One year after the disastrous debate performance that forced former President Joe Biden to ultimately suspend his re-election campaign, questions remain about the oft-alleged "cover-up" of his cognitive decline. 

In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Lindy Li, a former Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraiser and National Finance Committee member, detailed her front-row seat to the careful coordination by Biden's inner circle to conceal how the octogenarian's age impacted his presidency. 

Biden Cabinet members' testimonies to the House Oversight Committee and journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson in their book, "Original Sin," have raised more questions about what exactly happened during Biden's tenure. 

"I was banned from the Biden White House for telling the truth when it mattered," Li told Fox News Digital. "I actually took a risk. Jake Tapper wrote a book and decided to tell the truth and have his Eureka moment after it was safe, after Biden had gone to pasture. There was nothing on the line for him."

EX-DNC INSIDER REVEALS 'PUPPET MASTERS' WHO RAN THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE

Tapper did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

FLASHBACK: THE DEBATE NIGHT AGAINST TRUMP THAT THREW BIDEN'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN INTO A FREE FALL

The former Democrat, who said she has faced the wrath of her former friends and colleagues since she left the party, explained that she had been raising her concerns about Biden's age for years.

According to Li, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., told her in 2022 that Biden was too old to run for re-election. One year later, she caught a glimpse of Duckworth "singing Biden's praises" on TV. 

"That day was when she decided to become his campaign co-chair," Li said. "A full year later, he's not getting any younger."

Duckworth did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

While Democrats like Duckworth seemed to eventually accept Biden's decision to run for re-election, Li said she continued speaking out – and it cost her. 

"To be treated like a complete criminal was just jarring for me," Li said. "I just asked a question too. I wasn't attacking anybody. I just [asked] if maybe he should step down, in the nicest way possible."

Li said she was posing these questions to top officials at the DNC, including former chair Jaime Harrison and current chair Ken Martin. The DNC did not respond to multiple Fox News Digital inquiries about her allegations. 

"We were given talking points," Li said. "Every time they say they're not paying attention, or they didn't take something seriously, they paid attention, and they took it seriously."

But going against the Democratic Party came at a personal sacrifice, Li explained to Fox News Digital. 

"I hosted [Biden] and Kamala Harris on Feb. 3, coinciding with the DNC Winter Meeting, and they confiscated my phone," Li said. 

She said a DNC coalition director singled her out at the event and told her not to post anything on social media. When she posted an Instagram story of Biden at a separate dinner event, Li said she was shocked when the DNC called her "in a fit of fury" and told her to take it down. 

"It was hard for me because I was one of the youngest members on the committee, if not the youngest, so I didn't have the age or the gravitas," Li said. "I just don't think they listened."

She added that the alleged cover-up was a "left-wing massive conspiracy" that included handpicked talking points from the DNC and the White House. 

"It encompassed not just the White House, but all the influencers they had on their payroll. Do not tell me they didn't have influencers on their payroll because they literally paid me," Li said. 

After Special Counsel Robert Hur did not recommend criminal charges against Biden in his classified documents case, as Hur referred to Biden as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory," Li said the DNC told her to "tar and feather" Hur's character. 

"They were in damage control mode. We were basically supposed to say [Biden] was a genius, in not so many words, but basically he is like this wizard behind closed doors, and how with age comes wisdom."

"We were supposed to undermine his character," Li added about Hur. "Yeah, we were supposed to assassinate his character."

And after Biden's consequential debate performance, Li said, "Jen O'Malley Dillon did a damage control briefing that morning, and people were misty-eyed. The previous night, people were crying on a shuttle home because they were so devastated by the debate."

But O'Malley Dillon and Julie Rodriguez, Biden's campaign chairs, claimed it was "impossible" for Biden to drop out of the race, arguing that finance regulations prevent that. History, of course, tells a different story. 

When reached for comment about her allegations, a former Biden official quipped, "Who is Lindy Li?"

A new scheme will see early years teachers offered a financial incentive to work in areas with highest needs.

Campaigners warn thousands of children could lose access to education if the plans are abolished.

A High Court judge refused the group's request to temporarily block the government from proscribing it as a terror group.

Fighter jets intercepted at least three aircraft on Sunday, which violated temporary flight restriction (TFR) airspace over Bedminster, New Jersey, where President Trump was spending the holiday weekend, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

With one aircraft being intercepted in the morning, and two others being intercepted later in the day, NORAD said there were a total of 11 unauthorized aircraft incursions in the TFR airspace over the weekend.

At about 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, a civilian plane violated the TFR and was safely escorted out of the area by a NORAD aircraft.

"NORAD and the [Federal Aviation Administration] aim to keep the skies over America safe, with close attention paid to areas with Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) to ensure flight safety, national security, and the security of the President," Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander, NORAD and US Northern Command said. "TFR procedures are mandatory, and the excessive number of TFR violations this weekend indicates some civil aviators are not reading Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs, before each flight as required by the FAA."

NORAD INTERCEPTS PLANE IN TRUMP’S BEDMINSTER NO-FLY ZONE: 'NO EXCUSES'

Guillot said the NORAD armed fighter jets intercept and guide offending aircraft out of the TFR. 

SECOND NAVY FIGHTER JET GOES OVERBOARD FROM TRUMAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER, PILOTS EJECTED

"Should the pilot of an aircraft happen to find itself intercepted by either fighters or helicopters, they should immediately come up on frequency 121.5 or 243.0 and turn around to reverse course until receiving additional instructions on one of those frequencies," Guillot added.

In another instance on Saturday, an aircraft was safely escorted out of the TFR airspace just before 2:40 p.m., after a standard "headbutt" maneuver was used to get the pilot’s attention.

AIR FORCE F-16 STRUCK BY DRONE DURING TRAINING FLIGHT OVER ARIZONA IN 2023

The maneuver involves a military jet flying directly in front of a civilian aircraft at a close but safe distance to visually signal the pilot to either follow or change course.

