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Will a Deal with Iran Solve Anything?

No Longer Striking Iran...A Deal is Close

U.S. Becomes World's Top Oil Exporter

HOUSTON, June 11 (Reuters) - The United States has become the world's largest oil exporter, upending a decades-old order long dominated by Saudi Arabia and Russia, a shift that tightens American companies' grip on energy markets as Washington's war with Iran reshapes global energy trade. America's ascendancy to the top spot marks a stunning reversal for a country that was dependent on Middle Eastern oil for decades and suffered from an oil embargo imposed by some OPEC members in 1973 to retaliate against U.S. support for Israel. U.S. fortunes began to change after 2010, when oil and gas output from its shale formations soared, first making it the world's top gas and then the world's top oil producer. With the U.S.-Iran war disrupting Saudi oil exports since February 2026 and Russian oil exports suffering from Ukrainian drone attacks and U.S. sanctions on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. has become the world's leading oil exporter. U.S. exports of crude and fuel climbed to about 10.5 million barrels per day in May on the back of high output and the release of strategic reserves, data from ship tracking services Vortexa showed, making the U.S. the top global exporter for the third month in a row. Russian exports stood at 7 million bpd in May, according to Reuters' calculations, while Saudi Arabia's exports stood at 5.9 million bpd, according to Vortexa. In comparison, Saudi Arabia exported about 8.1 million bpd in 2025, while the United States shipped out 6.6 million bpd, and Russian exports stood at about 5.8 million bpd, according to Vortexa data. "Washington has a new tool they didn't realize they had before the Iran war — energy exports," said Michelle Brouhard, head of policy at ship tracking firm Kpler. The new U.S. dominance could weaken the pricing power that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies have historically held over oil markets. U.S. President Donald Trump has long criticized OPEC for manipulating the markets. The group also suffered a blow in May when one of its biggest members, the United Arab Emirates, left the organization after nearly 60 years. The biggest oil exporter spot will give Washington a powerful new lever in talks with allies and rivals in addition to its global military supremacy and its dominance of financial markets thanks to the U.S. dollar's role as the world's reserve currency. "You can see now the leverage the United States has over some of these countries because they are dependent on the U.S. for their oil or gas," Brouhard said, adding that the U.S. was the largest provider of crude to Europe and the second-largest provider of distillates. EU officials, who initially welcomed the U.S. oil and gas boom as an alternative to Russian and Middle Eastern supply, have grown more skeptical and warned of risks of becoming too dependent on American companies. The warning coincided with the EU clashing with the U.S. administration over trade tariffs and green regulations. Moscow is also finding it hard to hide frustration. U.S. energy companies were the main beneficiaries of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Igor Sechin, the boss of the Kremlin oil major Rosneft and one of the closest allies of President Vladimir Putin, said this month. But long before the U.S.-Iran war started, both Saudi Arabia and Russia were trailing far behind U.S. companies on production growth. Crude and liquids output in the United States has nearly tripled to about 22 million bpd since 2000. Saudi crude and liquids output has largely fluctuated between 10 million and 12 million bpd depending on OPEC quotas between 2000 and 2026. Russian oil and liquids output soared to 10 million bpd from 6 million bpd between 2000 and 2010, grew by a further 2 million bpd during the 2010s, but has largely stagnated and declined to below 10 million bpd since 2020. Global oil demand grew to 104 million bpd last year from 87 million in 2010, meaning the lion's share of the global growth of the past 15 years has been mostly met by the U.S. oil boom. In 2015, the United States repealed a 40-year export ban it had in place since the Arab oil embargo, opening the gates for its oil boom to the wider world. Fast forward 10 years, it has become the biggest oil exporter, proving skeptics wrong that the growth would be short-lived as fields deplete. Unlike in Saudi Arabia and Russia, where governments fully or partially set production and export targets, the U.S. boom hinges on private companies' decisions and is primarily driven by profits. When oil prices rise, U.S. firms will respond by raising production, which will help bring prices down. When prices are weak, U.S. firms will cut output, which will boost prices, said Kenneth Medlock III, a fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at the Baker Institute for Public Policy. "In many ways, it's kind of a similar role to what OPEC and Saudi Arabia have been doing with spare production capacity, but it's more of a market mechanism than a strategic device," he said. European countries have leaned heavily on the United States in the years since the Ukraine war began in 2022. The continent took about 47% of U.S. oil exports so far this year, compared with 37% in 2021. Asian countries, which used to buy the bulk of their crude from the Middle East, are also now increasingly relying on the U.S. for supplies. Asia accounted for about 46% of U.S. oil exports in May, compared with around 37% last year.

