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Jun 15 2026

Sunday Talks – Secretary Pete Hegseth -vs- Dramatic Acting Margaret Brennan


Posted originally on CTH on June 14, 2026 | Sundance 

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth appears on CBS Face the Nation as Margaret Brennan recovers from Kirsten Welker stealing all her glory in last week Trump’s interview.

Determined to put herself back in the running for Best Dramatic Acting in a Live Recorded Political Event, Mrs. Brennan takes pearl clutching to new levels and reaches deep into her narrative pretending skills to make today the penultimate end of the world media day for the future of all mankind.

Yes America, it’s a serious challenge to the teeth bearing Welker approach last weekend; however, but Brennan takes a deep breath, tries to ignore concerns about soccer games distracting her audience, and rises to the moment.  Video and Transcript Below:

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: This morning, the Israeli Defense Force conducted strikes in Lebanon on Beirut’s southern suburbs to target the Iranian-backed Hezbollah leadership. The IDF called it retaliation for strikes on Israel. CBS has learned the potential US-Iran truce includes a vague reference to ending the fighting in Lebanon, which may not be enough for Iran’s leaders. And Iran’s failure to cut off support for its proxy force, Hezbollah, may not be enough for America’s partner, Israel. For the latest, we begin this morning with Secretary of Defense Hegseth, who joins us from Tennessee. Mr. Secretary, welcome to Face the Nation.

DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH: Good morning, Margaret. Thank you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, did the Hezbollah Israel strikes disrupt any of the plans to have this memorandum signed today. Are we on track for a Sunday signing?

SEC.HEGSETH : From all I know, we are on track. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. There’s logistics involved into how these things happen. Ultimately, obviously, we’re attuned to what’s happening with Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel, which they need to stop doing, and Iran needs to encourage them to stop doing that in very adamant ways, and Israel was very measured in its response, understanding that a deal is on- is- we’re on the verge of a deal. So, I don’t expect that to disrupt. I also accept- expect more robust talks there. The negotiations business is not really mine, but I think those talks will continue, and if Iran wants this to hold, they need to- they need to pull back Hezbollah, no doubt.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, this memorandum would be an extension of the ceasefire, as you said, with a promise to keep talking. Given how clear President Trump has been that he wants to end combat, will the US troops come back home? Will those two aircraft carriers be pulled back?

SEC. HEGSETH: Well, what- Margaret, what I would say the president’s been most clear about is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, never. Full stop. And this deal, as we talk about aspects of the deal, some of which have come up publicly, are totally wrong. It is- it’s performance-based. No money released to Iran until they perform. There’s no trust and verify. There’s no trust here and we’re going to verify everything. Nuclear material will be destroyed and removed. The nuclear program will be dismantled. The straits will be open. No tolling. This is- this is not a- the JCPOA was a path to a bomb, what this deal will be, will be a wall to a bomb, and that was the objective from the beginning, very clear from the beginning. So, as far as our military posture, we’ll maintain what we need to. The blockade has been a devastating success for us and impact on the Iranians.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So–

SEC. HEGSETH: So think of- think of this chain of events, militarily, just for a second. You had 45 days of overwhelming combat, which Iran could not manage, and their navy’s gone, air force gone, air defenses. Then it led to a blockade, which was impenetrable now–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEC. HEGSETH: –for a couple of months. And then you had the underground project Freedom, which allowed, now 125 million barrels of oil to transit the straits, showing that we control the straits. And then we did two more days of bombing because they weren’t really–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEC. HEGSETH: –coming to the table. So, it’s been military pressure and strength from President Trump that’s compelled Iran to this deal, which will be performance-based when it’s signed.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right? But we’re not at that deal yet. We’re not even at the memorandum, that’s what we’re waiting to be- waiting on being signed today. The US and Israeli militaries, no doubt, did devastate the conventional military, as you are arguing there, but the IRGC terrorist-controlled regime, they control this country. They would be pocketing the financial benefits of being able to sell the oil if the blockade ends, as you just indicated. They didn’t capitulate, they are negotiating. So, how do you reassure allies who are in the region and say they still feel they are at risk? Are you keeping the force posture in place through the 60 days of negotiations and beyond?

SEC. HEGSETH: Oh, we’ll make sure the military option is there. And that’s the- that’s the big difference between this and JCPOA, and the way Obama did it. Obama, they begged Iran for a deal, and we bombed Iran, and then put in a blockade, and then ran ships through, and then have re- restarted when necessary to ensure that they come to the table for a great deal, so our military posture will be whatever it needs to be to ensure they’re compelled over the 60 days through the memorable memorandum of understanding that they live up to what they said they would do. The document says Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, won’t seek one, won’t buy one, won’t have one–

MARGARET BRENNAN: JCPOA said that too–

SEC. HEGSETH: They’ll be negotiations to make that final. But they didn’t have the threat of military force the way that we do, that Iran respects in a very way that their regime is more devastated- more devastating, excuse me, more devastated than it’s ever been in its 47 years–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

SEC. HEGSETH: –and that’s why they’re at the table. So the huge difference is we did this from a position of strength, President Trump led with military might, that military might will stay as long as necessary. You know, if the blockade comes off, then you, you pull back, and you allow shipping to flow, just like Iran needs to allow–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

SEC. HEGSETH: –shipping to go through the straits. But we can snap that blockade back at any point, and they can’t do anything about it, and Iran knows that. And that’s why we have the leverage in these talks, and we hope they’ll go well.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, well as I understand it, the first part of this deal would involve the clearing and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. How quickly will the US blockade on Iran end? How quickly will they be able to sell their oil?