Officials warned private pilots to do their homework before takeoff.

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"It is critically important for North American flight safety that Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) violations are avoided," NORAD said in a message to pilots. "All pilots must familiarize themselves with updates to restricted airspace, including reviewing new and existing FAA NOTAMs [Notice to Airmen] that impact their flight plans and activities. Adhering to FAA restricted airspace protocols is mandatory, regardless of geographical region, airframe, or aircrew."

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

Parents who experience pregnancy loss at any stage will be entitled to leave from work under planned changes.

President Donald Trump slammed former first buddy Elon Musk for starting a third political party, saying such parties have "never worked" while also calling the move "ridiculous."

Trump spoke with reporters before boarding Air Force 1 in Bedminster, New Jersey, when he was asked about Musk’s move to start a third party.

"I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party," Trump said from the tarmac. "We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two-party system, and I think starting a third party just adds to confusion.

"It really seems to have been developed for two parties," the president continued. "Third parties have never worked. So, he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous."

ELON MUSK LAUNCHES ‘AMERICA PARTY’ AFTER TRUMP SIGNS HISTORIC SPENDING BILL: 'WASTE & GRAFT'

Musk announced the launching of a new political party called the "America Party" on his social media platform X on Saturday.

The entrepreneur called the formation of the party a direct response to a corrupt political establishment that no longer represents the American people.

The announcement followed a viral July 4 poll on X, where Musk asked whether voters wanted independence from what he called the "two-party (some would say uniparty) system."

ELON MUSK SAYS US IS RULED BY 'PORKY PIG PARTY' AS TRUMP DEFENDS HIS VISION AGAINST FORMER ALLY'S CRITICISM

Over 1.2 million votes were cast, with 65.4% saying "yes."

"By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it," Musk posted Saturday. "When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom."

A short time after his gaggle with reporters, Trump turned to Truth Social to express concerns over Musk, while giving insight into what may have led to the two parting ways.

"I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks. He even wants to start a Third Political Party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States - The System seems not designed for them," the president said. "The one thing Third Parties are good for is the creation of Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS, and we have enough of that with the Radical Left Democrats, who have lost their confidence and their minds!

"Republicans, on the other hand, are a smooth running ‘machine,’ that just passed the biggest Bill of its kind in the History of our Country," Trump continued. "It is a Great Bill but, unfortunately for Elon, it eliminates the ridiculous Electric Vehicle (EV) Mandate, which would have forced everyone to buy an Electric Car in a short period of time."

WOULD DONALD TRUMP HAVE WON THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WITHOUT ELON MUSK'S HELP?

Trump said he has been "strongly opposed" to an EV mandate from the very beginning, and the new bill allows consumers to buy whatever type of vehicle they want, whether it is electric, gas, or hybrid-powered.

"I have campaigned on this for two years and, quite honestly, when Elon gave me his total and unquestioned Endorsement, I asked him whether or not he knew that I was going to terminate the EV Mandate - It was in every speech I made, and in every conversation I had," Trump said. "He said he had no problems with that - I was very surprised!"

Trump also said Musk asked a close friend of his to run NASA, but the president took issue with it when he found out that friend was a "blue blooded Democrat" who never contributed to a Republican.

"I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the Space Business, run NASA, when NASA is such a big part of Elon’s corporate life," he said. "My Number One charge is to protect the American Public!"

Musk chose to establish a new political party after expressing grave concerns with the president's "Big, Beautiful Bill," which was signed into law on Friday at the White House.

The sweeping $3.3 trillion legislation includes tax cuts, infrastructure spending and stimulus measures and has drawn criticism from fiscal conservatives and libertarians. Though Musk did not reference the bill directly in his America Party posts, the timing suggests rising friction between the billionaire and the president. Musk has previously warned that unchecked spending by both parties threatens the long-term health of the economy.

TRUMP NOT INTERESTED IN TALKING TO MUSK: 'ELON'S TOTALLY LOST IT'

The new party, according to Musk’s posts, will target a few key seats in Congress. The goal is to create a swing bloc powerful enough to hold the balance of power and block what Musk sees as the worst excesses of both Republicans and Democrats.

Third parties have traditionally had a difficult time gaining ground in American politics as the system is built for two dominant parties. With the Electoral College, winner-take-all elections and strict ballot access laws, outsiders cannot meaningfully compete. Even when a third-party candidate catches fire, it rarely lasts beyond a single election cycle.

One of the biggest third-party efforts in recent history was Ross Perot’s 1992 run. 
He earned nearly 19% of the popular vote as an independent but didn’t win a single Electoral College vote. It was the closest a third-party candidate got to the White House after President Teddy Roosevelt's famed Bull Moose Party run in 1912 against his onetime protégé, William Howard Taft.

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Others, like Ralph Nader, have tried with the Green Party, and Gary Johnson with the Libertarian Party, but no third-party candidate has come close to winning the presidency.

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

On the value of keeping conversations going with opponents, from the Reformation onwards

A Jewish advocacy group is blasting Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani for sharing a video mocking Hanukkah Jewish traditions on social media.

The organization, Stop Antisemitism, says Mamdani posted the "sick" video to his X account last year. The video is originally from the Geeta Brothers Duet Group, a satirical and comedic duo who dressed themselves in stereotypical Jewish garb for the performance.

"Zohran Mamdani posts Indian men cosplaying Jews, spinning dreidels and lighting the menorah," Stop Antisemitism wrote in a statement on X.

"Our holidays and traditions are sacred and not for your comedic pleasure, Zohran Mamdani – this is sick," the group added, tagging the mayoral candidate.

TOP DEMOCRATS, MEDIA DEMAND ZOHRAN MAMDANI CONDEMN 'GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA' PHRASE

Mamdani had posted the video in December 2024, adding the caption, "Happy 3rd night of Hanukkah from Astoria and Long Island City."

The video originates from the 2015 parody album "Punjabi Christmas Album Hits" from the Geeta Brothers.