Trump Says 'Great' Iran Settlement Will Trigger Opening Of Strait Of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened as soon as a "great settlement" of the war in Iran was signed, an event he said he expected would happen within days. "We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran", Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe," he said. Trump said he had just talked to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and had also spoken with the leaders of Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and others. He said he would soon speak to Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan. The deal resolved the issue of Iran pursuing the development of a nuclear weapon, he said. "Most importantly we have a deal that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, which was the whole purpose of what we had to go through to get this. So it was a very big thing," he said Trump called off new strikes on Iran earlier on Thursday, saying "final points" of an initial peace deal had been approved and details of a signing ceremony would be announced shortly. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that Tehran was likely to approve the agreement though it has yet to give a formal response. The cancellation of strikes came hours after the president said the U.S. military would attack Iran for a third consecutive night. Since mid-March, Trump has repeatedly claimed that a deal with Iran to end the war is close. The two sides have traded strikes throughout the week, straining a ceasefire announced in April.

Mickelson Reportedly Kicked Out Of San Diego Club For Inappropriate Contact With Female Employee

Phil Mickelson has been kicked out of a San Diego golf club over allegations he made unwanted physical contact with a female employee, Golf Digest reported Thursday. Golf Digest cited multiple sources as saying Mickelson is no longer welcome at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, where the six-time major champion has played and practiced for decades. The unwanted contact was said to have happened earlier this spring. Mickelson, the chief recruiter in the launching of LIV Golf, has only played once this year because of a serious family health matter that has not been disclosed. He did not play the Masters and PGA Championship, and is no longer exempt for the U.S. Open. Golf Digest said it verified the identity of The Farms employee and was withholding her name to protect her privacy. It said she declined to participate in the reporting of the story. A spokesperson for Mickelson told Golf Digest, “Any misunderstanding has been cleared up. Phil continues to attend to a family health matter and is uncertain when he will be able to return to professional golf.” Digest cited sources in reporting Mickelson approached the woman in the clubhouse and made nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact with her. The woman rejected his advances and reported it to her supervisors. Officials at The Farms reviewed and investigated, Golf Digest reported, and then confronted Mickelson on the course. Mickelson, 55, was told to leave the premises. The Farms said in a statement to Golf Digest, “Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action. This individual is no longer a member of The Farms Golf Club.” “To protect the safety and privacy of our staff and member, we are unable to speak further on the matter.” Golf Digest cited multiple sources in confirming the member was Mickelson. The Farms, located about 10 miles from Torrey Pines, is a private club where several top players are members such as Annika Sorenstam and Xander Schauffele, both of whom have primary residences in Florida. The development adds to what has become a dark chapter for Mickelson, who is married with three children and was once one of the most beloved public figures in golf for his bold and creative game, and for the time he spent after rounds signing autographs. Mickelson was a relief defendant in an insider trading scheme in 2016 in which he was not criminally charged but agreed to repay nearly $1 million he made in a single trade. Noted gambler Billy Walters was involved in that case and sentenced to five years in prison. Walters wrote an autobiography in 2023 in which he claims Mickelson has wagered more than $1 billion over the last 30 years, including one day in 2011 in which Mickelson was said to have placed 43 bets on Major League Baseball that resulted in $143,500 in losses. Mickelson became the oldest major champion in golf history when he won the 2021 PGA Championship. A year later, he was a central figure in helping to launch Saudi-funded LIV Golf. He lost major sponsorships when he was quoted in early 2022 as calling the Saudis “scary mother (expletives)” and that he was only thinking of joining the league to gain leverage over the PGA Tour. The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is ending its financial support of LIV after this year.

Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges In State Lawmaker Shooting Case

June 11 (Reuters) - A Minnesota man pleaded guilty on Thursday to federal charges that he killed Minnesota's House speaker and her husband nearly a year ago and also attempted to murder a state senator and his wife, according to local media reports from the courtroom in Minneapolis. Vance Luther Boelter, 58, of Green Isle, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to six federal murder, firearms, and stalking charges related to the attacks on the state lawmakers, changing a not guilty plea he had entered in August. The change of plea came after the Justice Department decided not to seek the death penalty against Boelter, "in accordance with the terms delineated in a proposed plea agreement," according to a letter that federal prosecutors sent judges in the case on Wednesday. At Thursday's hearing, they recommended that the judge sentence Boelter to two life sentences plus 40 years, according to the local media reports. Boelter disguised himself as a police officer to carry out the June 14, 2025 shootings. He wore a silicone mask and drove an SUV with a license plate that simply read, "Police," in which officers later found a list of more than 45 other Minnesota legislators and officials. He fatally shot Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband Mark, in their home and shot and wounded another Democratic lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, in their home a few miles away. The shootings were a dramatic example of how political violence has spiked in the United States in recent years, and left many unsettled in Minnesota, a state known for civility and bipartisanship. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called the killing of Hortman and her husband a "politically motivated assassination" and Republican Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson called it "horrific political violence." Boelter was captured by police after a two-day manhunt, the largest in Minnesota's history. He also faces state charges including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and four counts of first-degree attempted murder, according to local media reports.

