Two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan on July 17 when their military base was struck during a barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles. The War Department is scheduling an autopsy to determine whether the fallen soldiers had adequate testosterone levels.

Does Argentina view Spain the way we view England—the former colonial parent that once dictated everything, only to watch the kid grow up, declare independence, write its own Constitution, get bigger and stronger, and spend 250 trying to make it all work. If true, I’m rooting for Argentina today.

The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office responded to the claim that Canada is sending smoke south on purpose. “We’d like to point out that the smoke has been requested by the Trump Cabinet. The members claim they need a steady supply of smoke to be able to keep blowing smoke up the President’s ass.”

I just saw the new movie, Odyssey, on this smoke infested day. I am a little confused after watching film. Who is hero of Trojan War….Matt Damon or Brad Pitt?

Just got back from a two-week overseas vacation. Between flight delays and Customs, we were exhausted and starving. We went straight for Taco Bell, and for the first time in history there wasn’t a single person in line. Maybe it is time to reevaluate their advertising campaign.

China issued a response to Trump: “We deny interfering in US elections. We couldn't inflict more damage on your democracy than you are doing yourselves - voter suppression, vigilante police forces, a partisan judiciary, trillion dollar deficits, a nonexistent Congress, an erratic foreign policy……

Mike Johnson released a statement today summarizing his 20 minute conversation with Mitch McConnell this morning. McConnell related to Johnson that he strongly supported President’s address last night He plans to watch World Cup Finals with friends and is rooting for Messi.

Canada, relax. We were only kidding about making you the 51st state. There’s no need to fumigate half the United States in retaliation.

Spain’s World Cup team plans to hang a photo of Trump in the locker room before the Final with his recent NATO quote, “I don’t want anything to do with Spain.” This is expected to provide some additional motivation as Trump is expected to hand the trophy to the winners.

Prediction markets now put Todd Blanche’s chances of being confirmed as the next Attorney General at 75%. Anyone taking the other side?

President Trump announced the U.S. will guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for a fee of 20% of the cargo’s value. Iran quickly countered with a fee of 15%. Those accepting Iran’s offer will get an original signed photo of the Ayatollah and two free tickets to a public stoning.

Lindsey Graham’s death is the administration’s latest strategy for distracting everyone from the Epstein files.

Mitch McConnell will give the eulogy at the funeral for Lindsey Graham if they can get the heart-lung machine into the church.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair….

In an effort to mend deteriorating relations with the United States, King Felipe VI of Spain has agreed to rename the Spanish Steps… the Trump Steps. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has not weighed in yet.

A movie opens: “Weekend at Mitch’s.” This comedy follows two young Senate staffers who visit Mitch’s home to discuss the Save America Act. When they arrive, they discover Mitch is dead. They decide to pretend he’s alive to keep his vote for the bill intact. This continues right up to Senate vote.

ICE agents raided the U.S. locker room after the loss to Belgium, seeking to take Folarin Balogun into custody and transfer him to a newly constructed retention center. Balogun, tipped off, escaped the facility and is now seeking to join the English team as they prepare for the quarterfinals.

Trump immediately slapped a 100% tariff on all Belgian waffles, chocolate and fries after today’s World Cup match. “I never liked those people,” he said. “They cheat at everything and they didn’t come to our aid with Iran. I have never been there and never plan on visiting those losers.”

Donald Trump called the Commissioner of Major League Baseball and insisted that Barry Bonds be inducted into Hall of Fame,

U.S.–Iran negotiations stalled after Tehran rejected an offer to receive $15 billion in frozen assets converted into #$TRUMP Coin, saying it preferred to keep its money frozen at a constant value than watch it decline on a fast track.

People are screaming, “The fix is in!” after Olivia Dean somehow came down with the bouquet tossed by Taylor Swift. Critics are demanding an investigation, claiming the bouquet had been carefully targeted, rehearsed, and approved months in advance by Taylor’s publicist and three astrologers.

I’m really enjoying watching soccer this summer. Four years between tournaments is just enough time for me to forget why I swore I’d never watch another soccer match.

We learned that Tom Kean, absent for nearly 100 days, was suffering from depression. It must be depressing to be a Republican…explaining the President’s apparent self-enrichment, defending the war with Iran, or justifying cuts to aid programs for some of the poorest people on earth. Depressing!!!!

The Dems are in need of a Sister Souljah moment”. After primary victories of Socialist Democrats in NYC, the Dems need the future 2028 Presidential candidate to state that Dems are addressing affordability and social injustices, but NO way agree with statements “abolishing the police or borders.”

