'We have degraded their program by one to two years'

'We must maintain maximum deterrence'

Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal. I’d like to review, very quickly, some challenges ahead for the MAGA movement in general and President Donald Trump in particular. He’s had a wonderful June. He’s defied all experts on the economy. His trade policies and tariffs did not collapse the economy. We do not have inflation or unemployment. He’s been very successful on the border—I shouldn’t say very successful, astoundingly successful. Not a single entry, so far, illegally into the United States across the southern border. And we’ve seen that we didn’t have a wider war in Iran. We got most of its nuclear enrichment programs. There wasn’t 30,000 people killed, etc. So, Donald Trump has had probably the best June of any modern president. But you have to be very careful because there’s going to be some challenges ahead. One of them is, of course, if Iran decides that we wanted a ceasefire and they are going to start visibly engaging in enrichment or if they stupidly try to use one of their depleted terrorist surrogates—Hezbollah, Hamas, or terrorist cells in the United States—to attack us, they’re going to have to be retaliated against. So, Donald Trump will have to use force again to ensure that we do have a deterrence. And that, of course, will inflame the MAGA base. But that’s something that we should look forward to because it’s going to be inevitable that you have to use force to make sure the ceasefire extends and Iran gets the message. Another thing is the border. We don’t have any illegal immigration. And we have already deported—self-deported—1 million people on their own. They chose to self-deport. And then we, of course, we’ve deported 200,000 or 300,000. But as we whittle down the 12 million who came under President Joe Biden, we’re going to bump up against the other 20 million, and some of whom have been here 20 years. Remember, we had 20 million illegal aliens before Joe Biden led in 12 million. We have 55 million people, of all statuses, that were not born in the United States—16% of the resident population. The highest in our history, both in actual numbers and in percentages. But of that 20 million that were here before Biden took office, there are going to be several million—3, 4, 5 million—and these are going to be people who are fully engaged in the labor force. They’ve been here five, 10, 15 years. They have not committed a crime. And they’re not on public assistance. Is that the majority? No. But there’s going to be a core group of pretty hardworking people that are very lawful, very pro-American. Do we want to give them citizenship? No. We want to give them the opportunity to pay a small fine and apply for a green card. In 1986, most people who got that option, under President Ronald Reagan’s Simpson-Mazzoli—a congressional bill—they chose just to get a green card. Only a third applied for citizenship. But that’s something we need to be flexible on as it comes up. There’s going to be another final challenge for MAGA, and that is—I was talking to a group of Europeans this week at the Hoover Institution. And some of their concerns—it was very funny. They all quietly admitted that their governments have had asymmetrical tariffs. And they all knew that was unfair. And they all knew they got caught on it. And they all knew they had to do something to ensure their access to the American markets. But here’s what they said: “Well, what if we went down to completely symmetrical tariffs? What if we even proposed to you that there was zero tariffs? You would take it, wouldn’t you?” And I think we would. But Donald Trump will have to decide whether he would or not because he would probably think: Well, nobody said that tariffs would make that much revenue. And I don’t think they still will make more than a trillion dollars over a decade. But we’ve had three record months of tariff revenue. And Donald Trump seems to envision that, contrary to all popular opinion, he’s proved them wrong. Proved me wrong. He got a lot of revenue from tariffs. I don’t know if that’ll be sustained. But he may not want to do that. He may say, “Well, you had asymmetrical tariffs for years, so we’re going to do it as long as you did.” I think that would be a mistake. But he will have to decide that. Bottom line: Donald Trump’s going to have to decide, when countries come to him and say, “We’ll run a deficit with you, we will have symmetrical tariffs,” or, “We’ll have no tariffs,” is he going to take that or not? If Iran violates the ceasefire—and to what degree that would be true I don’t know, but if we see trucks going into these enrichment sites or we find evidence of a new one, he’s going to have to act and deal with a fallout. And then, of course, on the border, it’s not going to be a problem of new illegal aliens. It’s not going to be a problem of the 12 million that Joe Biden let in. But there will be some people that he’ll have to decide, and I think it would be wise for them to have to pay a fine, get a green card, continue working, stay off social services, stay crime-free, and become a valuable green card holder. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Donald Trump’s ‘Astoundingly Successful’ June Will Soon Come With Its Own Challenges appeared first on The Daily Signal.