Trump Says A Deal Is Coming Soon

A Deal With Iran In A Few Days?

False Alarm At Pentagon Triggers Brief Shelter-In-Place Order

WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - A false alarm at the Pentagon following an air quality warning briefly triggered a partial shelter-in-place order on Wednesday at the U.S. military's headquarters, as first responders worked to rule out exposure to hazardous materials, officials said. The lockdown applied to several corridors of the five-sided building in Arlington, Virginia. Employees were told to stay put while tests were carried out to determine whether a faulty sensor was to blame. Many employees outside the areas of concern were told to leave the building as a precaution, officials said. "Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation. Subsequent testing confirmed no hazard exists, and normal operations have resumed," said chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. "We express our sincere appreciation to the first responders for their swift actions to ensure the safety of all personnel." The Pentagon, one of the world's largest office buildings, was hit during the Sept. 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks.

M and M Extra: Save Our Elections

Now more than ever—we need to get the Save America Act for voter integrity passed. Otherwise, the Democrats are just going to cheat. Plain and simple. Look at what's happening in California right now—mail-in ballot madness, races that make no sense, results that take weeks. It's a joke. If the GOP actually wants to save our elections and shut down this ridiculous mail-in ballot scheme, then Senator John Thune and every last RINO need to get on board with President Trump's new Reconciliation Bill. No more excuses. No more delays. So here's the question: Will the Republicans grow a spine, or are we going to let the left steal another one? -- Two iconic talk radio hosts. One unfiltered daily conversation. No scripts. No spin. Just Mike Gallagher and Mark Davis breaking down the news the way it should be — with decades of experience and zero apologies. If you love smart unscripted talk show chemistry, you’re in the right place. Subscribe & Watch M and M Extra Live ?? youtube.com/@MandMExtra ?? Weekdays at 12 PM ET Watch The Mike Gallagher Show Live ?? salemnewschannel.com/watch-live ?? Weekdays 9 AM – 12 PM ET Listen to The Mark Davis Show ?? 660amtheanswer.com/listenlive ?? Weekdays at 7AM - 10AM CT

M and M Extra: MUST-SEE ALIEN MOVIES

Okay, we'll admit it—we might have a bit of a scrolling addiction. Who doesn't these days? Endless apps, bite-sized content, stealing our attention one swipe at a time. But you know what we don't take for granted? Going to the movies. There's something about the big screen, the popcorn, the escape. So, before you go see Spielberg's "Disclosure Day", listen up. Mark—our resident sci-fi nerd—is counting down his top 5 must-see alien movies. --- Two iconic talk radio hosts. One unfiltered daily conversation. No scripts. No spin. Just Mike Gallagher and Mark Davis breaking down the news the way it should be — with decades of experience and zero apologies. If you love smart unscripted talk show chemistry, you’re in the right place. Subscribe & Watch M and M Extra Live ?? youtube.com/@MandMExtra ?? Weekdays at 12 PM ET Watch The Mike Gallagher Show Live ?? salemnewschannel.com/watch-live ?? Weekdays 9 AM – 12 PM ET Listen to The Mark Davis Show ?? 660amtheanswer.com/listenlive ?? Weekdays at 7AM - 10AM CT