SEC. HEGSETH: Immediately, is what the President has said, and that will be our expectation of the Iranians, is that–

MARGARET BRENNAN: So tomorrow, you’ll end the blockade if they sign it today?

(CROSSTALK)

SEC. HEGSETH:–it’s not us that is the problem here. So, when it- again, it’s performance-based, Margaret, so we’re not going to- unlike Obama, President Trump is smart about these things, he’s not going to just give it away. So, ultimately the blockade will stay as the strait opens, and then the blockade will open, and then the straits open, and if that takes 30 days to fully mature, or two weeks to fully mature, but it will start immediately, as the President has said. And by the way, I think your viewers need to remember Project Freedom never stopped, and we’ve run 125 million barrels of oil through the straits, and Iran couldn’t do anything about it. How many ships from Iran have transit our blockade? Zero, zero. We have controlled the straits this entire time. This–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, you’re going to negotiate with them to re–

(CROSSTALK)

SEC. HEGSETH: –immediately and gradually.

MARGARET BRENNAN: –to reopen it. So, okay, you’re saying immediately, but Secretary Rubio had said the U.S. would help to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz. You just used 30 days as, like a period of time. Can you clear the mines and remove the security threats in the Strait within 30 days?

SEC. HEGSETH: We can do any of those things within 30 days in a permissive environment–

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, we can–

SEC. HEGSETH: –so the ball is in Iran’s court at some level–

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, we would get back to pre-war shipping?

SEC. HEGSETH: We are doing things I can’t- we’re already talking, we’re already doing things I can’t talk about on this program, and- and that to ensure that safe passage happens as quickly as possible, so we’re all over this. We know exactly what the dynamics are. Iran probably doesn’t, because they can’t see and sense their capabilities around the strait, especially these last couple nights were very devastating for them as far as their ability to understand what’s going through the strait. So, if they have capabilities and can do it, great. If not, if international partners who have said they want to step up, want to step up and contribute, great. But once this deal is signed, our expectation is that Iran will stop shooting, you know, drones at commercial shipping.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEC. HEGSETH: It’s been them shooting at shipping the entire time.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, they did that just on Friday, and in fact, a drone collided with an Apache helicopter last week. They fired drones into Bahrain. They fired missiles at a U.S. base in Jordan just a few days ago. They still have the capacity to hurt our friends and partners–

SEC. HEGSETH: And that’s why you have to deal with these folks with strength and not just ask them at the table. And it’s the military strength that compelled them to this point, where they’re making a deal, which will be great for the security of the United States of America. And that’s why this is such a big moment, and only President Trump’s strength and clarity of mission to say ‘no nuclear weapon’ will ensure that now and underneath the MOU, the terms are set that are performance-based for Iran to ensure that they never get a nuclear weapon. That’s what’s critical.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, so once the 60 days of negotiations, and I know that could be extended, start, that’s when the nuclear program gets dealt with. President Trump posted on social media Saturday that quote, “At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the nuclear dust.” That’s how he refers to the highly enriched uranium under the bombed sites. He said, “we’ll downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran or the U.S.” Is the goal- is the plan to have the UN do all of that?

SEC. HEGSETH: I don’t think the UN’s been really effective in anything here. We’ll handle it as we need to–

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: The weapons inspectors in the IAEA?

SEC. HEGSETH: Ultimately, that could be part of it. This is- what the reality is, is President- President Trump has already set back Iran’s nuclear program in devastating ways, from Midnight Hammer to this- to this campaign, to ways that we know how much- how far back we’ve set them. We’re watching that material as we have this entire time, and any arrangement, as I said from the outside of the program, will be performance and metrics based. You’ll have inspections, you’ll have oversight, whether they’re U.S., whether they’re international, but it will be a throttle set by the United States through our negotiators with the military and strength as the guarantor of this. If Iran does not want to comply, then they can deal with the War Department again, which we’d rather not have to do, and President Trump would rather not have to do, but we know- they know the type of devastating effects that have occurred on their military and on their air defenses and on their capabilities. They don’t want that again. And so, when we restruck twice- don’t- don’t discount how important it was that we were willing to show we will restart this and we will set you back even further. And that was part of the reason why Iran came to the table, and we’re going to finish this initial MOU to set the clock, so that’s the- that’s the umbrella here–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

SEC. HEGSETH: –is we’ll work with you to remove that material, or you’ll downblend that material, but you’re not going to have any of that material, and anything you do get will be based on oversight and performance. And Iran understands that, and that’s why I think ultimately this is something that can and will succeed.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, those are really important details that still have to be negotiated. When I understood what you just said, there you said the IAEA could be involved. We have reported here at CBS that American military planners had discussed contingencies with U.S. forces and the Department of Energy working together to secure their nuclear materials. Are you saying that at the negotiating table, the United States is going to say the U.S. military has to go in and clean up the nuclear dust?

