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Iran Calls Talks With U.S. Friday A 'Good Start'

Iran's top diplomat said on Friday that nuclear talks with the U.S. mediated by Oman were off to a “good start” and set to continue, in remarks that could help allay concern that failure to reach a deal might nudge the Middle East closer to war. But Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said after the talks in the Omani capital Muscat, which involved him, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, that "any dialogue requires refraining from threats and pressure. (Tehran) only discusses its nuclear issue ... We do not discuss any other issue with the U.S." While both sides have indicated readiness to revive diplomacy over Tehran's long-running nuclear dispute with the West, Washington wanted to expand the talks to cover Iran's ballistic missiles, support for armed groups around the region and "treatment of their own people," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday. A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran on the talks told Reuters Iran insisted on its "right to enrich uranium" during the negotiations with the U.S., adding that Tehran's missile capabilities were not raised in the discussions. While Iran ruled out Washington’s demand for no enrichment on its soil, the diplomat who asked not to be named said Tehran showed openness to discussing the “level and purity” of enrichment or alternative arrangements, including a potential regional consortium. In return, Iran had several demands, such as "efficient and immediate sanctions relief, including banking and oil, and the moving of U.S. military assets away from Iran." Iranian officials have repeatedly ruled out putting Iran's missiles - one of the largest such arsenals in the Middle East - up for discussion, and have said Tehran wants recognition of its right to enrich uranium. For Washington, carrying out enrichment - a possible pathway to nuclear bombs - inside Iran is a red line. Tehran has long denied any intent to weaponize nuclear fuel production. However, the diplomat said, Tehran believed the U.S. negotiators "seemed to understand Iran's stance on the enrichment." Araqchi earlier told Iran's state TV that "It was a good start to the negotiations." "And there is an understanding on continuing the talks. Coordination on how to proceed will be decided in the capitals," Araqchi said. "If this process continues, I think we will reach a good framework for an understanding." Mediator Badr al-Busaidi, Oman's foreign minister, said the talks had been "very serious," with results to be considered carefully in Tehran and Washington. The goal was to reconvene in due course. Despite the talks, the United States announced on Friday it was sanctioning 15 entities and 14 shadow-fleet vessels connected to illicit trade in Iranian petroleum, petroleum products and petrochemical products, the latest U.S. economic measures targeting Tehran and trade with it. Iran's leadership remains deeply worried that Trump may carry out his threats to strike Iran after a U.S. naval buildup in seas in the region. Last June, the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear targets, joining in the final stages of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign. Tehran has since said it has halted uranium enrichment activity. The naval buildup, which Trump has called a massive “armada,” has followed a bloody government crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran last month, heightening tensions between Washington and Tehran. Trump has said "bad things" will probably happen if a deal cannot be reached, increasing pressure on the Islamic Republic in a standoff that has led to mutual threats of airstrikes. World powers and regional states fear a breakdown in the negotiations would ignite another conflict between the U.S. and Iran that could spill over to the rest of the oil-producing region. Iran has vowed a harsh response to any strike and has cautioned neighboring Gulf Arab countries that host U.S. bases that they could be in the firing line if they were involved in an attack. In a show of defiance, Iranian state TV said hours before the talks that “one of the country’s most advanced long-range ballistic missiles, the Khorramshahr-4,” had been deployed at one of the Revolutionary Guard's underground “missile cities.” However, Tehran is willing to show "flexibility" on uranium enrichment, including by handing over 400 kg of highly enriched uranium - refined closer to bomb-grade - and accepting zero enrichment under a consortium arrangement as a solution, Iranian officials told Reuters last week. Iran also demands the lifting of U.S. sanctions, reimposed since 2018 when Trump, during his first term in the White House, ditched Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers. The U.S., its European allies and Israel accuse Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons, but Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Dow Surpasses 50,000 For First Time

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,100 points and topped 50,000 for the first time Friday, as the U.S. stock market stormed back to recover much of its losses from earlier in the week. Chip companies helped drive the gains on hopes for more big spending by Amazon and other customers building out their AI offerings. Stocks also got a boost from a better reading on sentiment among U.S. consumers. Bitcoin rose back above $70,000 to halt its weekslong plunge, at least for now.

Trump must enforce the red line he has drawn

Trump Must Enforce the Red Line He Has Drawn

Iran Signals It Will Fight to the End

President Trump Unveils Trump RX

JD Vance attends Olympic skating, meets with Italian Prime Minister Meloni

Vice President JD Vance met Friday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — one of the Trump administration's closer allies in Europe — during his trip to Italy for the Olympic Games. Vance is on a weeklong visit that combines sports and diplomacy, meeting with Meloni at a time when U.S. relations with Europe have become increasingly strained under President Donald Trump, who has shaken up the rules-based order that has been at the center of U.S. foreign policy since World War II. The vice president started his day at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, watching the opening session of the three-day team figure skating competition with his family and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Vance then headed to the Prefettura di Milano, a Milan palace now used as a municipal building, for a bilateral meeting with Meloni that lasted about an hour and was followed by a closed-door lunch. Meloni began her remarks in Italian. After a moment, she switched to English, joking that Vance probably didn’t understand what she had been saying. Vance quipped that he'd been able to learn Italian since last coming to Italy. He hadn't. His last visit was when he saw Meloni in Rome after meeting with Pope Leo XIV in May. “I was saying that I’m happy to have you here to have the occasion to talk about our wonderful bilateral relation,” Meloni said. The prime minister said they'd discuss several topics of bilateral cooperation, but also mentioned meeting at the Olympics, which she called “events that tell about values that keep together Italy and the U.S.” and “western civilization.” While Meloni was speaking, Tilman Fertitta, the U.S. ambassador to Italy, walked in and greeted Vance, mentioning that, “It’s hard to get around." The security measures involved in staging the Olympics have meant traffic closures and other logistical headaches. Vance’s office later released a statement saying he and Meloni also made a private visit to the Pinacoteca di Brera art museum for about half an hour. The vice president's office said in a statement that during the meeting with the prime minster, she and Vance discussed the strength of bilateral relations between the nations, the Olympics and mutual efforts to improve the business and investment climate. Meloni has cultivated a close relationship with Trump, visiting him at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in early January 2025, even before he took office for his second term. At the time, he called her a “fantastic woman” and the two have since praised each other. More recently, however, Meloni has sided with top U.S. allies in Europe in opposing Trump's push to take control of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. During the short portion of the meeting where reporters were present, the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries. Vance and Rubio did not answer shouted questions about talks between the U.S. and Iran. “In the spirit of the Olympics friendship, competition — competition based on rules — and just coming together around shared values, we’re very, very thrilled to be here, and we’ll have a great conversation about number of topics,” Vance told Meloni. He added that he'd been excited to go to the Olympics in Milan “pretty much since I became vice president.”

