Democrats have been scheming since the first military strikes to stymie President Donald Trump’s military operation to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. But they were unable to advance one measure that would’ve forced an end to the hostilities even though a quartet of Senate Republicans crossed the aisle to vote along with the minority party. As The Hill reported, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) took the opposite approach, reaching over to the GOP side to vote against the motion and securing a 47-46 victory for Trump’s policy: Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) voted for a motion, sponsored by Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), to discharge the war powers resolution out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The motion to discharge failed 47 to 48 as centrist Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) voted with Republicans to block it. Five senators missed the vote: Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).  The four Republicans had voted for a similar motion to discharge a war powers resolution sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) out of the Foreign Relations Committee last month. That motion passed 50-47. Maverick Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) indicated before Tuesday’s vote that he was thinking about joining the four in voting yes. Some noted the fact that the vote came as the US and Iran are looking ahead to formalizing an agreement to bring the hostilities to an end: For the war that’s over? — $andman (@Sandman3175) June 16, 2026 A little late…must be important — Tommy (@TomTwr) June 16, 2026 All the problems this country is facing and this is how they are spending their time? — JacksFan11 (@JacksFan11) June 16, 2026 Here’s what CBS News added: The war powers resolution, led by Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, would direct the president to “remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force.” Speaking on the Senate floor ahead of the vote, Warnock appealed to his colleagues across the aisle: “After 109 days of a failed war, and now a fragile, temporary, but welcome truce, will my Republican colleagues choose today to finally stand up to this president?” GOP support for the war has begun to crack in recent weeks. For the first time last month, the Senate advanced a resolution to limit Mr. Trump’s war powers in Iran after seven failed attempts. Senators approved the motion to discharge the resolution from committee in a 50 to 47 vote, with the support of the same four Republicans who supported Warnock’s resolution on Tuesday. Three GOP members were absent at the time, tipping the scales in Democrats’ favor for the first time since the Iran conflict began. Here’s some coverage of Vice President J.D. Vance’s remarks about the deal to bring the military operation to a close: What are your thoughts? TAP HERE TO ADD YOUR VOTE This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

The Brazilian government has temporarily suspended the rollout of the world’s first single dose dengue vaccine. There have been reports of two deaths and 42 cases of serious adverse reactions after inoculation. The vaccine, developed by the Butantan Institute, has been administered to approximately 500,000 individuals. “The Ministry of Health reported 42 cases, or 0.008 percent of the 500,000 doses given through May 30, though officials are unsure if the vaccine caused the problems. This pause serves as a precautionary measure to respect life and science, allowing deeper probes by the Ministry of Health, Anvisa, and the Butantan Institute, especially into the deaths where no causal link is yet established. The step aims to ensure safety for future vaccination stages, with plans to resume soon if confirmed safe. The vaccine, developed by the Butantan Institute using U.S. technology, is a live attenuated version covering four dengue virus serotypes and was approved in 2025,” The Epoch Times wrote. “Brazil launched the campaign in early 2026, targeting health care workers and people aged 15 to 49 in three cities in northern Tocantins state. Dengue has hit hard, with 6.5 million probable cases in 2024—four times the prior year—and 1.6 million by mid-November 2025, affecting over 20 million Brazilians since the 2000s. Testing showed the vaccine protects against dengue and severe cases, and fewer infections have been recorded since rollout compared to the same period in 2024,” it continued. Brazil has suspended its dengue vaccination campaign after two deaths, halting the world's first single-dose vaccine to investigate the cases and related warning signs. The Ministry of Health reported 42 cases, or 0.008 percent of the 500,000 doses given through May 30, though… pic.twitter.com/DuLxYAvj5H — The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) June 16, 2026 Reuters explained further: Authorities clarified that there is no conclusive evidence directly linking the deaths to the vaccine, but decided to halt vaccinations as a precaution while investigations proceed. The measure affects the world’s first single-dose dengue vaccine, considered one of the most important health projects in Latin America in recent years. The vaccine, known as Butantan-DV, was approved by Brazilian regulatory authorities in late 2015 and began mass vaccination in January of this year, primarily among healthcare workers and residents of regions with a high incidence of the disease. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the serious cases identified include the deaths of a 48-year-old woman and a 58-year-old man, as well as a patient who required intensive care and was later discharged. Health authorities indicated that the 42 serious adverse events represent a very small proportion of the total number of vaccinated individuals. Health Minister Alexandre Padilha stated that the suspension aims to allow for a thorough evaluation of the reported cases and emphasized that the decision does not imply any questioning of the vaccine’s efficacy. Clinical studies conducted prior to its approval showed an efficacy of over 74% against symptomatic dengue and complete protection against hospitalizations during the analyzed period. The Butantan Institute licensed the technology for the vaccine from the U.S. National Institutes of Health in 2009, the BMJ noted. Brazil has suspended its rollout of the world’s first single dose dengue vaccine, after two healthcare workers died after receiving the vaccine and 42 unexpected adverse events were reportedhttps://t.co/ovtPqXAxXG — The BMJ (@bmj_latest) June 15, 2026 More from the BMJ: A five year phase 3 trial found that a single dose was 65% effective against symptomatic dengue and 80.5% effective against severe dengue. The Butantan Institute says that more than a million doses have already been produced and that the initial rollout was intended to help determine how best to expand vaccination across Brazil. The Ministry of Health said that the suspension did not invalidate the vaccine’s efficacy or the protection already offered to the people immunised. It said that the suspension showed that Brazil’s vaccine safety monitoring system was functioning well by rapidly detecting the possible safety concerns. Padilha added that the Ministry of Health had “total confidence in Butantan’s institutional capacity.” Dengue is a mosquitoborne viral disease that typically causes high fever, headache, and muscle and joint pain. In severe cases it can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and death. Worldwide, dengue cases are on the rise, driven partly by climate change and growing urbanisation. Global dengue transmission reached a historic high in 2024, with the World Health Organization reporting more than 14.6 million cases and more than 12 000 dengue related deaths worldwide. The Americas accounted for more than 13 million of the cases, with Brazil driving the regional surge.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently awarded pharmaceutical giant Pfizer $1.24 billion for COVID-19 jabs, The Defender reports. “The contracts, awarded on June 1, include about $735.7 million for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines and nearly $505.3 million for adult doses for fiscal year 2026-2027,” the outlet stated. $735,720,598.00 just awarded to Pfizer by the CDC for infant Covid shots. Another $505,272,000.00 awarded for adult vaccines. https://t.co/HdqhZmBYnm https://t.co/uZNjUYmgJU pic.twitter.com/JT01Igw208 — Jeffrey A Tucker (@jeffreytucker) June 12, 2026 The Defender explained further: Critics say the funding reflects a continued commitment to vaccines associated with high rates of serious injuries and deaths, and a lack of adequate safety testing and monitoring. Public health experts argue the investment is necessary to protect vulnerable populations and prepare for future outbreaks. The latest contracts come as mRNA technology expands beyond COVID-19. A recent review in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics found that mRNA-based therapeutics were identified in more than 550 registered clinical trials. The authors reported that more than 90% of the projects involved mRNA vaccines and that most products remain in early-stage testing before broader adoption. The procurement of monetary resources signals that federal officials intend to continue investing heavily in mRNA technology despite declining public demand and ongoing controversy over vaccine safety monitoring, critics say. Jeffrey Tucker, president and founder of the Brownstone Institute, told The Defender there was “no scientific justification” or “market demand” for the latest mRNA vaccine funding. “This raises a serious question concerning how these captured agencies really work,” Tucker said. “We are talking about vast amounts of tax dollars flowing to support unnecessary and often harmful injections.” “Below is the letter we just sent on behalf of @ICANdecide, @React19org and others to current CDC Acting Director, @DrJBhattacharya, regarding $1.5 billion contracts for Covid-19 vaccines. I am confident Dr. Bhattacharya and @SecKennedy would prefer to direct these funds toward