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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stunned analysts Sam Stein and Will Saletan during an NBC News interview Sunday by suggesting Saudi Arabia should help select Iran's next leader following U.S. strikes on Iranian targets. When asked if the administration had identified a new Iranian leader, Graham revealed he had discussed "ideas for transition" with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who reportedly influenced Trump to strike Iran. Stein questioned whether the U.S. was giving Saudis veto power over Iran's leadership. Saletan called Graham's comments "totally crazy," noting they contradicted Graham's earlier assertion that Iranians should choose their own leader. Saletan characterized the suggestion that Iran would accept Saudi Arabia determining its government as "insane," questioning Graham's intelligence. The remarks raised concerns about Saudi influence over U.S. Middle East policy.

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In late February, MAGA media star Tucker Carlson interviewed U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The conversation prompted a reaction from Vice President JD Vance, who described it as "good," highlighting its timeliness. Yet in doing so, Vance revealed himself to be a "shapeshifter", exhibiting something "quite ugly" about himself, according to one expert. For former State Department Counselor Eliot Cohen, Vance's comments were concerning. "What it tells you is that JD Vance, who is a shapeshifter if ever there was one, is really willing to play with some quite ugly rhetoric, and some very problematic figures," said Cohen. He then pointed out how Carlson and Huckabee made multiple controversial statements. For instance, Huckabee said Israel has the right to take over some of its neighboring countries to restore its Biblical borders, which is something most hard-liners in the country don't agree with, Cohen said.

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President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a $1 trillion healthcare cut, is triggering a crisis across rural America, forcing hospital closures and threatening Republican midterm prospects. The Congressional Budget Office projects 10 million Americans will lose insurance coverage over the next decade, with Medicaid work requirements alone eliminating 7.5 million people's coverage. Combined with Republican refusal to extend enhanced ACA subsidies, hospitals face catastrophic consequences. St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital in Georgia closed its maternity ward. MercyOne in Iowa shuttered clinics and laid off staff. Trinity Health projects $1.5 billion in annual revenue losses. Northern Light Health in Maine anticipates $27 million annual revenue drops. The bill simultaneously cuts provider taxes and eliminates special payment mechanisms, forcing hospitals to treat uninsured patients without reimbursement. Republicans face escalating political backlash in battleground states as hospital closures dominate local politics.

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Politico columnist Alexander Burns argues that President Donald Trump's second-term actions implemented irreversible changes to American foreign policy and diplomacy. Trump has pursued dominance assertions ranging from Venezuela and Greenland to military strikes on Iran and botched NATO trade negotiations, confirming warnings former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris made during the 2024 campaign. Burns contends that future presidents cannot simply restore previous diplomatic approaches. Détente with Iran and Cuba that former President Barack Obama pursued has permanently closed. America's credibility as a trade negotiator is "changed forever," making restoration of Bush-era trade relations impossible. NATO's relationship with the U.S. cannot revert to 1998 levels through rhetoric alone. Burns criticizes Biden's failed efforts to repair norms and repair democratic institutions, arguing that the window to bridge to the twentieth century has permanently closed.

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Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos predicted severe consequences following Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros., a deal finalized after Netflix withdrew from the bidding war in late February. Sarandos characterized Paramount's bid as "unusual" and "irrational," warning it could be seismic for the U.S. media landscape. According to Sarandos, Paramount plans cost-cutting exceeding $16 billion within 18 months, with production and personnel representing the largest expense targets. This will result in reduced production output and significant job losses across the industry. Sarandos expressed confidence Netflix will benefit from the upheaval, though he stated he hopes his predictions prove wrong "for the sake of the industry." The Paramount Skydance deal, led by the Trump-supporting Ellison family, includes major assets like CNN and HBO Max, financed primarily through debt.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine's explanation of the Iran war's trajectory Monday, then attacked reporters for questioning the evolving timeline. After initially suggesting the conflict would last two weeks, the administration now indicates four weeks. Hegseth accused NBC of asking "gotcha" questions, insisting Trump has "all the latitude in the world" to adjust timelines as needed. He claimed Trump possesses abilities other presidents lack, including finding "opportunities and off ramps" while executing objectives on the U.S. timeline. Hegseth criticized former President Biden for not understanding military strategy. He dismissed reporters' questions about war duration as "games," praising Trump as "no better communicator" for expressing military intentions. The defense secretary's combative response reflected administration defensiveness over shifting war projections and escalating conflict duration estimates.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Iran attack at a Pentagon press conference, dismissing traditional U.S. allies as "pearl-clutching" while attacking the press for spreading "fake news." He boasted that Israel had "clear missions" and criticized allies for opposing military force. Most controversially, Hegseth promised "no stupid rules of engagement," triggering alarm among national security experts on social media. Former Chicago Tribune editor Mark Jacobs warned the statement means abandoning Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. Democratization Policy Council founder Toby Vogel cautioned the approach is "a great way to go to jail for war crimes." Academic Lee Papa emphasized rules of engagement protect troops and civilians. National security analyst Stephanie Carvin called the position "nihilism." Journalist Will Harris noted many generals view Hegseth as incompetent.

