1 Sen. Roger Marshall Says US Strikes On Iran Are A "Mop-Up" Operation
Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas said on "NBC News’" “Meet the Press” yesterday that the war between the U.S. and Iran has moved into a phase he called a "mop-up operation." Marshall was speaking just hours after the U.S. launched fresh strikes on Iran. The two nations signed a memorandum of understanding last week meant to end the conflict, but on Saturday, U.S. Central Command said the U.S. carried out retaliatory strikes on Iran for the second time in two days. Pressed on whether the war is truly over, Marshall urged patience, saying he was asking America to hang in there. He described the situation as a détente and a ceasefire, while acknowledging that Iran broke that ceasefire and the U.S. has to answer.
2 President Says Work Will Start On DC Golf Course In Spite Of Warning From Judge
President Trump said yesterday that work will begin September 1st on the public East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C., despite a federal judge's warning of serious consequences if his administration starts major work without court approval and advance notice. The golf course dispute stems from a lawsuit by the nonprofit National Links Trust over its lease on the city's public courses after the administration ended the agreement in December, claiming the group failed to maintain the courses. Trump promised to build one of the greatest golf courses in the world, redesigned by architect Tom Fazio through a public-private partnership and open to the public, capable of hosting major tournaments. The judge, Ana Reyes, had cautioned the administration not to proceed before getting proper approvals, citing the rapid demolition of the White House's East Wing. Trump also said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is now in full use and will be treated again after July 4th, while repeating, without evidence, that vandals caused its problems.
3 NASA Getting Ready To Launch Mission To Save Swift Observatory
NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission. The $30 million operation could begin as soon as this week with the launch of a robotic lifesaver. NASA hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher, more stable orbit so it can keep hunting for some of the universe's biggest explosions. Swift, scanning the cosmos since 2004, has been sinking faster because of intense solar activity, but a three-armed spacecraft called Lift, about the size of a small fridge, will chase down Swift, catch it using grippers that resemble Lego hands, and raise its orbit. Liftoff could happen as early as tomorrow aboard an airplane-launched rocket from the Marshall Islands. Officials say the telescope must stay above 185 miles for the rescue to work, a point it could drop below by October. If all goes well, Swift could be back in business by September. The much larger Hubble telescope, also losing altitude, could get a similar boost in a couple of years.