For nearly 140 days, the conflict with Iran has shifted from direct military action to negotiations and limited exchanges, leaving key objectives unresolved. Missile attacks on Gulf states continue, the Strait of Hormuz remains contested, and questions remain about Iran's enriched uranium and nuclear capabilities.Iran has sought to prolong the conflict until after the midterm elections, while President Trump is under pressure to conclude military operations without preventing Iran from rebuilding its military strength.  The latest strikes have become more aggressive, remaining military targets are identified, responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz is shifted to regional allies, and Iran's decision to avoid attacking Israel despite continuing attacks across the Gulf highlights Israel's deterrence and military advantage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of “The Odyssey” has been drawing a lot of attention but not necessarily for good reasons.Actress Lupita Nyong’o, set to play Helen of Troy in the film, complained in an interview that Homer didn’t include enough women in his play. In actuality, “The Odyssey” was one of the most pro-women works for its time period. Nolan’s film has also received criticism for its controversial casting choices, including giving the role of a famed Greek warrior to transgender actor Elliot Page. Nolan’s adaptation releases Friday, July 17. Only time will tell whether the film stayed true to Homer’s vision. 👉Pepperdine School of Public Policy - visit https://go.pepperdine.edu/dailysignal to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world is in a far different position than it was just five years ago. Across Latin America, governments are becoming more aligned with the United States while Chinese influence continues to recede. Europe is dramatically increasing defense spending, strengthening its borders, and rethinking energy policies after years of dependence and underinvestment. Russia is weaker economically and militarily, Iran has suffered devastating losses to its military and nuclear infrastructure, and China faces growing economic and strategic challenges as its global ambitions encounter new obstacles.Many of these changes stem from Donald Trump's willingness to abandon traditional diplomacy in favor of an unpredictable negotiating style that pressured both allies and adversaries. NATO members are committing more resources to their own defense, America's strategic position has strengthened across multiple regions, and longtime rivals face greater economic and military pressure than they did just a few years ago. Whether history ultimately judges Trump's approach favorably remains to be seen, but the global balance of power has shifted in ways that increasingly favor the United States.  Mount Titano Media - FINDING OUR WORDS: Words That Made America is available now in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, Audible, and in Spanish translation on Amazon.com, and on https://www.MountTitanoMedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war with Iran has settled into a dangerous pattern of strikes, retaliation, and stalled negotiations. Iran appears to be using talks to buy time while continuing to threaten the Gulf, tankers, and the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has already damaged major parts of Iran’s military and political structure, but the conflict will continue unless Iran loses the ability to keep attacking its neighbors and disrupting global shipping. The path forward is to raise the cost on Iran’s military infrastructure, weaken its ability to strike, and create the conditions for most American forces to come home. With oil prices stabilizing, regional allies capable of helping keep the strait open, and the midterms approaching, the question is whether Trump can end the conflict decisively and shift attention back to the economy and the political fights at home. Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://www.JoinADF.com/HANSON or text HANSON to 83848 to sign ADF’s petition to protect female sports. Add your name to the declaration and side with truth and fairness! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democrats’ strategy of propping up socialist candidates and disguising them as the average middle class has finally caught up to them with Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.   The allegations towards Platner are damning and have come from both sides of the political aisle. Today, the news broke that Platner officially dropped out of the Maine Senate race.   Where do Democrats go from here? And do they have enough time to recover? Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://www.JoinADF.com/HANSON or text HANSON to 83848 to sign ADF’s petition to protect female sports. Add your name to the declaration and side with truth and fairness! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The disease of Democrat Socialism is slowly spreading throughout three groups of people: urban consumers, immigrants, and DEI advocates.   Their symptoms and agenda include everything abnormal to traditional American policy: open borders, amnesty for illegal immigration, and the conflation of citizenship with mere residency.   Their methodology is to run in select blue cities in local elections, giving them a chance to out-fund and out-perform the Democrats. And if they do that well, socialism could spread throughout the entire Democrat Party.   Socialists can’t afford to create a third party, so they’re simply taking over another. 👉Pepperdine School of Public Policy -  visit https://go.pepperdine.edu/dailysignal to learn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Europe is always angry, but the last two weeks particularly so. First it was Trump’s tariffs, then it was Greenland, and now it’s the NATO budget—that the U.S. is carrying by 50% mind you.   What Europe should really be upset about is the socialist agenda ruining their country: DEI, redistribution, green energy, open borders, you know the rest.   America had better learn from Europe quickly, or we’ll be Europe 2.0 before long, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words.” Mount Titano Media - FINDING OUR WORDS: Words That Made America is available now in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, Audible, and in Spanish translation on Amazon.com, and on https://www.MountTitanoMedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though Americans didn’t ask for it, Mamdani thought America would appreciate a July 4th message from him on why the country is racist and unfair. (Spoiler, you’re the problem.)   In reality, the racist and privileged individual is Mamdani himself. He has never been the victim. He comes from wealthy parents, immigrates to America, and then criticizes the host country that took him in.   “That’s about as racist as you can get,” argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words.”  👉Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit JoinADF.com/HANSON or text HANSON to 83848 to give today. HTTPS://WWW.JOINADF.COM/HANSON.COM  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America’s 250th anniversary raises a bigger question about whether the country can endure for another 250 years. The Constitution, federalism, legal immigration, natural resources, free markets, private property, and a strong middle class helped build the United States into the most successful nation in history. The rise of socialism, attacks on the constitutional system, open-border policies, hostility toward energy and agriculture, and class warfare all threaten the foundations that allowed America to flourish for centuries, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words.” Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://www.JoinADF.com/HANSON or text HANSON to 83848 to give today. Every dollar you give will be DOUBLED thanks to a special matching grant, while funds last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The decline in America's race relations from the Chicago Juneteenth shooting, the Carmelo Anthony case, and the Caitlin Clark controversy. Victor Davis Hanson says America has lost much of the racial progress it made in the 1980s and 1990s. He argues that political leaders and the legacy media are focused on the wrong problems, discusses the effects of DEI and the Great Society, and explains why he believes real change must come from within the Black community. Pepperdine School of Public Policy -  visit https://go.pepperdine.edu/dailysignal to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices