A bipartisan group of senators is urging the Defense Department to release roughly $600 million in security assistance for Ukraine and key U.S. allies in Eastern Europe.
In a letter sent to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, lawmakers questioned delays involving funding that Congress approved last year.
The package includes about $400 million designated for Ukraine, along with another $200 million for defense and security programs in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The push reflects growing frustration among members of Congress as lawmakers seek answers from the Trump administration about the status of military aid and broader regional security efforts.
The U.S. military says it carried out what it described as “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and boats allegedly involved in placing mines.
American officials have not released additional details about the threats that prompted the operation or how the strikes could affect ongoing negotiations with Tehran.
The military action comes as President Donald Trump says talks with Iran are “proceeding nicely.” Trump has also suggested that any future agreement should include additional countries joining the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered agreements aimed at normalizing relations with Israel.
The strikes mark another escalation in tensions in the region as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes.
President Donald Trump says he is in no rush to finalize a deal with Iran, signaling negotiations over the three-month conflict remain ongoing despite earlier hopes of a breakthrough.
In a post on Truth Social Sunday, Trump said the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz would remain in place until a formal agreement is completed and signed. He added that both sides need to “take their time and get it right.”
Iran has not officially responded to Trump’s latest comments, though state-linked media reports say major sticking points remain — including Tehran’s demand for access to frozen Iranian funds.
A military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader warned Sunday against additional U.S. action in the strategic waterway, saying Iran would make “the American people miserable and the American economy miserable” if the war continues. He also defended Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, calling it Iran’s “legal right.”
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, normally carrying about one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies. Trump said Saturday the two sides had largely agreed on a framework that could eventually reopen the passage.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday negotiations are still “a work in progress,” but described discussions as moving toward a significant, time-limited agreement over Iran’s nuclear program and reopening the Strait.
Trump administration officials say negotiators are working within a possible 60-day window to finalize terms.
Markets reacted positively Monday morning, with oil prices falling more than 5% and Brent crude dropping below $100 a barrel. Asian stock markets also rallied amid optimism that tensions may ease.
Despite the tentative progress, shipping traffic through the Strait remains sharply reduced. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said only 33 vessels passed through the waterway over a 24-hour period after receiving permission from Tehran — far below the roughly 140 ships typically seen before the conflict began.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to undergo his annual medical exam Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
The White House says the 79-year-old president will receive preventative medical and dental checkups as part of the visit.
The exam will mark Trump’s fourth publicly disclosed physical since returning to office. Presidential medical exams have long been used to provide the public with some insight into a commander in chief’s health, though the White House ultimately decides what information is released.
Trump has recently spoken publicly about feeling healthy while also joking about his fast-food diet and limited exercise routine.
WASHINGTON, May 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he asked Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join the Abraham Accords en masse to normalize relations with Israel as he tries to negotiate an agreement to end the war with Iran.
Pakistan rejected the proposal. None of the other countries has so far publicly reacted to Trump's demand and a positive response was unlikely when the public mistrust of Israel in these Muslim nations remains high over the scale of its military offensive in Gaza.
Trump said he spoke on Saturday to leaders of those countries, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have already signed the accords, a set of agreements to normalize relations with Israel.
"I am mandatorily requesting that all Countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords, and that, if Iran signs its Agreement with me, as President of the United States of America, it would be an Honor to have them also be part of this unparalleled World Coalition," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He cited "all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together."
A Pakistani security source said Trump’s statement reflected an attempt to use Iran ceasefire diplomacy for a wider push around the Abraham Accords, but said the two issues were “not interlinked and cannot be made so."
"Pakistan is under no compulsion to adhere to any such demand,” the source said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's post.
DEEPLY SENSITIVE ISSUE
Trump said one or two of the countries he spoke with may have a reason for not joining, but most should be "ready, willing, and able to make this Settlement with Iran a far more Historic Event than it would, otherwise, be."
For Saudi Arabia — the birthplace of Islam and custodian of its two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina - recognizing Israel would be more than just a diplomatic milestone. It is a deeply sensitive national security issue tied to resolving one of the region’s oldest and most intractable conflicts.
The kingdom's longstanding position has been that it would not sign the accords unless there is an agreement on a roadmap to Palestinian statehood.
Egypt, Jordan and Turkey already have diplomatic relations with Israel, even as those ties have been strained since the start of the Gaza war.
Trump also said negotiations with Iran were "proceeding nicely," but gave no indication a deal was imminent.
Longtime Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham has embraced the idea of linking an Iran deal to expanding the Abraham Accords as "beyond transformative for the region and world."