NY State DMV Employees Busted Working With Driving School to Rig Exams for Illegals

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Pentagon explained the president's rationale to end some military contributions to Ukraine in the Russian war. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell opened the media briefing with a statement about the decision to stop some military aid to Ukraine as part of a "capability review" that sought to maintain U.S. military readiness.'The president's strategic outset with respect to Ukraine and Russia has been one of peace. He campaigned on this.'"Let it be known that our military has everything that it needs to conduct any mission anywhere, anytime, all around the world. We have the most lethal fighting force in the world," said Parnell at the end of his statement about Ukraine.When Parnell went to accept questions from reporters, Blaze News politics reporter Rebeka Zeljko went first."With respect to Ukrainian aid, the United States announced that they're going to be withholding certain aspects of aid," said Zeljko. "Ukraine responded by saying that this is going to embolden Russia. What is the department's response to that argument?""Well, the president's strategic outset with respect to Ukraine and Russia has been one of peace. He campaigned on this. When he was asked on a town hall with CNN about that war, he said he wanted to just stop people from dying," Parnell responded."And so peace has been the president's highest aspiration, and we here at the department support those goals and those missions," he added. "But it's important to remember that the stuff that I mentioned in my topper, what we've done here at the Department of Defense is create a framework to analyze what munitions we're sending where, to help the president and the secretary of defense make decisions."RELATED: 'Audacious' Ukrainian drone attack on Russian bombers stuns ahead of peace talks in Istanbul "And so ultimately our job here at the Department of Defense is to pursue the president's America First agenda and make sure that we keep peace through strength throughout the world," Parnell concluded. The U.S. announced a pause in munitions and air defense missiles being sent to Ukraine over concerns that the U.S. stockpile had grown low. The announcement was praised by Russia, but a Ukrainian official warned that the decision would lead to more "war and terror" from the "aggressor," rather than peace. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The FBI, under Kash Patel's leadership, arrested over a dozen members of the "Anti-Tren" gang, a splinter faction of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua, on charges of drug and weapons trafficking.The Anti-Tren gang members were in the country illegally when they were picked up by FBI Houston, according to a June 30 press release from the Department of Justice.'Operation Take Back America means going on the offensive against transnational criminal organizations to ensure that they cannot take root in our community and endanger public safety.'"Two criminal complaints charge 14 Anti-Tren members and associates with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine," the DOJ stated. "According to the allegations, two groups of individuals agreed to transport kilogram quantities of cocaine in exchange for $15,000 for each load with each group accepting half as payment in advance."The 14 suspects are facing up to life in prison and up to a $10 million fine.Five individuals could face an additional 15 years in prison for alleged possession and sale of firearms. RELATED: Trump's DOJ 'devastates' Tren de Aragua empire with first RICO charges against 27 gang-linked thugs Photo by El Salvador Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty ImagesAccording to the criminal complaint, Jose Miguel Briceno, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national, was previously involved in a mass shooting at a Houston bar that resulted in injuries to six people. Briceno is facing separate charges for alleged unlawful possession of ammunition by an alien, which could result in up to 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Houston Police Department, and the Harris County Sheriff's Office assisted the FBI with its investigation. The agency's arrests were part of a nationwide initiative, dubbed Operation Take Back America, to "repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime."RELATED: Kristi Noem enrages liberals with 2-word response to dismissal of deportation case Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty ImagesU.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei stated, "The Southern District's twin priorities are securing our border and the eradication of violent crime. This case implicates both.""Operation Take Back America means going on the offensive against transnational criminal organizations to ensure that they cannot take root in our community and endanger public safety," Ganjei continued. "SDTX is going to be unapologetic in carrying out that mission."Douglas Williams, the special agent in charge of the FBI Houston Field Office, referred to the arrests as "the largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members and associates by the FBI.""These individuals are accused of engaging in a turf war with TDA members and carrying out numerous violent crimes throughout our city, including a mass shooting at a local sports bar that left six people wounded. Fortunately, for the good and safety of our community, these individuals are now in federal custody facing U.S. justice," Williams said.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Activist Judge Overturns Trump’s Declaration of an Invasion at the Border

The WNBA Somehow Manages to Get Even Worse

It's Epic Failure Theater As Tourists Inadvertently Ruin Dem Protest Against Big Beautiful Bill

In the long arc of military history, few siege engines have captured the imagination like the trebuchet. Towering over medieval battlefields with a grace that belied its destructive power, this marvel of pre-modern engineering hurled massive projectiles across moats, over walls, and into the hearts of enemy fortresses. At its height, the trebuchet symbolized the zenith of siege warfare, capable of toppling towers, breaching walls, and striking terror into defenders. Yet, its legacy is more nuanced than its awe-inspiring might. There were moments when even this mighty machine failed to tip the balance, crushed beneath changing tactics, terrain, and the march of technology.Terry Bailey explains. A Byzantine depiction of a siege, featuring a trebuchet.Origins and engineering, from China to the CrusadesThe trebuchet evolved from earlier traction-based siege engines. By the 4th century CE, traction trebuchets, operated by teams pulling ropes were already in use in China. These early machines were introduced to the Islamic world by the 7th century and to Europe by the 12th century, likely via Byzantine and Arab intermediaries.However, the counterweight trebuchet, the one most associated with European castles and medieval sieges represented a giant leap forward in design. Rather than relying on human strength, this version used a massive counterweight to swing a long arm and hurl projectiles with extraordinary force and precision. The innovation allowed for heavier projectiles and more consistent performance, making it the king of siege machines from the 12th to the 15th centuries.Constructed primarily from wood, reinforced with iron, and operated by large crews, trebuchets could lob 90 kg stones over 300 meters. They were capable of launching not just stones, but also incendiary devices, diseased carcasses, or even barrels of rotting refuse, early examples of biological warfare. Triumphs on the battlefieldSiege of Acre (1191)During the Third Crusade, the siege of the Muslim-held city of Acre witnessed extensive use of trebuchets. Richard the Lionheart famously ordered the construction of massive siege engines to batter the city's formidable walls. One trebuchet, named 'God's Own Catapult', was so powerful it contributed significantly to the breaching of Acre's defenses. Its presence demoralized the defenders and accelerated the fall of the city after nearly two years of siege. Siege of Stirling Castle (1304)Perhaps the most famous individual trebuchet ever built was 'Warwolf', constructed by the English during their campaign against Scotland. Ordered by Edward I during the siege of Stirling Castle, Warwolf was so large that it took five master carpenters and thirty additional laborers months to assemble.Capable of hurling stones weighing over 140 kg it was reportedly so terrifying in its destructive force that the garrison inside Stirling Castle attempted to surrender before it was even used. Edward refused their surrender until Warwolf had been fired, showcasing not only the weapon's effectiveness but also its psychological impact. Siege of Thessalonica (1383–1387)In the Balkans, Ottoman forces employed trebuchets extensively in their campaigns, particularly during the long siege of Thessalonica. They used multiple trebuchets to breach parts of the city's impressive Byzantine walls. Though the siege dragged on for years, the persistent battering from trebuchets played a vital role in weakening the city's defenses and demoralizing the population. When trebuchets failedDespite their power, trebuchets were not infallible. Weather, terrain, and enemy tactics could all neutralize their advantage. Siege of Château Gaillard (1203–1204)This stronghold of Richard the Lionheart was considered nearly impregnable and was assaulted by the forces of Philip II of France. Despite having trebuchets, Philip's army found