Mamdani posted another video from the same album on Christmas Eve, this one based on "Jingle Bells."

"Wishing you all a very merry Christmas from Astoria and Long Island City," he wrote at the time.

Mamdani's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Accusations of antisemitism have harried Mamdani's campaign from its outset. The self-proclaimed democratic socialist has refused multiple times to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, and he has supported the BDS movement against Israel.

"I believe Israel has a right to exist," he said during a mayoral primary debate in June.

"As a Jewish state?" the moderator pressed.

"As a state with equal rights," Mamdani said.

He later elaborated on his opposition to Israel being a Jewish state in an interview with Fox 5.

"I’m not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else," he said.

DAVE RUBIN WARNS JEWS TO 'GET THE HELL OUT' OF NYC IF MAMDANI BECOMES MAYOR

Mamdani, a Muslim, has also faced criticism for refusing to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada."

StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez argued last week that electing Mamdani mayor would not only be "catastrophic" for Jewish residents, but all who reside in the city.

"If Zohran Mamdani was elected as mayor, it would be hands down catastrophic for Jewish residents of New York City," Rez told Fox News Digital. "And we would even take it a step further where citizens of New York City in general, due to his very troubling stances on socialism, would greatly suffer as well."

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"I think individuals who are concerned that Zohran Mamdani is antisemitic have every single right to be concerned considering his past behavior," Rez added. "We can list dozens of examples of his past antisemitic adjacent and direct antisemitic actions."

Fox News' Sophia Compton contributed to this report

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's father, a longtime academic and Ivy League professor, said during a 2022 panel discussion about one of his many books that Adolf Hitler drew his inspiration for the Holocaust from Abraham Lincoln.

The younger Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, has credited his parents with providing him a "privileged upbringing," one that included frequent discussions on politics and global affairs, according to a New York Times profile on the mayoral candidate and his parents. Mamdani's mother is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker. 

During a 2022 panel discussion hosted by the Asia Society, Mamdani's father, Mahmood, asserted that America was the "genesis of what we call settler-colonialism" around the world.

JONATHAN TURLEY: WHY NYC'S ZOHRAN MAMDANI LOOKS MORE AND MORE LIKE A HARDCORE MARXIST

"With the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln generalized the solution of reservations, they herded American Indians into separate territories," Mamdani, Columbia's Herbert Lehman professor of government, said. "For the Nazis, this was the inspiration – Hitler realized two things: one, that genocide is doable. It is possible to do genocide, that's what Hitler realized. Second thing Hitler realized, is that you don't have to have a common citizenship."

The elder Mamdani also argued during the talk that the racist and antisemitic Nuremberg Laws of Nazi Germany "were patterned after American laws." 

Other comments included claims that there is no difference between "nationalism and colonialism" and that the Allied forces during World War II shared the same goals as the Nazis. 

"The Nazi political project was shared by the Allies, and that political project was to turn Germany into a ‘pure’ nation. A ‘pure’ nation rid of its minorities," Mamdani said at the Asia Society event. "When the Allies defeated the Nazis and went into Eastern Europe, they began to create ‘pure’ nations. To ethnically cleanse Eastern Europe of Germans – move them back into Germany. One crime doesn't wipe out another."

CITY-RUN GROCERY STORES, DEFUNDING POLICE, SAFE INJECTION SITES: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NYC'S NEXT POTENTIAL MAYOR

Following the political upset in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, critics began unearthing videos of the younger Mamdani espousing similarly radical views.

One of those moments came from remarks the NYC mayoral candidate made at a Young Democratic Socialists of America conference in 2021, during which he told attendees not to compromise on goals like "seizing the means of production."

A second included a video from The Gravel Institute, during which Mamdani discusses the need to turn housing from a private commodity to a public one. In the video, he called for luxury condos to be replaced with communal-style living that would include things like shared laundry facilities and food co-ops.

"If we want to end the housing crisis, the solution has to be moving toward the full de-commodification of housing," Mamdani urged in the video for The Gravel Institute.

DEM MAYORAL CANDIDATE IN MAJOR AMERICAN CITY LINKED TO RABID ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVISM: REPORT

Meanwhile, other remarks by Mamdani's father have raised concerns about how the Democratic mayoral candidate's upbringing could impact his governing style. 

In an interview about his book, "Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the Roots of Terror," the older Mamdani asserts that the term "suicide bomber" is a misnomer because they are no different from "soldier[s] whose objective is to kill."

Professor Mamdani has also reportedly argued that Israel is "the logical conclusion of Nazism," according to an excerpt of a study chronicling his academic arguments shared by the Washington Free Beacon. 

Fox News Digital reached out to both Professor Mamdani and his son for comment. 

Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., says he disagrees with Zohran Mamdani when it comes to his positions, but said his fellow Democrats could learn something from the democratic socialist — something that reminds him of President Donald Trump.

"You have to recognize that he tapped into something," Suozzi said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "He tapped into the same thing that Donald Trump tapped into, which is that people are concerned that the economy is not working for them."

The "democratic capitalist," as he describes himself, said in a Wall Street Journal op-ed last week that Mamdani's win in the democratic mayoral primary should be a "loud wake-up call for Democrats."

"Too often, Democrats are not perceived as being focused on affordability and the economy and the middle class and people aspiring to the middle class and their economic concerns," Suozzi told Weijia Jiang, who was filling in for Margaret Brennan.

MAMDANI'S PRIMARY WIN EXPOSES DEMOCRAT DIVIDE AS TOP LEADERS WITHHOLD ENDORSEMENTS

"They see Democrats as being primarily focused on reproductive rights and on LGBT protections, which are important issues, but they're not the issues that people think about every night when they're lying in bed thinking about paying their bills or when they are talking about how they're going to send their kids to school," he continued. 

