military muscle at home, as the Open University’s Sinead McEneaney has detailed, he is also using what some historians have called unprecedented use of power, by sending in the marines to take action against Americans, while California governor Gavin Newsom said the troops were not wanted, or needed.
Newsom is pushing back hard, and publicly, against Trump. Something, that Natasha Lindstaedt at the University of Essex, believes could propel Newsom higher up the Democrat selection list for a presidential nomination.
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While signalling his military strength to those on the streets of California, Trump has also been sending a strong message to his erstwhile international allies that he might not be quite as willing to share his military hardware with them as they might have thought they had been promised. The US administration has opened a review of the Aukus (the Australia, UK and US defence pact) and in particular its nuclear submarine deal, to see whether it meets the “America first” criteria. This deal was due to help all three countries scale up their submarine capacity.
Australia already transferred US$500 million to the US this year, as part of a down payment on the deal, with the expectation of receiving used US submarines in the near future. Canberra and London have been speedily revising their reliance on Trump as a security partner in the past few months. This is yet another signal from Washington that they definitely should.
John Blaxland , a professor at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University, argues that Trump is angling to renegotiate the Aukus deal but won’t scrap it.
“There are a few key reasons for this. We’re several years down the track already. We have more than 100 Australian sailors already operating in the US system. Industrially, we’re on the cusp of making a significant additional contribution to the US submarine production line. And finally, most people don’t fully appreciate that the submarine base just outside Perth is an incredibly consequential piece of real estate for US security calculations.”
Meanwhile, Mark Beeson, an adjunct professor at the University of Technology Sydney and Griffith University, believes that Australia is locked into the foreign and strategic policies of “an increasingly polarised, authoritarian and unpredictable regime” and should rethink its international relationships.
Beeson quotes an essay from another Australian academic, Hugh White, from Australian National University: “It is classic Trump to expect more and more from allies while he offers them less and less.”
In a military arena where most of the world would like Trump to apply a little more pressure, he continues to hold back and Vladimir Putin continues not to do a peace deal. Putin showed no sign of calling off his troops (or drones) from attacking Ukraine this week.
But as the onslaught continued Russia is expected to hit a horrific target this month, 1 million casualties in the war. Hundreds of thousands of Russians have died forcing Putin to get increasingly creative in coming up with ways to fill the gaps on the battlefields.
According to some reports he is sending the wounded back to fight before they are fully recovered, as well as offering large financial incentives to those who join up, and their families. The conflict continues and the death toll does, too. As Russian politics expert Jenny Mathers at the University of Aberystwyth points out, even before the war the country had a demographic crisis, and now that is even more extreme.
Russian women who want to earn the newly reinstated “Mother Heroine” award by bearing and raising ten or more children may struggle to find men to father them now, and after the war. Putin, like Trump, is fond of suggesting there is a glowing future for those who support him. The Russian leader has even created a Time of Heroes programme for war veterans who are promised a fast track into an elite career on their return from battle. Whether, of course, they do return when an estimated 53 casualties are being lost per square kilometre of land gained in eastern Ukraine is not a gamble many would like to take.
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Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, June 13 — The Third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange will be held in Guiyang, the capital city of Guizhou province in southwestern China, from June 18 to 20, said Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a press briefing on Friday.
Themed on “Jointly Promote Regional Peace and Build a Safe and Secure Home”, the Exchange focuses on innovation in China-ASEAN defense cooperation, maritime security cooperation and crisis management, etc., in a bid to provide advice and suggestions for building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
Defense policy officials, experts and scholars, as well as representatives of think tanks from China, ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste will attend the event.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, June 13 — “We hope the US side will stop playing up the alleged ‘China threat’, respect China’s core interests,” said Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a press briefing on Friday.
The spokesperson made the remarks when being asked to comment on the expectations on China-US mil-to-mil relations. It is reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call with US President Donald Trump at the request of the latter. President Xi pointed out that the two sides should enhance communication in such fields as foreign affairs, economy and trade, military and law enforcement.
The spokesperson noted that China always upholds the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and stays committed to promoting a steady, sound and sustainable development of China-US military-to-military relationship.
“We hope the US side will stop playing up the alleged ‘China threat’, earnestly respect China’s core interests and major concerns, and work with China towards the same direction to strengthen communication and dialogue, properly manage differences and enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust, so as to jointly improve and develop the relationship between the two militaries,” stressed the spokesperson.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, June 13 — “Any act that emboldens the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces to seek secession will undermine cross-Strait peace and stability, and lead to bitter results or self-inflicted wounds,” said Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a press briefing on Friday.
