By Upward News | Created at 2026-06-19 13:11:59 | Updated at 2026-06-19 14:55:56
1 hour ago
Good morning. You’re on the preview plan, so nearly all of today’s newsletter is behind a paywall. Sign up now to get today’s must-read news, like JD Vance’s extremely controversial media tour to sell the Iran deal, Jeff Bezos’ shocking admission to Trump, and MAHA’s latest win. Unlock full access here →
Media misses Jeff Bezos’ shocking admission
Vance hits media circuit to defend Iran deal and slam Israel
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
🚨 UFC terror plot ringleader was an Obama-era illegal. Abraham Alvarez, the alleged mastermind behind plans to attack the White House UFC event, entered the US as a child and received deportation relief under Obama's DACA program after overstaying his visa. Investigators have identified 23 individuals in the planning network, though only five arrests have been made.
🏳️⚧️ FTC sues WPATH over child sex-change deception. The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, alleging the group made false claims about the safety and necessity of pediatric sex-change procedures. The suit claims WPATH's guidance fueled a tripling of childhood gender distress diagnoses between 2017 and 2021.
⚖️ Supreme Court unanimously limits drug-user gun ban. The high court ruled that prosecuting a Texas man for possessing a firearm while using marijuana violated the Second Amendment. Justice Gorsuch wrote that historical laws targeting "habitual drunkards" don't justify banning guns from regular drug users who pose no threat. The law was previously used to prosecute Hunter Biden.
💰 Pakistani Dem donor charged in $38 million Medicaid fraud. A Democratic donor in New York City was arrested for allegedly running a massive adult daycare Medicaid scam. The scheme reportedly operated from 2019 to 2025, defrauding taxpayers for millions through fraudulent claims.
WORLD NEWS
Behind the paywall: How Pete Hegseth is blasting NATO allies, and why an Iranian singer was just sentenced to a public lashing.
MEDIA BIAS SPOTTER
_LEFT BURIED CHINESE SMUGGLING JEFF BEZOS
_RIGHT SKIPPED_ TRUMP BALLROOM ZOHRAN MAMDANI
QUICK AND IMPORTANT
Behind the paywall: MAHA’s big win, and a groundbreaking new kind of powerplant.
EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION
Part 2 of our exclusive series on Islam in America. This time, we’re looking at how Islamists and Marxists are teaming up to overthrow the American system. This essay is a must-read.
THE MAIN STORY
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
Vice President JD Vance has positioned himself as the Trump administration's chief public defender of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran, forcefully criticizing Israel in the process…
_IN THIS ARTICLE, WE COVER:_
Why JD Vance is leading the defense of Trump's Iran deal
How Vance is escalating his feud with Israel
The backlash from Israeli officials and media
And what the dispute could mean for the 2028 GOP primary
THE COMMUNITY SECTION
YOUR TAKE
Is Vance right to publicly criticize Israel?
TODAY’S POLL
📊 Do you agree with JD Vance’s criticisms of Israel?
Want your comment to be featured? Be sure to include your name.
POP QUIZ
Who was the first president to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a professional baseball game?
POLL RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY
Who do you think got the better deal?
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🇺🇸 The US (196)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🇮🇷 Iran (900)
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (243)
❝
🇺🇸 The US: “The US is not lying in tatters with its navy and air force destroyed, uranium buried under a mountain, and nuclear scientists dead. And we can strike them again if they step out of line.” — Bonnie
🇮🇷 Iran: ”Iran and its proxies remain positioned to fight again, leaving the world to hope it does not end up back at square one.” — Walter
🤔 Unsure: “Iran lost nuclear ground, Israel is less safe, and we lost respect in the region.” — Dan
1,339 votes
WE WANT YOUR QUESTIONS
Have a question you want somebody on the team to answer? Submit it here.
WHY WE’RE DOING THIS
Most of the news out there is designed to overwhelm you… to keep you angry, anxious, and clicking, while the stories that actually matter slip by unnoticed. We're trying to do the exact opposite: give you what's important, told straight, in a few minutes, so you stay informed without losing your mind over it.
We do it because we believe an informed public is what America needs now more than ever. That’s why our members get the full daily brief, with every section unlocked, and the facts and context to share what's really going on with the people they love.
Start with 14 days on us, cancel anytime.
Thanks for joining us today. We're fully reader-supported, with no corporate owners, no billionaires deciding what you see, just members who keep this independent. — Ariel David and Brandon Goldman