Luigi Mangione Speaks Out In Protest As Judge Sets State Murder Trial For June 8

Luigi Mangione spoke out in court Friday against the prospect of back-to-back trials over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, telling a judge: “It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.” Mangione, 27, made the remarks as court officers escorted him out of the courtroom after a judge scheduled his state murder trial to begin June 8, three months before jury selection in his federal case. Judge Gregory Carro, matter-of-fact in his decision after a lengthy discussion with prosecutors and defense lawyers at the bench, said the state trial could be delayed until Sept 8 if an appeal delays the federal trial. Mangione’s lawyers objected to the June trial date, telling Carro that at that time, they'll be consumed with preparing for the federal trial, which involves allegations that Mangione stalked Thompson before killing him. “Mr. Mangione is being put in an untenable situation," defense lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said. "This is a tug-of-war between two different prosecution offices.” “The defense will not be ready on June 8," she added. “Be ready,” Carro replied. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges, both of which carry the possibility of life in prison. Last week, the judge in the federal case ruled that prosecutors can’t seek the death penalty. Wearing a tan jail suit, Mangione sat quietly at the defense table until his outburst at the end of the hearing. Jury selection in the federal case is set for Sept. 8, followed by opening statements and testimony on Oct. 13. As the trial calendar began to take shape, Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann sent a letter to Carro asking him to begin the New York trial on July 1. The prosecutor argued that the state’s interests “would be unfairly prejudiced by an unnecessary delay” until after the federal trial. When Mangione was arrested, federal prosecutors said anticipated that the state trial would go first. Seidemann told Carro on Friday that Thompson’s family has also expressed a desire to see the state trial happen first. “It appears the federal government has reneged on its agreement to let the state, which has done most of the work in this case, go first,” Carro said Friday. Scheduling the state trial first could help Manhattan prosecutors avoid double jeopardy issues. Under New York law, the district attorney’s office could be barred from trying Mangione if his federal trial happens first. The state’s double jeopardy protections kick in if a jury has been sworn in a prior prosecution, such as a federal case, or if that prosecution ends in a guilty plea. The cases involve different charges but the same alleged course of conduct. Mangione isn’t due in court again in the state case until May, when Carro is expected to rule on a defense request to exclude certain evidence that prosecutors say connects Mangione to the killing. Those items include a 9 mm handgun that prosecutors say matches the one used to kill Thompson and a notebook in which they say he described his intent to “wack” a health insurance executive. Last week, Garnett ruled that prosecutors can use those items at that trial. In September, Carro threw out state terrorism charges but kept the rest of the case, including an intentional murder charge. Thompson, 50, was killed on Dec. 4, 2024, as he walked to a midtown Manhattan hotel for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting him from behind. Police say “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims. Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of Manhattan.

DOJ Arrests Accused Militant In Deadly 2012 Benghazi Attack

The Justice Department says a key participant in the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, has been taken into custody and will be prosecuted in Washington in connection with a rampage that killed four Americans and became a divisive political issue. Zubayar Al-Bakoush was identified by officials Friday as a member of an extremist militia in Libya. Al-Bakoush had been wanted by the United States for more than a decade and was taken to an airfield in Virginia early Friday. Al-Bakoush is accused of joining an armed mob that crashed the gates of the diplomatic mission and set fire to buildings. It's unclear if Al-Bakoush has an attorney.

Democrats want cheating to happen

Democrats Want Cheating To Happen

Did you know Kamala Harris won only in states without voter ID laws

The only people who oppose the SAVE Act are those who are perfectly comfortable with cheating.

Democrats blind to Trump's triumphs

In a tense House Financial Services Committee hearing, Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters grew frustrated with Superman Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Maxine Waters Lies to Media

Is the USA stolen land?

Is the USA Stolen Land?

Where do Young Liberal Women Get their News?

Young Liberal Women Oppose Mass Deportations

Harvest with Greg Laurie, February 8, 2026

Mayor Frey says Tom Homan didn't pull enough ICE agents out of Minnesota

Mayor Frey Says Tom Homan Didn't Pull Enough ICE Agents Out Of Minnesota

Car Crash Into Los Angeles Grocery Store Turns Deadly

At least three people were killed and at least six others were seriously hurt when a car slammed into a grocery store Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles, authorities said. The crash was reported shortly after noon at a 99 Ranch Market in the city's Westwood neighborhood, according Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz. Three victims died at the scene, Lantz said. Paramedics were treating six or seven patients, some in serious condition, she said. Preliminary reports say the driver was a female, according to Lantz, but it wasn't immediately known if she was among the injured or dead. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said its investigators were still gathering information about the crash. TV news footage showed a large police and fire department response with a triage area set up to treat patients outside the large store on Westwood Boulevard.