Top Items:
Steven Nelson / New York Post:
Trump won't rule out sending US troops into Iran ‘if necessary’— tells The Post 'I don't care about polling' — WASHINGTON — President Trump told The Post Monday that he's not ruling out sending US ground troops into Iran “if they were necessary” — and declared “I don't care about polling” …
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Cameron Peters / Vox:
The civilians dying in Trump's new war — The US war in Iran, joined by Israel, is in its third day, with no sign of slowing. On Monday, President Donald Trump estimated that it could last about four weeks — “and we're a little ahead of schedule,” he said.
Discussion:
New York Times, Middle East Eye, Washington Times, DNYUZ, spiked, Truthout, Straight Arrow News and Al Jazeera
Jake Tapper / CNN:
Trump tells CNN the ‘big wave’ is yet to come in war with Iran — President Donald Trump told CNN in a nine-minute phone interview Monday morning that the US military is “knocking the crap” out of Iran - but the “big wave” is yet to come. — “We're knocking the crap out of them,” Trump told CNN's Jake Tapper.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Thinking about, The Hill, New York Post, DefenseScoop, Rolling Stone, The Independent, Reuters, Salon, Ace of Spades HQ, HotAir, Mediaite, The American Conservative, DNYUZ, Raw Story, New Republic, Daily Caller News Foundation, American Greatness, France 24, The Daily Wire and The Guardian
Thomas L. Friedman / New York Times:
How to Think About Trump's War With Iran — To think clearly about Middle East wars, you need to hold multiple thoughts in your head at the same time. It's a complicated, kaleidoscopic region where religion, oil, tribal politics and great power politics interweave in every major story.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, NextDraft, Algemeiner.com, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Fox News and Responsible Statecraft
Zachary Basu / Axios:
Trump's lethal presidency … - He's attacked seven nations, three of which — Iran, Nigeria and Venezuela — had never been targeted by U.S. military strikes. … The White House argues he still is — that he always exhausts diplomacy before acting, and that projecting overwhelming force is itself a path to lasting peace.
Discussion:
The Hill, Vox, Politico, New York Times, Boston.com, Zeteo, MS NOW, DNYUZ and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
CNN:
CNN poll: 59% of Americans disapprove of Iran strikes and most think a long-term conflict is likely — The Middle East Election polls Donald Trump — Nearly 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of the US decision to take military action in Iran, as most say a long-term military conflict between …
Discussion:
Politico, The Hill, Ipsos, Talking Points Memo, NewsMax.com, Responsible Statecraft, Newsweek, Fox News, DNYUZ, Raw Story, Mediaite, The Independent and Blaze Media
New York Times:
Iran Live Updates: Trump Set to Speak as U.S. Sends More Forces to Mideast — Iran and allied militias, including Hezbollah, attacked Israel and U.S. targets, and Israel struck in Lebanon. Top U.S. officials talked of new attacks and an extended campaign. — Watch Live: President Trump Awards Medal of Honor
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Reuters, Washington Post, Axios, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, The Times of Israel, Washington Examiner, Politico, Fox News, The Contrarian, Foreign Policy, DNYUZ, East Bay Times, France 24, Joe.My.God., Drop Site News, Salon, New York Sun, The Hill, CBS News, IJR, UPI, El País, Modern Diplomacy, The Guardian and Middle East Monitor
New York Times:
How Trump Decided to Go to War … Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel walked into the Oval Office on the morning of Feb. 11, determined to keep the American president on the path to war. — For weeks, the United States and Israel had been secretly discussing a military offensive against Iran.
Discussion:
Vox, The Hill, Wall Street Journal, Esquire, New Republic, Raw Story and MS NOW
NBC News:
Trump, who campaigned against ‘endless’ wars, enters Iran with no end date — Trump won the presidency in 2016 and 2024 thanks in no small part to campaigning against the long and draining wars of his predecessors. Now, he's started a war of his own. — ADD NBC NEWS TO GOOGLE
Discussion:
The Atlantic, New York Magazine and Axios
William Kristol / The Bulwark:
A Directionless War Meets a Constitutional Crisis — As we were putting this newsletter to bed this morning, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth took to a Pentagon podium to brief the media on the ongoing state of the conflict in Iran. TL;DR: Mission Accomplished.