treating and compensating the vaccine injured. I hope the White House will let that happen. As a country, we should take care of those harmed before we rush forward harming others,” attorney Aaron Siri said. Below is the letter we just sent on behalf of @ICANdecide, @React19org and others to current CDC Acting Director, @DrJBhattacharya, regarding $1.5 billion contracts for Covid-19 vaccines. I am confident Dr. Bhattacharya and @SecKennedy would prefer to direct these funds toward… — Aaron Siri (@AaronSiriSG) June 16, 2026 Read the full letter below: Dear Dr. Bhattacharya, We write on behalf of ICAN, React19, and numerous others to express our deep concern and disappointment that CDC has agreed to purchase $1.55 billion worth of pediatric and adult Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, and to raise serious concern regarding a potential violation of federal law.[1] For the millions of Americans harmed by these products, this decision is deeply painful. Rather than directing resources towards treating those whose lives have been devastated, CDC has chosen to further enrich Pfizer and Moderna. The vaccine-injured deserve acknowledgement and care—not abandonment. The tens of thousands of individuals with serious injuries who have contacted our firm alone, and the over 40,000 members of just one group, React19,[2] with serious injuries represent real people whose suffering demands recognition. To allocate more than a billion and a half tax dollars to Pfizer and Moderna while offering those injured by their products nothing is a profound betrayal. We struggle to comprehend how CDC’s current leadership can continue to disregard, among others, the following established facts: •CDC fought in court for over 2 years to prevent public disclosure of data which showed that over 7% of the 10 million V-safe users reported needing medical care after a Covid vaccine, on average 2 to 3 times each, with over 70% of those medical encounters resulting in hospitalization, emergency room visits, or urgent care.[3] •The fact that FDA fought for years to hide data, recently released, showing that when FDA adequately conducted empirical Bayesian analysis internally, it revealed significant safety signals that were hidden from the public.[4] •In the clinical trial for Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, there were 21 deaths in the vaccinated group and 17 deaths in the placebo group—meaning more deaths occurred in the vaccinated group—during the same time period, and where the placebo group contained more participants than the vaccinated group.[5] •Those seriously injured by this product have been left without recourse because pharmaceutical companies have been granted complete immunity under the PREP Act, while the Countermeasure Injury Compensation Program (CICP) remains woefully underfunded and structurally designed to deny compensation (only 0.39% [56 of 14,152] of COVID-related CICP claims have been compensated, with an average payout, excluding three outliers, of a miserly $5,052.57 per claimant)[6]—leaving the injured with nowhere to turn. •Five years after assuring the world these products are safe, the manufacturers still require PREP Act immunity for the very harms they claim will not occur—an obvious contradiction that requires suspending reality and reason to believe. Until PREP Act immunity is lifted and the full scope of harm is properly accounted for, the CDC should not direct over a billion and a half dollars to Pfizer and Moderna. These funds should instead be used to treat and compensate those who have already been seriously harmed—the people who have been waiting far too long for help. The people who the CDC assured this product was safe. CDC should cancel these contracts on the basis that it would be the moral, ethical, and compassionate thing to do. But if it won’t do so on those bases then, in order to confirm these contracts do not violate federal law, and to avoid litigation, please confirm forthwith that the procurement contracts with Pfizer and Moderna were not in any manner related to the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC), and that absent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approval, they will not be part of this program. As you are no doubt aware, absent approval from ACIP, the vaccines procured from Pfizer and Moderna pursuant to these contracts cannot be procured, distributed, or administered through the VFC, and any such conduct would be a clear violation of federal law.