SEC. HEGSETH: Well, I’m, I’m not going to say on a Sunday morning television program what we will or will not do in any context. We’ll have all options on the table, and that’s what we’ve said to President Trump and the American people, and the world, and the Iranians, from the begin- beginning. The entirety of the might of the U.S. War Department is prepared to ensure Iran never has a nuclear weapon. We can do it the Midnight Hammer way, we can do it the Epic Fur- Fury way, if we need to. Ultimately, Iran will need to destroy it and remove it, downblend it, and we will be involved, whether physically or otherwise, to ensure that that happens, could be the U.S. military.

SEC. HEGSETH: could be another option. I think our negotiators, our world-class negotiators, are going to have a lot of options. The US military is good at these types of things, so is the Energy Department, and so working with the Iranians to ensure it’s destroyed and removed and their program is dismantled will be center.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it’s a- it’s an important point for those who are members of the U.S. military to understand whether you are saying ground troops would be involved in cleaning up nuclear dust.

SEC. HEGSETH: That- you’re saying that, you’re trying to put words in my mouth–

MARGARET BRENNAN:–No, I am asking you.

SEC. HEGSETH: –to create a headline. What I’m saying is we have- we have plans, no, we have plans for everything, and should the president need, you know, a compel option, we have compel options, and many different types of compel options. But right now we’ve set the conditions for 60 days to ensure that that material is downblended, destroyed, or removed, whatever the president decides is in the best interest of the United States of America, and the War Department is there to support that effort.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you about Venezuela, because there was also big news within the past few days. President Trump said the U.S. military killed Niño Guerrero, the leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, or TdA, in an airstrike earlier this week. He had been indicted in the Southern District of New York for many crimes. I’m wondering, why go with a strike option. Why not snatch and grab him and make him face justice in a US court, like you did with Nicolás Maduro?

SEC. HEGSETH: I was going to say we did that. We’ve shown we can do that when we did it with Nicolás Maduro, and because of that, it created the conditions where, in partnership with the Venezuelan government, this is a huge deal. I mean, they invited our military in because they have a fair- foreign terrorist organization on their soil in Tren de Aragua, the founder and leader, and we were able to identify where he was and kill him, just like we would kill al-Qaeda or ISIS, and we did in the Middle East. We treat these foreign terrorist organizations the same way, just like we do with drug boats when we identify they’re run by those FTOs. So that’s a great development. I mean, think about that. President Trump had the foresight to seize Maduro, change the relationship. We have a totally different energy dynamic around the world. By the way, the way energy flows today, the straits will be nowhere near as relevant one to two years from now, because of the foresight of President Trump. He’s made us energy independent at home, we’re export- net exporter. Now, Venezuela, through our partnerships, now we’re killing foreign terrorist leaders who have terrorized the American people. The amount of drugs and gangs that came–

MARGARET BREANNAN: –Yeah, energy- energy prices are pretty high right now–

SEC. HEGSETH: –huge deal–

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I don’t know that the independence is helping people at the pump–

SEC. HEGSETH: –they are coming down and you’ve seen it. They are.

MARGARET BRENNAN. We’ll talk about that later in the program, but I want to come back to the Venezuela point, given that the U.S. military just carried out this operation, should Americans understand that the US will remain militarily involved in Venezuela? Should they expect similar operations in places like Ecuador and Guatemala, where the US is working with their government?

SEC. HEGSETH: Yes, they should. It’s called the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, A3C, and we’re forming it with partner governments all around Central and South America to go after, defeat, and destroy foreign terrorist organizations, drug cartels. And all those countries you named are stepping up to work on partnerships with the United States, where we work with their governments and their militaries with their special capabilities and our special capabilities to hunt terrorist networks in our own hemisphere, just like we showed we were very good at with ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Middle East for 20 years. It’s an incredible reinforcement of the Monroe Doctrine, now the Donroe Doctrine. We’re taking back control of our hemisphere and ensuring the poisoning and attacks on the American people end. So, it’s- it’s a beautiful, it’s a beautiful military thing to behold, other countries coming to us to work with us, and we’re going to take full advantage of it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you, before you go, about what is going on with U.S. munitions and stockpiles. Here, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy was on this program a few weeks ago. He made a plea, not just for more interceptors, but for the ability to produce them, for friendly governments to be able to produce patriots, some Republican lawmakers support this idea. Do you?

SEC. HEGSETH: Nobody makes better and more munitions than the United States of America, and we are open to co-production wherever we can. And because of this administration, we’re supercharging our arsenal of freedom, building more, building faster, opening up the Pentagon, ripping through the Pentagon bureaucracy to force industry to move faster so–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –but there are- a crisis–

SEC. HEGSETH: –our stockpiles are strong and they will only get stronger in the future–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –there is a crisis with those stockpiles right now in fact an industry–

SEC. HEGSETH: –no there’s not–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –you have testified to it in front of Congress.

SEC. HEGSETH:That is a manufactured story that the media wants to pedal. And ultimately, we are our stockpiles are great, and they’ll only get stronger because of the way this president has–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –You testified under oath that it would take years to rebuild those–

SEC. HEGSETH: –if anything it was the Biden administration that gave away munitions to the- you don’t have to read back to me what I, what I testified, I speculated some munitions take more time than others. We’ve got lots of them, we’re building more than ever before. The Biden administration gave away hundreds of billions to Ukraine, and so President Trump had to refill, and he has, and we have in real time.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the answer to Zelenskyy’s request is a no or a yes?