MAMDANI'S POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE ROCKS DEMOCRATS, DIVIDING PARTY ON PATH FORWARD

While Suozzi does not believe Trump or Mamdani has the correct path forward when it comes to those issues, he said Democrats can learn to lean into root issues.

"Everybody in America, whether you're a right-wing conservative or a left-wing progressive, should believe that in return for working hard, you make enough money so you can live a good life," he said. "You can buy a home. You can educate your children. You could pay for your health insurance. You can retire one day without being scared. People don't feel that currently, and we have to do a better job of communicating that."

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Sunday that President Donald Trump's megabill will be "jet fuel" for the economy despite Democrats' criticisms. 

Johnson, who ceremoniously handed Trump the gavel after the president signed his signature tax cuts and spending package into law Friday, teased two future bills to be passed within the next year. In an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," he said the "big, beautiful bill," which is "a huge leap forward for our priorities," is the first step in a three-tier strategy. Johnson expects a second reconciliation bill by fall and a third by spring before the end of the current Congress. 

"I think we can do that, and so you'll see more of us advancing these common-sense principles to deliver that American First agenda for the people," Johnson said. "That's what they elected us to do, and this was hugely forward." 

Johnson pushed back on a reported Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) memo claiming Republicans will lose the majority in 2026 as a result of the "big, beautiful bill." 

TRUMP SIGNS 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL' BILL IN SWEEPING VICTORY FOR SECOND TERM AGENDA, OVERCOMING DEMS AND GOP REBELS

"Our Republicans are going to be out across the country telling the simple truth, and guess what? It will be demonstrated," Johnson said. "Everyone will have more take-home pay, they'll have more jobs and opportunity. The economy will be doing better, and we'll be able to point to that as the obvious result of what we did. So don't buy into those false talking points." 

The speaker dismissed criticisms from Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and DNC Chair Ken Martin in particular as "old, tired talking points" that are typically used against any Republican tax legislation. 

Johnson stressed that the bill permanently extends the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which the speaker claims targeted lower- and middle-income Americans. He said the bottom 20% of earners witnessed their lowest federal tax rates in 40 years because of those original cuts and said that the new megabill expands on that by cutting taxes on tips, overtime pay, and seniors – benefits that he says will help Republicans during the 2026 midterm elections. 

"We're giving everybody a tax cut," Johnson told "Fox News Sunday" host Shannon Bream. "And that's going to help the economy, it's going be jet fuel. Small business owners, entrepreneurs, risk-takers, the people that provide the jobs, manufacturers, farmers get assistance here, and that will lift the economy." 

Citing the Council of Joint Economic Advisers, Johnson said the megabill will spur 3% economic growth, create 4 million jobs and increase the average household's take-home pay by $13,000. 

"This is a great thing for people who go to work every day," Johnson said. "They're going to feel that. And we're excited about the upcoming election cycle in '26. Because people will be riding an economic high, just as we did after the first two years of the first Trump administration. This time it's on steroids." 

ZELENSKYY TOUTS 'FRUITFUL' TRUMP CALL AFTER US PRESIDENT WAS 'DISAPPOINTED' BY PUTIN TALK

Johnson also responded to criticism from Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., who argued that the megabill makes tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans permanent, while those for the working class "are time sensitive" and "expire in a couple of years." 

"Now, I don't think he read the bill, it's 940 pages, so I would give some grace on that," Johnson said in response to Ivey's claims. 

Bream noted that Ivey was listening while the bill text was read on the Senate floor last Sunday. 

"Yeah, you're right, for 19 hours or whatever it took," Johnson said. "If you make between $30,000 and $80,000 a year, you can have a 15% less federal tax rate. You're going to save more money, you're going to keep more of your hard-earned money, and that's not going away. So by making all these tax cuts permanent, it's the largest tax bill, the most important, most consequential tax bill that Congress has ever passed because of what it does for people who go out and work hard every day." 

Johnson said the bill pushes "pro-growth policies" and constitutes the "largest savings for the taxpayers in U.S. history." 

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"In the bill, we're also going to secure the border permanently. We're going to return to American energy dominance again, which is going to also be jet fuel to the economy," Johnson said. "We're gonna take care of peace through strength because we're going to give important investments in our military industrial complex, which will help us in our competition with China. There is so much in this bill." 

Football and basketball coaches are experts in clock management.

So are lawmakers.

Coaches are adept at either burning or saving just enough time on the clock to execute a play – or prevent the other team from doing so.

Congressional clock management is very different.

TRUMP $3.3T MEGABILL SETS HOUSE RECORD FOR LONGEST VOTE IN HISTORY

Whatever lawmakers say they will do – it will always take them a profoundly longer period of time in which to do it.

That’s why the temporal politics of passing President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill" overwhelmed everyone who works on Capitol Hill over the past few weeks.

That ranges from the lawmakers themselves to the aides, journalists, Capitol custodians and U.S. Capitol Police officers.

To wit:

Congressional Republicans have churned through variations of frameworks and iterations of the big, beautiful bill since February. But things finally got serious when the House adopted its formal version of the package on May 22, beating the Memorial Day goal by four days.

There was chatter that the Senate would tackle the House’s package the week of June 9. Then that fell to the week of June 15. The idea was that the Senate would process its version of the bill that week and then allow the House to sync up during the week of June 22.

Then those hopes were dashed.

That’s to say nothing of the Senate at least voting to proceed to even start debate at the very end of the week of June 15.

Here’s what really happened. And it underscores just how protracted the process can be on Capitol Hill, especially with a very complicated and controversial piece of legislation.

On Monday, June 23, Republican senators talked about taking a procedural vote to launch debate on the big, beautiful bill as early as Wednesday or Thursday, June 25 or 26. Such a vote would require just 51 yeas. But the bill wasn’t ready. Republicans were still crafting and drafting the bill to comport with Senate budget rules. The GOP also aimed to write the legislation in a fashion to court 51 yeas to crack the procedural hurdle and formally start debate. 

