Morning Answer

@left_behind_chi @KurtSchingoethe @DanProft @John_Kass M-F 5-9am AM 560 in Chicago Listen Listen —> 560theanswer.com/listen Facebook —> facebook.com/MorningAnswer YouTube —> @ChicagosMorningAnswer" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@ChicagosMorni… Podcasts —> 560theanswer.com/content/all/mo… Website —> morninganswerchicago.com Rumble —> rumble.com/c/morninganswer

Escalating tensions in the Middle East are entering a more volatile phase as strikes on critical energy infrastructure prompt new warnings from President Donald Trump and raise questions about the trajectory of the ongoing campaign against Iran. Brian Carter, a fellow with the Critical Threats Project at @AEI, said the latest developments underscore both the progress made against Iran’s military capabilities and the persistent risks that remain.

Reminder: Democrats don't care about you.

.@_JackSalmon_, a research fellow at the @mercatus Center at @GeorgeMasonU, outlined what he described as a deeply entrenched problem spanning federal, state, and local systems, with healthcare programs among the most vulnerable.

Scott McKay, publisher of @TheHayride, offered a blunt assessment of both Republican leadership and ongoing legislative battles in Washington.

FWIW, it was a joke. Not everything is so serious.

Tensions among Western allies are coming into sharper focus as debate intensifies over how to respond to the disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint, with NATO’s role in the crisis increasingly under scrutiny. Eliot Wilson, a contributing editor at Defense on the Brink and senior fellow for national security at the Coalition for Global Prosperity, described a growing divide between the United States and its European partners—not necessarily over the seriousness of the threat, but over how to address it and under what framework.

You can thank Brandon Johnson for this being allowed to happen.

20 years. Age 78. Five years already in solitary. Sebastian Lai tells Josh Hammer what’s happening to his father — wrongfully imprisoned for standing for freedom. #WIND

.@Mark_Bauerlein, an English professor at @EmoryUniversity and author known for his critiques of digital-age learning, said the trend reflects a broader and long-developing shift in how students interact with information.

Foreign policy analyst @DanDePetris said recent operations have significantly degraded Iran’s military capabilities, noting that a large share of the country’s missile infrastructure and command systems have been destroyed. By traditional military metrics, he said, the campaign has been effective.

Economist @StephenMoore said widespread fraud in federal programs could account for a significant portion of the nation’s fiscal imbalance, arguing that better enforcement alone could yield major savings.

.@mrubin1971, a senior fellow at @AEI and director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum, said the internal dynamics of Iran’s leadership and military structure are shifting rapidly following sustained U.S. and Israeli strikes on key targets.

The race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is beginning to take shape in Illinois, with Republican nominee @DonTracyForIL and Democratic nominee Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton presenting sharply contrasting messages on the economy, immigration, and the role of government.

ICYMI, discussing Joe Kent's NCTC resignation and the latest on Iran on @morninganswer Chicago: morninganswerchicago.com/debate-over-ir…

Back on the campaign trail bright and early. Thanks to @DanProft and @MorningAnswer for having me on this morning! youtube.com/watch?v=AKhpVj…

Love @mark_bauerlein's Books Act proposal. Get it to a state legislator near you. How do you know if you're living on "Animal Farm" until you read it?

Why does @JBPritzker deserve a third term as Illinois governor?

Buying your third term as governor isn't democratic.

Military leaders report that U.S. and allied forces have also targeted Iran’s broader defense infrastructure, including production facilities tied to weapons development, signaling a shift from purely defensive actions to efforts aimed at degrading Iran’s long-term capabilities. Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense @JedBabbin said the scale of the operation reflects a decisive use of force but warned that tactical success does not necessarily translate into strategic clarity.

A new book by Georgetown law professor @RandyEBarnett is shedding light on one of the most turbulent periods in Chicago’s criminal justice history, offering a firsthand account of courtroom corruption, gang violence, and the inner workings of a prosecutor’s office during a time of sweeping federal investigations. Barnett’s book, "Felony Review: Tales of True Crime and Corruption in Chicago," draws on his experiences as a young Cook County assistant state’s attorney in the 1970s and early 1980s, a period he describes as both the height of professionalism within the prosecutor’s office and a peak era of systemic corruption in the broader court system.