SEC. HEGSETH: Ultimately, we’ve worked with them, and Ukraine is buying munitions that Europe pays for, and it’s great to see Europe finally step up and pay for those.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Well, he was asking for the ability to produce, but I’ll leave it there for today. Secretary Hegseth thank you for joining us.

[END TRANSCRIPT]

Jun 15 2026

UFC 250 Opening Ceremony


Posted June 15, 2026 | Sundance

An incredible evening of patriotism that is purely American at the White House as President Trump and the UFC organization participate in the UFC Freedom 250 celebration.

It was completely over the top American.  The UFC octagon created at the White House for the event.  Highlight of the opening ceremony below.

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Posted in Celebrations, Donald Trump, Freedom 250, Patriotism

Jun 15 2026

Interesting – SSCI Vice Chairman Says He Conducts Secret Back Channel Discussions with Intelligence Operatives and Foreign Government Intel Officials About Keeping Intelligence From DNI


Posted originally on CTH on June 15, 2026 | Sundance 

There comes a certain point when you just have to listen to the corrupt deep state operatives within the Intelligence Community openly state the nature of their activity.

Yes, I have laid it out for multiple years. Yes, people have not grasped how Machiavellian the network is. Yes, the DC denial and media obfuscation is rampant. However, just listen to them and they will eventually tell you exactly how weaponized the United States intelligence system is.  This is a quote:

…“Well, my fear is not so much the damage [Pulte] could do on Section 702, which has a full audit trail. If he misuses that, we’ll figure it out but having him exposed where he doesn’t even have a security clearance to all our nation’s classified programs, out of ignorance, he might give away information. I’ve had heads of our intelligence communities say to us they’re terrified of showing him information. I’ve had foreign governments express huge concern.“

Obviously, playing the role of guardian for the system, Margaret Brennan doesn’t immediately ask, who are these “heads of our intelligence communities?” or “who are these foreign governments?”  Likely for the same reason HPSCI member Elise Stefanik never pressed the rogue political operation issue with FBI Director James Comey on March 20, 2017.

[FULL Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, Virginia Senator Mark Warner. It’s good to have you here.

ENATOR MARK WARNER: Thank you, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: As you heard from the Secretary, a lot of these very important details have to still be negotiated. What do you think, though, of the emerging ceasefire and agreement, because you favored diplomacy?

SEN. WARNER: Listen, if the President can declare victory, so be it. You heard Pete Hegseth’s pitch. Let’s look at the real facts. 107 days into Donald Trump’s war of choice, can anyone make the case that we, or our allies, are in a better spot than before this war? The regime’s leadership is more radical than ever. The ability for us to get the enriched uranium out, I believe, will require troops on the ground, which I don’t think America wants to do. The idea that we have a 60 day additional negotiation, where does that lead? We’ll be here 60 days, still won’t have access to it. Clearly, after Hegseth had said, “We’ve destroyed all their capabilities,” they still have plenty of missiles and thousands of drones, and the idea that the strait is suddenly going to be magically reopened. Look at the gas prices, they went from $2.80 to $4.20 and I believe they’ll go up more because the overall world reserves have all come down. How is that better for America or better for our allies?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it’s- there are a lot of details in here that, like I said, still have to be negotiated, and when we look at Congress’s role in terms of peeling back some of these sanctions, this was hugely controversial during the Obama administration. Do you think ultimately that whatever is hammered out by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and JD Vance, the Vice President, will come up for approval? Do you get any say?

SEN. WARNER: Well, first of all, the idea that these three gentlemen that have very little background in terms of negotiations or the technical nature of nuclear negotiations going against a hardened Iranian team that’s been doing this for decades. I wish we had some of our experts at the table as well, but I’m not sure any of this will be coming before Congress, and it should. I mean, if the President wanted to start this war, a war of choice, there was no imminent threat from Iran. Come to the Congress, come to the people, and lay out the case. He has not, and we have not done the kind of oversight that is required.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEN. WARNER: We are slowly moving along and getting additional Republicans to say stop on the War Powers Act, but Congress has failed miserably.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I- before I move on to other things, I just want to put a fine point on the U.S. intelligence assessment was not that Iran was creating a nuclear weapon, but that they wanted the possibility to make one in the future. Given what they have, the nuclear dust, the dirty bomb in the desert scenario, does that still worry you? How concerned should Americans be?

