Kennedy's Main Claim Senator John Kennedy told Newsmax that President Trump did not start a war by ordering strikes on Iran but acted to stop a bigger one from happening. Kennedy said the decision came after intelligence showed Iran would not halt its nuclear and missile programs. He framed the strikes as preemptive damage control rather than the opening salvo of a long occupation. What He Says About Iran's Program Kennedy described Iran's leadership as determined to get a nuclear weapon and said Tehran quickly rebuilt missile and drone production after earlier hits. He told interviewers that Iran was manufacturing hundreds of missiles a month. Those are serious claims. We do not see the classified briefings, so the public debate will hinge on officials showing the evidence. The China and Russia Angle The senator warned that Iran was working with China and Russia to bulk up missile stockpiles so that any attack on Iran risked a regional catastrophe. That kind of geopolitical cooperation is possible and worth watching. It is also the sort of claim that can move policy fast, so it deserves scrutiny from Congress, allies, and independent analysts. Limited Aims, No Occupation Kennedy outlined narrow military goals: degrade…

The scene at Gracie Mansion On Saturday a counter-protest outside Gracie Mansion turned dangerous when two homemade explosive devices were deployed and at least one was ignited. Both failed to fully detonate and were secured by officers on the scene. A third suspicious device was later found a few blocks away. Two men from Pennsylvania were arrested at the event. Officials say the devices included metal fragments and a firework-style fuse. Reported chants and claims about motive are still under review, so treat allegations as allegations for now. What TATP is and why it matters Authorities say the improvised charges contained triacetone triperoxide, known as TATP. TATP is not a military explosive. It is a homebrew compound made from common chemicals that is extremely sensitive to heat, friction, and shock. That sensitivity makes it both deadly when it works and oddly unreliable when it does not. Still, groups linked to international terrorism have used TATP in major attacks, which is why its presence turns a criminal probe into a terrorism investigation. https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2030736304628281581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Who the suspects reportedly are Police arrested two young men at the scene. Media reports name them and say they traveled overseas in recent years and watched extremist…