News On Tap For Friday, June 19, 2026

WE Are Still A Better America

Today’s “News On Tap” is filled with hope & celebration, along with stupidity & halfascism. We start with America’s real celebration of independence, Juneteenth. We’ve also got news updates on Trump’s Iran surrender mess, the costs of his losing war, and his other failed foreign policies. We’ve also got updates on his failed administration here at home, and his delusional ideas about his own power. Meanwhile, the politics on the ground keeps looking better for Democrats. Plus, we’ve got entertainment news in Movies & TV, and we’ve got your Sports updates too. Plus, we’ve got a special Juneteenth gift for you.

First Round - America's REAL Independence Day

• Juneteenth Celebrations Kick Off As Obama Presidential Center Opens To The Public In Chicago

• Juneteenth And The Meaning Of Freedom

• We Are Still America: New Survey Confirms Most U.S. Companies Remain Committed To Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Efforts, Though Federal Contractors Face Unique Threats

• Ed Kilgore: Juneteenth Celebrates A Victory That Never Stays Fully Won

• Nicholas Mitchell: The Spirit Of Juneteenth Can Lead Us Out Of This Perilous Political Moment

Second Round - Pile Of Foreign Failures

Trump’s Iran Surrender Mess

• Long-Term U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Postponed, Clouding Prospects For Lasting Truce

• Israel, Hezbollah Agree To Ceasefire After Morning Flareup Threatens U.S.-Iran Agreement

• Five Key Issues In U.S.-Iran Talks As 60-Day Clock Begins

• JD Vance Slams Israeli Officials Who Criticized Iran Deal, Deepening Rift Between Allies

• Graeme Wood: Iran Has Humiliated Trump [Gift Link]

The Costs Of War

• Pentagon Now Seeking $80 Billion More As Iran Conflict Costs Continue To Climb

• The Costs Of Trump & Netanyahu’s Iran War: Thousands Of Lives & Billions Of Dollars

• Pentagon Investigation Into Iran War School Strike Being Finalized

• Former Pres. Obama Says U.S. ‘May Be Worse Off’ Now Than Before Iran War

Ukraine Is Winning (Without Trump)

• Ukraine Strikes Major Moscow Refinery In One Of The Biggest Drone Attacks Of The War

• A Twist In Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Is ‘Really Hurting The Russians’ - Cause Fuel Shortages For Russians, While Complicating Troop Rotations

Other Foreign Affairs

• Italian Prime Minister Meloni Blasts Trump Lie That She ‘Begged’ For A Photo With Him; Italy’s Top Diplomat Cancels U.S. Trip

• U.S. Military Kills Three More People In Another Boat Strike In Pacific Ocean, Bringing Total Number Of People Killed In Similar Actions To 211

Third Round - The Dumbest Regime Ever

What Halfascist Administration Looks Like

• Trump’s New Acting DNI Bill Pulte Shows Up One Day Early, Immediately Demands List Of All Employees To See Who He Can Fire

• Scores Fall Ill At Lackland Air Force Base In Texas After Hegseth Makes Flu Vaccine Optional [Gift Link]

• ICE Spent $700 Million On 7 Warehouses. Now It Wants To Get Rid Of Them.[Gift Link]

• Reflecting Pool Algae Bloom Is One Of Biggest Recorded In Decades After Trump Regime’s $14M Renovation [Gift Link]

• Company Tied To Trump Donor - Named ‘Greenwater Services’ - Got No-Bid Contract To Clean Reflecting Pool

• Trump Regime Tells Federal Employees To Wear “Freedom 250” Pins From Private Organization - Or Else

• Trump Interior Department Compares Fighting Reflecting Pool Algae To Fighting Iran’s Navy

• Trump Admin. To End AIDS Suppressing PEPFAR Funding For South Africa

• A Win Against The Monsters: Trump Admin. Backs Off Plan To End Ocean Monitoring System [Gift Link]

The World’s Smallest Man

• Trump Arrogantly Insists There Are “No Limits” To His Power After Capitulating To Iran War Deal

• New Haberman/Swan Book Details Trump’s Frustration With Messaging: ‘Everyone Just Needs To Copy What I Say’

• More Details From New Haberman/Swan Book: Trump Has Decorated The Oval Office With Super Glue Gold Appliqués, & Is Still Irked About Epstein

• New Book Reveals Trump Insanely Believes He’s More Powerful Than Anyone In History, Including Attila The Hun, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Stalin, Mao, And Hitler

Fourth Round - More News To Drink About

Politics On The Ground

• Cook Political Report Shifts 7 House Races Toward Democrats

• Maine Resolves Ranked Choice Primaries, Setting Up The Governor’s Race And A Key House Contest

• Democratic Socialist Janeese Lewis George Wins Washington, D.C., Mayoral Primary

• Democratic Socialists Surge In Mayoral Races Across The U.S. As Anti-Trump Fervor Rises

• Maryland Senate President Faces Primary After Previously Snubbing Democratic Redistricting Effort

Miscellaneous But Important

• Minor League Pennsylvania Baseball Team Cancels Pride Night Game After Players Refuse To Wear Jerseys With Rainbows On Them

• York (PS) Revolution’s Management Statement: The Team Has Chickened Out, But Pride Night Will Go On

• New Study Confirms Over-Reliance On Chatbots - AKA A.I. - Can Diminish Critical-Thinking Skills

• Greece Unveils Restored Parthenon Facade, Revealing A Look Not Seen For 220 Years

Fifth Round - Entertainment & More

Movies, TV, & More

• ‘Toy Story 5’ Scores Year’s Best Box Office Preview Total With $17.5 M

• ‘Supergirl’ First Reactions: Milly Alcock ‘Shines’ As James Gunn’s Dc Universe Embraces ‘Mad Max’ Vibes

• ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Announces Summer 2026 Guest Hosts, Including Tiffany Haddish, Anthony Anderson, & Rosie O’Donnell

• Anne Hathaway Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 3 With Husband Adam Shulman

Sports Entertainment

• World Cup 2026 Live Updates: Mexico Outlasts South Korea 1-0; Canada Routs Qatar 6-0

• Mexico Becomes First Country To Reach Knockout Stage Of World Cup, Beating South Korea 1-0

• Canada Is Dominant In Its First World Cup Win, 6-0 Over Qatar, Even As Star Midfielder Koné Has Leg Broken

• The U.S. Can Clinch A Spot In The World Cup Knockout Round Today. But They Know Not To Underestimate Australia.

• Heading Towards All-Star Break, MLB Announces Home Run Derby Returning To Swing-Based System For First Time Since 2014

• Angel Reese Has 21 Points, 11 Rebounds As The Atlanta Dream Gets A 108-101 Win Over Caitlin Clark & The Indiana Fever

A Juneteenth Gift For You

Since Karen & Anita couldn’t join us tonight, and several other folks we reached out to were all watching World Cup games tonight - no shade, go USA - we’ll give you the gifts of the full remarks of both Michelle & Barack Obama from the opening of the Obama Presidential Center yesterday. We are still America!

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