SEN. WARNER: Yes, I’m still worried. And for all his critique of JCPOA, we had international observers, we actually had an alliance there that included the Europeans, and Russia and China were all signatories. Now it is America going alone or going with Israel only, and that does not make us safer. And again, I will be happy to come back on the show and eat my words if the Iranians over the next 60 days give up that enriched uranium.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, well, we’ll watch for whatever happens next. I want to ask you about surveillance here and the lapse of a key authority. On Thursday, the President did appoint Jay Clayton, he said, who will be the next Director of National Intelligence, instead of Bill Pulte, to who I know you oppose–

SEN. WARNER: Not only I oppose–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah–

SEN. WARNER: –but all of the Republican senators who will know anything about national security opposed as well.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, there are some pretty colorful statements, but Clayton is the current US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a former SEC chair. How quickly can he move into the role? I mean, he doesn’t necessarily have the kind of extensive national security background that–

(CROSSTALK)

SEN. WARNER: Law enforcement, he was head of the SEC, and as Southern District of New York, that’s where we pursue a lot of our terrorists. I know Jay. I think he’s got the right temperament. I’ve got a lot of questions, like who won the election in 2020, so he at least acknowledges that truthfulness. But remember, Margaret, this was totally caused by Donald Trump.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well–

SEN. WARNER: He could have nominated Jay Clayton a week ago–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEN. WARNER: –and we wouldn’t have gone dark.

MARGARET BRENNAN: This is an extraordinary series of events that we have to take more time to talk about on the other side of the break. Let me take it, and we’ll finish it. We’ll be right back.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face the Nation. We return to our conversation now with Senator Mark Warner. Before the break, Senator, we were talking about the next Director of National Intelligence. The hearing for Jay Clayton is next week, this Wednesday, right? How quickly can he get confirmed, and what does that do in terms of blocking Bill Pulte from ever taking the job?

SEN. WARNER: Well, I’ve got questions for Jay, like, want to make sure that he’s going to maintain the integrity of our elections, not try to pull the things that Miss Gabbard did, where she was interfering in domestic election activities with the seizure of the ballots in Fulton County. My hope is, if we can get unanimous consent, we could even get him confirmed this week. I would hope that the President would then say to Tulsi Gabbard, who is going to stay till the end of the month, stay at least until Clayton is confirmed, or allow the number two to stay.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That’s a shocking statement from you, because you are a huge critic of Tulsi Gabbard.

(CROSSTALK)

SEN. WARNER: I am a huge critic.

MARGARET BRENNAN: How much damage could Bill Pulte actually do in a matter of days?

SEN. WARNER: Well, my fear is not so much the damage he could do on Section 702, which has a full audit trail. If he misuses that, we’ll figure it out, but having him exposed where he doesn’t even have a security clearance to all our nation’s classified programs, out of ignorance, he might give away information. I’ve had heads of our intelligence communities say to us they’re terrified of showing him information. I’ve had foreign governments express huge concern. The one thing we know about Bill Pulte is ¹he will do whatever Donald Trump says. He was able to weaponize private mortgage insurance information, giving them the keys to the 18 intelligence agencies would be a disaster and a national security threat.

[¹NOTE: So, the DNI should NOT DO whatever the President of the United States tells him or her?]

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I’m understanding you will withhold your vote to reauthorize FISA based on this.

SEN. WARNER: Listen, we have to get FISA reauthorized. We were on a glide path–

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: This is a warrantless surveillance tool. ²This is a foreigner concern abroad.

SEN. WARNER: ²Foreigners listening in on foreigners talking to foreigners abroad. None of this needed to happen if Donald Trump had- he didn’t even come out in support of this tool until about six weeks ago. If he put forward Clayton or somebody else six weeks ago, if he would have done even Jay Clayton a few days earlier. I actually think Donald Trump wants this tool to expire because he would then try to blame Democrats if, God forbid, if anything happens. And the remarkable thing on this is normally we come on here and it’s Democrats versus Republicans–

[NOTE: Nonsense. The term “702” specifically and uniquely is applied to Americans with constitutional protection. “702” has nothing to do with intercepting or investigating foreigners – Nothing at all. Foreigners are not protected by the Constitution!]

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEN. WARNER: –this one is not. My Republican colleagues have worked hand in glove. If there is something that happens, God forbid, the responsibility lies with one man, Donald Trump.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That is a tremendous statement that you think the president actually wants this tool to not be accessible. I mean, it’s the congressional authorization expired on Friday. Your Republican counterpart, Senator Tom Cotton, described the consequences as severe, potentially fatal, considering all the mass gatherings in America right now. How vulnerable is the US right now? Have Google and Verizon and the rest said, if you come and ask me for information, I won’t hand it over?

SEN. WARNER: What has happened is those investigations that have already started continue.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

SEN. WARNER: Our ability to continue to listen to bad guys talking to bad guys abroad continues. The question is whether you can start new actions, and we are now, and I’ve not gotten a report yet whether the telcos and the Googles are going to continue to adhere or whether, because they don’t have the indemnification, they’ll stop participating. We don’t have, I don’t- as of Sunday morning, I don’t have an answer on that. I hope the Justice Department would use all the tools they can to try to encourage them to continue this program, for what will be, whether we like it now or not, a short-term lapse.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But Democrats are using their leverage here with FISA to force the president to change his nominees. He did that, so why do we have a Democrat standing up, and for example, blocking unanimous consent in regard to reauthorizing even a short-term surveillance too? This seems to be national security risk of huge proportion.

SEN. WARNER: National security risk caused because Donald Trump did not put forward Clayton or anyone else that was legitimate until the clock had run out. There is no question. If you got any of my Republican colleagues here, they would agree this was a White House-created problem. And finally, somebody got to Trump and said, “You got to put a rational person in, not this guy who’s not even got a national security clearance.” We will get Clayton, I hope, confirmed as quickly as possible. We will then move very quickly to get FISA reauthorized. In the interim, I hope the telcos will continue to cooperate with the government.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Mark Warner, thank you for your time today.