BREAKING: President Trump Calls Off Strikes on Iran

President Trump Calls Off Strikes on Iran

Candace Owens Loves Russia

Preparations Underway For Sunday's UFC Fight At White House

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is bringing his affinity for mixed martial arts to the White House, staging a night of cage fighting on the South Lawn on June 14 — his 80th birthday — as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The seven-bout Ultimate Fighting Championship event, dubbed "UFC Freedom 250," will blend sport with political spectacle, highlighting Trump's long-standing ties to a league whose leaders and many of its fans have backed him for more than a decade. WHY UFC? Trump's alliance with UFC dates to the early 2000s, when he agreed to host events at his since-bankrupt Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as other venues spurned the sport. Trump "gave us our start when nobody would talk to us,” UFC CEO Dana White told Fox News in 2018. White became a close ally, using the sport's popularity — particularly with younger male fans — to support Trump's campaigns dating back to his first run in 2016. In 2019, Trump became the first sitting president to attend a UFC match. His appearances have become part of the spectacle, often featuring a highly choreographed walk-in and ringside seats. SOUTH LAWN CAGE MATCH Now Trump is bringing the fighting to the White House. The South Lawn has been outfitted with an octagon-shaped cage and hulking metal arena structure called "the Claw" by White. Trump suggested holding such an event while ringside with White at a fight days after his 2024 election win, Time magazine reported. The seven bouts on June 14 will feature eight Americans and six others from four countries, all men. The main event will feature lightweight champion Ilia Topuria of Georgia defending his title belt against American challenger Justin Gaethje. The pair will enter the arena from the Oval Office, White told the magazine. Weigh-ins will be held at the Lincoln Memorial. Two Washington-area residents filed a lawsuit on June 6 asking a U.S. judge in Washington to halt the event, claiming it violates National Park Service rules barring special events such as sports at such monuments, and that construction of the large arena structure requires congressional authorization. The White House called the case an “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory lawsuit.” THE CROWD Trump has touted the fights as the "hardest ticket" to come by of his presidency. Trump, his family and senior government officials will sit around the ring, and approximately 4,000 seats are being installed on the lawn for invited guests. The White House deferred questions about the guest list to UFC, which did not immediately respond. A fourth of the tickets are reserved for active military members. Troops must meet the military's physical standards and wear their short-sleeve dress uniforms to attend, the Washington Post reported. White has invited numerous celebrities, including Adam Sandler, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Tom Brady, according to Time. The UFC expects about 85,000 fans to gather outside the White House perimeter to watch on big screens. THE BILL AND THE BUSINESS The White House has said the UFC is paying for the event. UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings expects to spend $60 million on production and fighter payouts, said company president Mark Shapiro, according to Sports Business Journal. Shapiro and White have said the cost is worth the publicity. Sponsors include Crypto.com, a cryptocurrency company that in August 2025 announced a strategic partnership with Trump Media, the company that runs the president's social media platform, Truth Social. The event will be broadcast by Paramount media company, which began a $7.7 billion deal with UFC in February. Paramount's mega-deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion is undergoing regulatory review by Trump's administration. In May, Trump's financial disclosure form of thousands of recent stock trades showed a March 25 purchase between $15,001 and $50,000 in TKO Group Holdings while Trump promoted the White House event. The White House referred questions about the trades to the Trump Organization, the president's company. A spokesperson for the Trump Organization said Trump’s investment holdings are managed by independent third-party financial institutions. "Neither President Trump, his family, nor The Trump Organization has any role in selecting, directing, approving, influencing or soliciting specific investments," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Someone Writes '8647' On Grounds Of National Mall In D.C.

WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities were responding on Thursday to what appeared to be a large tracing of "8647" into the grounds of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. A Reuters photographer atop the Washington Monument saw the apparent tracing in the grass near the World War Two Memorial shortly before officials arrived. It shows the numbers eight, six and seven, but a four is not clearly defined. U.S. Park Police and members of the National Guard were responding to the scene. The term "8647" has been adopted by opponents of President Donald Trump as a protest against his administration. Trump allies and the U.S. Department of Justice have said it could be interpreted as a call to violence. It references the slang term "86," originating in the restaurant industry meaning to expel or "get rid" of something, and Trump as the 47th U.S. president. It was unclear how the markings in the grass were made. In those areas the grass is brown, in contrast to the surrounding green grass.

Emergency Crews Respond To Hazardous Materials Incident At Pentagon

WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - A hazardous materials incident put the Pentagon on lockdown on Thursday as fire officials investigated the air quality issue, defense and fire officials said. "The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants. Those systems have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in an email. "The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area. Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants."The building was under lockdown, with people evacuated from several floors, CNN reported, citing unidentified sources. Floors two through five in corridors four through seven have been locked down, CNN said, citing two sources. Another source reported seeing emergency responders were wearing full gas masks and chemical protection suits, CNN said. A message sent by the Pentagon’s security team said additional testing was needed to determine the source of the problem, according to CNN. The five-sided Pentagon building, hit during the Sept. 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks is one of the world's largest office buildings.

Trump Calls Off Latest Threats To Strike Iran, Citing Progress In Negotiations

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he has called off new military strikes on Iran, hours after threatening to escalate the war. Trump had threatened major strikes on Iran and to seize control of its oil and gas industries as escalating attacks between the countries pushed the Middle East closer to full-scale war. The threats to seize Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal came after the U.S and Iran traded strikes for a second straight day. Trump told Fox News that while he would prefer to take over Kharg Island, he's not sure that “America has the stomach for it.” Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned on social media that an “endless quagmire” could result.

It Must Be Exhausting To Be A Democrat

Liberal media is already bashing America over the World Cup before it starts. Meanwhile, Democrats’ defense of Graham Platner and his Nazi tattoo reveals that their “Republicans are Nazis” rhetoric is just partisan theater.