limited success battering the strong walls directly. Instead, the castle fell due to a combination of undermining the walls, exploiting a poorly defended latrine chute, and strategic patience. The siege demonstrated that siege engines alone could not guarantee victory without a complementary strategy. Siege of Kenilworth Castle (1266)During the Second Barons' War, royal forces laid siege to Kenilworth Castle in England, equipped with trebuchets and other siege engines. The siege lasted six months, the longest in English history despite constant bombardment. The defenders had fortified the castle against projectiles and had access to a well-stocked moat, which protected against mining and fire. Eventually, the castle was surrendered due to starvation rather than the success of siege weapons. Siege of Constantinople (1453)By the mid-15th century, the trebuchet's days were numbered. During the Ottoman siege of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed II deployed several trebuchets, but the true stars of the siege were giant bronze cannons, including the massive bombard known as Basilica. The walls of Constantinople, long impervious to traditional siege engines finally crumbled under the weight of gunpowder and artillery shot. It marked a seismic shift in siege warfare and sealed the trebuchet's decline. The trebuchet's legacyWhile cannons would ultimately supersede the trebuchet, the latter's impact on warfare was profound. It brought mathematical precision and engineering excellence to the battlefield, serving as a precursor to modern artillery. Trebuchets required extensive knowledge of physics, especially lever mechanics, mass ratios, and projectile dynamics. In many ways, building and operating a trebuchet was a scientific enterprise as much as a military one.Today, trebuchets live on in experimental and experiential archaeology, engineering competitions, and historical reenactments. Universities and hobbyists around the world build them to test hypotheses about medieval warfare and physics. They have even made brief comebacks in unconventional settings, for instance, launching pumpkins in contests or as props in demonstrations of alternative military history. Power, precision and limitsThe trebuchet was not just a machine of war, it was a symbol of power, ingenuity, and the relentless arms race of medieval siegecraft. It turned stone and gravity into weapons capable of altering the course of history. Yet, like all war machines, it was only as effective as the circumstances allowed. When paired with strategy and favorable conditions, it could break even the most daunting fortress. When isolated or poorly used, its might was wasted. Its legacy lies not only in the walls it breached but also in the enduring fascination it inspires, proof that in war, as in technology, the pendulum of advantage always swings. ConclusionNeedless to say, in the grand narrative of military innovation, the trebuchet stands as a towering monument to human ingenuity, a symbol of the medieval world's mastery over materials, mechanics, and mathematics. It emerged not merely as a tool of destruction, but as the apex of pre-modern siegecraft, an elegant fusion of physics and force. Rising from its early beginnings in ancient China to dominate the battlefields of medieval Europe and the Islamic world, the trebuchet evolved into an unrivalled instrument of siege warfare, as formidable psychologically as it was physically.Its reign, however, was not absolute. Though capable of incredible power and precision, the trebuchet was ultimately bound by the limitations of its era, its size, construction time, dependence on terrain, and the slow pace of reloading. Against an unprepared or poorly fortified target, it could be devastating. Against a determined and strategically aware foe, it could be little more than an impressive showpiece. As warfare changed, so too did the needs of armies. The introduction of gunpowder and the development of cannons marked a fundamental shift that no amount of counterweight could reverse. In the thunderous roar of bronze bombards, the creaking wooden arms of the trebuchet fell silent.Yet the story does not end with its obsolescence. The trebuchet endures in the imagination not because of the wars it won, but because of what it represents. It is a relic of an age when knowledge of balance, leverage, and timing could turn gravity itself into a weapon. It is a testament to what can be achieved with wood, stone, rope, and understanding, where craftsmanship meets calculation to form something greater than the sum of its parts. Even today, trebuchets are reconstructed in academic settings and public spectacles, their massive arms swinging once more not to bring down walls, but to bring history vividly to life.In remembering the trebuchet, we reflect not only on a machine but on a mindset. It reminds us that behind every technological leap, whether in medieval siege engines or modern artillery lies a desire to master natural forces through insight and invention. The trebuchet, with all its triumphs and failures, was more than a weapon. It was an idea in motion, a parable of innovation in a world before engines, and a symbol of an age when human will harnessed the laws of physics to reshape the world, one stone at a time. The site has been offering a wide variety of high-quality, free history content since 2012. If you’d like to say ‘thank you’ and help us with site running costs, please consider donating here.  