BONUS: NY POSTcast | Tuesday, June 17th, 2025: MN Assassin Evidence Trail, Trump Warns Tehran, Golden Cellphone of Freedom

Summary

Pod Force One: BONUS Episode Summary – June 17th, 2025

In this compelling bonus episode of Pod Force One by the New York Post, host Caitlin Becker delves into a range of high-stakes stories shaping the national and international landscape. From political assassinations and immigration debates to celebrity turmoil and innovative business ventures, this episode offers a comprehensive overview of the week’s most pressing issues.

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1. Minnesota Assassin Evidence Trail

The episode opens with a chilling update on the alleged political assassin, Vance Belter. Following the tragic murders of a state lawmaker, her husband, and an attack on another individual, Belter has emerged as a prime suspect.

Key Points:

• Text Messages: Investigators discovered that Belter sent messages to his family, including a particularly incriminating one: “dad went to war last night” (00:05).
• Weapon Cache: During his first federal court appearance, authorities unveiled a cache of weapons in his abandoned SUV, notably an AK47-style rifle left conspicuously on the passenger seat (00:15).
• Additional Crime: In a particularly heinous act, Belter is accused of murdering a beloved golden retriever, Gilbert, during the attack on state Rep. Melissa Hortman’s home (00:25).

Belter now faces six federal charges, with the death penalty looming as a possible consequence.

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2. Immigration Crackdown and ICE Funding Concerns

Shifting focus to immigration, President Trump has announced plans to deploy additional ICE agents to major Democratic strongholds such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Key Points:

• Trump’s Rationale: The President criticized “blue cities” as the “core of the Democrat power center,” accusing them of using illegal aliens to “expand their voter base, cheat in elections, and grow the welfare state” (01:10).
• Funding Issues: Contrarily, an Axios report reveals that ICE may face a funding shortfall as early as next month, having already exceeded its budget by $1 billion (01:25).

This juxtaposition raises questions about the administration’s strategies and the practical implementation of increased ICE presence amid financial constraints.

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3. Joey Chestnut’s Comeback at the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest

In lighter news, the legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut is set to return to the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4th, aiming to reclaim his title as the 16-time champion.

Key Points:

• Previous Ban: Chestnut was previously banned due to a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, a meatless hot dog manufacturer (01:40).
• Record Attempt: He plans to consume 84 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to break his own world record (02:00).
• Personal Anecdote: Post-contest reports humorously mention that Chestnut continues to "smell like hot dogs," with the singer himself remarking, “my sweat is literally grease” (02:15).

This segment highlights the intersection of personal branding and competitive sports, underscoring Chestnut’s resilience and dedication.

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4. Escalating Tensions in Iran and the Nuclear Question

The episode’s centerpiece addresses the volatile situation in Iran, where President Trump has issued a stark warning for Iranian citizens to evacuate Tehran.

Key Points:

• Trump’s Warning: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran” (03:00).
• Negotiation Stalemate: President Trump criticized Iran for not reaching a nuclear deal within the allotted 60-day period: “They have to make a deal… Iran is not winning this war and they should talk” (03:47).
• Israel’s Position: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advocates for the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as a means to end the nuclear threat (04:00).
• Fordo Nuclear Site: The discussion highlights the Fordo fuel enrichment plant, a heavily fortified facility embedded 100 miles south of Tehran, currently out of reach for Israeli munitions. Michael Zenni explains, “Iran has built it in this way... it’s completely, as we can tell so far, unreachable by Israel's munitions” (06:46).

Insights from Michael Zenni: Michael Zenni, the Post’s Deputy Managing Editor, provides an in-depth analysis, noting that President Trump remains neutral, neither fully committing to a military strike nor aligning with Iran’s plea for urgent negotiations. The complexity of the Fordo site presents a significant barrier, necessitating possible U.S. intervention with more powerful weaponry to neutralize Iran’s nuclear ambitions (05:15; 06:46).

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5. Justin Bieber’s Personal Struggles

Transitioning to entertainment news, Justin Bieber is under scrutiny following a series of troubling incidents and revelations about his mental and emotional state.

Key Points:

• Public Outburst: Bieber admitted to having “anger issues” after a violent altercation with paparazzi, drawing comparisons to Sean Penn’s notorious screaming match (07:00).
• Mental Health Concerns: Recent social media posts have raised alarms among fans regarding his mental well-being, marital stability, and physical health (07:20).
• Financial Troubles: Reports indicate Bieber owes over $8 million to his former manager, Scooter Braun, a claim Bieber’s representatives have downplayed (07:40).

This segment underscores the intense pressures faced by celebrities in the public eye and the ongoing challenges of maintaining personal well-being amidst fame.

