President Trump urged U.S. oil producers to keep gas prices down as the Iran-Israel conflict threatened to disrupt the oil trade - but prices actually dropped Monday as a cease-fire took hold.
The stabilizing economic outlook is sure to frustrate Democrats, who want to see chaos in the Middle East drag Trump down.
Trump's demand to increase domestic production came as Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critically important route in the global oil trade. Roughly 20% of the world's oil passes through the strait.
"To The Department of Energy: DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! And I mean NOW!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I’M WATCHING! YOU’RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. DON’T DO IT!”
The threat of an oil crunch seemed to fade Monday as Trump announced a cease-fire between Israel and Iran. Instead of rising, oil prices fell. The drop-off continued Tuesday.
“I love it. It dropped almost $10 yesterday,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One Tuesday morning. “We have a lot less conflict, so it came down.”
Iran's oil threats were met with some skepticism by geopolitical experts, and the United States warned that Iran would be committing "economic suicide" by choking off its most valuable export.
In a surprising move, Trump declared Tuesday that China can continue to buy oil from Iran, adding, "Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the U.S., also. It was my Great Honor to make this happen!" The statement seemed to shift from Washington's longstanding policy of isolating Iran's economy. China is Iran's largest oil buyer.
The White House later clarified that Trump was referring to the Strait of Hormuz staying open and not sanctions relief.
Trump campaigned for the White House in part on combating inflation, and recent low gas prices have given the president something to boast about. But the tensions in the Middle East have led to uncertainty in the market.
The president highlighted the volatility of the situation Tuesday as he blasted Israel and Iran Tuesday for appearing to violate the peace agreement that he brokered.
“I’m not happy with them. I’m not happy with Iran, either, but I’m really unhappy with Israel going out this morning,” Trump said.
“We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f—- they’re doing.”
Vice president J.D. Vance promised that America will not see "boots on the ground" in Iran as he defended President Trump's bold airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
“We’re not at war with Iran. We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” Vance told NBC’s Meet The Press.
“We have no interest in a protracted conflict. We have no interest in boots on the ground,” he said. “We didn’t blow up diplomacy."
Trump has said he has no interest in a prolonged conflict in the Middle East after the United States bombed Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend.
The strikes led to criticism from Democrats, as well as some libertarians and non-interventionists on the right, who feared Trump was breaking a promise not to embroil the U.S. in another war.
Vance, a vocal non-interventionist, said that Trump's strikes had a limited objective and only came as a last resort.
“We only took this action when it was clear, as the president said, that the Iranians were tapping us along,” he said.
“The Iranians are clearly not very good at war. Perhaps they should follow President Trump’s lead and give peace a chance if they’re serious about it. I guarantee you, the president of the United States is,” Vance said.
Vance's comments echo Trump, who has indicated that his goal was to eliminate a nuclear threat, not drag the U.S. into a major war.
“The president has actually been one of the fiercest critics of 25 years of failed foreign policy in the Middle East, which is why he did what he did: a very precise, a very surgical strike tailored to an American national interest,” Vance said.
“I don’t fear that this is going to become a protracted conflict because I think that we have a president who knows what’s in America’s interest.”
Some Iran hawks who celebrated Trump's bold strikes were left deflated by Monday, as Trump adopted a new diplomatic tone and announced that he brokered a cease-fire.
Intelligence reports soon began circulating that the U.S. did not wipe out Iran's nuclear capability, as hawkish Republicans and pundits pressured Trump to escalate and target the Iranian regime.
But Trump - who has long taken pride in being a peacemaker - said that he has no interest in toppling the theocratic regime that has ruled Iran since 1979, warning regime change would lead to "chaos."
The Supreme Court just gave President Trump a major boost, ruling he may remove illegal aliens to countries other than their native lands without notice.
The court reversed the ruling of a Democrat judge who tried to place constraints on Trump's power to conduct third-country removals to war-torn nations like South Sudan.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson all dissented, with Sotomayor accusing the court of "rewarding lawlessness."
"The government has made clear in word and deed that it feels itself unconstrained by law, free to deport anyone anywhere without notice or an opportunity to be heard," she wrote.