Notes:ConstructionAt its core, the trebuchet is a machine that uses the principle of leverage to convert potential energy into kinetic energy, propelling a projectile with immense force. Its basic construction revolves around a large wooden frame that supports a long throwing arm mounted on an axle. The arm is asymmetrical: one end, much shorter, holds a massive counterweight, while the longer end serves as the throwing arm to which a sling is attached.The difference in length between the two arms is crucial, it allows the counterweight's downward drop to translate into a high-speed swing of the longer arm. The counterweight is typically housed in a pivoting or fixed box filled with stones, lead, or sand.In some designs, known as the hinged or floating counterweight trebuchets the counterweight is free to swing, which increases efficiency and allows for a smoother release of energy. As the counterweight falls, it pulls the shorter end of the arm downward, rapidly accelerating the longer end upward and forward. Attached to this longer end is a sling, often made of rope or leather, which cradles the projectile. One end of the sling is fixed to the arm, while the other loops over a release pin, allowing it to slip off at a precise angle and send the projectile on its arc.The entire structure must be robust and precisely built. The frame, often made from large timbers lashed or pegged together, needs to be rigid enough to withstand repeated firings without warping or collapsing. The axle must rotate smoothly yet be strong enough to bear the torque generated by the counterweight's drop. Builders often adjusted the angle of release by tweaking the length of the sling or bending the release pin, fine-tuning trajectory and range.Despite its apparent complexity, the trebuchet could be constructed using readily available materials and medieval carpentry techniques. When properly built and calibrated, it could hurl boulders weighing many kilograms over castle walls or smash through fortifications, an extraordinary feat of mechanical engineering for its time. WarwolfThe Warwolf, also known as the Ludgar, stands as the most legendary trebuchet ever constructed and arguably the most powerful siege engine of the Middle Ages. Commissioned by King Edward I of England during the First War of Scottish Independence, Warwolf was built in 1304 to aid in the siege of Stirling Castle, one of the last remaining Scottish strongholds resisting English domination. Edward, determined to make an example of Stirling's defenders, spared no expense in constructing what was to be the most formidable trebuchet ever assembled.Warwolf's construction was a massive undertaking. Historical records suggest that Edward brought a team of skilled carpenters and engineers to Scotland specifically for the project. It took them months to build the engine, with supplies and timber hauled from distant locations. The machine was so large that it had to be assembled in parts and reassembled on-site. While the exact dimensions remain unknown, estimates based on medieval accounts and reconstructions suggest that Warwolf may have stood over 20 meters tall and could hurl projectiles weighing up to 140 kilograms with devastating force and precision.What truly set Warwolf apart, however, was not just its size but its psychological impact. As indicated in the main text, when the defenders of Stirling Castle saw the massive machine completed and ready to fire, they reportedly attempted to surrender to avoid the coming bombardment. King Edward, intent on showcasing his new weapon, refused their offer and ordered the attack to proceed. Warwolf's first volley reportedly shattered the castle's curtain walls, compelling a full and unconditional surrender shortly thereafter. The event exemplifies not only the mechanical might of trebuchets but also their role in psychological warfare.Warwolf's legacy has endured as a symbol of medieval engineering ingenuity and royal determination. It demonstrated how a well-constructed trebuchet could dominate a battlefield, not just through brute force but through sheer intimidation. Even centuries later, Warwolf continues to fascinate military historians and engineers alike as a pinnacle of pre-gunpowder siegecraft.