News On Tap For Thursday, June 18, 2026

The Choice: Cruelty Or Progress

Today’s “News On Tap” shows the stark contrasts between the choices America is facing again. We’ve got news on Trump’s collapse on the Iran war, and the corruption & cruelty of his regime is doing. There’s also news on the Republicans'‘ terrible failed government & failing economy, and their other failures of governing. Then there’s the contrast of the joyous & powerful opening on the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, & the joy-filled streets on New York celebrating the Knicks’ win. We’ve also got John Fugelsang joining us tonight to talk about all that and more. Read up, get informed, & join us tonight!

First Round - World-Class Loser Loses Bigly

Trump’s Iran War Political Fallout

• Seemingly Oblivious To History, Trump Signs MoU To End His War With Iran, While At Versailles

• Trump Signs Iran MoU, Claiming Deal Averts ‘Worldwide Depression’ - And Making Clear Being Blamed For Causing Economic Collapse Is One Of His Greatest Fears

• An Annotated Look At The Full Text Of The Memorandum Of Understanding Between The United States And Iran [Gift Link]

• Iran Gets Major Economic Lifeline For Minimal Concessions In Initial MoU [Gift Link]

• Republicans Slam Trump For Caving To Iran In ‘Disaster’ Of A Deal

• Trump’s Deal With Iran Opens New Rifts In The Republican Party [Gift Link]

• Netanyahu & Israeli Govt., Stunned By Trump’s Iran Deal, Sees It As A ‘Catastrophic Capitulation’

• Yair Rosenberg: Netanyahu Finally Learns That His Alliance With Trump Was Always Only Transactional [Gift Link]

Oil In The Wake Of War

• Three Saudi Oil Tankers Carrying 6 Million Barrels Cross Strait Of Hormuz

• New MoU Deal Gives Iran Chance To Turbocharge Its Oil Revenue

• After MoU Signed, U.S. Average Gas Prices Fall Below $4 For The First Time Since March, Though Worries About Supplies Remain

Second Round - Trump's Corruption & Cruelty

• After Being Denied Funds By Congress, Senators Warn Trump Is Redirecting Millions From Secret Service Funds To White House Ballroom

• Trump DOJ Invokes McCarthy-Era Law In Attempt To Strip Somalia-Born Minnesotan Of His U.S. Citizenship

• Trump DOJ Seeks To Halt Historic Reparations Program For Black Victims Of Housing Discrimination, After Pushing For Their Own Reparations Slush Fund For Insurrectionists

• FDA Rejection Of New Gene Therapy Technique Overturned After Cruel & Stupid Trump Official Ousted

• Trump FTC Sues Transgender Care Group In Further Attempt To Clamp Down On Providers That Give Gender-Affirming Care

Third Round - Republicans' Terrible Govt.

On The Economy: Preparing Pitchforks & Torches

• U.S. Gas Price Avg. Falls Below $4 For 1st Time Since March - But It’s Still 25% Higher Than Last Year

• In First Meeting Of Federal Reserve Board Under New Chairman Warsh, Fed Holds Rates Steady, But Officials See Higher Rates Later This Year As Likely Next Move

• New PBS News/NPR/Marist Poll Shows Trump’s Economic Approval Rating Hitting A Record New Low Of Only 33%

• New Fox Poll Finds 59% Of Voters Feel Pessimistic About U.S. Economy, Including Half Of Republicans

• New NBC News Poll Shows 81% Of Americans Accurately See A Huge Divide Between Haves And Have-Nots

Failed Administration

• Trump State Dept To Take Over CDC’s Work On Diseases Abroad, Which They Do Not Have The Expertise To Do

• Trump Regime To Pay $765 Million To Cancel 4 More Wind Projects, The Third Similar Deal Made To Fight Against Green Energy [Gift Link]

• Trump Nominee For Inspector General At DOJ, Pressed By Senators During Confirmation Hearing, Refuses To Call January 6 An ‘Attack’

On Capitol Hill

• Legislation That Would Overhaul College Sports, And Limit Payments To Student Athletes Clears Major Senate Test

• Senators Threaten To Freeze Pete Hegseth’s Travel Budget Unless Pentagon Turns Over Documents On Iran School Bombings

In The Courts

• Supreme Court Rules Government Cannot Restrict Gun Rights For Casual Drug Use

• Trump Settles Lawsuit Against His Niece Mary Trump Over Tax Records Leak

Fourth Round - More News To Drink About

Honoring The Past, Moving Towards The Future

• Former Presidents Clinton, Bush, And Biden, & Former VP Harris Attend Obama Presidential Center Ceremony Opening

• In Photos: A Preview Of The Obama Presidential Center

• The Obama Presidential Center, As More Than Just A Library And Archives, Will Be A Place For The Community To Gather, Talk, Play, & Learn Together

Polls & Politics

• New CNN Poll Finds Americans Are Divided On ‘Culture War’ Issues - & Republicans Are Desperate Trying To Leverage That In The Midterms

• New Pew Poll Finds Just 16% Of Americans Believe AI Will Positively Impact Society

Miscellaneous But Important

• California Billionaires Tax Measure Qualifies For Fall Ballot, Setting Up Costly Fight

• Anger Growing - Rightfully - In Mississippi Over Police Killing Of 1-Year-Old In A Walmart Parking Lot

Other Foreign Affairs

• Moscow Refinery Ablaze As Ukraine Launches Biggest Attack On Russian Capital In Years

• Ukraine And Germany Sign Agreement To Develop Air Defense Systems To Intercept Ballistic Missiles

Fifth Round - Media, Entertainment, & More

Media Matters

• The Onion Says It Won’t Wait For The Courts, Will Launch New Infowars Site To Pay Sandy Hook Families

• Penske Media Company Acquires Vox Media Brands, Making Them The World’s Largest Digital Publisher

Music & TV Entertainment

• Macy’s July 4th/America 250 Show To Feature Post Malone, Blake Shelton, Salt-N-Pepa, And Shaboozey

• Tyra Banks Returns To “Project Runway” As A Recurring Judge For Season 22

Sports Entertainment

• New York Knicks Revel In Their NBA Victory Parade As Joyous Fans And Celebs Fill The Streets

• Knicks Owner, A Trump Donor, Says He’s Accepted An Invitation On Their Behalf To Appear At The White House. The Team Has Not Agreed To Appear.

• World Cup 2026 Updates, Scores, & More: Czechia Taking On South Africa Today; Mexico & Canada Back In Action

• Nike Now Set To Release WNBA Star Caitlin Clark’s ‘Caitlin 1’ Signature Shoe This Fall

Tonight’s Bar Regular:

John Fugelsang, our friend, broadcaster, podcaster, Substacker, comedian, Host of “Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang” weeknights on Sirius XM & author of the bestselling book “Separation of Church and Hate” is back tonight! He’s got a new piece up at The Nation, “Separation of Church and State: America’s Best Idea” we think you should read. We’ll also talk about the stark contrasts in the news today, between the cowards & losers of the Trump/Vance regime, and the joy, honor, & courage of the Obama coalition. We’ll also draw a few more rounds from today’s News On Tap. Join us tonight!

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