Friday, June 13, 2025
All civic learning topics for this day
Today's Topics
Anduril deploys 300 AI surveillance towers on US-Mexico border
Palmer Luckey's Anduril Industries deployed 300+ Autonomous Surveillance Towers using AI to track human movement across the border. The company's valuation doubled from $14 billion to $30.5 billion in six months as defense contracts multiplied under Trump.
Army commissions four tech executives as lieutenant colonels
The U.S. Army directly commissioned four tech billionaires—Meta's CTO, Palantir's CTO, OpenAI's chief product officer, and a former OpenAI executive—as lieutenant colonels in a new "Executive Innovation Corps" called Detachment 201, bypassing traditional military training while granting them authority over military technology decisions worth billions in defense contracts.
Israel and Iran exchange missile strikes as US weighs military response
Israel and Iran began exchanging missile strikes on June 13, 2025, with Israel hitting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. The U.S. deployed the USS Nimitz carrier group and over 30 aerial refueling tankers to support Israel. Trump posted on Truth Social demanding Iran's "unconditional surrender" while oil prices spiked due to regional tensions.
Trump earns $57 million from crypto venture while president
President Trump reported earning $57.35 million from World Liberty Financial and holding 15.75 billion governance tokens in his 234-page financial disclosure filed June 13, 2025, revealing cryptocurrency as his largest income source.
Trump approves U.S. Steel sale with government golden share
President Trump approved Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion purchase of U.S. Steel on June 13, 2025, but required the U.S. government receive a "golden share" giving Trump presidential veto power over key company decisions including production levels and board appointments.
Man wrongly deported despite court order faces federal charges
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March 2025 despite a 2019 court order protecting him, pleaded not guilty June 13 to federal human smuggling charges after the Supreme Court ordered his return.
Foreign hackers compromise Washington Post security reporters
The Washington Post discovered June 13, 2025, that foreign government hackers compromised email accounts of journalists covering national security and China-related topics, potentially accessing sensitive reporting before publication.
Marines illegally detain civilian veteran at Los Angeles federal building
Marines deployed at the Wilshire Federal Building in L.A. detained Army veteran Marcos Leao with zip ties before handing him over to DHS—marking the first-known civilian detention by active-duty U.S. troops during a domestic deployment.
D.Ariz blocks citizenship requirement citing Anderson v. Celebrezze
Federal Judge Denise Casper issued an injunction on June 13, 2025, against Trump's proof-of-citizenship mandate, calling it unconstitutional. The ruling keeps mail-ballot counting and same-day registration rules intact while constitutional challenges proceed.
Trump and Netanyahu escalate Iran tensions risking wider war
Behind Trump's public denials of involvement in Israel's Iran strikes lies a cynical game: Netanyahu wants to drag America into total war with Iran, Iran wants to crash the global economy to force that war, and Trump wants Iran's nuclear program destroyed while avoiding blame if it triggers World War III. All three are gambling with millions of lives while lying to their own people.