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House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer attempted to use Bill Clinton's statement to shield President Trump from congressional testimony. Comer told reporters that Clinton said Trump "has never said anything to me to make me think he was involved" with Epstein. However, Rep. Robert García disputed Comer's characterization of Clinton's remarks. MSNBC's Ali Vitali noted Comer was trying to preemptively counter Democratic arguments that Trump, mentioned hundreds of times in the Epstein files, should testify. Vitali highlighted a major flaw in the strategy: if the committee questions spouses without direct knowledge, like Hillary Clinton regarding Bill, it creates a double standard for refusing to question Melania Trump, who appears in Epstein files and corresponds with Ghislaine Maxwell. The approach exposes both Trump and Melania to accusations of partisan double standards.

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Radiohead issued a statement on Friday demanding that the Department of Homeland Security remove their song "Let Down" (1997) from an ICE promotional video. The track was used without permission or rights. The band called out DHS, "amateurs in control of the ICE social media account," stating how the song, "means a lot to us and other people" and cannot be appropriated without opposition. The incident reflects a broader pattern of Republican misuse of musicians' work. Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood previously demanded the removal of his "Phantom Thread" composition from the Melania Trump documentary, with producer Marc Beckman claiming other rock artists were eager to participate but unable to name examples. Kenny Loggins similarly objected to unauthorized use of "Danger Zone." Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.", a critique of the Vietnam War, has been repeatedly misappropriated by Republicans for decades as well.

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Former Justice Department attorney Kim Wehle cautioned against complacency following the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling against Trump's tariffs, arguing the decision does not signal a meaningful check on presidential power expansion. While the Court struck down the tariffs in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, Wehle warned the ruling represents "a check—but not a constitutional reset." She cited three concerns: the decision was not unanimous, it benefited "the very rich," and the Court has yet to meaningfully constrain Trump's authority. Wehle emphasized that the rule of law depends on sustained judicial fidelity to principle, not isolated opinions. She called for holding justices accountable by praising constitutional adherence and persistently criticizing betrayals of law. Wehle stressed vigilance is necessary to determine whether the majority is guided by the Constitution or politics.

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President Donald Trump erupted at Republican lawmakers on Friday over their failure to use his preferred name for the voter eligibility bill. The legislation's official name is the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), but Trump demanded Republicans call it the "SAVE America Act," claiming the alternative name is "much more potent and descriptive." Trump posted in all caps on Truth Social: "IT'S 'SAVE AMERICA ACT,' NOT 'SAVE ACT.' REPUBLICANS MUST START USING THE TERM." The bill requires voters to provide proof of citizenship to register, a requirement that already exists legally. Critics warn the measure could significantly depress voter turnout, particularly affecting the 52 percent of registered voters without unexpired passports and the 11 percent without access to birth certificates.

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The Justice Department admitted Thursday that it removed a file containing a photograph of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick with Jeffrey Epstein from the official Epstein database. The photo, discovered by jmail's searchable Epstein Gmail archive, shows both men on Little St. James island and carries DOJ file number EFTA01230639, which yields no results in the official database. A DOJ official claimed the image was part of a batch flagged for nudity and pulled for review with redactions, insisting "no files are being deleted." Lutnick previously stated he visited the island only for a family picnic with his children and nannies. However, Justice Department releases revealed Lutnick and Epstein exchanged emails years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor in 2008, arranging calls and lunches on the island.

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The State Department issued a rare travel advisory Friday morning, urging Americans in Israel to "consider leaving while commercial flights are available," sparking fears of imminent military conflict. The directive cited threats from "violent extremists" plotting attacks in Israel. The advisory coincides with escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, with President Trump reportedly ready to imminently launch a large-scale attack on Iran. The Trump administration has mobilized the largest military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion. Scholar Monica Marks suggested the advisory indicates "a high likelihood that Israel & the US ignite another war with Iran this weekend." Journalist Rania Khalek called it "not a good sign" for those concerned about regional conflict. The advisory comes as U.S.-Iran negotiations over weapons capabilities have stalled, with Tehran officials refusing to acknowledge Trump's "red lines."

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