Midweek came and the Senate never took a procedural vote. Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., opposed starting debate on a bill that was not complete.

So midweek morphed into the weekend, and when the Senate convened on Saturday, June 28, Fox News was told the chamber would take a procedural vote to begin debate around 4 p.m. ET.

SENATE REPUBLICANS RAM TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' THROUGH KEY TEST VOTE

Well, you guessed it.

The Senate did not trigger that vote until 7:31 p.m. Saturday. And the 15-minute vote turned into a three-hour and 38-minute affair. The Senate closed the vote at 11:09 p.m.

Saturday – with Vice President JD Vance nearby in case his services were necessary to break a tie.

They were not.

At least not on the dais.

But Vance played a pivotal role in negotiating with Johnson, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and others to greenlight the Senate starting on the bill.

However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., then compelled Senate clerks to read the entire 940-page bill out loud from the dais. That enterprise consumed just under 16 hours of floor time. The clerks – their voices cracking and hoarse – concluded a few minutes after 3 p.m. on Sunday. This marked the first time a senator required the clerks to verbally read a bill before the Senate since 2021.

So, once the clerks concluded their oratory, it was believed that the Senate might go all night with its marathon voting session – known as a "vote-a-rama" – and try to finish the bill sometime by dawn Monday.

But this is Congress time.

Senators didn’t even begin the vote-a-rama until 9:40 am Monday. Twelve hours later, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., suggested it was time to "start figuring out" a final group of amendments that were necessary to conclude the bill. 

Some groaned at that notion. One senator told Fox News that 12 hours later was a little late in the game to "start figuring out" something of that magnitude.

The Senate then toiled throughout the night Monday and into Tuesday. Thune and the GOP leadership finally cut a deal with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on rural hospitals to marshal her vote. The Senate approved the bill late Tuesday morning after an all-night session. Vance was back to break the tie in what is called a "Van Halen" vote. The tally was 50-50 since three GOP senators defected. But Vance’s vote in favor made the roll call "51-50." 

For those who are uninitiated in the Van Halen discography, "5150" was Van Halen’s first album with new lead singer Sammy Hagar, supplanting David Lee Roth. It went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. 

Then, it was on to the House.

HOUSE ADVANCES TRUMP'S MASSIVE AGENDA BILL AFTER FREEDOM CAUCUS CAVES

The House Rules Committee serves as a gateway for legislation to head to the floor. It convened a meeting early Tuesday afternoon. The Senate would soon send its revamped version of the big, beautiful bill across the Capitol Dome for the House to align. The Rules Committee then proceeded to meet until around 1 a.m. Wednesday, prepping the bill for the floor.

That meant the House could vote by late Wednesday afternoon.

But there was a problem.

House GOP leaders discovered what they termed a "technical error" in the rule. The entire House must first approve the rule before debating legislation on the floor. So the House needed to vote on the fix first. That vote started early Wednesday afternoon – and continued for another seven hours and 31 minutes. That established a record for the longest roll call vote in House history, topping a vote of seven hours and 21 minutes in 2021.

Some Republicans weren’t at the Capitol. But they held the vote open to buy time to work on skeptical GOP members who may be holdouts.

And around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., decided to double-dog dare anyone who was against the bill to put their voting card where their mouth was. Republican leaders closed the "technical correction" vote and proceeded to a vote on the "rule." If the House adopted the rule, it could formally debate the bill. The House was stuck if its members failed to approve the rule.

The tally board behind the dais in the House chamber populated relatively quickly. All 216 Democrats said no There were also four GOP no votes – and several who refused to vote yes. Republicans could only lose three votes and still pass the rule. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was a yes on the rule – even though he opposed the bill. He then switched to no as the vote dragged on. However, Massie ultimately supported the rule in the end.

HAKEEM JEFFRIES BREAKS KEVIN MCCARTHY RECORD WHILE STALLING TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'

Reps. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., Keith Self, R-Texas, Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., were no votes throughout the vote. But around 1 a.m., there was movement. The holdouts and some of those who voted no met with Johnson and other GOP leaders. That seemed to pry loose the votes of the holdouts and opponents – except Fitzpatrick. 

But there was a problem.

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa. – who had not voted – drove home to Pennsylvania. So everyone at the Capitol patiently waited for Perry to return. He did around 3:30 a.m. Thursday. Everyone but Fitzpatrick voted as a bloc in favor of the rule. The House had the votes to begin debate on the rule.

It looked as though the House might vote around daybreak on the actual bill itself.

But the office of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., had told Fox News on Wednesday that Jeffries intended to speak for an hour or so at the end of debate. There’s a custom in the House where top leaders of both parties are yielded "a minute" to speak on the floor. But this is a "magic minute." As a courtesy to those leaders, they speak as long as they want.

Jeffries began speaking just before 5 a.m. Thursday – and finally concluded eight hours and 45 minutes later just after 1:30 p.m. ET Thursday. Jeffries shattered the mark of eight hours and 32 minutes established by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in 2021. McCarthy set the record as minority leader. 

So those House members hoping to hop an early morning flight and get home for July 4 would have to wait.

Mike Johnson didn’t speak nearly as long as Jeffries. But he did observe that the late President Ronald Reagan once said that no speech should run longer than 20 minutes.

Johnson spoke for 23 minutes.

And then the House voted, finally passing the bill 218-214 at 2:31 p.m. Thursday. Fitzpatrick and Massie were the only GOP noes.

It is said that we never have enough time in life. And if you work on Capitol Hill, you’ll probably have even less thanks to congressional clock management.

Critics of President Donald Trump wasted no time blaming staffing cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) for the widespread death and destruction caused by the floods in Texas, a reaction the White House called "shameful and disgusting."

At least 59 people, including 21 children, have been confirmed dead from the flash floods along the Guadalupe River that began Friday. Eleven children and one counselor remain missing from a girls' summer camp near the river, which flooded due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry. That storm made landfall over Mexico, but triggered massive unexpected thunderstorms over parts of Texas. 

