The Morning Sixpack - June 18, 2025
Senate GOP rushes megabill deal as Trump eyes Iran strike; Noem hospitalized post-biosafety lab visit; Alex Jones accused of hiding assets; Florida Panthers win Stanley Cup
New York Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Arrested at Immigration Court While Defending Migrant
Brad Lander didn’t plan to get arrested, but he wasn’t about to back down when ICE agents tried to haul away a migrant in an immigration courthouse.
The NYC comptroller and mayoral hopeful was at the city’s main immigration court trying to escort a migrant when federal agents swooped in to make an arrest. Video footage shows Lander gripping the migrant’s arm, demanding to see a judicial warrant—something ICE doesn’t legally need in a public courthouse to make arrests. When agents pushed him away, they handcuffed Lander and took him into custody for several hours before releasing him amid protests and political pressure.
Lander denied assaulting officers, calling the arrest “bullshit” and saying his real failure was not getting the migrant, Edgardo, out that day. Meanwhile, Homeland Security claimed he assaulted and impeded officers, pointing to a huge surge in attacks on ICE agents to justify their actions. This arrest comes amid a string of similar detentions of Democratic officials protesting aggressive immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump administration.
Governor Kathy Hochul and other Democrats rallied to Lander’s side, condemning the arrest as political theater and a blatant attack on sanctuary city policies. Lander’s campaign quickly circulated footage of the incident, spotlighting the harsh reality migrants face when judges dismiss their cases only to have ICE arrest them in courthouse hallways. His wife called the practice “an abomination,” highlighting how ordinary people risk family separation without clear explanations.
This all unfolded just a week before the Democratic mayoral primary, where Lander is trying to unseat front-runner Andrew Cuomo. While Cuomo and other Democrats condemned the arrest, some Republicans dismissed it as a staged stunt. Regardless, Lander’s bold stand has made one thing clear: he’s willing to put his freedom on the line to challenge what he calls “Trump’s ICE out of control.”
Source: New York Times
Trump Seriously Weighs Joining Israel’s War on Iran as Tensions Surge in the Middle East
President Trump is on the edge of a major decision that could drag the U.S. deeper into a war with Iran.
After daily calls with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and a lengthy meeting with his National Security Council, Trump declared he’s demanding Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” — while holding off, “for now,” on assassinating Iran’s Supreme Leader. The U.S. is beefing up its military presence in the region with more warplanes, refueling aircraft, and aircraft carriers like the USS Nimitz heading toward the hot zone.
Reports say Trump’s team is considering multiple options, including joining Israel in strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israeli munitions might not penetrate the Fordo nuclear plant buried deep in a mountain, so U.S. B-2 stealth bombers armed with Massive Ordnance Penetrators could step in. Ground support for Israeli commandos is also on the table, though less likely.
Iran is clearly ready to retaliate if the U.S. jumps in, with ballistic missiles aimed at U.S. bases in Iraq and other Gulf countries, and potentially explosive mines in the Strait of Hormuz to trap naval forces. Pro-Iran militias in the region are expected to ramp up attacks on American forces, too. Satellite images show U.S. Navy ships dispersing at Bahrain’s 5th Fleet base, a standard move to reduce risk.
Israel’s operation, now in its sixth day, aims to neutralize what it calls an existential threat from Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Iran insists its nuclear work is peaceful, but international inspectors have been blocked and uranium enriched to dangerous levels. This conflict could escalate fast—and if Trump makes the call, the U.S. could find itself fully drawn into a volatile war zone.
Source: Times of Israel
I certainly hope this “anti-war” president keeps his word! LOL (he won’t—he’s a perennial liar).
Florida Panthers Claim Back-to-Back Stanley Cups, Crushing Oilers in Game 6 Blowout
Winning consecutive Stanley Cups isn’t easy—but the Florida Panthers just made it look routine.
In a finals rematch loaded with drama, the Panthers steamrolled the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 at home, clinching their second straight NHL championship. Sam Reinhart was the star of the show, scoring four goals—including the first four of the game—becoming the first player since 1957 to net four goals in a finals game. Florida’s dominance in the last two games was emphatic, outscoring Edmonton 10-3 after three nail-biting overtime battles earlier in the series.
Sam Bennett, the playoff’s top goal scorer with 15—including five in the finals—took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP. Meanwhile, Oilers’ stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were strangely silent, going scoreless and posting minus-four ratings in Game 6. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stood tall, stopping 28 of 29 shots and shutting down Edmonton’s desperate third-period surge.
Coach Paul Maurice, a 26-season NHL veteran, cemented his legacy with his second championship—an impressive feat after years on the sidelines. Maurice credits the team’s relentless chemistry and love for each other as the real energy behind their success, despite injuries and tough battles along the way.
This marks Florida as the ninth team in NHL history to reach three consecutive finals and the first back-to-back champs since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020-21. While Canada’s powerhouse teams continue to wait for a title, Florida’s Panthers are writing a new chapter in NHL history—one goal at a time.
Source: Washington Post
Republicans Rush to Finalize Megabill Deal by Early Next Week Amid Growing Pressure
The clock is ticking as Senate Republicans scramble to lock down a massive spending and tax bill before the week is out. (It’s an arbitrary deadline so any “clock is ticking” nonsense is just stupid.)