The dispute is one of many legal challenges brought against Trump immigration officials on due process grounds. Several of these cases have involved losses for Trump, leaving the president and his supporters exasperated with "activist" judges.
The Supreme Court's ruling is a reprieve from that streak of losses, lifting a major roadblock to Trump's mass deportation efforts.
Lawyers for the immigrants in the case, convicted criminals from countries like Cuba and Vietnam, argued they face persecution and torture in a strange, dangerous country, and a district judge ruled they must have a chance to fight their removals.
The Trump administration had said the district court's order undermined Trump's efforts to address the "worst of the worst illegal aliens."
"Those judicially created procedures are currently wreaking havoc on the third-country removal process," Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in a filing. "In addition to usurping the executive's authority over immigration policy, the injunction disrupts sensitive diplomatic, foreign-policy, and national-security efforts."
The Department of Homeland Security called the Supreme Court's ruling a "victory for the safety and security of the American people."
"DHS can now execute its lawful authority and remove illegal aliens to a country willing to accept them," a statement read in part. "Fire up the deportation planes."
Despite Trump's Supreme Court win, District Judge Brian Murphy has continued to insist that some of the immigrants cannot be summarily removed to South Sudan, citing a separate order that Trump did not appeal.
The immigrants have been detained inside a converted shipping container at a U.S. military base in Djibouti, a country in East Africa near South Sudan.
The Trump administration says Murphy is out of line, and they are calling on the Supreme Court to correct him. The Justice Department even suggested the court "may consider ordering that the case be reassigned to a different district judge."
"The district court’s ruling of last night is a lawless act of defiance that, once again, disrupts sensitive diplomatic relations and slams the brakes on the executive’s lawful efforts to effectuate third-country removals,” the administration said.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Assuring members of the Christian faith that laws that specifically target religious practices "have no place in our society," federal officials have sued the state of Washington over its attack on religion.
The state has adopted a new law requiring Catholic priests, as well as other ministers, to tattle to police should they hear of a possible offense during a confession, which before now had been exempt from mandatory reporting.
"Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession have no place in our society," explained Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general.
The DOJ filed a complaint in federal court in Washington arguing that the state's new law violates the First and 14th Amendments by compelling clergy to report what they learn in confession or face criminal penalties.
The Washington Examiner said, "Confession is one of the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Disclosing any information a parishioner shares during these sessions is grounds for the excommunication of a priest from the Catholic Church. However, if a priest fails to report suspected abuse, even if they learn of it during confession, they could face almost a year in jail and a $5,000 fine."
Constitutional expert Jonathan Turley, who has not only testified before Congress on constitutional disputes, but represented members in court in those fights, pointed out the state's decision to alter the confessional requirements of the church.
"The Democrats have added to the four stages of the confession. Examination, confession, absolution, and penance may now be followed by incarceration," he explained.
The state's attempt is a direct attack on the church, the DOJ said.
"SB 5375 unconstitutionally forces Catholic priests in Washington to choose between their obligations to the Catholic Church and their penitents or face criminal consequences," Dhillon said.
"The Justice Department will not sit idly by when states mount attacks on the free exercise of religion."
Gov. Bob Ferguson has pledged to enforce the violation of the rights of clergy members.
They would be required to report to police any "reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect."
Most states exempt clergy when information is obtained during a religious confession.
Democrats in Washington refused.
The DOJ now contends that violates religious canon law, which strictly forbids breaching the seal of confession under penalty of excommunication.
The DOJ said part of the problem was that the law deliberately interferes with the religious requirements.
A lawsuit over the law had been filed just day earlier by lawyers for multiple Orthodox churches.
The DOJ first began investigating the law last month, warning that it "appears on its face to violate the First Amendment."
The churches' lawyer said, "The First Amendment guarantees that governments cannot single out religious believers for worse treatment. Washington is targeting priests by compelling them to break the sacred confidentiality of confession while protecting other confidential communications, like those between attorneys and their clients. That's rank religious discrimination. We are urging the court to swiftly restore this constitutionally protected freedom of churches and priests in Washington state."
WND previously reported when Democrats in Washington state "declared open war on Christianity, and the Catholic Church has responded with a volley that includes its commitment to defy a new law."