Discussion:
Politico, The Hill, The Daily Beast, Raw Story, The Dean's Report and Newsweek
Associated Press:
Live updates: Oil tankers and refineries under attack as US and Israel exchange strikes with Iran and war widens — EDITED BY BRIDGET BROWN, LORIAN BELANGER AND HRVOJE HRANJSKI — Iran and Iranian-backed militias fired missiles at Israel and Arab states Monday, apparently hitting …
Washington Post:
We texted 1,000 Americans about U.S. strikes in Iran. — Here's what they said. — Just now — How many Americans support the airstrikes against Iran that President Donald Trump ordered this weekend? Do they think the strikes should continue? How concerned are they about a full-scale war with Iran?
Discussion:
The Intercept, Media Matters for America, Politico, Associated Press, Washington Times, WTOP News and Houston Public Media
Tom Ambrose / The Guardian:
Middle East crisis live: Israel launches new attacks on ‘heart of Tehran’; US fighter planes mistakenly shot down in Kuwait
Discussion:
The Hill, Reuters, Associated Press, Global News, BBC, Jewish Insider, The Times of Israel, Axios, Al Jazeera, New York Times, Algemeiner.com, The War Zone, Florida Politics, Townhall, HotAir, Human Events, The Daily Wire, NPR, Washington Times, Washington Examiner, The Gateway Pundit, Politico, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, UPI, Middle East Monitor, Jerusalem Post, Bloomberg and IJR
Wall Street Journal:
Trump's Shifting Goals for Iran Complicate Military's Mission
Trump's Shifting Goals for Iran Complicate Military's Mission
Discussion:
The Hill, Politico, The White House, Washington Post, The Guardian, Raw Story, News Talk 105.9, The Spectator and Fox News
Riya Misra / Politico:
Fetterman needles Democrats over Iran strikes opposition
Fetterman needles Democrats over Iran strikes opposition
Discussion:
Raw Story
Meredith Lee Hill / Politico:
Iranian ‘regime will be defeated,’ White House tells Hill Republicans
Ben Rhodes / New York Times:
Trump May Come to Regret This
Trump May Come to Regret This
Discussion:
NBC News, Newsweek and Florida Politics
Reuters:
Trump presses ahead with Iran war despite warnings of political risk for midterms
Trump presses ahead with Iran war despite warnings of political risk for midterms
Discussion:
Roll Call, Raw Story and Washington Examiner
Connor Stringer / Telegraph:
Exclusive: Trump - I'm ‘very disappointed’ in Starmer over Iran
Exclusive: Trump - I'm ‘very disappointed’ in Starmer over Iran
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Metro.co.uk, New York Sun, The Independent, DNYUZ, Politico, The Daily Caller, Modern Diplomacy, Breitbart, Bloomberg, Reuters, HuffPost, NewsMax.com, Mediaite and The Gateway Pundit
Reuters:
Iran vows to attack any ship trying to pass through Strait of Hormuz
Iran vows to attack any ship trying to pass through Strait of Hormuz
Discussion:
HotAir, CBS News, Politico, Fortune, The War Zone, WWL-TV, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller and France 24, more at Techmeme »
Al Jazeera:
Iran death toll reaches 555 as US, Israel escalate attacks
Iran death toll reaches 555 as US, Israel escalate attacks
Discussion:
Christian Science Monitor, twitchy.com, The Guardian, Truthout and The Preamble
Matt Gertz / Media Matters for America:
In Iran, the most consequential test of the Fox-Trump feedback loop yet
In Iran, the most consequential test of the Fox-Trump feedback loop yet
Discussion:
Washington Post
Jonathan V. Last / The Bulwark:
Everything You Need to Know About the Future of Iran
Tara Suter / The Hill:
Fetterman ‘baffled’ by some senators not supporting Iran operation
Fetterman ‘baffled’ by some senators not supporting Iran operation
Discussion:
Straight Arrow News and IJR
Reuters:
Pentagon tells Congress no sign that Iran was going to attack US first, sources say
Pentagon tells Congress no sign that Iran was going to attack US first, sources say
Discussion:
The Hill, NBC News, ABC News, Washington Post, Slate, The Japan Times, New York Sun, New Republic, Reason and Foreign Affairs
Noah Berlatsky / Public Notice:
The irrational strongman we've been warned about is here
Wall Street Journal:
Trump Administration to Drop Defense of Law Firm Sanctions — Justice Department plans to withdraw appeals defending punitive executive orders issued by the president, people familiar with the matter said — The Trump administration plans to abandon its defense of the president's executive …