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6. Launch of Trump Mobile by Eric and Don Jr.

Concluding the episode, the focus shifts to a new entrepreneurial venture by President Trump’s sons, Eric and Don Jr.

Key Points:

• Trump Mobile Overview: Marketed as “the only mobile service aligned with your values and built on reliability, freedom, and American pride” (08:00).
• Service Details: Offers unlimited talk, text, and data, along with roadside assistance and telehealth services for $47.45 per month (08:15).
• Unique Offerings: Features exclusive, gold-colored American-made Android phones priced at $499, described as resembling “a gold bar” (08:30).

The product, playfully named “golden American made,” reflects the Trump family’s penchant for blending patriotism with business ventures, aiming to attract like-minded consumers seeking reliability and national pride in their mobile services.

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Conclusion

This bonus episode of Pod Force One delivers a rich and engaging exploration of significant events and developments. From the dark intrigue surrounding a political assassination to high-stakes international diplomacy, and from celebrity personal struggles to innovative business launches, Caitlin Becker ensures listeners are well-informed about the stories shaping today's world.

For those seeking in-depth analysis and unfiltered discussions, this episode serves as a valuable resource, capturing the essence of the New York Post’s journalistic prowess.

Notable Quotes:

• Vance Belter’s Text: “dad went to war last night” (00:10)
• President Trump on Iran: “They have to make a deal… Iran is not winning this war and they should talk” (03:47)
• Michael Zenni on Fordo Site: “it’s completely, as we can tell so far, unreachable by Israel's munitions” (06:46)
• Joey Chestnut on Hot Dog Contest: “my sweat is literally grease” (02:15)

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This summary is based on the transcript provided and structured to offer clarity and depth for those who have not listened to the original podcast episode.

Transcript

[Caitlin Becker]

Hi, Pod Force One listeners. This is Caitlin Becker here with a bonus episode of the latest podcast to drop from the New York Post. Every weekday morning, the New York Post cast will bring you the headlines you need and the stories you actually want. It's the news only the New York Post can deliver from the worlds of politics, business, pop culture and so much more. Here's the premiere episode of the New York Postcast. He shot the dog. The latest on alleged Minnesota assassin Vance Belter. Plus, get out of Tehran. President Trump warns Iranian citizens to leave the capital and a mobile service worth its weight in gold. From Eric and Don Jr. Yeah, I'll explain that one. Those stories and more today, Tuesday, June 17th. I'm Caitlin Becker and this is the very first New York Postcast. We start in Minnesota. Now, you're not going to believe the trail of evidence that investigators say suspected political assassin Vance Belter left behind. In the hours after the senseless slaughter of one state lawmaker and her husband and a separate attack on another, Belter allegedly fired off some texts to his family. Now a particularly damning one reads quote, dad went to war last night. Now Belter made his first appearance in federal court Monday where we learned officials allegedly uncovered a cache of weapons inside of his abandoned SUV, including an AK47 style rifle that was just tossed on the passenger seat. And now this last bit is going to make your blood boil. Investigators say he murdered a dog when Vance Melter allegedly opened fire at state Rep. Melissa Hortman's home. The barrage of bullets also struck a beloved golden retriever, a rescue named Gilbert. Now Belter faces six federal charges and the death penalty is on the table. Onto the latest in immigration. President Trump plans to flood Democrat run cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago with even more ICE agents. The president posting online this week his reasoning saying blue cities are, quote, the core of the Democrat power center where they use illegal aliens to expand their voter base, cheat in elections and grow the welfare state. Now all of this is happening as Axios is reporting that ICE could run out of funding as soon as next month after going over their budget by a billion dollars. And now on to a meaty story. After being forced out of the Coney island hot dog eating contest last year, Joey Chestnut, the 16 time champ, will be back on the boardwalk July 4th ready to take back his crown. And yes, it's crazy we are that close to July 4th. Now, Chestnut was banned from last year's contest because of a sponsorship deal that he struck with Impossible Foods, the maker of meatless hot Dogs. Meatless hot dogs. Joey Chestnut. Kind of an odd choice, considering. Anyway, the fractured relationship has healed, and Chestnut will need to down 84 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. That's in order to break his own world record. Fun fact. Days after the contest, people apparently tell Joey Chestnut that he still smells like hot dogs. And Joey says he his sweat is literally grease. Yeah, that's so gross. But good luck, my friend. And now to our big story. Iran. President Trump offered an ominous warning Monday night. Quote, everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran. Now, it came not long after the president said that the Islamic Republic is asking for peace as Israel makes advances in their campaign to end Iran's nuclear program. Here's the president on the sidelines of the summit.