Senators are pushing hard on leadership and Finance Chair Mike Crapo to tweak the chamber’s megabill, covering everything from Medicaid to energy tax credits, aiming to kick off debate early next week. Oklahoma’s Sen. Markwayne Mullin made it clear: “Our plan is to try releasing something at the beginning of next week, and start the process of getting the vote-a-rama and everything set up by the end of next week.” It’s a monumental task, especially with so many contentious issues still unresolved.
President Trump remains actively involved, having voiced concerns over the bill’s potential impact on rural hospitals during a Tuesday call with Sen. Josh Hawley. Trump reportedly said, “That doesn’t sound good,” signaling his resistance to deeper Medicaid cuts beyond those approved by the House last month. Hawley pushed back, warning that “leadership is not paying the closest attention to what you’re saying,” reflecting internal friction within the GOP.
Vice President JD Vance also visited Capitol Hill to rally senators behind a self-imposed July 4 deadline, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune promising to keep the Senate in session until the job is done. However, some senators remain skeptical about reaching consensus quickly. Sen. John Hoeven summed it up: “When we go to the floor, the guy that has to close the deal for the ones that aren’t on board at that point is the president.”
Medicaid provisions, especially safeguards for rural hospitals, remain a sticking point. Senators like Jim Justice and Josh Hawley want carveouts or dedicated funding to protect their states’ healthcare infrastructure, but it’s unclear if enough votes exist yet. Meanwhile, 80% of the bill is reportedly settled, with the last 20%—always the hardest—still up for grabs.
This showdown is a clear test of Republican unity and Trump’s influence over his party’s agenda. If they can’t deliver soon, momentum could evaporate—and the consequences for health care, energy, and tax policy could be significant.
Source: Semafor
The best-case scenario for EVERYBODY involved (well, except for the impotent Congress) is that the bill just simply dies.
Kristi Noem Hospitalized for Allergic Reaction a Day After Visiting Biosafety Lab with RFK Jr.
DHS head Kristi Noem was rushed to the hospital for an allergic reaction just one day after touring a high-security biosafety lab with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Senator Rand Paul.
Noem’s visit to the Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, a lab focused on deadly pathogens like Ebola and SARS-CoV-2, was captured in a photo shared by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The lab was temporarily shut down earlier this year after serious safety concerns and a bizarre “lover’s spat” among staff that compromised personal protective equipment. Noem was taken by ambulance on Tuesday but is reportedly alert and recovering, though details about the cause remain unclear.
The lab’s temporary closure was ordered by Kennedy’s department in April amid an FBI investigation into whether the safety breaches were deliberate criminal acts. The timing of Noem’s visit and subsequent allergic reaction has raised eyebrows, but officials emphasize no direct connection has been established.
The biosafety lab conducts critical research to prevent and respond to emerging infectious diseases and potential biological threats. With heightened public scrutiny, Democrats have pressed Kennedy’s office for transparency about the work stoppage and a timeline for reopening.
Noem has yet to comment publicly on her condition or the visit, while her office, Paul’s, and Kennedy’s have remained silent on the matter. Given the lab’s sensitive role and recent controversies, this incident adds another layer of intrigue to an already tense public health debate.
Source: The Daily Beast
Maybe ICE Barbie should have bolstered her immune system with some bleach or some shit before she stepped into a hotbed of toxic goop? You know, like RFK Jr. does.
Alex Jones Accused of Hiding $5 Million in Assets from Sandy Hook Families Despite Claiming He’s Broke
After years of insisting he’s broke, Alex Jones now faces serious allegations that he funneled millions in cash, cars, and property to family members to dodge paying Sandy Hook families.
U.S. bankruptcy trustee Christopher Murray has filed lawsuits accusing Jones of orchestrating a clear scheme to shield about $5 million in assets through a flurry of suspicious transfers to his ex-wife, father, and children’s trust. The trustee paints a picture of “sham transactions” with classic signs of fraudulent intent, including selling a ranch to his father for just $10 and backdating papers to keep it safe from creditors.
The Sandy Hook families’ lawyers call Jones’s efforts “shenanigans” and vow they won’t let him slip away. As attorney Chris Mattei said bluntly, “Alex Jones’s entire career has been built on lies so it is no surprise he would lie to hide his assets.” Meanwhile, Jones’s ex-wife dismissed the lawsuits as “harassment.”
Jones claims he’s “literally on empty,” but court filings and the trustee’s investigations suggest otherwise. The allegations highlight a desperate scramble to hide money even as Jones faces a $1.3 billion defamation judgment for his long campaign of lies against grieving families. He now faces a jury trial on whether he intentionally defrauded creditors.
This saga shows how far some will go to dodge accountability—especially when billions are on the line and victims await justice. As former bankruptcy judge Bruce Markell put it, “Jones is in the cross hairs of the trustee, and the trustee has a fairly accurate rifle.”
Source: NPR
Alex Jones is going to prison.
("Alex Jones is going to prison.")
Just another pardon for the orange diaper to issue.
Same with his rape buddy Diddy do it.