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US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites: Who backed, who condemned, and who raised concerns? Full list
US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites: Who backed, who condemned, and who raised concerns? Full list

Mint

time22-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Mint

US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites: Who backed, who condemned, and who raised concerns? Full list

The United States' overnight airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities — including the heavily fortified Fordow site — have triggered a wave of global political reaction, marking a sharp escalation in Middle East tensions. While the Biden administration hailed the strikes as a targeted blow against Iran's nuclear ambitions, reactions from lawmakers and world leaders have ranged from full-throated support to strong condemnation and deep concern. From Washington to Tehran, and Tel Aviv to Brussels, the world is now watching how this volatile moment could reshape geopolitics and possibly push the region closer to wider conflict. Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Trump's decision, calling it a "pivot of history." 'President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons,' Netanyahu said. 'In Operation Rising Lion, Israel has done truly amazing things, but in tonight's action against Iran's nuclear facilities, America has been truly unsurpassed.' Signs reading "Thank you, Mr President" appeared in Tel Aviv, reflecting public support. Republican leaders in the US: Several Republican lawmakers strongly backed the strikes. 'This was the right call. The regime deserves it. Well done,' said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). 'We have the best Air Force in the world. Fly, Fight, Win.' Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) compared the decision to President Obama's military actions in Libya and Yemen. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA): 'Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities.' Vice President JD Vance: "We are not at war with Iran. We're at war with Iran's nuclear program." "Ukraine is convinced that Iran's nuclear programme must be stopped..." the foreign ministry stated. Progressive Democrats and Independents: 'The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorisation is a grave violation of the Constitution,' said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). "It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment." Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) echoed her concerns: 'The only entity that can take this country to war is the US Congress. The president does not have the right.' Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) called the strikes "not constitutional." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): Though a Trump ally, she urged for peace: 'Let us join together and pray for the safety of our U.S. troops and Americans in the Middle East.' Iran: Tehran condemned the strikes as "criminal aggression." "The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to defend Iran's territory... by all force and means." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Trump a "lawless bully" and said he had betrayed his own voters. 'Grossly violates international law,' said the Foreign Ministry, condemning damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. China's foreign ministry "strongly condemns" the strikes, saying they "seriously violate" the UN charter. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stopped short of endorsing the strikes. "Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon... We must now de-escalate the situation." Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated: 'The UK did not participate in these strikes. We urge Iran to show restraint.' European Union: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: "Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon... I urge all sides to step back." France President Emmanuel Macron called Iranian President Pezeshkian to urge restraint: "This is the only path to peace and security for all." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "gravely alarmed." 'There is a growing risk this conflict could rapidly get out of control.' Saudi Arabia called for "diplomatic solutions" and warned of "highly sensitive circumstances." Canada PM Mark Carney said the region remains "highly volatile" despite the intent to neutralise nuclear threats.

Kathy Hochul's defense of NY sanctuary laws was pathetic — because she has no good defense
Kathy Hochul's defense of NY sanctuary laws was pathetic — because she has no good defense

New York Post

time12-06-2025

  • Politics
  • New York Post

Kathy Hochul's defense of NY sanctuary laws was pathetic — because she has no good defense

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday got a well-deserved scolding from congressmen outraged over her efforts to protect illegal-immigrant criminals from ICE agents — and her responses were beyond pathetic, because she has no good defense. When New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik cited Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, an illegal immigrant who came to New York and is accused of fatally setting fire to a woman on an F train, Hochul didn't even know who he was. Advertisement Nor did she know the names of other notorious illegal immigrants who'd been in New York and are linked to horrific crimes. 'These are high-profile cases,' fumed Stefanik (who after this looks even more likely to run against Hochul next year): 'New Yorkers know about them — and you don't?' Nor could the gov bring herself to say that Tompkins County officials were wrong to release Romero-Hernandez, even though he had pleaded guilty to assault charges and was ordered deported — and ICE had asked for him to be held. Advertisement When ICE agents showed up to get him just a bit over an hour later, he was gone. Reps. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) blamed Hochul's policies for the murder of 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, noting that her killer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, was nabbed in New York on child-endangerment charges — but quickly freed. They cited New York's Green Light law, which bars state officials from sharing drivers' info with federal officials, as well as its cashless-bail law. Advertisement And Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Executive Order 170, which Hochul chose to continue, prohibiting 'officers or employees, including law enforcement,' from disclosing 'information to federal immigration authorities for the purpose of federal civil immigration enforcement,' unless expressly required by law. Hochul claimed her office does cooperate with federal authorities — but also admitted New York welcomes illegal immigrants with open arms, and has for 400 years. The problem, of course, is that unlike migrants of the past, illegal immigrants are, well, illegal: They have no right to be in America in the first place, yet President Joe Biden waved in millions nonetheless, mostly with little to no vetting. These border-jumpers effectively cut in front of those waiting to enter legally, cost taxpayers billions, overwhelmed schools and public services and take jobs from citizens. Advertisement And far too many feel free to commit the most heinous of crimes. Hochul seemed unfazed by all this and by lawmakers' fury — and that of the family members of illegal immigrants' victims. New Yorkers should be just as livid at they are.