Others see the strategy as something to make an Iran deal more palatable to skeptics.
"Trump is trying to sell an Iran deal as an Abraham Accords sequel: good for Israel, good for the region, tough enough for Washington," said Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group.
"But he is trading one fantasy for another — from forcing Iran to surrender to pretending a fragile deal can anchor a new Middle East order."
Trump has repeatedly said he wants to expand the accords that he brokered during his first term in the White House.
The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed during Trump's first term in 2020, breaking a longstanding taboo to become the first Arab states to recognise Israel in a quarter century. Morocco and Sudan followed suit.
An explosion at a dry dock in New York City’s Staten Island killed one person and injured 36 others on Friday (May 22), officials said. The blast occurred as firefighters were on the scene responding to a fire and attempting to rescue two people who were trapped.
Two firefighters were hospitalized, including a fire marshal who suffered a fractured temple and a brain bleed and was intubated, officials said. The other firefighter was in serious condition but had shown improvement.
“This was a complex, fast-developing emergency situation,” New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters.
Officials did not provide details about the person who died, except to say the victim was a civilian. A comprehensive investigation will begin once the fire is completely extinguished, Mamdani said.
U.S. President Donald Trump honored fallen service members during the 158th observance of Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery outside the nation's capital on Monday (May 25).
Trump placed a wreath of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a solemn ceremony, where he was accompanied by Vice-President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The three officials stood as the national anthem and taps were played to honor the service and sacrifice of fallen service members.
The risk of a catastrophic explosion of a damaged chemical tank Southern California has been eliminated following a close overnight inspection that confirmed a crack in the tank has relieved pressure and cooled the chemical. Officials said crews conducted tank temperature checks at night to reduce risks to firefighters, avoiding daytime operations when heat from the tank made conditions around it most dangerous. The overnight mission allowed crews to verify the crack and confirm temperatures were falling, Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey said Monday morning.
A bystander who was struck by gunfire after a man fired on a checkpoint outside the White House and was fatally shot by U.S. Secret Service officers remained in serious but stable condition Sunday.
The Secret Service said the bystander, who has not been identified, suffered a gunshot wound described as not life-threatening. It was not clear how he was shot.
Authorities have released few additional details about the early Saturday evening shooting. The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department said the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, started shooting toward a White House security checkpoint when Secret Service officers returned fire. Best, of Dundalk, Maryland, was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
No officers were injured, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement posted on social media. “Our thoughts are also with the innocent bystander who was wounded during this incident,” Curran said. “The Secret Service is hopeful he will make a full recovery.”
President Donald Trump was in the White House at the time of the shooting.
It was the third shooting near the president in the past month, after a man stormed the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April armed with guns and knives, and Secret Service officers shot and wounded a man who fired at them earlier this month near the Washington Monument.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the suspect in Saturday’s shooting had a “possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure.” He also used the shooting to promote the ballroom he is seeking to build on the site of the White House’s former East Wing, saying the shooting “goes to show how important it is, for all future Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C.” Trump is asking Congress for $1 billion for security additions for the White House campus, including the ballroom.
Best had a previous run-in with law enforcement near the White House, according to District of Columbia court records. He was arrested last July for attempting to enter White House grounds near a different checkpoint. He failed to heed officers’ commands to stop, claimed to be Jesus Christ and said he wanted to be arrested.
Best was a track and field athlete at Dundalk High School, from which he graduated in 2023.
A woman who identified herself as Best’s mother told The Washington Post that she learned about the shooting on social media and was in disbelief. She said her son “was never violent, regardless of what people are posting.”
The bystander who was struck by gunfire after a man fired on a checkpoint outside the White House and was fatally shot by U.S. Secret Service officers remains in serious condition. The Secret Service on Sunday said the bystander, who has not been identified, suffered a gunshot wound described as not life-threatening. Authorities have released few additional details about the early Saturday evening shooting. The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department said the suspect, 21-year-old Nasire Best, started shooting toward a White House security checkpoint when Secret Service officers returned fire. Best, of Dundalk, Maryland, was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Erin reacts to Candace Owens' latest claims and asks a simple question: where's the evidence? From explosive allegations to personal attacks, this one raises serious questions about where commentary ends and something else begins.
Episode 161 (Part 1) | Tucker Carlson Said 4 Words… And I’m DISGUSTED
Tucker Carlson sparks outrage after dismissing the horrors of Islamic Jihad with four words that left Erin Molan genuinely furious. In this explosive episode, Erin reacts to Tucker’s latest comments, Megyn Kelly’s defense of Thomas Massie, Candace Owens’ latest controversy, Robert De Niro’s attacks on Stephen Miller, anti-Israel activists aboard the flotilla, and the growing hypocrisy surrounding political violence and terrorism.