Turley noted the law is "blatantly unconstitutional."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Donald Trump thanked Iran for giving America "early notice" about missiles the Islamic Republic fired at a U.S. military base outside of Doha, Qatar, on Monday.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: "Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered.
"There have been 14 missiles fired – 13 were knocked down, and 1 was 'set free,' because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done.
"Most importantly, they've gotten it all out of their 'system,' and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE.
"I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
In a follow-up message, Trump said: "I'd like to thank the Highly Respected Emir of Qatar for all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region.
"Regarding the attack today at the American Base in Qatar, I am pleased to report that, in addition to no Americans being killed or wounded, very importantly, there have also been no Qataris killed or wounded. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
The president wrapped up his thoughts in a final post indicating: "CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT'S TIME FOR PEACE!"
Analysts on Fox News suggested Monday's events could act as an "off-ramp" for all sides to end hostilities.
The U.S. Supreme Court has reversed a lower court's ruling to give President Donald Trump's administration the ability to deport criminal illegal aliens to a third country, the BBC reported. The 6-3 decision on Monday fell along ideological lines among the justices.
The administration was sued after deporting certain illegal immigrants to places other than their countries of origin. The lower court demanded that the government provide a "meaningful opportunity" for illegal immigrants to have input in the matter.
The case involved eight migrants whom the administration called "the worst of the worst" offenders. These criminals from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Vietnam, deported last month, are now en route to South Sudan.
BREAKING 🚨 The Supreme Court hands Trump a MASSIVE Victory. Trump can resume deportations to third World countries like Sudan without notice
6-3 with Sotomayor, Kagan & Jackson dissenting
THIS IS HUGE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oq3ZbeUkbm
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) June 23, 2025
Predictably, it was Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor who dissented from the majority. They called the practice "rewarding lawlessness," even as they sided with the criminal illegal immigrants.
In the initial decision handed down by U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, he claimed these migrants who felt they would be killed or tortured would have the right to plead their case. Murphy, a Biden appointee, believed they had that right to voice concerns even if they had already exhausted their other legal appeals.
The dissenting justices called the deportations to a third country a "gross abuse" by the administration. Sotomayor wrote the dissenting opinion and railed against the measure.
"Apparently, the court finds the idea that thousands will suffer violence in far-flung locales more palatable than the remote possibility that a district court exceeded its remedial powers when it ordered the government to provide notice and process to which the plaintiffs are constitutionally and statutorily entitled. That use of discretion is as incomprehensible as it is inexcusable," Sotomayor wrote.
While awaiting the decision, the migrants were kept at a U.S. military base in Djibouti. Now these deportees, who are considered serious criminals so bad their countries of origin won't take them, are headed for a place where their return won't be refused.
Despite the handwringing, it's clear that this is a positive move for Trump's mission of making America safe from illegal immigration. Sending migrants to a third country has many benefits, not the least of which is deterrence against future lawbreaking.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin touted the decision in a statement Monday. "The Supreme Court ruling is a victory for the safety and security of the American people," McLaughlin said.
"The Biden Administration allowed millions of illegal aliens to flood our country, and now, the Trump Administration can exercise its undisputed authority to remove these criminal illegal aliens and clean up this national security nightmare," she noted. McLaughlin also chastised the justices for their lack of concern for America's safety.
"If these activist judges had their way, aliens who are so uniquely barbaric that their own countries won’t take them back, including convicted murderers, child rapists and drug traffickers, would walk free on American streets. DHS can now execute its lawful authority and remove illegal aliens to a country willing to accept them. Fire up the deportation planes," McLaughlin said.
Figuring out how to deport and keep out illegal immigrants is imperative to America's security. This decision by the high court is the right one with those goals in mind.
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has begun hacking away at President Donald Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill as Republicans seek to shore up support, The Hill reported. The finalized bill could pass budget reconciliation before the Independence Day holiday.
The parliamentarian took issue with key provisions of the bill, which will need to be tweaked to pass the legislation. MacDonough claimed some parts of the bill violated the Byrd Rule, which would preclude it from passing the Senate with a simple majority vote.
