Stories Speak Volumes: June 14-19
A Round-Up of National and International News
Compiled by
There are so many stories making up the mosaic of national/international news that we can’t cover them all every week. The biggest stories now seem to be: Israel and Iran, the Trump presidency (lawfare and judges), immigration (migrants and illegals), wars, weaponization of government (the deep state) against Trump and conservatives, our nation’s debt, massive inflation, climate change controversy and related expenses of government, industry attempting to address these issues, the Chinese threat, national security, abortion, taxpayer cuts, Ukraine peace, and hatred and violence against Christians. Here are just a few:
Official US-Iran Peace Agreement Complete: Deal to Be Signed on June 19 in Switzerland
June 14: Gateway Pundit by Jordan Conradson
A US-Iran peace agreement has been officially reached, President Donald Trump and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Sunday. The agreement will be signed on Friday, June 19, in Switzerland.
This comes after peace talks were nearly derailed earlier after Israel launched strikes in Beirut, Lebanon. Iran threatened to retaliate earlier, accusing the United States of giving Israel the green light to execute attacks.
President Trump also confirmed a deal has been reached and authorized the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz in a statement on Truth Social moments ago. “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorize the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Shocking Percentage of Harvard Students Say They Have Experienced Mental Illness During Their Time at the Ivy League School
June 16: Gateway Pundit by Mike LaChance
Students at Harvard are experiencing mental illness at a rate that is DOUBLE the general population, according to a shocking new report. “Forty-seven percent of surveyed seniors indicated that they experienced mental illness at some point in their time at Harvard,
Campus Reform reported: Student debt tops $1.7 trillion as many college programs leave graduates with low earnings, weak ROI
Senate Shoots Down Resolution to Limit Trump’s Military Authority Over Iran
June 16: Breitbart by Marianne Angela
By a single vote, the Senate shot down a proposal on Tuesday that would have reined in President Donald Trump’s ability to use military force against Iran without Congress’s approval.
The vote fell just one vote short of advancing with 48-47. Republican Senators Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul voted with the Democrats. On the flip side, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) crossed the aisle to vote alongside the Republican majority against the bill.
Introduced by Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), the resolution sought to require congressional approval for continued U.S. military action involving Iran. Warnock had urged Republicans to vote for it, arguing that Congress shouldn’t just sit back and let the president make all the decisions on foreign wars.
Trump Turns the Tables, Says He Will Not Approve FISA Extension Without Save America Act – Pulte Will Remain as Acting DNI Until US Attorney Pick Is Approved
June 17: Gateway Pundit by Jordan Conradson
President Trump checkmated the Democrats and RINOs early on Wednesday morning, announcing that the Senate hearing on Jay Clayton to serve as Director of National Intelligence will be canceled, and that Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte will remain in place to serve as acting DNI.
This comes amid the ongoing debate over FISA Section 702, which the Intelligence Community uses for warrantless surveillance on national security threats– as well as innocent Americans.
Trump further slammed Republicans for their “ridiculous views” on the blue slip process for US Attorney nominees, noting that his new US Attorney nominee, Jamie McDonald, “must be confirmed” before Jay Clayton can be removed as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and sworn in as DNI.
Now, he’s holding the Director of National Intelligence nomination and FISA renewal hostage until he gets the SAVE America Act and Jamie McDonald confirmed for the SDNY.
VP JD Vance: Trump’s Peace Plan Already ‘Bearing Real Fruits for the American People’
June 18: Breitbart by Hannah Knudsen
President Donald Trump’s peace plan is already “bearing real fruits for the American people,” Vice President JD Vance said during a press conference on Thursday.
Vance announced at the press conference that 12.5 million barrels of oil went to the Strait of Hormuz last night, noting that it is a “high” since the beginning of the conflict.
“Oil prices are down nearly at their level from the pre-war conflict. Gas prices dropped below $4 a gallon today, for the first time since the conflict, and importantly, they’re gonna keep falling further, given how low oil prices are,” Vance announced.
CA’s Disastrous Billionaire Tax Moves One Step Closer to Reality
June 18: Red State by Bob Hoge
We’ve already seen some of the effects of the proposed California billionaire tax, which would take five percent of a person’s money if they’re worth over one billion dollars. Billionaires usually aren’t stupid — or they wouldn’t have gotten rich — and many like Google co‑founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison have quickly ditched the formerly Golden State for greener pastures in places like Florida and Texas.