Erin also takes aim at The View, reacts to Hunter Biden’s bizarre exchange with Candace Owens, breaks down Trump’s grip on the Republican Party, and explains why the West continues to ignore the real threat of extremism.
This is one of Erin’s most emotional monologues yet.
#ErinMolan #TuckerCarlson #IslamicJihad #CandaceOwens #MegynKelly #ThomasMassie #Trump #Israel #TheView #HunterBiden #StephenMiller #Politics #News #Commentary
⏱ CHAPTERS
00:00 Erin’s chaotic start before the show
00:51 Political violence & Robert De Niro’s attacks on Stephen Miller
03:18 The flotilla activists controversy & anti-Israel hypocrisy
05:04 Why the outrage disappears when Israel isn’t involved
05:42 Megyn Kelly, Thomas Massie & the Israel debate
08:09 Candace Owens & Hunter Biden’s bizarre exchange
09:52 Dave Smith mocked after Trump’s political win
10:42 The UK, Prince William & the monarchy moment
11:50 Erin unloads on The View & Joy Behar
13:20 Tucker Carlson’s “Islamic Jihad” comments spark outrage
14:56 Erin’s emotional closing message
🔥 Don’t miss a single moment. Subscribe now and join the fight for truth and clarity!
📺 Watch full episodes: YouTube.com/@Erin_Molan
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Z7zQbC
🍏 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3ZZqrbN
In a shocking twist, the media's silence on a recent mosque shooting in San Diego is raising eyebrows. The episode delves into the story behind the story, exploring why the mainstream media isn't giving it the attention it deserves.
This episode discusses the recent mosque shooting in San Diego, where two young men opened fire, killing three people before taking their own lives. The speaker highlights the fact that the media isn't giving this story the same level of attention as other similar incidents, and that the reason might be more complex than initially meets the eye. The discussion touches on the shooters' manifesto, which reveals a disturbing mix of anti-Trump and anti-liberal rhetoric, as well as their apparent admiration for a notorious mass murderer.
The episode also explores the mosque's history, including its ties to radical groups and the Imam's past statements that have been criticized for being anti-Israel. The speaker argues that the media's reluctance to cover this story might be due to the fact that it doesn't fit the narrative they want to push, and that the truth behind the mosque's activities and the shooters' motivations is being swept under the rug.
If you're curious about the story behind the story and why the media isn't giving this incident the attention it deserves, tune in to this episode to hear the speaker's insightful analysis and discussion.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradio
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshow
Parler: https://parler.com/carljacksonshow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshow
http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.com
Visit our Store https://CarlJacksonStore.com
Episode 160 — Behnam Ben Taleblu joins Erin Molan to break down the rapidly changing situation with Iran, Trump’s strategy, the Strait of Hormuz, and why the headlines may not be telling the full story.
As reports swirl about a possible Trump-Iran “deal,” ceasefire negotiations, and growing pressure from Gulf nations, Erin sits down with one of the world’s leading experts on Iran from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to unpack what’s REALLY happening behind the scenes.
Is this genuine diplomacy… or a dangerous pause that could ultimately strengthen the Islamic regime of Iran?
From Trump’s willingness to use force, to Israel’s role, the economic blockade crushing Iran’s oil exports, and the growing divide inside the America First movement — this is the conversation you need before the next headline drops.
WATCH until the end for the chilling reality of just how hard the U.S. economic blockade is now hitting Iran’s regime.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Trump, Iran & the “deal” confusion
00:53 Is Trump preparing for a strike or a memorandum?
02:55 Why diplomacy with Iran may never work
06:45 “Make no mistake… this is war”
07:33 Gulf nations, Israel & who’s influencing Trump
08:42 Erin calls out the hypocrisy around foreign influence
10:22 Will military action return?
12:12 The economic war against Iran explained
13:25 Iran’s collapsing oil exports & growing pressure
15:01 What happens next for Iran, Trump & the region?
#Iran #Trump #Israel #MiddleEast #ErinMolan #DonaldTrump #IranDeal #BreakingNews #WorldNews #Politics
🔥 Don’t miss a single moment. Subscribe now and join the fight for truth and clarity!
📺 Watch full episodes: / @erin_molan
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Z7zQbC
🍏 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3ZZqrbN
Episode 159 (Part 2) | Fan Feedback took a turn... and Erin ended up apologizing to her mum.
This episode starts with hate comments and somehow ends with dating requests, awkward compliments, bizarre insults and one comment so outrageous Erin literally has to stop and apologize to her mother watching at home.
From Israel and Gaza criticism, Zionist accusations and political backlash, to reactions about Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Megyn Kelly, nothing is off limits. Add in strange DMs, body comments and internet chaos... and this Fan Feedback segment completely goes off the rails.
Also in this episode, Erin shares why the new Hillsdale College Revolutionary America documentary, narrated by Tom Selleck, left even a proud Australian feeling inspired. Revolutionary America brings the story of America's founding to life and asks a powerful question: what would you risk for freedom?
🎟️ Get tickets for Revolutionary America here:
hillsdale.edu/revolution
Also: apparently Erin is now a vampire.
In this episode:
Erin responds to criticism over Israel and Gaza
“Zio trash” comments and online backlash
Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Megyn Kelly reactions
Hate comments that spiral into chaos
Unexpected dating requests
The comment that made Erin apologize to her mum
Why bad arguments still deserve a response
If you're new here, subscribe and join the conversation.
Chapters:
00:00 Fan Feedback begins
00:28 Hate comments start immediately
01:10 Israel criticism and Erin responds
02:09 Online insults get personal
03:00 Erin addresses fan reactions
04:32 Megan criticism and swearing debate
06:17 "Tough chick act" comments
07:55 "Who even are you?"
09:17 The comments become unhinged
10:00 Dating requests and awkward DMs
11:10 Erin remembers her father Jim
12:00 Body comments and clapbacks
13:10 Tucker, Candace and influence
14:27 "Sorry Mum..." moment
#ErinMolan #FanFeedback #CandaceOwens #TuckerCarlson #MegynKelly #Israel #Politics #Podcast #News #Commentary
🔥 Don’t miss a single moment. Subscribe now and join the fight for truth and clarity!
📺 Watch full episodes: / @erin_molan
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Z7zQbC
🍏 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3ZZqrbN
Episode 159 of The Erin Molan Show — Erin sits down with Gabe Groisman to break down one of the most talked-about Republican battles in America and why the fallout could be much bigger than one Kentucky race.
Thomas Massie’s stunning defeat has sparked a larger conversation about the future of the Republican Party, the growing divide on the right, and whether figures like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Megyn Kelly represent a movement gaining strength… or hitting resistance. Erin and Gabe discuss what this result could mean for the GOP going forward and why many see it as a major political message.
Plus: Iran tensions are once again reaching a boiling point. With President Trump warning that major decisions could be coming soon, Erin and Gabe debate whether negotiations can realistically work, if military action is inevitable, and what regime change could mean not just for Israel and the Middle East — but for America, Russia and China as well.
And finally, a major development involving Cuba and why many in South Florida are calling it a historic moment.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome Gabe Groisman
00:45 Thomas Massie's crushing loss
02:25 What this says about the Republican Party
04:30 Does money actually buy elections?
05:00 Trump, Iran and a ticking clock
07:35 Why Iran negotiations face huge obstacles
09:00 Regime change and America's dilemma
11:15 Cuba reactions erupt in Miami
12:15 Why Gabe says this moment matters
Subscribe and join us for more fearless conversations, breaking news and analysis on politics, culture and the stories shaping the world.
#ErinMolan #ThomasMassie #Trump #Iran #TuckerCarlson #CandaceOwens #MegynKelly #Republicans #GOP #MiddleEast #Israel #Politics
🔥 Don’t miss a single moment. Subscribe now and join the fight for truth and clarity!
📺 Watch full episodes: / @erin_molan
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Z7zQbC
🍏 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3ZZqrbN
Mark and his guests discuss the politics of guns and the things important to >>Mark and his guests discuss the politics of guns and the things important to gun owners as the nation’s second amendment protections face continuous threats from the administration, well funded anti-gun groups and the mainstream media. <<
Mike Gallagher is one of the most listened-to radio talk show hosts in America. >>Mike Gallagher is one of the most listened-to radio talk show hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is . . . . <<
Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media >>Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show . . . . <<
Jennings is battle-tested on cable news, a veteran of four presidential >>Jennings is battle-tested on cable news, a veteran of four presidential campaigns, and a former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush. Now, he’s on a mission to arm listeners with common sense, crush liberal narratives, and help shape the . . . . <<
Salem Media, our partners, and affiliates use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, personalize site content, and deliver relevant video recommendations. By using this website and continuing to navigate, you consent to our use of such technologies and the sharing of video viewing activity with third-party partners in accordance with the Video Privacy Protection Act and other privacy laws.Privacy Policy