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Year: 2026

Republicans break with Trump to rebuke Iran war — but it won’t change policy

Republicans break with Trump to rebuke Iran war — but it won’t change policy

Senate Democrats scored another win in pushing back against President Donald Trump’s war in Iran on Tuesday, but the symbolic victory won’t actually curb his war powers in the region.  Aided by absences from Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Dave McCormick, R-Pa., Democrats and a handful of Republicans passed a war powers resolution rebuking the conflict in Iran. It’s the same resolution that passed the House earlier this month in a rare display of House Republicans breaking with Trump.  Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., joined nearly every Senate Democrat to adopt the resolution on a 50 to 48 vote.  But unlike several previous attempts in the Senate to curb Trump’s authority, the House-passed measure does not carry any legally binding weight and won’t go to the president’s desk for his signature, where it would likely be vetoed.  TRUMP SUFFERS RARE HOUSE DEFEAT AS BIPARTISAN VOTE MOVES TO WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM IRAN CONFLICT Still, after stumbling last week, Democrats notched another victory against the war. The vote comes as Congress reels over the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the U.S. and Iran that, for now, has allotted more time for officials to negotiate a longer-lasting peace deal. Many Republicans recoiled at the drip-feed of information coming out about the deal, with some comparing it to former President Barack Obama’s own Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., shredded the MOU in a statement Thursday in which he cautioned that the agreement “negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury in ways that are completely out of step with the president’s goals.” TOP SENATE REPUBLICAN RIPS INTO TRUMP’S IRAN DEAL, SAYS $300 BILLION MAKES OBAMA DEAL LOOK LIKE ‘A PITTANCE’ Wicker took particular issue with the proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund, which he acknowledged wouldn’t be funded by taxpayers, but “would make Iran’s payoff under President Obama’s 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison.”  Other Republicans aren’t thrilled with sanctions on Iranian oil being lifted, even temporarily, after years of keeping their oil business in a vice grip.  Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he wanted to “tie lifting sanctions or financial incentives to conditions on Iranian behavior,” and acknowledged that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was a component of that. IRAN WAR’S PRICE TAG HITS $80B — MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT CONGRESS WAS TOLD But he also said that the “objective here is always going to be Iranian compliance” with ending their nuclear program in exchange for financial incentives. And if the final deal does include an agreement touching Iran’s nuclear program, lawmakers will get to vote on it.  Congress is also gearing up to mull an $80 billion supplemental spending request from the Pentagon to cover the costs of the war, a figure that’s more than double what War Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon comptroller told lawmakers during a hearing earlier this year. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., argued that as the MOU takes hold, now is the “perfect time for Congress to step back and ask ourselves the question of what should the next chapter be, rather than allowing one man to make that decision.” “If you have to come to us for diplomacy, and you have to come to us for money, you shouldn’t be able to end-run us to initiate war on our own,” Kaine said.

Alaska’s blockbuster Senate race thrown into chaos as same-name challenger fights disqualification in court

Alaska’s blockbuster Senate race thrown into chaos as same-name challenger fights disqualification in court