[7] As provided in Section 1928 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396s), the VFC mandates that only vaccines recommended by ACIP may be provided under the VFC. Specifically, 42 U.S.C. § 1396s(e) requires the Secretary to use “the list established (and periodically reviewed and as appropriate revised) by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.” Accordingly, unless and until ACIP affirmatively recommends these Covid-19 vaccines for the applicable pediatric populations, any distribution or administration of the vaccines procured under these contracts through the VFC would constitute a violation of Section 1928 and its implementing regulations. Please confirm forthwith that the procurement contracts have been cancelled and that the funds will be reallocated to assist the vaccine injured. We hope, given your prior statements regarding these products, that you will take this approach. But if the moral and humane approach is not taken, at the very least please confirm forthwith that these procurement contracts are entirely unrelated to the VFC. Very truly yours, /s/ Aaron Siri “This is $1.24 billion for what is essentially a cold in minor children,” said Children’s Health Defense Chief Scientific Officer Brian Hooker, according to The Defender. Daniel O’Connor, publisher of TrialSite News, told the outlet that Americans “better start asking the hard questions.” “If demand is falling, safety questions remain contested and many reporting vaccine injuries say they’ve been left behind, why is Washington committing another $1.24 billion to vaccine procurement instead of first providing a transparent accounting of need, benefit, risk, and responsibility?” O’Connor said. CDC Awards Pfizer $1.24 Billion for COVID-19 Vaccines Despite Falling Demand and Ongoing Safety Debate https://t.co/hGYKa26lW9 — TrialSite News (@TrialsiteN) June 12, 2026 TrialSite News has more: The broader story may be less about Pfizer and more about public trust. Federal agencies continue investing heavily in COVID-19 vaccination infrastructure even as portions of the public increasingly question both the products and the institutions promoting them. For policymakers, the challenge is straightforward: demonstrate that procurement decisions are scientifically justified, economically rational, and transparent. For citizens, the responsibility is equally clear: separate documented facts from political narratives—whether they originate from government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, or vaccine critics. The contracts are real. The debate over whether they represent prudent public health planning or institutional inertia is only beginning.

Parts of Texas and Louisiana are under a tropical storm watch as a storm system dumps heavy rain on the coastline. The system is expected to make landfall Wednesday night along the Texas-Louisiana border. “The National Hurricane Center said there was a 60 percent chance that the storm would intensify into the first named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season,” The New York Times reports. If the system intensifies enough, it will be called Arthur. Breaking News: Parts of Texas and Louisiana are under a tropical storm watch as a system threatens to dump heavy rain across the region. Forecasters warned that some places could record up to a foot of rain by the end of the week. https://t.co/ImKa1t9nFr — The New York Times (@nytimes) June 16, 2026 More from The New York Times: For now, the system is officially called Potential Tropical Cyclone One. Parts of Texas have already been inundated with heavy rain and flash flood warnings. Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas issued a disaster declaration on Monday evening for 101 counties in the state, citing the risk from the storms and possible flooding. A deluge of rain has fallen far inland since Sunday, bringing over nine inches in Caldwell, Texas, and from three to four inches in Austin, San Antonio and Houston. On Wednesday, Houston is set to host its second World Cup match, between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The threat of heavy rain was not a cause of concern for the match at the covered NRG Stadium, temporarily renamed Houston Stadium for the tournament. But ahead of the match, organizers shortened hours for the city’s fan festival, where many have been gathering to watch matches. The city’s World Cup organizing committee said that the festival would open in the evening on Tuesday instead of earlier in the day. The shortened festivities on Tuesday could change further if severe weather made it unsafe for fans in the evening, organizers said. The fan festival was closed on Monday as heavy rain made its way through the area. “Potential Tropical Cyclone One has been designated. Heavy rain and dangerous flooding are expected from the Texas coast into parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama through Thursday. Some areas could receive up to 12 inches of rain,” The Weather Channel stated. BREAKING: Potential Tropical Cyclone One has been designated. Heavy rain and dangerous flooding are expected from the Texas coast into parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama through Thursday. Some areas could receive up to 12 inches of rain. pic.twitter.com/sNSe9wabJf — The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) June 16, 2026 “NHC has initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone One (formerly AL90) located over southern Texas. Potential Tropical Cyclone Advisories (PTC Advisories) are issued when there is high confidence that the disturbance will develop into a storm and bring significant impacts. Potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding is possible across the Texas coast eastward into central Mississippi through Thursday. Prolonged rainfall may extend the flood threat into the weekend. Widespread small stream and minor river flooding is expected along the Texas coast into southwest Louisiana, with isolated areas of significant river flooding possible across the Texas Coast and Louisiana,” the National Weather Service wrote. “Potential Tropical Cyclone One is forecast to become a tropical storm as it moves along or just off the northwestern Gulf coast through Wednesday. Tropical Storm Watches have been issued from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is expected along portions of the Upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines,” it added. NHC has initiated advisories on Potential Tropical Cyclone One (formerly AL90) located over southern Texas. Potential Tropical Cyclone Advisories (PTC Advisories) are issued when there is high confidence that the disturbance will develop into a storm and bring significant… pic.twitter.com/I9cVHL8Q14 — National Weather Service (@NWS) June 16, 2026 NOLA.com shared further: The worst-case scenario for rainfall could go as high as 15 to 20 inches in some areas near Baton Rouge, Acadiana and the northshore, the NHC said Tuesday. In New Orleans, Singleton said up to 4 inches of rain or more could be seen by end of day Thursday. Southeast Louisiana is also facing heavy rain from a different front, and a flash flood warning is in effect for an area that include Reserve, Donaldsonville and Gramercy until 1:45 p.m. The storms associated with Potential Tropical Cyclone 1 are expected to flood streets and roadways and lead to closures. Sandbag locations are already opening across southeast Louisiana on Tuesday morning. Local officials in the New Orleans area were beginning to make preparations Tuesday for the storm and any effects it could bring to the metro area. St. Charles Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish announced locations where residents could fill sandbags and other local governments were beginning to issue information to residents.

President Trump campaigned on closing the Department of Education and handing schools back to the states. He is now making good on it, one office at a time. On Tuesday, his administration announced another major move that strips key functions out of the agency and sends them elsewhere in the federal government. Washington is no longer just talking about shrinking the agency. The machinery is actually moving. The Department of Education is expected to announce a major step in the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the agency. https://t.co/JrKbEegxVA — ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) June 16, 2026 The move was quickly picked up as one of the biggest steps yet in the effort to dismantle the department. The Associated Press described the core transfer this way: The Department of Justice will take on enforcement of civil rights in education, while the Department of Health and Human Services will oversee special education. That is the heart of it. Special education oversight moves to Health and Human Services. Civil-rights enforcement in education moves to the Justice Department. With those transfers, AP reported that the vast majority of Education Department functions have now been assigned to other agencies. That is exactly the outcome a lot of conservatives have wanted for decades. The federal bureaucracy shrinks, and the work goes to agencies that already exist. BREAKING: The Trump administration is moving Education Department oversight of special education and civil rights to other agencies. -AP — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 16, 2026 The program details make clear why this is a serious move, not a symbolic one. ABC News reported where two key offices are expected to go: The sources told ABC News the HHS is expected to receive the Offices of Special Education Programming (OSEP) and Rehabilitative Services Administration (RSA). ABC also reported that the transfer reaches programs connected to millions of students and families under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Critics will frame moving those dollars and programs as chaos. Supporters see it differently. The money and legal protections follow the programs to their new homes. This also follows a plan the administration laid out last year. The U.S. Department of Education previously described the larger mission in plain language: The Trump Administration is taking bold action to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states. Tuesday’s move fits that frame cleanly. Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s department keeps shedding functions while the work continues under other roofs. The left will scream that this is reckless. The unions will scream even louder. But President Trump told voters he would close the department and send education back to where it belongs. This is another piece of that promise turning into policy. This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.