You can trash the wealthy and resent them all you want, but if you drive them away… who’s going to pay the taxes? Now the suicidal proposal is one step closer to becoming reality:
California’s controversial billionaire tax measure has secured enough signatures and qualified to appear on the November ballot after securing nearly one million signatures, according to the state’s secretary of state.
The measure — championed by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) — would levy a one-time 5% tax on the state’s ultra-rich whose assets exceed $1 billion.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Major Refinery Supplying Moscow’s Fuel Market
June 18: Fox News by Efrat Lachter
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, striking a major oil refinery in the Russian capital and sending thick black smoke over parts of the city, according to Russian officials and multiple reports.
The Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district — one of the capital region’s key fuel facilities — was hit overnight Thursday, marking the second reported strike on the site in three days. Videos circulating online showed large flames and black smoke rising from the facility, while Russian officials said air defenses intercepted waves of incoming drones.
Kyiv says its strikes deep inside Russia are evidence that it is turning the tide of the war — a message President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took this week to President Donald Trump and other G7 leaders at a summit in France.
UFC Freedom 250 delivers Record-Breaking Viewership For Paramount+ Across United States, Latin America
June 18: CBS Sports by Shakiel Mahjouri
Seventeen million people across the United States and Latin America tuned in for UFC Freedom 250. Sunday’s spectacle, held on the White House South Lawn, now stands as the biggest exclusive live event in Paramount+ history.
UFC Freedom 250 reached 15.26 million stateside, according to Nielsen, with an additional 1.67 million tuning in from Latin America, per Adobe Analytics. The event, headlined by Justin Gaethje’s shocking upset of Ilia Topuria, averaged 8.2 million viewers across both markets. UFC will announce viewership numbers outside of the U.S. and Latin America next week.
The record-breaking milestone comes five months after UFC’s debut on the streaming service. UFC 324, also headlined by Gaethje, broke the record at the time for the largest exclusive live event on Paramount+. The Jan. 24 show averaged a million viewers and seven million households in the U.S. and Latin America, according to Adobe Analytics.
UFC Freedom 250’s truncated seven-fight main card also marks the first time that every fight on a UFC card ended via knockout or technical knockout. Gaethje earned $825,000 in post-fight bonuses for his thrilling performance with Topuria and interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane netting approximately $400,000 each. Every UFC event streams in the United States and Latin America on Paramount+, with select events also available in Australia. Starting in 2027, Paramount+ will also become the exclusive home of all UFC numbered events in Canada.
Tardy Iran No-Show Abruptly Nixes Peace Deal Signing in Switzerland
June 19: Breitbart by Simon Kent
The U.S. drive to launch high-stakes peace talks with Iran hit a snag Friday after Tehran reportedly delayed sending its delegation to Switzerland for the negotiations citing Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon for its absence. The talks, set for the mountaintop resort of Burgenstock, would not take place, Switzerland’s foreign ministry confirmed, but gave no details.
Tehran did later set out the reasons citing military activity in southern Lebanon as Israel continues to exercise its right to self defense in the face of unceasing Hezbollah terrorist attacks.
As Breitbart News reported, the White House had earlier confirmed Vice President JD Vance delayed his trip to Switzerland in response to Iran’s tardiness to follow through on its commitments. He and his team were literally standing on the tarmac ready to board their flight when news came of the Iran no-show. So too dozens of U.S. diplomatic and security officials, advance staffers and media were already in Switzerland to prepare for Vance’s anticipated arrival.
(Editor’s Note: The editor of Stories Speak Volumes, SSV, will take a two-week America Celebration 250 break and will resume posting this column on Friday, July 10.)
Mike Hernandez is co-founder of the Citizens Journal–Ventura County’s online news service and writes for CitizensJournal.net and MountainTopMedia.com. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor, writer of “Prayer Over News Daily” and edits the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes” and other columns. Mr. Hernandez mentors citizen journalists with trainings held every other month (on Saturdays at Shasta Bible College and online) and can be contacted at MikeHernandezMedia.com.