SEN. WARNER: Thank you, Margaret.

[END TRANSCRIPT]

[SOURCE]

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Jun 15 2026

Recap Videos – Freedom 250 Event


Posted originally on CTH on June 15, 2026 | Sundance

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Jun 14 2026

President Trump Announces Strike on Tren de Aragua Leadership with Support from Venezuela


Posted originally on CTH on June 13, 2026 | Sundance

President Trump announces a deadly strike on the leadership of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang with support from the interim Venezuela government.

TRUTH SOCIAL – “At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet Earth. Before I returned to office, Joe Biden opened our Southern Border to millions of Illegal Criminals, and allowed this foreign army to rape, maim, and murder American Citizens with total impunity. During my Campaign, I pledged to expel these monsters from our Country, and bring Justice to the families of those they slaughtered, including the precious 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, 22-year-old Laken Reilly, and countless other beautiful souls. With this action, the United States Military has brought retribution for them, their families, and their loved ones.

Early in my Administration, I delivered on my promise to designate Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, deport thousands of evil criminals, and wage war against the Cartels, who have long been waging war against our Citizens, while weak leaders left America helpless and defensive. This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well. As a result, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drugs lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

~ President DONALD J. TRUMP

Venezuela’s government released a statement confirmed its participation in the operation and revealed it took place in the southeastern state of Bolivar.  “During the operation, clashes occurred with members of criminal groups, resulting in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias ‘Niño Guerrero,’ the leader of one of these criminal organizations,” according to the statement. (source)

Jun 14 2026

Pompeo Unmasked


Posted originally on CTH on June 13, 2026 | Sundance |

Many of you will likely remember December 29, 2019, when Secretary Pompeo, Joint Chief’s Mark Milley and Secretary Mark Esper flew to Mar-a-Lago to inform President Trump about military strikes they had just conducted in Northern Syria and Iraq. {SEE HERE}

At the time of the strike, President Trump was negotiating the exit of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and even having direct talks with the Taliban which was proclaimed as controversial by the traditional war machine elements in DC.  The action by Pompeo, Milley and Esper did not align with the moment based on Trump’s ongoing effort.

President Trump made no comments about the strike they carried out, nor did President Trump post anything about the events.  In fact, President Trump made Pompeo, Milley and Esper stand at the podium and inform the media and public.

CTH said at the time nothing about this made sense. Our suspicion was that Pompeo, Milley and Esper had acted unilaterally without approval. Events later on indicated our suspicion was accurate.

One month later we were in beginning of SARS-CoV-2, which we now accept in hindsight was a U.S. military and intelligence operation utilizing a virus created in a Wuhan, China biological lab. The global response to the virus was a combined military and intelligence operation.

The most excessive ‘western’ reactions to the virus were carried out by New Zealand, Australia, the U.K and Canada, all five-eyes countries.  The November 2020 election result was specifically an outcome of the virus and fraudulent mail-in ballots.

It’s also worth remembering that in 2016 the Trump-Russia collusion material originated from the U.K via former intelligence operative Christopher Steele and the Fusion GPS network in the U.S.

That’s the context for last week Mike Pompeo paying tribute to his old friend in British intelligence who worked with him as CIA Director following the 2016 election of President Trump.

Mike Pompeo – Within hours of being announced as the nominee to be the U.S. Director of the CIA, I received a hand-delivered message on MI6 stationery congratulating me on my nomination. It was signed simply “C” in green ink. Legendary. I shared it with my son and even he thought I was now cool!

More than that, this note, from Sir Alex Younger, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom, confirmed what I already believed: the work that the CIA and MI6 did together mattered, that the partnership was critical, and that two leaders focused on the mission could save lives and provide tools for our nations to deter our adversaries.

Alex’s passing this week brought back so many memories of our time in service together. He flew to Langley to see me the day I was confirmed. We brought our two senior teams together in the UK to plan and coordinate and build in the first several weeks of my time on duty: making clear to them all that this relationship was more than special – it was critical for the security of our two countries.” (read more)

Jun 14 2026

President Trump Announces Completion of Terms for Iran Agreement – Signing Expected Tomorrow


Posted originally on CTH on June 13, 2026 | Sundance | 

President Trump has announced a deal with Iran that takes away the nuclear option.  According to the Truth Social announcement, the signing of the agreement is scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday).

PRESIDENT TRUMP – “Barack Hussein Obama’s Deal with Iran, the JCPOA, was an easy, beautiful, smooth road to a Nuclear Weapon, which Iran would have had six years ago, and would have used long before now. My Agreement with Iran is the exact opposite, A WALL TO NO NUCLEAR WEAPON! In fact, they no longer want a Nuclear Weapon, nor will they have one, either through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement.

The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL. Our relationship with Iran is a much different and better one than previous Administrations have had. Unlike Obama’s Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in payments to them, including 1.7 Billion Dollars in green, cold cash, no money will exchange hands.”

“At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains, thanks to our beautiful B-2 Bombers and their brilliant pilots, and downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran, or the United States. We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future. Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again! Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!”

~President DONALD J. TRUMP

Israel delivers the following statement:

The Prime Minister’s Office: President Trump spoke this evening with Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding the emerging memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to enter into negotiations.

Even though Israel is not a party to the memorandum of understanding, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for President Trump’s commitment that the final agreement at the conclusion of negotiations will include the removal of enriched material, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, limits on missile production, and the cessation of Iran’s support for its terrorist proxies in the region. [SOURCE]

Judging by the reactions from the social media accounts of the Israel-first influencers including Mark Levin, Laura Loomer and Lee Smith, they are generally not too happy about the deal as outlined.

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Jun 14 2026

Canadian PM Carney Affirms that “Middle Powers” with Same Ideological Construct Can Collectively Counterbalance U.S. Global Power


Posted originally on CTH on June 13, 2026 | Sundance | 197 Comments

Making his ninth trip to Europe since become prime minister 15 months ago, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney once again outlined his governing model to combat a U.S. administration that he claims has fractured the globalist norms.

During his press conference with Micheal Martin, Ireland’s taoiseach (Prime Minister), Carney once again built upon the idea of “middle powers” uniting together in common ideology against U.S. dominance until such a time as the U.S. government can once again return to a leftist ideology.

The specific objectives become clear about halfway through the presser today as Carney notes the importance of grouping nations together who agree on climate change, energy controls and the green agenda.

Canada’s alignment with Europe is seemingly centered on the net-zero carbon model.  This perspective makes sense from Carney as it is the same priority he’s carried since his time as governor for the Bank of England.  WATCH:

As the former Governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, Carney used his platform to position climate change as a systemic financial risk.  He then championed the view that private capital must be the primary tool to force an economic energy transition. [Post-COVID this was known as “Build Back Better.“]

President Trump’s perspective and the majority American view on climate change and energy development is against the core professional effort of Carney and the banking interests he has always represented.  This becomes very important to understand as the U.S-Canada conflict is about to hit an inflection point.

HISTORY: Through the “Net Zero” Banking Alliance (NZBA) Mark Carney pushed banks to agree with policies and protocols that forced them to set lower lending targets to high-carbon industries and clients.  The goal was to force companies to ‘decarbonize’ or find themselves starved of capital.

While working at the Bank of England and Canada Carney famously warned multinational interests and insurance companies, most of which were centered in London, that fossil fuel assets that did not fit the net-zero industrial model would become “stranded assets” worth nothing because they could not be capitalized or insured.  This threat signaled to multinationals that any investment in a project that was against the “Paris Climate Treaty” was a bad financial risk.

This approach endeared Mark Carney to King Charles III, who is himself a major climate alarmist.

Unfortunately, U.S. politicians -particularly during the Trump first term- accused the Carney banking/finance and insurance alliance of operating an illegal banking cartel to choke the larger American energy sector.  Facing legal threats over antitrust violations, in combination with obvious violations of fiduciary duty, NZBA has to strip out its strict, mandatory lending restrictions.

Slowly banks began retreating from the net-zero alliance.  Regional and national banks began citing the economic necessity of supporting traditional energy companies, and energy security became more important than adherence to voluntary restrictions on carbon emissions.  This angered Carney as his life construct was under pressure.

Carney then entered Canadian federal politics and sought to downplay his ideological climate agenda.  However, all of his energy policies essentially come from the same mindset of opposition to fossil fuels.

The disparity in energy production is the core issue inside the details of the USMCA.  The United States and Mexico are both aligned with low-cost fossil fuel use, which is particularly important for large scale industrial manufacturing (steel etc.).  Whereas Canada doesn’t want the dirty jobs and wants only to focus on electricity production.

You can make electricity from windmills, solar farms and nuclear power. However, you cannot make iron, steel or aluminum without fossil fuels.

In scientific fact, part of the largest global irony is because it’s impossible to make windmill components, solar panels or nuclear power equipment without using fossil fuels.

In the video below, while he was a banker you can see Mark Carney admitting on tape: When voters blocked his ESG plans, “We” (Central Bankers) shifted into the position of “Regulators” to work around the voters through the back door of finance and insurance.  They manipulated fossil fuel production and prices by withholding lending and insurance.

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2064518878005174439&lang=en&maxWidth=800px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconservativetreehouse.com%2Fblog%2F2026%2F06%2F13%2Fcanadian-pm-carney-affirms-that-middle-powers-with-same-ideological-construct-can-collectively-counterbalance-u-s-global-power%2F&sessionId=90b90049f52515523435b0776dbd94b01bb36bed&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px

This is the ESG model in actionable terms:

 

Jun 13 2026

DNI Tulsi Gabbard (Aaron Lukas) Revokes Biden Era Assessments Created Inside Weaponized CIA Analyst System


Posted originally on CTH on June 12, 2026 | Sundance 

It gets a little into the weeds; however, you might remember last year when DNI Tulsi Gabbard took the National Intelligence Council (NIC) out of the CIA and brought the analyst system under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

The NIC was where the sausage was made; where the assessments were constructed; where CIA Directors manipulated information through a very political system of control.  The NIC is where people like Eric Ciaramella worked. This sub-silo was where intelligence was analyzed, informed, shaped, controlled and then presented for wider distribution.

The NIC was the weaponized information bureaucracy within the larger intelligence community. DNI Gabbard fired the heads of the NIC, took control and moved it out of the CIA where their analysis could no longer hide behind the black wall of the CIA.  Gabbard put intelligence analysis back into a position where it could be scrutinized.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard then began scrutinizing prior NIC work product and having the non-political intelligence analysts look at the information.  Yesterday she revoked the NICs Intelligence Community Assessment on Anomalous Health Incidents.

NEW YORK TIMES – Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, revoked two Biden-era intelligence assessments that cast doubt on the idea that the mysterious ailments known as Havana syndrome that American spies and diplomats had reported were caused by a foreign adversary, officials announced on Thursday.

In a memo, Ms. Gabbard said the earlier assessments had improperly excluded evidence, suppressed alternative analyses and relied on an ethically flawed medical study.

Ms. Gabbard’s actions were immediately hailed by former officials who have suffered from the ailments, but it is not clear whether the action will open up a new wide-ranging inquiry.

Representative Rick Crawford, the Arkansas Republican who leads the House Intelligence Committee, had long called on Ms. Gabbard to recall the earlier work

Havana syndrome, which the government called anomalous health incidents, is a diverse range of symptoms including headaches, dizziness and balance problems. Many patients said the symptoms began after they heard a strange sound and felt intense pressure in their heads.

Ms. Gabbard is expected to step down as the director of national intelligence at the end of next week, which means that the revocation of the assessments was probably one of her final acts but that she will not be in place to supervise further investigations of what may have caused the ailments. (more)

HPSCI Chairman Rick Crawford: “These flawed, fraudulent, and manufactured Intelligence Community Assessments (ICA) have caused significant harm to some of our nation’s bravest. ICAs carry a great deal of weight, particularly when declassified as part of a public messaging effort, as was done with the AHI ICA. The assessment was deliberately manufactured and used to discredit some of our nation’s bravest and impede their access to medical care. As was the case with other high-visibility intelligence assessments, it fell far short of analytic integrity standards. Today’s action by DNI Gabbard is a glimmer of hope for our nation’s intelligence officers, service members, and diplomats stationed around the world who have defended this country in austere locations and subsequently had the nation they served turn its back on them. Thank you to Director Gabbard for keeping her commitment to this Committee and me, and for her overall willingness to do the right thing. I am incredibly grateful.”

Jun 13 2026

DNI Tulsi Gabbard Releases New Information on 120 U.S. Govt Funded Biolabs Operating Worldwide


Posted originally on CTH on June 12, 2026 | Sundance 

Moments ago, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released the first batch in a series of declassified documents highlighting 120 U.S. government biolabs that are operating throughout the world.  Many of these biolabs are working on weaponized viruses’ and present a significant threat to public safety.

TULSI GABBARD – “Today, I’m releasing never before seen intelligence revealing new evidence of past US government funding for more than 120 biolabs in over 30 countries, including Ukraine.

In support of President Trump‘s Executive Order to end federal funding of dangerous gain of function research around the world, and increase transparency and accountability, ODNI will continue working with partners across the Administration to identify where these labs are, what pathogens they contain, and what “research” is being conducted.” WATCH:

DNI Press Release: WASHINGTON D.C. — After months of searching through Intelligence Community holdings and files, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard is revealing new evidence of longstanding United States government funding for more than 120 biolabs in over 30 countries. These biolabs include labs in Ukraine, which may be at risk of compromise due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. For example, the Intelligence Community previously warned that a US-funded biolab in Ukraine likely housed dangerous pathogens and remained vulnerable to longstanding threats of Russian attack, seizure, or damage.

The newly declassified evidence can be found HERE.

Until now, evidence regarding the full existence and funding of these laboratories had been knowingly withheld from the American people. The information surrounding the existence, history, locations and funding of these US funded biolabs has been intentionally covered up by powerful people falsely, claiming that they do not exist and accusing anyone who says otherwise to be foreign assets and traitors to America.

Many of these U.S. government-funded biolabs are currently or have previously engaged in research using hazardous and highly contagious pathogens, in some cases to include dangerous Gain-of-Function research, with very little visibility or oversight.

President Trump understands the serious threat dangerous Gain-of-Function research poses to the American people, which is why he took decisive action on May 25, 2025, signing EO 14292 to end federal funding of Gain-of-Function research around the world.

“Despite the obvious potential for catastrophic global impact research on dangerous pathogens in biolabs can have, politicians, so-called health professionals like Dr. Fauci, and entities within the Biden administration’s national security team lied to the American people about the existence of U.S.-funded and supported biolabs, and threatened those who attempted to expose the truth. ODNI will continue to work closely with partners across the government to identify where these labs are, what pathogens they contain to end dangerous Gain-of-Function research that threatens the health and wellbeing of the American people and people around the world,” said DNI Gabbard.

DNI Gabbard issued new guidance to the Intelligence Community directing increased collection on these laboratories and facilities overseas. This directive is already providing new details on clinical trials that are underway at these facilities, raising significant ethical, financial, and security concerns regarding these supposed public health initiatives and U.S. national security.  [SOURCE]

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