According to reports, the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation recently held a civil chief-of-staff level war-gaming under the scenario of “Taiwan Strait crisis” for the first time, involving the former “Chief of the General Staff” of the Taiwan region, the former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the former Chief of Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. In addition, the US and Taiwan held the so-called Defense Industry Forum in Taipei, advocating closer weapon and equipment cooperation.
When commenting on the above reports, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin slammed that the Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair, which brooks no external interference. Any act that emboldens the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces to seek secession will undermine cross-Strait peace and stability, and lead to bitter results or self-inflicted wounds.
“We urge the relevant countries to truly abide by the one-China principle, stop sending any wrong signal to the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” he continued, adding that in the face of the prevailing trend that China will and must be reunified, any scheme to solicit foreign support for independence and contain China with Taiwan is doomed to fail.
Plymouth is to be the national centre for marine autonomy, the Defence Minister has announced in a keynote address at a major networking event in the city today.
The city is already making waves in this area of marine technology, but the announcement made by the Right Honourable Maria Eagle, Minister of State (Defence Procurement and Industry) will catapult the city and its expertise into the spotlight.
The timing of the news could not have been better – it came as the Plymouth City Council in partnership with the South West Regional Defence and Security Cluster, hosted an event in Devonport involving key figures from the world of marine and defence connecting with local companies to explore opportunities for future projects and investment.
Council Leader Tudor Evans OBE said: “This is superb news. We knew Plymouth was creating something special in the blue/green skills sector, but it is always great to see others endorse what you believe.
“We have some extraordinary businesses and organisations here in Plymouth who are at the cutting edge of this incredibly exciting sector. The world is waking up to all the possibilities marine autonomy offers and we are very keen indeed to help connect Plymouth businesses to the right people and the right organisations.
“Investing in Plymouth’s businesses for testing and developing marine autonomy will enable UK PLC to build sovereign capabilities and secure a significant share in this growing market, particularly in the fields of defence, renewables, and oil and gas.”
MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Luke Pollard told the delegates that the nature of defence is changing. He said: “We have a strategic defence review that sets out that we will have fighting structure which includes marine autonomy.
“Defence is an engine for growth. This an opportunity to develop, scale up and test marine autonomy. This sector is incredible, innovative and the work we are doing in the city is cutting edge.
“There is a place for investment and that’s Plymouth.”
Professor Richard Davies, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Plymouth, said: “This acknowledges the key role Plymouth is already playing in the development and delivery of marine autonomy.
“But being recognised as the national centre of excellence represents a once in a lifetime opportunity that will open new doors for the University and our partners.
“Working across existing and new collaborations, we can now push forward with ambitious plans to grow a sector that is critical to our nation’s defence and security, and has the potential to benefit the environment, business, health and much more besides. Together, we have the skills and expertise to deliver on those ambitions, fostering new opportunities that benefit the city, region and country in the long-term.”
Plymouth and its surrounding area has a rich ecosystem of private sector businesses and world-renowned research capabilities across marine autonomy.
It is a global centre of excellence for marine science and technology, with one of the largest clusters of expertise in the world and over 7,100 skilled people in marine manufacturing. Blue tech/marine sector accounts for 21 per cent of the national employment in this field and 11.3 per cent of the city’s total employment.
Global research partners include Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Marine Biological Association, the University of Plymouth and marine autonomy companies already based in Plymouth include Thales, M Subs, Oshen, Zero USV, Sonardyne and Fugro.
In 2020 M Subs successfully sailed the first autonomous vessel across the Atlantic.
The Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS400) was the world’s first full-sized, fully autonomous, unmanned ship to cross the ocean. The revolutionary vessel set sail from Plymouth and arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts via a pit stop in Halifax in Nova Scotia.
The industry predicts a global marine autonomy market worth £103 billion by 2030, with the UK adopting a 10 per cent market share.
Key speakers at the event included Sir Chris Gardner KBE Chief Executive Officer of the Submarine Delivery Agency and the Royal Navy’s Vice Admiral Andrew Burns.
There were also representatives from Thales, Atlas Electronics as well as a themed discussion on advanced marine technology and how Plymouth will drive innovation in dual-use technology for UK Security by representatives from the University of Plymouth and PML.
Over 170 people attended the event today Friday 13 June at the Market Hall in Devonport, UK.