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Andrew Solender / Axios:
Nancy Mace under House Ethics Committee investigation — The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it is looking into allegations Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) over-billed her congressional office for funds to maintain her home in D.C. … - Mace has built a national profile …
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Aaron Pellish / Politico:
House Ethics panel probing Nancy Mace over alleged improper reimbursements
House Ethics panel probing Nancy Mace over alleged improper reimbursements
Discussion:
Washington Examiner and Roll Call
Bradley Warren / NonStop Local Montana:
Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke to retire, will not seek reelection — MISSOULA, Mont. - Congressman Ryan Zinke will not seek reelection for a fourth term in Montana's first Congressional District. The Republican who has had a storied career will make it official Monday as the filing deadline looms.
Stephen Groves / Associated Press:
House panel releases videos of Bill and Hillary Clinton answering questions about Epstein — Videos of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton answering questions about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released Monday by a House committee investigating the late financier.
Discussion:
New York Post, NPR, Washington Examiner, The Hill, NewsMax.com, Associated Press, The Independent, CBS News and IJR
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Dareh Gregorian / NBC News:
House Oversight Committee releases videos of Clinton depositions on Jeffrey Epstein
House Oversight Committee releases videos of Clinton depositions on Jeffrey Epstein
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Examiner, Washington Post, Scripps News, CBS News, CNN, The Gateway Pundit, The Preamble, WTTG-TV, Joe.My.God., Newsweek, Mediaite, IJR and MS NOW
Elena Schneider / Politico:
DNC scraps midterm convention plans … The DNC also announced Monday that it would hold the 2028 presidential convention from Aug. 7 to Aug. 10, 2028. Five cities — Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver and Philadelphia — are under consideration to host it, officials said.
Discussion:
Denver Post
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Courtenay Brown / Axios:
Iran conflict could worsen America's affordability crisis — The Iran conflict abroad threatens to worsen the affordability crisis at home, as an oil price spike ripples through to pump prices Americans see every day. … - That tension has been on display with global trade …
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Courtenay Brown / Axios:
The Iran conflict matters more for inflation than growth
The Iran conflict matters more for inflation than growth
Discussion:
Washington Post, Associated Press, The Capitolist, WWL-TV, Twin Cities, CBS News, Bloomberg and Newsweek
Sara Luterman / The 19th:
Idaho considers an ‘apocalyptic’ choice for disabled people and families — Stephanie Walters doesn't know what she will do if Idaho stops funding home care for her daughter. Until recently, this option would have been unthinkable. But because of steep cuts to Medicaid …
Karl Bode / Techdirt:
Semafor Keeps Hosting Ridiculous “Restoring Trust In Media” Events That Only Further Undermine Trust In Media — You might recall that when political news website Semafor entered the media industry on the back of $25 million in private money, they made all kinds of promises about how they were somehow going to revolutionize U.S. media.
New York Times:
Labor Secretary's Tenure Marked by Frequent Travel and Internal Tumult … In the weeks after President Trump nominated Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be his labor secretary, she told potential deputies, Labor Department veterans and administration officials that her vision for the role was that of a figurehead.
Discussion:
New Republic
Lindsey Holden / Politico:
GOP targets California for ballot fight on voter ID … While that legislation has no clear path forward in the Senate, the ballot push in California has drawn the attention and money of Republicans nationally. Passing a voter ID law in the Golden State — where ruling Democrats have long served …
Discussion:
New York Post and Los Angeles Times

