Iran Strike Debate Erupts: Joint Chiefs Chair Allegedly Resists, Trump Fires Back

The Barbell Economy: Why The Middle Is Vanishing Authored by Tamuz Itai via The Epoch Times, There’s a pattern quietly reshaping daily life, work, and society itself. Economists now call it the “barbell economy.” Value, growth, and opportunity concentrate at the two extremes—ultra-cheap utility on one end, premium experience and status on the other—while the broad, reasonable middle thins out. Once you start noticing it, you can’t unsee it. And the data show it isn’t a fleeting trend. Start with something as ordinary as dinner. Fast-food drive-throughs, delivery apps, and value menus...

China's Quiet Gains During US-Israel War On Iran Authored by Hamza Zaman via RealClearDefense, The Iran conflict continues to protract despite President Trump’s assumption of a quick and easy victory. The goals of regime change and the decimation of the Iranian ballistic missile program remain unfulfilled, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz further adds to the strategic qualms of the Western powers. The GCC states are also facing significant damage to their services industry, transport infrastructure and energy sector. While both sides suffer great losses in this protracted conflict, America’s biggest geopolitical...

Democrats Flip Trump's Mar-a-Lago District In Florida Special Election Upset Democrats flipped a reliably red Florida state House seat that includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on Tuesday, scoring a narrow but symbolically significant victory in a special election that drew national attention. Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Trump-endorsed Republican Jon Maples in House District 87 by just over 2 percentage points, according to unofficial results. The win marks an approximately 11-point swing toward Democrats compared to the 2024 performance in the Palm Beach County district. Gregory, a first-time candidate who runs a...