"It only took 9 days for Trump's cuts to the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] to kill dozens of children in Texas when Tropical Storm Barry landed this week," Grant Stern, the executive editor of Occupy Democrats, wrote on X. 

TEXAS FLOOD SURVIVORS SHARE HARROWING STORIES, SEARCH CONTINUES FOR THOSE STILL MISSING

"The people in Texas voted for government services controlled by Donald Trump and Greg Abbott," added Ron Filipkowski, former federal prosecutor and the editor-in-chief of MediasTouchNews. "That is exactly what they (sic) getting." 

"What has happened to the girls at Camp Mystic is EXACTLY what one of the country's best meteorologists, John Morales, warned would happen," added Rachel Bitecofer, assistant director at Christopher Newport University's Wason Center for Public Policy. "Trump's cuts to the NOAA & NWS have critically impacted storm prediction nationwide."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held a press conference Saturday, and acknowledged some of the criticisms regarding the nation's flood notification systems, which included concerns that weather forecasts underestimated the amount of rain that ultimately fell. 

Noem noted that the Trump administration is "currently upgrading" the nation's flood notification technology, which she described as "ancient." 

DEADLY TEXAS FLOOD EXPOSES ‘NEGLECTED’ WEATHER ALERT SYSTEM TRUMP AIMS TO MODERNIZE

"When the [weather] system came over the area, it stalled," Noem said during the press conference. "It was much more water, much like [what] we experienced during [Hurricane] Harvey, with the same type of system that was unpredictable in the way that it reacted in the way that it stopped right here and dumped unprecedented amounts of rain that caused a flooding event like this."

Tom Fahy, legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, told NBC News that weather forecasting offices were adequately staffed, and "they issued timely forecasts and warnings leading up to the storm," but he added that unfilled leadership positions were "clearly a concern."

"All I'll say is this. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Kerr County more than 12 hours ahead of the catastrophic flood. A flash flood warning was issued for Hunt & Ingram 3 HOURS before the Guadalupe started to climb," said Texas-based meteorologist Avery Tomasco. "They did their job and they did it well."

The same sentiment was echoed by other meteorological experts as well. 

But, still, news of the advanced warnings has not stopped people from using the catastrophe to criticize the Trump administration.

"The reason Trump defunded the National Weather Service leading to the deaths of all those girls in the Texas flood is because PROJECT 2025 THOUGHT WEATHER PREDICTION SCIENCE WAS TIED TO EVIDENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE," musician Mikel Jollett wrote on X. 

WHITE HOUSE INSISTS FEMA IS TAKING HURRICANE SEASON 'SERIOUSLY,' BLASTS 'SLOPPY' REPORTING

Isaiah Martin, a Democratic candidate for Texas's 18th Congressional District, called for an immediate congressional investigation into "the Republican DOGE cuts to NOAA and the National Weather Service."

"We saw the affects (sic) this weekend," Martin wrote on X. "Trump defunded these agencies and we DEMAND answers. There MUST be *swift* accountability!" 

"Trump & Musk gutted the National Weather Service. The result was predictable: A bad forecast leading to the death of children in a horrific flood," added California state Senator Scott Wiener.

Meanwhile, Washington Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee did not directly blame Trump's approach to climate change for the deaths, but he suggested the president's efforts to peel back green energy funding are a contributing factor to increased catastrophic natural disasters, like this weekend's flood in Texas. 

"It is hard to make the Texas flood tragedy worse, except to know that on the same day Trump signed a bill cratering solar and wind energy that is vital in the battle against the climate change making these torrential rains more frequent," Inslee wrote on X this weekend. 

During an interview with CNN, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, added that he didn't think it was helpful to have open leadership positions that, if filled, could "help prevent these strategies."

"I don’t think it’s helpful to have missing key personnel from the National Weather Service not in place to help prevent these tragedies," Castro said, adding "we have to figure out in the future how we make sure that it doesn’t happen again."

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson called it "shameful and disgusting" to see that in the wake of this tragedy people are politicizing what took place.

"It’s shameful and disgusting that in the wake of tragedy, the left’s first instinct is to lie and politicize a disaster to target their political opponents. False claims about the NWS have been repeatedly debunked by meteorologists, experts, and other public reporting," Jackson said. "The NWS did their job, even issuing a flood watch more than 12 hours in advance. The Trump Administration is grateful to the first responders who sprung into action to save hundreds lives during this catastrophe, and will continue to help the great state of Texas in their recovery efforts."

The White House and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are encouraging Republican states across the nation to follow Florida's lead and install their own versions of "Alligator Alcatraz" – a remote detention facility for illegal immigrants located in the heart of the Everglades. 

Some red states are already warming up to the idea or already have new detention facilities in the works. 

"We don't have alligators, but we have lots of bears. I am not aware of any plans for an Alaska version of Alligator Alcatraz," representatives for Alaska's state government told Fox News' Laura Ingraham Tuesday. 

"Dear DHS: We’ve got a swamp and a dream. Let’s talk. South Carolina's gators are ready. And they’re not big on paperwork. If I was Governor, we'd be bringing Alligator Alcatraz to South Carolina," South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace posted to X on Tuesday, when Trump traveled to Florida to tour "Alligator Alcatraz." 

TRUMP SAYS ONLY WAY OUT OF ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ IS DEPORTATION

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of 26 Republican governors inquiring if they are considering rolling out their own versions of "Alligator Alcatraz," with a handful, stretching from Idaho to South Carolina, responding with what they have in the works. 

Garrison Douglas, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's spokesman, told Fox News Digital that the Peach State "has helped lead the way in tackling illegal immigration" and recently announced plans to build the "largest detention facility in the nation."

"From maintaining the longest continuous National Guard presence at the U.S. southern border of any state to banning sanctuary cities and directing the Georgia Department of Public Safety to enhance its partnership with ICE, under Governor Kemp’s leadership, Georgia has helped lead the way in tackling illegal immigration," Douglas told Fox News Digital Wednesday.  