After the World Cup elimination, the Iranian squad’s next match was to be against the U.S. asylum bureaucracy. Instead, they’re stranded in Mexico, trying to convince anyone who will listen that returning home after giving up three goals in group play constitutes a well-founded fear for their lives.

I flipped on a cable sports channel hoping for some World Cup action and got instead an Ultimate Frisbee tournament. It was surprisingly intense and exciting. I was on the edge of my seat. Leads to the question: Why aren’t 48 countries competing every four years for the Ultimate Cup?

It’s NOT fair that after winning its group, the U.S. is rewarded with having to play two countries in the knockout round: Bosnia and Herzegovina. All other teams only have to play a single nation!!!

Trump heads to Venezuela to show U.S. support for the relief effort.

“You are not in a good position right now. You don’t have the right cards right now.”

We learned yesterday that that the “Act to Save America” does not include the act of saving Americans who are trying to save for a home.

Negotiations on a peace treaty with Iran have hit a stumbling block. Iran is demanding that Independent Agency for Epstein Accountability (IAEA) gets unrestricted access to the three million Epstein files still being withheld by the DOJ. The U.S. team keeps changing the subject at the table.

The Pentagon announced it will be withdrawing 5,000 troops from NATO bases in Germany. These troops will come home and be deployed in Washington DC to defend and protect the Reflecting Pool from vandalism. Officials claim that the troops are needed to defend this very important body of water.

Now I get it…look at the pool at Mar-a-Lago.

At last, with the emptying of the Reflecting Pool, President Trump has finally fulfilled his first campaign promise: “Drain the swamp.” It only took ten years, and apparently the “swamp” was much shallower than predicted.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni moved to end the misunderstanding with Trump. “The G-7 was in the Alps, I looked out and saw the snow-capped mountains and said, ‘I need to get a picture of that.’ The narcissistic and self-absorbed Mr. Trump heard me and assumed I was talking about him. So Wrong.”

It has been recently leaked that the 14-point MOU was actually a 15-point agreement. Point #15 grants the Trump Organization exclusive rights to build a luxury casino, resort, and championship golf course on the Strait of Hormuz. The administration insists there is no conflict of interest.

After “victory” in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy is headed to Cuba which lacks missiles, drones and a key strait. Cuba’s military includes a fleet of classic cars with guns. The US has promised for 60 years to end the corrupt Cuban regime. Trump said, “Regime change is coming to Cuba, I hope.”

I am not a big soccer fan, but I came up with a few ideas to improve the viewing for the billion or so fans around the world. howardsbend.com/2026/06/17/k...

Argentina’s win over Algeria yesterday in their World Cup match was very Messi.

The renovation of the Reflecting Pool is a metaphor for the Trump administration. Trump embraced the project as his gift to America. For a moment, it looked postcard-ready. Then the algae took hold and the Pool is covered in brown crud. No one anticipated the consequences and no one has a solution.

Talarico’s record is too “clean” for his race in Texas. No women are accusing him of sexual misconduct. He has no outrageous tattoos. The scandals that emerge are he returns library books late and he switches lanes without using his signal. It is early and something more sordid should emerge.

The UFC main event tonight features Iran’s heavyweight champion, “The Chokepoint,” famous for strangling the entire world economy, versus America’s own “Captain America,” whose corner doesn’t know when to throw in the towel. Why spend billions on defense when the war can be solved with one match.

To promote parity, the NBA has announced a one-time lottery for the ten franchises that have never won a NBA title or have been waiting more than 40 years. The names will go in a hat and the winner in this lottery will get Jalen Brunson. The other teams get the possibility of winning in the future.

The five letters that make up the name “Trump” have just been removed from the Kennedy Center. Next week, I’ll be flying out of the newly renamed Trump JFK Airport.

I just watched a PBS documentary on the 1969 Woodstock Festival. It’s remarkable to reflect on how far we’ve moved from that era’s spirit of optimism, sharing, compassion for others, and hopes for peace. Looking back over the past five decades, the contrast with today’s world is striking

Trump predicts the skirmish between the Knicks and Spurs will be over by Wednesday. Many analysts and experts, however, believe that his assessment is unrealistic.

Trump has reportedly made it clear to Israel that there will be no bombing of Iran or Lebanon until after tonight’s Knicks game.

Good prop bet for tonight’s Knicks game: How many times will Trump appear on the Jumbotron? The over/under is currently set at 5.

Today is D-Day, a day that reminds us that more than 400,000 Americans gave their lives in World War II defending our country and the values it represents. It is hard not to see the irony in that the evil forces they fought to overcome are rapidly finding new life in the politics here in America.

For all the fans who dressed as aliens last night, we now have solid evidence that Wemby is, in fact, human.