[Donald Trump]

They'd like to talk, but they should have done that before. I had 60 days, and they had 60 days. And on the 61st day, I said, we don't have a deal. They have to make a deal. And it's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war and they should talk, and they should talk immediately before it's too late.

[Caitlin Becker]

Now, if you're Israel, how do you end the threat once and for all? Well, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to cut off the head of the snake. He's doubling down on his suggestion that assassinating Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is one way to bring an end to the bloodshed. Israel has so far wiped out a third of Iran's total ballistic missile launchers. But the real prize is, of course, ending the country's nuclear program. And in doing that, Israel faces a significant hurdle. The Fordo fuel enrichment plant. You probably haven't heard of that before, but it's a nuclear plant hidden deep inside a mountain 100 miles south of Tehran. It's unclear whether or not Israel has the weapons needed to blow it up, but the United States does. For more on this, I am joined by the Post's deputy managing editor, Michael Zenni. Michael, tell me a bit more about these dueling requests. We have Israel asking the US to help them blow things up and Iran asking for the US to help broker peace. So where is President Trump on all of this? And is there a high likelihood of the US Joining this fight?

[Michael Zenni]

President Trump is exactly where he wants to be, which is basically at the middle of this, right? So he has said today that he's open to the idea of a deal, but said Iran has already had 60 days to agree to a nuclear deal and they need to go ahead and just make an agreement. And so it seems like he is not ready to come in and potentially attack Iran, but he's also not very sympathetic to their requests to urgently negotiate.

[Caitlin Becker]

Now President Trump is at the G7 summit. So are we getting a sense of where the rest of the world is? What are other leaders saying about all of this?

[Michael Zenni]

Yeah, as often is the case, Trump is sort of standing apart. So you've got reports that there is a communique that was circulating that the host Canada and the European leaders all were hoping to sign on to that is calling for an end to the attacks and basically to de escalate the situation. And the reporting we're seeing is that the US is not going to sign on to that.

[Caitlin Becker]

Okay, switching topics slightly here. Can you tell us more about this Fordo nuclear site? Why is it so important to eliminate and why is it so hard to do?

[Michael Zenni]

Yeah, so it's very hard to do in part because Iran has built it that way. This is one of the most, if not the most fortified nuclear sites in the entire world. It is built into a mountain. The actual most important parts of the facility are up to 300ft underground and they are completely, as we can tell so far unreachable by Israel's munitions. And, and they've been very successful in taking out Iran's nuclear scientists other nuclear sites. But it seems that Fordeau is untouchable by Israel so far. And that's why they're asking for, they're asking for the US to essentially come in and use our massive 30 ton bunker buster bombs to blow this up and which would potentially end Iran's nuclear ambitions as we know them once and for all.

[Caitlin Becker]

So much to unpack here and it's such a nuanced story. Thank you so much for breaking that down for us. Michael Zenny.

[Michael Zenni]

Excellent. Thank you so much.

[Caitlin Becker]

And now from our friends at Page Six, Justin Bieber is going through it. The pop star admitted to having, quote, anger issues and being broken after getting into a Sean Penn level screaming match with paparazzi last week. This is the latest in a string of concerning social media posts that have beliebers worried about his mental state, his marriage and even his physical health. Now Bieber was forced to deny allegations of drug use earlier this year's and recently he traded really cryptic posts with wife Haley that seemed to indicate trouble in paradise. But if you ask his reps, they're going with the old nothing to see here approach. And if that wasn't enough, the singer reportedly owes more than 8 million that apparently he does not have to his former manager, Scooter Braun. And finally today, make cell phones great again. Or at the very least, gold. First sons Eric and Don Jr have announced the launch of Trump Mobile. The company says it's, quote, the only mobile service aligned with your values and built on reliability, freedom and American pride. This is definitely what the founding fathers had in mind here. Now the service, which includes unlimited talk, text and data, as well as roadside assistance and telehealth services, will set you back $47.45 per month. I see what they did there. Because he's the 45th and 47th president, I'm getting it. If all that's not enough, the company will also start selling fancy schmancy, golden American made. That's very specific. Android phones for 499 bucks. It literally looks like a gold bar. You absolutely have to check it out. And that's it for today. For more on these stories and everything you could possibly want to know, check out the New York Post in print or online. And don't forget, like and subscribe to the New York Postcast. Wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube, you'll be glad you did. You'll get all the headlines and the gossip that you need. More importantly, you want to start your day. If you enjoyed that episode, I invite you to join me, Caitlin Becker, every weekday morning for the New York Post Cast. Subscribe right now. Wherever you get your podcasts.