The Lead: War Crimes in Ukraine

Inflation has been steadily climbing and is now at its highest level in three years, thanks to the United States’ refusal to pull out of Israel’s war with Iran. The situation mirrors what happened under President Biden, when billions of taxpayer dollars were poured into the war in Ukraine. Now it’s the same story all over again, just a different president, a different country, but with an even greater economic impact. According to the latest Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices in May 2026 are sky-high, up 4.2 percent compared to May 2025. Of course, no one needed a government report to know inflation is bad. Every trip to the grocery store is a real-life inflation report. Grocery prices are up 3.1 percent, while restaurant prices have increased 2.7 percent, which means it could be cheaper to eat out than cook at

The United States has begun launching new airstrikes against targets inside Iran. According to CENTCOM, U.S. forces struck multiple locations in Iran after President Trump authorized additional military action. Explosions were reportedly heard in Sirik, Qeshm Island, Minab, and Isfahan as tensions between Washington and Tehran continued to escalate. The justification? CENTCOM claimed the attacks were “self-defense” and were launched in response to Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.” It’s hard to buy the “self-defense” narrative when, earlier that day, Trump said the U.S. was close to a deal while also promising to “hit them hard.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a similar message, stating that the U.S. would “strike Iran with full force today.” It’s the same contradictory rhetoric we’ve heard time and time again: “We’re close to a deal” on one hand, yet “we’re going to bomb the sh#! out of them” on the other. It makes no sense at all. At this

The U.S. began striking Iran overnight in retaliation for what President Trump said was a downed helicopter that was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM says that it is done now, as if it were a movie premiere that came and went. In response, Iran reportedly launched attacks on the U.S. Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, U.S. assets in Jordan, Kuwait, and possibly Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The extent of the damage on either side has yet to be assessed as of this writing. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the U.S. should cease escalating with Iran because its military “will leave no attack or threat unanswered. Leave our region if you want to be safe.” All of this started over an empty helicopter? The story is fishy. President Trump said that there were only two pilots on board but “both are safe and uninjured.” There are many unconfirmed reports that there were seven people aboard, not

NBC News reports that Israel may be spying on top U.S. officials. Duh! Why is this being presented as a shocking development? U.S. intelligence officials, whistleblowers, and journalists have been discussing Israeli espionage against the United States for decades. In 2019, Politico reported that U.S. officials believed Israel was behind Stingray surveillance devices found near the White House during Trump’s first term. According to that report, there were no meaningful consequences. So what exactly has changed? NBC’s reporting suggests that Israel is seeking insight into internal Trump administration deliberations on Iran and the broader Middle East. But if Israel already enjoys extensive access to Washington’s political and military establishment, does this indicate that certain channels have been cut off? Or is this simply another attempt to create the appearance of daylight between Washington and Tel Aviv? Either way, the real story may not be that Israel is spying.

Electric shock devices are being used on children and adults with autism and other disabilities, and no one is putting a stop to it, not even the FDA, the agency responsible for regulating medical devices, which just missed its own end-of-May deadline to finalize a proposed ban. The devices are exactly what they sound like. Electrodes are often taped to a person’s body and deliver painful electric shocks as punishment when certain behaviors occur. According to advocates, people have been shocked for things such as slouching, wetting the bed, getting out of their seats, or failure to remove a coat when asked. Critics, such as the UN, have compared the practice to torture, and some say it’s similar to tactics used during interrogations. How can this be happening in America in 2026 when even electric shock collars for dogs have been banned in many parts

Israel has once again cut off humanitarian aid to Gaza, this time in response to Iranian missile strikes that followed Israel’s bombing of Beirut. The missiles weren’t fired from Gaza, so why is Gaza the one being deprived of aid? Israeli authorities announced the closure of the main border crossings used to bring food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies into the territory. COGAT released a statement claiming that “the closure of the crossings will not affect the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The substantial quantities of food that have entered the Strip since the beginning of the ceasefire significantly exceed the nutritional needs of the population.” That claim doesn’t square with what international agencies have been reporting. According to the World Food Programme, at least 1.6 million people, about 77 percent of the population in Gaza, are facing acute food insecurity. Aid groups have warned that the amount of assistance