Data centers are expanding rapidly worldwide, driven by digitalization and AI, but their classification as critical infrastructure makes them prime targets for cyber and physical attacks, as seen in the US-Israeli war with Iran where Tehran attacked AWS data centers in Bahrain and the UAE. The March 2025 Iranian drone strikes on AWS data centers in the UAE and Bahrain disrupted regional digital services and exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain, affecting companies unaware their data routed through the Gulf. An analysis argues that the U.S. strategy of building AI infrastructure in the Gulf, formalized through the Pax Silica initiative and bilateral deals signed in May 2025, failed to account for physical security risks. The piece notes that legal liability for force majeure may not hold in the Middle East due to foreseeable instability, and that insurance costs have quintupled. It recommends migrating sensitive workloads, increasing transparency, and relocating future projects to safer regions like the U.S. or northern Europe.

The Trump administration has launched an investigation into Trita Parsi, a prominent critic of US policy on Iran, with officials considering deportation. Parsi, who holds Iranian and Swedish citizenship, is co-founder of the Quincy Institute and the National Iranian-American Council. The probe is part of a broader crackdown on Iranian-American figures amid US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the 15 remaining Guantanamo Bay detainees should have been executed long ago for their crimes against the American people. He made the statement after visiting the facility, in response to a journalist's question about justice for 9/11 victims, and characterized it as his personal opinion. The remark comes as military commission proceedings continue for several detainees.

Lockheed Martin has warned that it cannot guarantee delivery timelines for Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles to allies, including Ukraine, despite plans to boost annual production from 650 to 2,000 by 2033. The global supply crunch is exacerbated by conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Ukraine's military chief Oleksandr Syrsky and President Zelensky warn of critical air defense gaps. Meanwhile, Ukrainian firm Fire Point tested the FP-7.X missile, aiming to develop a domestic anti-ballistic system by 2027 as a lower-cost alternative to Patriot.

In May 2026, solar power supplied 12.8% of US electricity, overtaking coal at 12.2% for the first time on a monthly basis, according to data from Ember, SEIA, and Wood Mackenzie. This milestone occurs despite the Trump administration's efforts to boost coal, highlighting solar's continued growth as the leading source of new power capacity. Analysts expect solar to exceed coal on an annual basis within a few years.

Graham Platner, a former Marine and left-wing Democrat, won the Maine Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday after Governor Janet Mills withdrew in April due to insufficient funding. His campaign has been plagued by scandals including a Nazi tattoo, infidelity, and violent messages, which have embarrassed the Democratic Party as they aim to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins in the November midterm election, a key race for Senate control.

Newly obtained tax documents reveal that the Fair Elections Fund, a non-profit whose directors include Trump ally Cleta Mitchell and election denier Heather Honey, provided $300,000 to the American Principles Project Foundation. That foundation ran misleading advertisements in swing states suggesting that election certification was optional, despite certification being a legal requirement. The fund also paid $285,000 to Urban Legend Media to promote the Save Act, a voting restriction bill, and funneled millions to other groups advancing election denial narratives. The Conservative Partnership Institute, where Mitchell is a senior legal fellow, supplied over $6 million to the fund. The disclosures expose a coordinated infrastructure of election denial groups and funders working to undermine trust in U.S. elections.

Multiple high-profile lawsuits against Meta, Google, Snapchat, TikTok, Roblox, and Discord are advancing toward trial in US courts, focusing on claims of child harm, addiction, and deceptive practices. Cases include a multi-district litigation by school districts, a state-led suit under COPPA, a child grooming case against Roblox and Discord, and a billionaire's suit challenging Section 230 immunity. Outcomes could reshape platform operations and legal protections.

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of US Pacific Fleet, visited Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake to review next-generation maritime weapons systems for naval aviation, including the AIM-174B 'Gunslinger' long-range air-to-air missile, the Angry Kitten electronic warfare pod, and the IRST21 infrared search and track system. A ramjet-like missile mounted on a BQM-34 drone was also observed, potentially linked to a next-generation missile prototype. The visit underscores US efforts to modernize carrier air wings to counter peer threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US faces suppressed international travel demand due to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown and visa restrictions. Hotel bookings in host cities are below forecasts, with visa delays and enforcement concerns cited. Incidents include denied entry for a Somali referee and an Iraqi striker, restrictions on Iranian nationals, and worker strike authorization at a Los Angeles venue over ICE presence fears. The administration has waived some visa bonds but maintains vetting. The situation tests Trump's ability to host a global event while pursuing an America First agenda.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the United States' full commitment to the alliance, citing daily evidence of US troops in Europe and US leadership within NATO. Speaking alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Brussels, Rutte emphasized the growing strategic importance of the Arctic and High North, and Norway's role. Store called for coordinated defense spending increases among allies and noted that all Nordic countries are now integrated into NATO's command structure in Norfolk, Virginia.

The US imposed sanctions on 13 individuals and entities from Iran, Belarus, and China for facilitating weapons procurement for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The designations target a network that integrates three of the four states identified as the 'Axis of Upheaval' (Russia, China, Iran, North Korea), whose cooperation sustains Russia's war in Ukraine. Iran supplies Shahed drones to Russia, Belarus serves as a launch territory and signal-relay base, and China provides dual-use components. The sanctions are part of the US maximum pressure policy on Iran and implement the UN sanctions regime on Iran.

Qatari negotiators left Tehran following overnight discussions with Iranian officials about the ongoing Middle East war, held in coordination with the United States. The mediation effort highlights Qatar's role as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran amid escalating regional tensions. According to a diplomatic source, the talks were conducted in coordination with the United States.

Background: Iran had demanded US visas for its national football team and support staff for the 2026 World Cup, citing host country obligations amid diplomatic tensions. Days before the tournament, Iran's football federation reported that its ticket allocation was revoked, preventing fans from attending. Iran also relocated its training base to Tijuana, Mexico, due to visa uncertainties. Now, Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali has warned that Iran could stop its matches if unauthorized flags are displayed or anti-team slogans are chanted, adding a new layer of political tension to the team's participation. Donyamali stated that FIFA had been informed and that the team manager would be responsible for stopping the match. The warning follows opposition protests and disputes over the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag. Iran's team faces logistical challenges including visa restrictions and a training base in Tijuana, Mexico, with players permitted to enter the US only shortly before matches.

Background: Google published a formal framework for data center water stewardship, including a goal to return more water than it consumes by 2030 and avoid water-intensive cooling in stressed regions. Today: Amazon announced its data centers are 75% toward a similar 2030 replenishment goal and seven times more water-efficient than the industry average, while reducing water use by 42% in Northern Virginia in 2025. Amazon relies heavily on free-air cooling and uses water only on the hottest days to avoid overstressing the grid. The announcement follows similar water-focused messaging from Google and comes amid Gallup polling showing 70% of Americans oppose data center construction due to water and environmental concerns.

A historical analysis by Bronwen Everill argues that soccer in the United States has been a battleground for defining American identity since the 1870s, serving as a proxy for debates over national identity and belonging. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, coincides with the 250th anniversary of US independence and the Trump administration's restrictive immigration policies, which create barriers for fans from many qualifying nations. The piece traces how soccer fandom has become politicized, with support seen as a marker of cosmopolitan, liberal identity and opposition tied to nativist, conservative views, reflecting deeper cultural and partisan divides. It highlights the contrast between the administration's enthusiastic hosting of the tournament and its immigration enforcement targeting communities that form a significant part of the US soccer fanbase.