June 16, 2026 - Iran Ordered Out of US After Cup Opener

Where the Country Really Lives

I’m an Independent. New data from CNN backs up the company I keep: Independents have grown to 47 percent of the population, the highest share CNN has measured in more than a decade. That tracks with Gallup, which recently put the number at 45 percent, also a new high. Two pollsters, two methods, the same conclusion - the biggest political tribe in America is the one that refuses to join a tribe.

If you want to go deeper than the label, Pew Research Center just published a new political typology that sorts the country into nine distinct groups, built from a 24-question quiz on the economy, race, immigration and government. I took it.

Here’s some of what I told them. I favor a smaller government. I think very few people run for office out of a genuine wish to serve others. I support capitalism. I think climate change is a big problem. I’m uncomfortable with open carry in public spaces. I think the legacy of slavery still affects Black people a great deal. And I think religion needs to stay separate from government.

Add it up, and Pew places me in a group it calls the “Pragmatic and Polite Right” - Republican-leaning but not reflexively so, conservative on economics but more moderate on race and diversity, more frustrated with my own party than the true believers are.

Take the quiz yourself here. See where you land, then tell me if the label fits.

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Iran’s coach says FIFA and tournament organizers have compounded the team’s World Cup challenges by forcing an immediate return to its Mexico training base after a dramatic 2-2 draw with New Zealand, amid ongoing travel restrictions, visa denials, and geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran’s participation in the tournament.

Associated Press

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base during a radar modernization test mission, killing all eight people aboard and prompting an investigation as the surrounding community mourns the loss.

KBAK

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has warned President Trump that U.S. intelligence casts serious doubt on Iran’s willingness to make the nuclear concessions Washington seeks, exposing divisions within the administration as officials prepare for high-stakes negotiations over a tentative new agreement.

Axios

Congress is grappling with growing pressure to address Social Security’s projected 2032 insolvency, as lawmakers debate politically fraught reforms ranging from higher payroll taxes to raising the retirement age while warning that inaction could trigger automatic benefit cuts of 22%.

The Hill

Former White House cybersecurity adviser Richard Clarke argues that the Trump administration's rushed attempt to restrict foreign access to an Anthropic AI model exposed a fundamental misunderstanding of AI regulation, warning that software export controls are ineffective in a world of easily shared and rapidly replicated AI systems.

Richard Clarke

Doug Sosnik argues that Democrats’ 2024 defeat stemmed primarily from Joe Biden’s decision to seek reelection, policy choices that eroded public confidence, and the party’s failure to recognize voter dissatisfaction, rather than the factors highlighted in post-election analyses.

The Washington Post

Luigi Mangione’s growing public support—including a $1.5 million legal defense fund, thousands of letters from admirers, and widespread frustration with the U.S. healthcare system—could complicate jury selection as he heads toward trial on charges that he murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

NPR

Nearly half of Americans — 47% — now identify as political independents, the highest share in more than a decade of CNN polling, as both Democrats and Republicans struggle to expand their support ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

CNN

Comedian Shane Gillis publicly distanced himself from a crude, evidence-free joke about former first lady Michelle Obama made by UFC fighter Josh Hokit after a White House bout, saying he “didn’t like” the remark despite his own history of controversial comedy.

Fox News

A new Simon-Kucher survey of 5,000 adults finds the American dream is shifting from a uniform vision of homeownership, family and stable work to a more personal pursuit of freedom, flexibility and financial security, with Gen Z and millennials prioritizing immediate quality of life over long-term milestones.

USA Today