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Senate votes to confirm Kash Patel as Trump’s FBI director

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From LifeSiteNews

By Calvin Freiburger

Former Justice Department attorney and outspoken MAGA champion Kash Patel was confirmed as America’s next FBI director in a narrow 51-49 vote on Thursday, with a mandate to root out weaponization of the federal government against conservatives.

The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate voted 51-49 Thursday to confirm Kash Patel as President Donald Trump’s Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), betting on a staunch MAGA loyalist to uproot “weaponization” of federal law enforcement against conservatives.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine were the only Republicans to vote against Patel. Retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, a longtime GOP leader in the chamber who had a tumultuous relationship with Trump, surprised observers by voting yes.

A former Justice Department and House Republican attorney, Patel first gained notoriety in 2018 as the author of a memo in former Rep. Devin Nunes’ (R-CA) investigation of the Russian collusion allegations against Trump, which found serious defects and misconduct in Democrats’ case against Trump and how they built it. Patel went on to join the first Trump administration as Trump’s senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council, then senior adviser for Trump’s directors of national intelligence, then finally chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller.

Since the end of Trump’s first term, Patel established himself as one of Trump’s most aggressive advocates, arguing that he would be the best man to investigate and prosecute Biden officials as well as their allies in the media, and building a MAGA audience of his own through regular appearances on Steve Bannon’s podcast, his own branded merchandise, and a series of children’s books retelling Trump’s battles with Democrats as fairy tales.

Patel was seen as one of Trump’s nominees less certain to win Senate GOP support, given his fiery post-2020 persona and associations. However, while former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) withdrew his attorney general nomination over internal party resistance, a majority of Senate Republicans ultimately fell in line behind Trump’s choices of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence.

During his confirmation hearings, Patel promised, “I will fully utilize, if confirmed, the investigative powers of the FBI to give you the information you require and also to hold those accountable who violated the sacred trust placed in the FBI,” including by targeting religious Americans for their peaceful moral and political views under the Biden administration.

“Parents who have the courage to ensure that their children are taught what they feel is right and those who have the courage of their convictions to go to houses of worship, in my book, will never be treated as domestic terrorists,” he added.

As FBI director, Patel will be working closely with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has similarly pledged to de-weaponize federal law enforcement.

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conflict

One dead, over 60 injured after Iranian missiles pierce Iron Dome

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Quick Hit:

Iran launched four waves of missile attacks Friday night, breaching Israel’s defenses and killing at least one person. Over 60 others were injured, with the IDF confirming direct strikes on civilian areas in Tel Aviv and central Israel.

Key Details:

  • The Israel Defense Forces reported four rounds of Iranian missile fire, with at least ten missiles making impact inside Israel.

  • One person was killed and 63 wounded, including several in critical condition, according to The Jerusalem Post.

  • The IDF said Iran deliberately targeted civilians, contrasting its own earlier strikes that focused on Iranian military assets.

Diving Deeper:

Several Iranian missiles broke through Israel’s air defenses during Friday night’s attack, striking Tel Aviv and other civilian areas. According to The Jerusalem Post, at least 63 people were wounded and one person was killed after four waves of Iranian ballistic missile strikes hit cities across Israel.

The IDF reportedly said roughly 100 missiles were fired in total. While the Iron Dome intercepted many, multiple missiles made it through and exploded in densely populated areas. Dramatic video showed a missile striking near downtown Tel Aviv, sending fire and debris into the air as people ran for cover.

Army Radio confirmed that ten missiles landed inside Israel between the first two waves. By the time the third and fourth waves hit, injuries had climbed sharply, with several listed in critical condition. The one fatality was reported late Friday night.

The Israeli Home Front Command temporarily allowed civilians to exit shelters but quickly reversed that guidance, urging residents to stay near protected areas amid fears of further attacks.

The IDF emphasized the nature of the targets, calling out Iran for targeting civilians. The IDF also released maps showing where air raid sirens were triggered throughout the night. Though Israel’s Home Front Command briefly allowed civilians to exit shelters, it advised them to remain nearby in case of continued strikes. As of late Friday, Iranian officials claimed a fifth wave could follow.

With tensions still high, Israeli defense officials are preparing for potential further escalation—and weighing how to respond to a direct Iranian attack on civilians.

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Iran nuclear talks were ‘coordinated deception’ between US and Israel: report

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From LifeSiteNews

By Kyle Anzalone

Reports state that U.S. peace talks were a ruse and that Trump gave Netanyahu a ‘green light’ to hit Iran’s nuclear and military sites, killing top commanders.

A senior Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post that Tel Aviv and Washington worked together to convince Tehran that diplomacy was still possible after Israel was ready to attack Iran. Just hours before Israel’s massive assault began, President Donald Trump maintained he was still committed to talks.

The Israeli outlet reports, “The round of U.S.-Iranian nuclear negotiations scheduled for Sunday was part of a coordinated U.S.-Israeli deception aimed at lowering Iran’s guard ahead of Friday’s attack.”

READ: Israel strikes Iran’s nuclear sites, kills top commanders in massive air assault

In a post on Truth Social shortly before the Israeli strikes began, Trump declared that “We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue! My entire Administration has been directed to negotiate with Iran. They could be a Great Country, but they first must completely give up hopes of obtaining a Nuclear Weapon. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

After the Israeli attack was in progress, Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the U.S. was involved. However, American officials have said the White House was aware Israel was set to begin striking Iran, with Trump telling Fox News he was briefed on the operation.

Barak Ravid of Axios, moreover, later reported that Tel Aviv was given “a clear U.S. green light” to start bombing, citing two unnamed Israeli officials.

Sources speaking with Axios said the perceived split between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was coordinated behind the scenes. “Two Israeli officials claimed to Axios that Trump and his aides were only pretending to oppose an Israeli attack in public – and didn’t express opposition in private,” the report explained. “The goal, they say, was to convince Iran that no attack was imminent and make sure Iranians on Israel’s target list wouldn’t move to new locations.”

The sources said that Trump and Netanyahu discussed the attack during a phone call on Monday. After the call, reports said Trump pressed Netanyahu not to attack Iran, but that was another effort to deceive Iran.

In a second post following the attack, Trump said he gave Iran the opportunity to make a deal, and suggested that Israel used American weapons in the massive air raid. “I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,” the president wrote.

The U.S. and Iran began negotiations on establishing a new nuclear agreement in April, with the two sides engaging in five rounds of Omani-mediated talks. At times, a deal appeared possible, with Iranian officials saying the dialogue was leading to progress. A sixth round of talks was scheduled for Sunday, but now appears unlikely.

A second source speaking with the Jerusalem Post said the goal of Israel’s military operations was not the complete destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities, but rather to hit missile sites and top Iranian leaders to bring down the government.

Israel has conducted several rounds of strikes so far, hitting nuclear facilities, residential buildings in Tehran, and military sites. Iran has confirmed that several military leaders and nuclear scientists were killed in the bombing.

Reprinted with permission from Antiwar.com.

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