Some of the provisions on the chopping block include allowing states to enforce immigration and border security, cutting funding to or eliminating some agencies. MacDonough's involvement in this process has caused a stir on social media, with one user on X, formerly Twitter, calling her one of the "deep state plants."
🚨 BREAKING:
Unelected Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough is TRYING TO KILL THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.@JDVance Reject This!
Only 9 years in the last 90 have Republicans had the House, Senate and Presidency. We have NO time to waste on deep state plants. pic.twitter.com/hk7jNbfAbm
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) June 23, 2025
The Byrd Rule enables a budget reconciliation to pass with fewer votes while streamlining the process and preventing a filibuster. However, there are some stopgap exceptions to the rule, for which MacDonough and others have flagged Trump's bill.
One of the provisions MacDonough took exception to was a deal for newly hired civil servants to face a higher contribution rate in the Federal Employees Retirement System if they don't sign on to become at-will employees. This is a cost-saving measure, but one that the MacDonough felt would not pass muster.
Predictably, Democratic Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley was an outspoken opponent of this particular provision. "There is no better way to define this Big Beautiful Betrayal of a bill than families lose, and billionaires win," Merkley claimed in a statement.
Democrats are on the side of families and workers and are scrutinizing this bill piece by piece to ensure Republicans can’t use the reconciliation process to force their anti-worker policies on the American people. The Byrd Rule is enshrined in law for a reason, and Democrats are making sure it is enforced," he added.
Meanwhile, a Republican source told Fox News that the cuts are detrimental to the bill's passage. "There still must be some conservative wins coming out of the Senate. Those conservative wins were cut by the parliamentarian," the unnamed source noted.
While many object to McDonough's cuts, they are a necessary part of trying to pass this massive bill in the Senate under the current rules. Republicans have a narrow 53-seat majority compared to Democrats' 47 seats.
If they get too many downvotes, the bill would have to go back to the drawing board, or at least face substantial changes. The Senate will recess for the Independence Day holiday next week, and lawmakers are rushing to get this through before then.
With budget reconciliation, the bill could fly through the Senate, requiring only 51 votes instead of the usual 60, which would work to Republicans' advantage. However, that might not be as simple as it sounds, even with a GOP majority.
"They’re a long way away from the finish line right now," a source close to the matter told Fox News. It's possible the fight goes through the weekend with an early morning vote on Monday, but it's still anyone's guess whether it's passed before the break.
The legislation is already being picked apart, but significant changes could compromise the entire bill's passage. This could be the make-or-break time for Trump's signature legislation.
Founding member of British rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, Mick Ralphs died Monday at age 81 from complications of a stroke he had in 2016, Bad Company's website said in a statement.
Ralphs was a guitarist, singer and songwriter for the two bands, and achieved success on the Billboard charts with Bad Company in the 1970s.
He is set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November with Bad Company.
“Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground,” Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers said in a statement.
“He has left us with exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner, an amazing and versatile guitarist who had the greatest sense of humour.”
Ralphs and Rodgers came together in 1973 after leaving their previous bands. In a 2015 interview with Gibson Guitars, Ralphs said they didn't intend to form a band, only to write songs together.
Drummer Simon Kirke from Rodgers' former band Free asked if he could sit in on their jam sessions, and the trio realized they only needed a bassist to have a complete new band.
The result was Bad Company, which had such hits as "Can't Get Enough," "Good Lovin' Gone Bad," and "Feel Like Making Love."
The band's first album was recorded in a week and included many live takes.
Ralphs said his recording style was about capturing a moment rather than having a perfect sound.
“We actually did the whole thing in one take live,” Ralphs said in the Gibson interview. “It wasn’t perfect, but we just said, ‘Yeah, that’s great, it’s going to capture the moment.’ That’s what I like to do in recording. It doesn’t have to be perfect as long as it captures the moment. That’s what it’s all about.”
The band's popularity was enduring, and Ralphs continued to put out more albums and perform until the day before his stroke in 2016.
The stroke marked the end of his music career; he had been bedridden ever since.
He will take his place in rock history with his bandmates.
Following a series of U.S. military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, WNBA player Natasha Cloud publicly aired criticisms targeting President Donald Trump, seemingly calling for his impeachment, Breitbart reported.