Game Changer Student Loan Bill Would Slash Interest Rates To 2%
Game Changer Student Loan Bill Would Slash Interest Rates To 2%

Forbes

time09-04-2025

  • Business
  • Forbes

Game Changer Student Loan Bill Would Slash Interest Rates To 2%

A new bipartisan proposal in Congress aims to slash interest rates on federal student loans to just 2%, a dramatic drop from the 6% to 9% rates that most borrowers have today. The bill – officially titled the Affordable Loans for Students Act – was introduced in March 2025 by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) alongside Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL)​. This Republican-led effort to cap student loan interest rates at 2% marks a rare moment of bipartisanship on an issue often known for partisan divides. If enacted, the legislation would retroactively adjust interest rates on existing federal student loans to 2% and automatically refinance borrowers' loans to the new rate without requiring them to opt in. 'This is a game-changer for millions of Americans looking to build a better future without the weight of overwhelming student loan debt holding them back," said Lawler in a press release. "By adjusting the rate to 2% and doing this retroactively, we're giving borrowers the flexibility they need to pay off their debt without unnecessary obstacles, like the outrageous additional cost post-graduation that is now synonymous with quality education.' At a time of great uncertainty about federal student loans and student loan forgiveness, the bill may also point to potential solutions that could gain support across the political spectrum. While the bill would be a game-changer, its odds of passing are still quite uncertain. Under the Affordable Loans for Students Act, all federal student loans, including undergraduate, graduate, PLUS, and federal consolidation loans, would carry a 2% interest rate. Notably, this cap isn't just for new loans – it also applies retroactively to existing loan balances. That means current borrowers would see their interest rates on federal loans automatically lowered to 2%, significantly reducing future interest accrual. The Department of Education is authorized to automatically refinance and modify loans so borrowers don't have to navigate any paperwork to get the lower rate. Even borrowers with older federal loans not held by the Department could benefit: the bill allows those loans to be consolidated into Direct loans to access the 2% rate​. Borrowers with multiple loans could consolidate them if needed to streamline the rate adjustment. In short, the legislation takes a comprehensive approach to ensure every federal student loan is capped at 2% interest, aiming to make student loan repayment more manageable for all borrowers. The bill's sponsors emphasize that this move could substantially cut costs for borrowers. For example, a borrower with $30,000 in federal student loans at a 6.5% interest rate today might pay around $345 per month on a standard 10-year plan, totaling roughly $41,000 paid over the life of the loan. If the interest rate were lowered to 2%, that monthly payment could drop to about $275-280, with a total repaid of around $33,000 – saving roughly $8,000 in interest over time. Those savings stay in borrowers' pockets, effectively making higher education debt less costly in the long run. 'High interest rates add years, sometimes even decades, to the time it takes for student loans to be paid off," said Luna. "This is unacceptable - the federal government should not be putting strain on its students and young graduates for profit. This legislation caps and ends excessive interest rates, expanding access to college degrees and making American workers even more competitive in the modern workforce,' she added. Lowering interest is a way to help graduates pay down their principal faster instead of watching balances swell with interest each year. This push to cap student loan interest rates at 2% comes amid a heated debate over how to address the nation's $1.6 trillion student debt load. In contrast to high-profile efforts at student loan forgiveness—which have largely been championed by Democrats and met opposition from Republicans—lowering interest rates has emerged as a potential middle-ground solution. The fact that this initiative is bipartisan could be a key part of its political appeal. Lawler, the bill's author, is a first-term Republican known for crossing the aisle (the press release for the bill notes that he is considered one of the most bipartisan members of Congress). Teaming up with Moskowitz, a Democrat, and Luna, a conservative Republican, potentially signals an attempt to build a coalition that spans the political spectrum on the issue of student loan interest. This could improve the bill's odds in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives, as it aligns with Republican interests and attracts some Democratic support. Indeed, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and other education groups applauded the act's introduction. NASFAA called it an "equitable approach that would help ease the burden of student loan debt on current and future borrowers"​ However, the bill's prospects remain uncertain. It's unclear how the broader Republican leadership or fiscally conservative members of Congress will view the proposal. On the one hand, reducing interest on student loans is attractive because it offers relief without canceling obligations. Indeed, similar ideas have been floated before: for instance, as a senator, Marco Rubio proposed replacing student loan interest with a one-time upfront fee, and other GOP-backed plans have sought to curb interest accrual and capitalization. However, slashing interest to 2% across the board would entail a cost to the federal government in the form of forgone interest income. That cost might need to be covered by taxpayers or by cutting spending elsewhere, which could give fiscal hawks pause. It's also worth noting that introducing the bill in 2025 is a reintroduction; Lawler unveiled a similar plan in late 2024 with a 1% interest cap​. Adjusting the target rate to 2% and bringing a Democrat on board this time may be an attempt to make it more politically palatable. If enacted, the 2% interest cap could be a game-changer for student loan borrowers, fundamentally altering the cost calculus of repaying federal loans. The change would be felt almost immediately through slower interest accumulation for current borrowers and lower monthly payments. Many borrowers who have been in repayment for years might finally see their loan balances decrease more quickly instead of barely denting the principal. This is especially relevant for those on income-driven repayment plans or those who paused payments – under higher rates, interest can balloon during periods of non-payment, but at 2%, the growth would be far more contained. As Karen McCarthy of NASFAA noted, lowering rates to 2% "puts forth an equitable approach" to ease the debt burden and is "an important step in promoting access to affordable postsecondary education."​

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