Good evening everyone. Today is not just chaotic, it is unraveling in real time. The so-called ceasefire between Iran, the United States, Israel, and Lebanon is already collapsing. There was never a formal agreement to begin with, and now we are watching Israel bomb Lebanon live, crossing a clear red line for Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is shut down again, global shipping is disrupted, and the deal is breaking apart less than 24 hours after it was announced. At the same time, new reporting shows the Pentagon threatened the Pope and the Catholic Church to fall in line, while Republicans blocked Pam Bondi’s deposition to avoid further scrutiny over the Epstein files.
I want to personally thank all of you for watching, commenting, and sharing our content over the past 24 hours. People who normally tune out the news are paying attention, and we are filling a gap that should never have existed in the first place. This is what real civic awareness looks like, and we are building it together.
Here’s the news:
- According to Letters from Leo, the relationship between the White House and the Vatican has sharply deteriorated after Pope Leo XIV condemned the Iran war and called for global peace. Behind the scenes, U.S. officials reportedly threatened and pressured the Vatican, warning that America’s military power gives it the ability to act without restraint and pushing the Church to fall in line. The pope refused, instead escalating his criticism of war and domination, signaling a clear break with U.S. policy. The clash highlights a deeper struggle between raw political power and the Vatican’s claim to moral authority.
- CNN has confirmed that there appears to be no formal written document outlining the ceasefire agreement, suggesting the deal may be based on verbal commitments or informal terms. This lack of clear documentation creates ambiguity around what each side has actually agreed to. Without defined terms, both sides can interpret the ceasefire differently, increasing the risk of disputes. It also makes the agreement more fragile and harder to enforce.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will push for a vote on a war powers resolution to limit U.S. military action in Iran when Congress returns. He argued that the conflict has made the U.S. worse off, citing its economic impact and warning against further escalation.
- House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will attempt to pass a war powers resolution by unanimous consent during a pro forma session, though it is expected to be blocked by Republicans. The move shows urgency among Democrats to limit U.S. military involvement despite procedural obstacles. Meanwhile, Rep. Jamie Raskin plans to hold a briefing for Democrats on the 25th Amendment.
- According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is reportedly considering penalizing certain NATO countries it views as unsupportive during the Iran war. The plan could involve relocating U.S. troops away from those countries and shifting them to allies that backed the military effort. While not a full withdrawal from NATO, the move would signal a significant shift in alliance dynamics. It reflects growing tension between the U.S. and some NATO members over their level of support in the conflict.
- President Donald Trump said Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement, calling the conflict there a separate issue tied to Hezbollah. He indicated that Israel’s continued strikes in Lebanon are acceptable and effectively part of the broader strategy. This stance directly contradicts claims from Pakistani mediators and Iran, who say Lebanon was meant to be covered by the deal. The disagreement adds tension and raises the risk of further escalation despite the ceasefire. This is what the Pakistani Prime Minister said last night:
- Trump rejected key elements of Iran’s reported ceasefire proposal, emphasizing that only U.S.-approved terms will guide negotiations. Iran’s demands—such as removing U.S. forces, ending sanctions, and maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz—directly conflict with American objectives. Trump insisted there is only one acceptable framework and said discussions would proceed based on those terms behind closed doors.
- Iran reportedly shut down the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah, escalating tensions despite ceasefire efforts. Iranian forces warned that any vessels attempting to pass through the vital waterway could be targeted and destroyed. The move threatens global oil shipments, as the strait is a key route for energy supply. This action signals Iran’s willingness to use economic disruption as retaliation in the conflict.
- Only four ships were allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, marking the lowest number of crossings so far this month and highlighting how restricted traffic remains. Despite Iran’s earlier commitment to reopen the waterway “immediately,” more than 20 hours passed with minimal movement. This sharp drop in transit shows that the ceasefire has not translated into real operational access. It underscores how tightly Iran still controls the strait and how fragile the situation remains.
- Vice President JD Vance said the dispute over Lebanon stems from a misunderstanding, claiming Iran incorrectly assumed the ceasefire covered it. He emphasized that the U.S. never agreed to include Lebanon or suggested it would be part of the deal. His statement reinforces the U.S. position that the ceasefire is limited in scope.
- Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the U.S. of violating key parts of Iran’s proposed negotiation framework less than a day after the ceasefire began. He cited continued strikes in Lebanon, a U.S. drone entering Iranian airspace, and efforts to eliminate Iran’s uranium enrichment program as breaches of the agreement. Ghalibaf said these actions reinforce Iran’s long-standing distrust of the U.S. and undermine the basis for future negotiations. He warned that with these violations already occurring, pursuing a ceasefire or diplomatic talks may no longer be reasonable.
- Iran’s foreign minister warned that the U.S. must choose between honoring the ceasefire or continuing the conflict indirectly through Israel. He pointed to ongoing strikes in Lebanon as evidence that the agreement is being undermined. Iran insists the ceasefire should include Lebanon, while the U.S. and Israel deny that interpretation. The statement raises pressure on Washington and signals that continued violence could collapse the fragile truce.
- Qatar said its military intercepted seven Iranian ballistic missiles and multiple drones, successfully preventing any damage or casualties. The attack came shortly after a ceasefire between Iran, the U.S., and Israel was announced, highlighting how quickly tensions resurfaced. Despite the truce, the incident shows that hostilities are still ongoing and the situation remains highly unstable.
- Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not testify before the House Oversight Committee as scheduled, with the Justice Department arguing the subpoena no longer applies since she is no longer in office. Lawmakers from both parties strongly dispute this, insisting she is still legally required to appear and threatening further action if she refuses. The dispute centers on accountability in the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and the release of related files. The standoff highlights ongoing tensions between Congress and the Justice Department over transparency and responsibility. From Nancy Mace:
- Donald Trump is asking New York’s highest court to fully dismiss the remaining fraud case against him, even after a lower court already ruled largely in his favor. While that decision eliminated a massive financial penalty, it still upheld findings that Trump and his business engaged in fraud. His lawyers are now seeking to overturn those findings and remove restrictions on his business activities. The move reflects Trump’s broader effort to completely clear the case and challenge what his team calls politically motivated prosecution.
- Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen,” was sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling the drugs that led to actor Matthew Perry’s fatal overdose. Prosecutors said she continued dealing even after learning her drugs caused harm, showing a disregard for human life. Sangha admitted to distributing ketamine and operating a drug network, while Perry had been struggling with addiction and seeking unsupervised doses.
- Rex Heuermann admitted to killing eight women in the Gilgo Beach serial killings, pleading guilty to multiple murders spanning over a decade. He confessed to strangling the victims and dumping their bodies across Long Island, bringing a major breakthrough to a case that remained unsolved for years. In exchange for his plea, he is expected to receive life in prison without parole and will cooperate with investigators. The admission provides long-awaited answers for victims’ families while closing one of the most notorious serial killer cases in recent history.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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