Cloud voiced her disapproval over the U.S. military's actions in Iran, participating in a broader exchange over the President's decisions.
The military strikes involved a coordinated assault utilizing B-2 bombers and submarines equipped with guided nuclear missiles. These operations targeted key Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan, drawing global attention and controversy.
Natasha Cloud, a standout athlete with the New York Liberty, took to social media following the strikes. In her post, she expressed her disapproval of President Trump's actions, suggesting they were grounds for impeachment.
"A sad, sad day," Cloud wrote, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. She also declared that the President's actions were "grounds for impeachment," reflecting her strong stance.
To underscore her point, Cloud shared insights from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The congresswoman had strongly criticized President Trump's decision to conduct the military strikes without proper authorization.
Ocasio-Cortez commented that the President's decision was a significant breach of constitutional norms and Congressional war powers. Her statement highlighted concerns about unilateral actions potentially leading the country into prolonged conflict.
Cloud's alignment with this perspective cemented her place among the voices questioning the strategy of the Trump administration. "He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations," Ocasio-Cortez added, stressing the long-term consequences.
Part of Cloud's response is her ongoing critique of Trump's policies. She consistently opposes measures she views as disadvantaging minorities and sidelining diversity and inclusion initiatives.
In another statement to The Associated Press, Cloud criticized structural inequalities she perceives in U.S. systems. She remarked, "The systems of power are working as they always were intended to work," directing her criticism at institutional biases.
Cloud challenged the status quo further, calling for change within American institutions. "And it's time to break down a system that has only been about White men," she highlighted, emphasizing the need for systemic reform.
She also reflected on prioritization concerns, stating, "I understand the business aspect, and I understand the human aspect." Cloud voiced that the U.S. prioritizes profit over people, a trend she believes should shift.
Cloud dismissed any notions that criticism might affect her resolve. "Thing is I'm not soft, & words don't hurt me," she asserted, reinforcing her resilience in standing up for her beliefs.
Despite reactions, Cloud offered a challenge to those questioning her perspective. She suggested searching for international perspectives on America's situation, inviting broader media scrutiny.
Bill Clinton is wading directly into the battle for the future of the Democratic party, endorsing ex-governor Andrew Cuomo in his comeback bid to be mayor of New York City.
Clinton's last-minute endorsement came two days ahead of Tuesday's primary, which will likely decide the next mayor of the Democratic city.
The main contenders are Cuomo, a tarnished idol of the Democratic party, and progressive upstart Zohran Mamdani.
“I am honored to have the support of President Bill Clinton — a personal mentor, friend, and hero. His administration was one of the most accomplished in modern political history,” Cuomo said.
The contest is drawing interest far outside the limits of the city's five boroughs, with prominent Democrats weighing in on both sides.
Clinton - who lives in a wealthy suburb north of the city - released a robocall backing Cuomo, who worked as Housing Secretary in the Clinton White House.
“The election will decide the next mayor of New York, and I urge you to vote for Andrew Cuomo,” Clinton said in the recorded message. “As president, I chose Andrew to be my secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and he never let me down.”
“New York City is facing major challenges. There is a desperate need for affordable housing, homelessness is at a crisis level, and public safety must be restored,” Clinton said.
“It is imperative that New York chooses a mayor who has the ability, talent, and experience to do the job.
Clinton is the biggest name to weigh in, but Cuomo has also been endorsed by Democratic power broke James Clyburn (D-Sc.), who helped secure Joe Biden's presidential nomination in 2020.
In 2020, Cuomo rode a wave of fear during the COVID pandemic to become one of the nation's most popular Democrats, only to fall from grace a year later over sexual misconduct claims. Cuomo also faced criticism for covering up nursing home deaths during the pandemic.
Attorney general Letitia James (D) - who led the investigations that led to Cuomo's resignation - has weighed in forcefully against Cuomo in the city's ranked-choice primary, which allows voters to choose more than one candidate in order of preference.
Despite his scandalous past, Cuomo has some advantages. Besides name recognition, Cuomo still has ties to the Democratic party establishment, as Clinton's endorsement makes clear.
The northeastern U.S. is currently experiencing a brutal heat wave that is expected to send temperatures in New York soaring to 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday.