x01a Research Archives

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Tuesday on CNN’s “The Source,” former Vice President Mike Pence said President Donald Trump’s deal with Iran “smacks of appeasement.”

Pence said, “Iran has been at war with the United States, and our cherished ally Israel, for 47 years. And I strongly supported, the president’s decision for the first time in modern history to take the fight directly to the mullahs in Tehran last year. And then again, this year. And I do believe the president has earned some latitude in negotiating an end to hostilities. But I have very real concerns. I look like apparently an awful lot of people on this, I just don’t trust the Iranians. I’ve been quite close to those issues from my time in the White House, many briefings in the Situation Room, as well as my years on the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House. So I’ve been the Iranians, particularly with regard to their nuclear ambition, have essentially a legacy of lies.”

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Although the league says it was merely responding to a run-of-the-mill rule infraction, its warning to three San Francisco Giants players after a recent game struck many Americans as inherently anti-Christian.

The trio wrote Bible verses onto their caps before the “Pride Night” game during which the team had been instructed to wear rainbow-themed uniforms. 

In response to the move, the MLB handed down its reprimand and, in turn, opened itself up to widespread criticism.

As The Hill reported, Vice President J.D. Vance was among the critics:

“To be clear, this routine verbal warning not to wear the hat in future games is not disciplinary and had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message,” MLB told The New York Times about the incident. “We respect players’ right to free expression. However, writing of any kind, with any message, is prohibited per Major League Baseball’s uniform regulations.”

Vance, in a social media post on Tuesday, responded to a Sports Illustrated report about the warning, saying “Trump won we don’t have to do this anymore.”

MLB is one of several major sports leagues that features annual Pride nights and events, encouraging teams to celebrate diversity during Pride Month in June.

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The U.S. government’s decision to stop Anthropic from offering its Mythos and Fable 5 models to non-U.S. nationals may end up providing a big boost to the adoption of open-source models, including those from Chinese AI labs like DeepSeek and Moonshot AI.

Users can download open-source models and run them on their own computers or cloud networks, effectively sidestepping the ability of both AI developers and governments to control access. These models can also be more easily fine-tuned by developers to tailor them for specific needs.

Chinese labs are already claiming a public relations win from the Anthropic controversy.

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Trump administration officials began weighing sanctions on Anthropic weeks before they demanded the company take its latest and most advanced artificial intelligence model offline, after a dispute shattered the White House’s already-fragile trust in the company, according to two White House officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private deliberations.

 

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Republicans in Georgia just proved that one thing can overcome the power of President Donald Trump’s endorsement: an endless stream of cash.

Health care executive Rick Jackson defeated Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial primary Tuesday, with the help of over $100 million of his personal wealth.

Jones’ loss is a major upset for the president in a marquee battleground state, and it follows several high-profile Trump losses in 2022, when his candidates either lost their primaries or the general election. The result is also a rare blunder for Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who joined Trump in endorsing Jones to be his successor ahead of Tuesday’s primary, after months of sitting on the sidelines of the race.

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TOKYO, June 17. /TASS/. Japan purchased approximately 364,000 barrels of oil from Russia in May this year, according to TASS calculations based on statistical data published by Japan’s Finance Ministry.

According to the data, Japan imported 58,000 kiloliters of Russian oil last month, equivalent to approximately 364,800 barrels. The purchases concerned oil linked to gas supply contracts under the Sakhalin-2 project, which is exempt from anti-Russian sanctions. The oil is also exempt from the price cap introduced by the G7 countries. According to TASS calculations, the price of Russian oil purchased by Japan in May amounted to approximately $103 per barrel.

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Happy Wednesday, dear Kruiser Morning Briefing friends. The Sine Qua Non Sequitur is investigating rumors of a “Never Ending Meat Wheel” at a Wednesdays-only speakeasy somewhere near the Inner Hebrides.

This isn’t just about California today, but that’s always a good starting place for any overall examination of the extreme leftward drift of the Democratic Party. As we discussed last week, that is the proving ground for the most insane leftist initiatives and schemes that the Dems hope to one day mainstream.

Our jumping off point is a real doozy, even by California lunatic fringe standards. Had I not read it on one of our sister sites, I probably would have triple-checked it. This is from my Townhall colleague Joseph Chalfant:

A new report from the City Journal revealed the “LGBTBE Certification” process that individuals must go through should they wish to receive preferential treatment in the taxpayer-funded contract bidding process in the state of California.

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The U.S. military attacked a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, killing one man and leaving two survivors, as the Trump administration continues its monthslong campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America.

The latest attack brings the number of people who have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military to at least 208 since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls “narcoterrorists” in early September.

As with most of the military’s statements on strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, U.S. Southern Command said it targeted the alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes. The military did not provide evidence that the vessel was ferrying drugs. A video posted on X showed a boat traveling in the water before being hit by the strike and bursting into flames.

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Apparently, it’s “Loneliness Awareness Week,” thanks to a global campaign emanating from the United Kingdom.

On the surface, the idea of a “Loneliness Awareness Week” sounds as cozy as the founding organization’s name, Marmalade Trust. That group self-identifies as a “charity,” but it acts more like a nongovernmental organization (NGO) devoted to government and globalist involvement in shaping our social connections.

Marmalade Trust’s home page proudly announces that its mission to fight loneliness is “joined by organisations globally,” including 10 Downing Street, the U.K.’s National Health Service, the BBC, The Guardian, Public Health England, and various other globalist and media outlets. On another page, it boasts that Loneliness Awareness Week has had the involvement of “the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London, NHS trusts, and all government departments.  We have even had a special Royal Mail postage stamp!” The London transit authority is also partnering with the campaign by encouraging people to chat with strangers on public transit, seemingly to help overcome the loneliness epidemic.

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The grieving father of a white teen murdered by a black teen is actually to blame for his death, according to a Howard University professor.

Last week, a Texas jury found Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder after he stabbed Austin Metcalf in the heart during a confrontation in April 2025 at a track meet. Anthony argued he acted out of self-defense after Metcalf pushed him during an argument under a tent.

Coming to Anthony’s defense is Professor Stacey Patton, who teaches journalism at Howard University. Patton has previously suggested Charlie Kirk “paid” the “price” for supporting gun rights. She also previously defended riots in Baltimore and suggested racial jokes by comedians can be to blame for the killings of black people.

Patton, in a long post on her Substack page, blamed Jeff Metcalf, the father of the murdered teen, for the death, saying he was a “failure.”

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Jacob Wenske, 26, was charged in late May with one count of making a terroristic threat against Kirk.

A new report has revealed that anti-Christian extremism and “assassination culture” could have fueled a recent assassination attempt that targeted the widow of Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk, who is now leading Turning Point USA. The report comes as threats against public officials have increased.

Jacob Wenske, 26, was charged in late May with one count of making a terroristic threat involving public fear of serious bodily injury or public disruption after he allegedly planned to bomb a Turning Point USA event where Kirk was set to speak as the keynote.

At the time, he wrote in an email to Turning Point USA that he was targeting Kirk as well as other “Christian nationalists,” according to police documents. The suspect had also posted multiple threats on social media in addition to the email, according to the Fox News.

The threats against Kirk allegedly from Wenske emerge as there have been a record number of threats against members of Congress as well as other political figures in the US. According to the US Capitol Police Threat Assessment, there was a 58 percent increase in threats against members of Congress from 2024 to 2025.

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President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Tuesday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, as the leaders of the world’s largest economies renew their focus on the war in Ukraine amid hopes the Iran conflict is nearing a conclusion.

Mr. Trump told reporters after the sit-down that the two had a “very good meeting” and that he planned to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart again later in the day.

Asked about the war, Mr. Trump responded, “Russia should make a deal.”

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The strategy of selling killing based on it being limited to rare circumstances is used in every jurisdiction when debating the legalization of poisoning.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) argues that once legal, the assisted killing law inevitably expands because it is discriminatory to allow doctors to kill one group of people while restricting doctors from killing another group of people with similar conditions. EPC has been vilified for our honesty.

The Globe and Mail published an opinion article on June 13 by Dr Konia Trouton titled: Why are the rules different for MAiD depending on what you have? Trouton is not only a euthanasia doctor but she is also a co-founder and past president of CAMAP (Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Practitioners) and she helped develop the curriculum for training doctors to poison (kill) their patients.

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The United States supports Gulf countries contributing hundreds of billions of dollars to Iran, but will not contribute itself, according to Vice President JD Vance.

The subject of funds either given to or made available for Iran has been a primary source of questions as the Trump administration prepares to sign its Memorandum of Understanding with Tehran on Friday.

“That’s the sort of thing they could have access to, funded by the Gulf Coast Coalition, so long as they honor their end of the obligation,” Vance told CBS News on Monday, when asked whether the U.S.-Iran memorandum electronically signed Sunday allowed for a “$300 billion reconstruction fund.”

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Major League Baseball (MLB) threatened to punish several Christian ballplayers for the San Francisco Giants on Monday after they inscribed Bible verses on their team’s “pride night” uniforms.

“The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations,” MLB Chief Communications Officer Pat Courtney said in a statement to media outlets.

The league further claimed that “writing on uniforms violates MLB rules,” according to local media.

The warning came days after pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker all wrote variations of Genesis 9:12-16 on their LGBT-themed hats during the Giants’ Friday matchup against the Chicago Cubs. The Bible verses detail God’s use of a rainbow to symbolize His covenant that He would never again destroy mankind by flooding the Earth.

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By a single vote, the Senate shot down a proposal on Tuesday that would have reined in President Donald Trump’s ability to use military force against Iran without Congress’s approval.

The vote fell just one vote short of advancing with 48-47. Republican Senators Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul voted with the Democrats. On the flip side, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) crossed the aisle to vote alongside the Republican majority against the bill.

Introduced by Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), the resolution sought to require congressional approval for continued U.S. military action involving Iran. Warnock had urged Republicans to vote for it, arguing that Congress shouldn’t just sit back and let the president make all the decisions on foreign wars.

The vote occurred as lawmakers pressed the White House for details about an agreement Trump announced Sunday between Washington and Tehran that he has promoted as a path toward ending months of fighting.

“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!” Trump declared on Truth Social.

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New UK government AI planning prototype built with Gemini aims to halve the time it takes to process homeowner applications

Around the world, Governments are exploring how AI can deliver better public services, faster. The UK is working to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029, but local planning authorities are often slowed down by dense paperwork and administrative backlogs. To help get Britain building, we’re partnering with the UK government to help radically shorten the time it takes to process householder planning applications. Our goal is to help officers cut application decision times by 50%, freeing up time for planners so that more homes can be built. We’re excited to see how our National Partnerships for AI, which seek to support reimagining of public services to create more resilient societies, can help Britain build faster.

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For years, comedian Nate Bargatze has built a career doing something that almost no one else in modern comedy can pull off.

He makes people laugh without being filthy, which is probably another reason the left wants him canceled this week after he attended President Donald Trump’s birthday last weekend.

Kids and adults can watch his sets, and everyone can leave entertained without having to sit through a string of vulgar jokes.

The model has made him a star.

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US-Iran War LIVE Updates: Protests erupted in Iran after a memorandum of understanding was reached with the US to bring peace to the Middle East region, with people calling Iranian leaders Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf “compromisers”.

Trump said the deal will be signed by the two sides on Friday in Geneva, after which the Strait of Hormuz will be opened and operated without fees. “Ships are starting to move, many loaded up with Oil, out of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said, adding later that he did not “think we will need much help” keeping the waterway open. Iran has continued to voice its lack of trust in Washington. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said a “final agreement” will be reached within two months, deliberations over which will include aspects like the nuclear programme and Tehran’s $25 billion frozen assets.

The deal has brought differences between the US and Israel out in the open, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israeli troops would remain in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria for “as long as necessary”. He said that the military campaign against Iran had spared his country from the threat of “nuclear annihilation”. He pledged that Iran would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, regardless of the terms of any agreement.

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Late last week, Anthropic took its new Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models offline following a United States government export-control directive barring “any foreign national” from using the services. The company has been in talks with the White House since Friday but has yet to secure an agreement that would allow it to reinstate the offerings.

Since Mythos debuted in April, Anthropic has claimed—and warned—that the model has advanced capabilities for not only finding software vulnerabilities to help defenders patch them, but also figuring out ways to exploit them that could be used by bad actors. Anthropic itself noted this double edged sword in its launch of Mythos 5 and Claude Fable 5. “A great deal of advanced usage of AI models is dual use: the same queries that are beneficial in the hands of cybersecurity professionals and biology researchers could be dangerous if available to malicious actors,” the company wrote in a blog post last week.

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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is demanding answers from Major League Baseball (MLB) after it threatened to punish several players for expressing their Christian faith.

In a Tuesday letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, the Show Me State’s senior senator requested the league account for its recent warning to a group of San Francisco Giants players over their decision to inscribe Bible verses on their “pride night” hats. The players wrote variations of Genesis 9:12-16, which details God’s use of a rainbow to symbolize His covenant that He would never again destroy mankind by flooding the Earth.

Following leftist backlash, MLB released a statement Monday, saying, “The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations.”

Writing to Manfred about the incident, Hawley cited a recent story involving a Washington Nationals executive who was fired after admitting on camera that the team discriminated against one of their Christian players. In doing so, the GOP senator demanded that the commissioner “must answer for what appears to be a pattern of discrimination within MLB against baseball players who profess their Christian faith.”

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Although the league says it was merely responding to a run-of-the-mill rule infraction, its warning to three San Francisco Giants players after a recent game struck many Americans as inherently anti-Christian.

The trio wrote Bible verses onto their caps before the “Pride Night” game during which the team had been instructed to wear rainbow-themed uniforms. 

In response to the move, the MLB handed down its reprimand and, in turn, opened itself up to widespread criticism.

As The Hill reported, Vice President J.D. Vance was among the critics:

“To be clear, this routine verbal warning not to wear the hat in future games is not disciplinary and had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message,” MLB told The New York Times about the incident. “We respect players’ right to free expression. However, writing of any kind, with any message, is prohibited per Major League Baseball’s uniform regulations.”

Vance, in a social media post on Tuesday, responded to a Sports Illustrated report about the warning, saying “Trump won we don’t have to do this anymore.”

MLB is one of several major sports leagues that features annual Pride nights and events, encouraging teams to celebrate diversity during Pride Month in June.

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Liberal actor Robert De Niro launched into another anti-Trump tirade over the weekend, declaring that he “can’t love” a country led by President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a New York City event focused on the First Amendment, the longtime Hollywood star accused Trump of being a “racist, misogynist, xenophobic tyrant.”

De Niro compared loving America under Trump’s leadership to an abusive relationship.