"Furthermore, one of our private sector partners recently announced an agreement with ICE to convert a Georgia facility into the largest detention facility in the nation – a move that is supported by the governor and will only bolster national efforts to detain criminal illegal immigrants and process them for deportation," he added. 

The communications director for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Sam Dubke, told Fox Digital that Arkansas is building a "a new 3,000-bed prison in the state."

"Governor Sanders is working hand-in-hand with the Trump Administration to deport violent, criminal illegal immigrants, which is why she signed the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act earlier this year to put tough new penalties on illegal immigrants who commit additional crimes while in Arkansas and facilitate greater collaboration between Arkansas law enforcement and federal immigration officials, and is in the process of building a new 3,000-bed prison in the state," Dubke said when asked about a potential Arkansas version of "Alligator Alcatraz."

Brandon Charochak, spokesman for South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, told Fox Digital Wednesday that the governor serves as "President Trump’s chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council," and had just "presided over the council’s first meeting this morning in Washington."

 "South Carolina’s law enforcement and National Guard continue to collaborate and participate with federal officials on illegal immigration enforcement and deportation," Charochak continued. "Gov. McMaster has directed state officials to continue exploring how the Palmetto State’s unique assets and resources can be utilized to provide additional and enhanced support in the weeks and months to come." 

In Idaho, Gov. Brad Little is "planning to roll out new details on Idaho’s efforts to support President Trump’s agenda," according to his office. 

"Gov. Little fully supports President Trump’s efforts to deport dangerous illegal alien criminals," Little's press secretary, Joan Varsek, told Fox News Digital Wednesday. "Gov. Little is proud that Idaho is leading the efforts through our recent action to enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE and the Idaho State Police to assist with transporting these individuals to ICE detention facilities in our state while they await deportation. Secretary Noem recently applauded Idaho’s actions in supporting the Trump administration." 

SELF-DEPORT OR END UP IN 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ,' NOEM WARNS MIGRANTS DURING TRUMP VISIT

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, touted in a comment provided to Fox Digital that the state has already offered up "4,000 beds for detention."

"Gov. Abbott is grateful to finally have a partner in the White House working with Texas to secure our border and stop illegal immigration. In January, Gov. Abbott directed the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Facilities Commission to identify land and facilities for the federal government to use as detention space, and in February Gov. Abbott offered the Trump administration 4,000 beds for detention," Mahaleris said. "Texas will continue to assist the Trump administration in arresting, detaining and deporting illegal immigrants."

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller joined Fox News' Laura Ingraham Tuesday evening following his trip to Florida with Trump earlier that day and called on all Republican governors to follow DeSantis' lead and erect their own "Alligator Alcatraz."

TRUMP TO VISIT 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' FOR GRAND OPENING OF SWAMPY EVERGLADES DETENTION CENTER FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS

"We want to go to every Republican state – now, of course, in a sane country, Democrats would do it, too, but they love the illegals and they hate the Americans," Miller said. "We want every governor of a red state, and if you are watching tonight: pick up the phone, call DHS, work with us to build facilities in your state so we can get the illegals out and we can get the criminals out."  

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson added in a comment to Fox Digital Wednesday that "our nation would be well-served by more facilities" like "Alligator Alcatraz."

"Alligator Alcatraz is a state-of-the-art facility that will play a critical role in fulfilling the President’s promise to get the worst criminal illegal aliens out of America as fast as possible," Jackson said. "President Trump is grateful to partner with Secretary Noem and Ron DeSantis on this important project and our nation would be well-served by more facilities like this one." 

Trump took a trip down to the Everglades Tuesday morning, where he met with DeSantis, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other federal and state leaders to tour the new migrant detention facility. The property is located at a former airport that has been outfitted with sturdy tent structures to house 5,000 illegal immigrants amid the Trump administration's deportation blitz. 

The detention center earned its name due to its location in the heart of the Everglades, which is home to massive reptiles such as alligators and pythons. 

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TRY BLOCKING TRUMP'S 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' WITH LAST-MINUTE LAWSUIT

"It's known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ which is very appropriate because I looked outside, and that's not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon," Trump said Tuesday during his tour. "But very soon this facility will have some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet." 

"We're surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation," the president added. "And a lot of these people are self-deporting back to their country where they came from."

DeSantis authorized the construction of the illegal immigrant detention center on a 30-square-mile property in the Everglades' swamplands of Miami–Dade County under an emergency order in June. 

FLORIDA BUILDING 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' WHERE ICE DETAINEES FACE NATURE'S OWN SECURITY SYSTEM

DeSantis also called on fellow Republican governors to follow his lead and build their own versions of Alligator Alcatraz in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity Tuesday evening. 

"All the red states, at a minimum, need to step up and do this," DeSantis said. "If all red states are doing what Florida is doing, even if it’s at a smaller scale, because they may be smaller, you’re going to see massive numbers for the deportations, and Biden let in how many millions of people, we need these types of solutions if we want to get the job done."

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was seen in public for the first time since the beginning of Israel's war against Iran on Saturday.

Khamenei had been secluded in a security bunker for the entirety of the conflict, though President Donald Trump claimed to know his location at the time. Khamenei attended a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura on Saturday, waving to a large crowd but not making any statement.

Trump asserted during the 12-day war with Israel that the U.S. knew Khamenei's location, but would not kill him, "at least for now."

Khamenei made his first public statement in days on June 26, shortly after a cease-fire between Israel and Iran began. He said in a pre-recorded statement that Tehran had delivered a "slap to America’s face" by striking a U.S. air base in Qatar, and warning against further attacks by the U.S. or Israel on Iran.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR IRAN'S TERROR ARMY, THE IRGC, AFTER DEVASTATING MILITARY SETBACKS?

In reality, none of Iran's missiles hit their mark on the Al-Udeid Air Base.