A controversial candidate sharing the name and party affiliation of a vulnerable GOP incumbent is vowing not to go down without a fight after Alaska’s top election official blocked him from the state’s blockbuster Senate race.  Dan J. Sullivan, the same-name challenger running against Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, R-Alaska, filed a lawsuit to remain on the August primary ballot after Director of Elections Carol Beecher disqualified his candidacy last week. Beecher determined that Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher who recently changed his party affiliation to the GOP, did not launch his campaign “in good faith,” and sought to “confuse or mislead” voters at the ballot box.  But counsel affiliated with the same-name candidate argues that his removal runs afoul of state law. SAME-NAME CANDIDATE DISQUALIFIED FROM KEY SENATE RACE OVER ALLEGED DEM SCHEME TO CONFUSE VOTERS “Nothing in Alaska law regulates in any way the private motivations that draw individuals to declare or campaign for office,” a court filing from attorneys Jeffrey Robinson, Bryn Pallesen and Zoe Eisberg obtained by The Associated Press reads.  The fate of his candidacy could prove decisive in the state’s hotly contested Senate race in which Sen. Dan S. Sullivan is seeking a third term in the Republican-leaning state. Democrats are hoping that former Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, whom Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., helped recruit into the race, will unseat Sullivan in November. Primary ballots are expected to be printed later this month. Under Alaska’s open primary system, the top four vote-getters will advance to the November general election. Republicans have argued that Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy is a “sham” attempt orchestrated by Democratic operatives to potentially trip up voters and siphon off votes from the incumbent, but Democrats, including Peltola, have denied involvement. “Even by Chuck Schumer’s low standards, this was an outrageous attempt to trick Alaska voters and rig the election,” Senate Republican Conference Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said last week. GOP FIGHTS TO STOP MULTIPLE DAN SULLIVANS FROM APPEARING ON ALASKA BALLOT, CALLS CANDIDACY A ‘SHAM’ Dan J. Sullivan has dismissed Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Alaska, highlighting “credible allegations” that suggested he filed to run with the intention of deceiving voters. “The Lieutenant Governor’s job is to oversee elections fairly and impartially,” Dan J. Sullivan wrote on Facebook last week. “Instead, her actions create the impression that the state government is being used to protect an incumbent senator at the ballot box.” “The people of Alaska are fully capable of deciding for themselves who should represent them in Washington,” he added. The political newcomer has come under scrutiny over ties to Democratic consultant Amber Lee, who was revealed as the author of his campaign launch announcement in metadata reviewed by Fox News Digital. Lee has notably supported Peltola’s prior runs for office and expressed optimism to The Hill in January that the Alaska Democrat would unseat the incumbent Sullivan. According to Beecher’s letter, Dan J. Sullivan requested to appear on the primary ballot under the name “Dan Sullivan” despite previously registering as “Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.” Beecher also noted that his campaign materials are visually similar to the incumbent Republican’s campaign and that he had no affiliation with the GOP prior to jumping into the race shortly before the filing deadline. The nascent candidate notably sought to register with the incumbent’s “S” initial at one point, according to Beecher. “‘S’ is Senator Sullivan’s middle initial, not yours,” the election official noted. Amid mounting scrutiny, Dan J. Sullivan has largely brushed off concerns about his name. “My grandfather was Dan, and between my dad, uncle, and cousins, there were six more Dans in the family,” he wrote on Facebook recently. “Nicknames were a necessity, and mine will never be revealed.  Fox News Digital reached out to the Dan J. Sullivan campaign for comment.

Israeli forces set olive trees on fire in occupied West Bank

Israeli forces set olive trees on fire in occupied West Bank

NewsFeed Footage shows the aftermath of Israeli forces setting olive trees on fire in the small Palestinian village of Rummanah in the occupied West Bank, northwest of Jenin. The area’s olive groves and Palestinian farmers have frequently been targeted by Israeli settlers and soldiers in recent months. Published On 23 Jun 202623 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)

Why do the UK’s prime ministers keep resigning?

Why do the UK’s prime ministers keep resigning?

Keir Starmer is the latest to step down, after less than two years in office. From a landslide victory in 2024 to a remarkable downfall this week. Keir Starmer is quitting. He’s the sixth British prime minister to step down in the last decade. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list His resignation came one day before the anniversary of the vote to leave the European Union. Many say Brexit has been one of the main drivers behind the leadership crisis. Others point to increasing public discontent over successive governments. Starmer’s departure will set in motion a contest to replace him as head of the Labour Party and PM. But will his replacement be able to succeed where so many other prime ministers have failed? Presenter: Imran Khan Guests Jennifer Nadel, Co-founder of the cross-party think-tank Compassion in Politics Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London Zaid M Belbagi, Managing Partner at Hardcastle Advisory Published On 23 Jun 202623 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)

Who’s being left out of the World Cup?

Who’s being left out of the World Cup?

Can football’s biggest stage stay global as visa denials and border restrictions mount? The excitement of the World Cup has arrived in North America. But behind it have been stories of fans being denied visas, players being searched by sniffer dogs, and Iran’s team being forced to base itself outside the US. What happens when a global tournament collides with US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies? In this episode: Boima Tucker (@chiefboimah), director of operations, Africa Is a Country Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Tamara Khandaker with Marcos Bartolomé, Spencer Cline, Jana Dabliz, Catherine Nouhan, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Published On 23 Jun 202623 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)