News and Analysis 6/18/25

Trump’s disturbing boast “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran” gives the lie to his denial of U.S. involvement:

• Trump’s Claim About “Control of the Skies over Iran” Raises Questions About U.S. Involvement in Conflict (CBS News)

Trump sides with Netanyahu against his own Nati0nal Security chief:

• US Spies Said Iran Wasn’t Building a Nuclear Weapon. Trump Dismisses that Assessment (AP)

As “evidence is mounting that the White House is marching toward military action against the Islamic Republic” …

• All the Signs Trump Is Preparing for a US Attack on Iran (Newsweek)

… and Mike Huckabee urges Trump insure the current war turns into Armageddon …

• Huckabee Suggests Trump Should Nuke Iran, Follow Guidance From “Heaven” (Truthout)

… “Conservative and progressive lawmakers want to force a vote on a resolution to require the administration to seek congressional approval before going to war in the Middle East” …

• A Left-right Coalition Seeks to Limit Trump’s Power to Get Involved in Israel-Iran Conflict (NBC News)

… and the general public is not enthusiastic:

• As Trump Considers US Strikes on Iran, Polls Suggest Americans May Not Be into It (CNN)

Is victory for Israel an Iran with no nuclear program or regime change?

• Israeli Strikes Have Not Knocked Out Iran’s Nuclear Programme – or Its Nuclear Ambitions (The Guardian)
• Is Israel Trying to Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Program — or Topple its Government? (Vox)
• Tuesday Briefing: What Israel Really Wants in Iran – and What Might Come Next (The Guardian)

Israeli war crimes expand:

• Israeli Actions in Palestinian Territories Constitute War Crimes, Human Rights Council Hears (UN News)
• At Least 51 Palestinians Killed While Waiting for Aid Trucks in Gaza, Health Officials Say (AP)

An assistant professor of engineering at Cornell University and cybersecurity expert, said it’s been demonstrated that it’s possible to understand metadata about WhatsApp that does not get encrypted”:

• Iran Asks Its People to Delete WhatsApp from Their Devices (AP)

The Zionist war on free speech — and the resistance — continues:

• Fighting Antisemitism Should Not Come at the Expense of the First Amendment (Reason)

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