Despite the U.S. strike on three nuclear facilities across Iran last month, experts say the regime is still bent on developing nuclear weapons.

"Repair, reconstitute and rebuild is going to be the modus operandi of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Iran Program told Fox News Digital. "It just depends on how are they going to be doing it? While flirting with the international community? Are they going to go dark totally altogether?"

"All of this remains to be seen," he added.

GEN. KEANE: IRANIANS HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON A NUCLEAR WEAPON

Spokesman for the Iranian regime, Fatemeh Mohajerani, confirmed this week that the Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites had been "seriously damaged" following the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear program last month.

Questions remain over the extent of damage that was incurred, as well as skepticism over whether Iran was able to move any enriched uranium or centrifuges away from the heavily guarded sites prior to the strikes. 

Though the Trump administration said last week that it had "obliterated" the three facilities it struck, and has fervently rejected reports suggesting that Iranian officials may have been able to transfer some elements of the regime’s nuclear program, Israeli officials confirmed this week that they are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

TRUMP COULD ARM ISRAEL WITH US B-2S AND BUNKER BUSTERS IF IRAN TRIES TO GO NUCLEAR UNDER NEW PROPOSAL

Experts in the U.S. and Israel have said they believe Iran is still assessing the extent of the damage from the "bunker buster" bombs, and that the regime will look to recover and repair what it can — meaning it may be looking to buy time.

"No doubt, the regime will still have a diplomatic strategy designed to rope-a-dope anybody, and to find as much time as possible for this government to do that," Ben Taleblu said.

Fox News' Caitlin McFall contributed to this report

Iran is preparing its next step in what one security expert warns remains its chief objective: developing a nuclear weapon.

"Repair, reconstitute and rebuild is going to be the modus operandi of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Iran Program told Fox News Digital. "It just depends on how are they going to be doing it? While flirting with the international community? Are they going to go dark totally altogether?

"All of this remains to be seen," he added.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR IRAN'S TERROR ARMY, THE IRGC, AFTER DEVASTATING MILITARY SETBACKS?

Spokesman for the regime, Fatemeh Mohajerani, confirmed this week that the Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites had been "seriously damaged" following the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear program last month. 

Questions remain over the extent of damage that was incurred, as well as skepticism over whether Iran was able to move any enriched uranium or centrifuges away from the heavily guarded sites prior to the strikes. 

Though the Trump administration said on Wednesday that it had "obliterated" the three facilities it struck, and has fervently rejected reports suggesting that Iranian officials may have been able to transfer some elements of the regime’s coveted nuclear program, Israeli officials confirmed this week that they are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

Experts in the U.S. and Israel have said they believe Iran is still assessing the extent of the damage from the "bunker busting" bombs, and that the regime will look to recover and repair what it can — meaning it may be looking to buy time.

"No doubt, the regime will still have a diplomatic strategy designed to rope-a-dope anybody, and to find as much time as possible for this government to do that," Ben Taleblu said.

The Iranian regime this week suggested it remained open to negotiations with the U.S. after President Donald Trump signaled that the talks could begin as soon as next week, though multiple Iranian officials said that that timeframe was overly ambitious. 

"I don’t think negotiations will restart as quickly as that," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a CBS News interview. "The doors of diplomacy will never slam shut." 

TRUMP COULD ARM ISRAEL WITH US B-2S AND BUNKER BUSTERS IF IRAN TRIES TO GO NUCLEAR UNDER NEW PROPOSAL

But the regime also took steps to further hinder the UN nuclear watchdog — which is tasked with tracking all nation’s nuclear programs — and suspended all interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday. 

That same day, the State Department condemned the move, and spokesperson Tammy Bruce said it was "unacceptable that Iran chose to suspend cooperation with the IAEA at a time when it has a window of opportunity to reverse course and choose a path of peace and prosperity."

Iran has limited IAEA access in the past and Ben Taleblu argued Tehran will likely look to do this again as it attempts to hold on to any bargaining chip it can.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran's next step, and likely most dangerous capability right now, is its diplomatic capability," the Iranian security expert argued. "This is the capability of the regime to either enter negotiations with a weak hand and leave with a strong hand, or try to prevent a military victory of its adversaries from becoming a political victory. 

"If negotiations do take place between the U.S. and the Iranians, be they direct or indirect, the Iranians are going to be dangling IAEA access. This is already their most important weapon," he added. 

Ben Taleblu explained that using the IAEA as a bargaining chip not only enables Iran to play for time as it looks to re-establish its nuclear program, but to sow division in the U.S. by creating uncertainty. 

GEN. KEANE: IRANIANS HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON A NUCLEAR WEAPON

"By diminishing the monitoring and by circumscribing and even cutting IAEA access to these facilities, the regime is trying to make America have to rely on intelligence alone," he said. "And as you see from the very politicized debates over the battle damage assessment, relying on intelligence alone without sources on the ground inspecting the sites, inspecting the facilities, documenting the fissile material, can lead to drastically different conclusions being taken by similar but not the same intelligence organizations or representatives."

Ultimately, Iran is not going to give up on its nuclear ambitions, Ben Taleblu warned, noting that Tehran’s security apparatus completely changed during its war with Iraq in the 1980s. 

"Everything that we face from the regime that is a security threat was started then — the ballistic missile program, the drone program, the maritime aggression, the transnational terrorist apparatus and the nuclear program all have their origins in the 1980s," he said.  "By resurrecting this nuclear program, the Islamic Republic was not engaging in a science fair experiment. 

"The Islamic Republic was seeking an ultimate deterrent," Ben Taleblu continued. "It was seeking an ultimate deterrence because it had a vision for what the region and the world should look like, and it was willing to put foreign policy muscle and the resources of its state behind that vision."

The expert on the Iranian regime warned that Iran’s 40-year "obsession" with developing its nuclear program to achieve its geopolitical aims is not going to change because of U.S. military intervention. 

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