US bombing of Iran is about ‘future of civilization itself,’ Rep. Kevin Kiley says
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
KILEY PRAISES ACTIONS IN IRAN
Via David Lightman…
Rep. Kevin Kiley told the House in a floor speech Monday that it was “deeply disturbing to see the reflexive partisan reactions by certain members of Congress’’ to President Donald Trump’s strikes at Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Before saying “it is time to put partisanship aside and come together as a country,” the Roseville Republican blasted some critics of the U.S. actions.
“Either they believe Iran should obtain a nuclear weapon or they hope the regime’s nuclear program will magically disappear on its own. Both positions are equally delusional,” Kiley said.
Then he called for unity, saying “this is not just another political issue. It is about the safety and security of the American people and the future of civilization itself.”
Kiley said of the strike that it was “not just an important foreign policy objective, it is an absolute national security imperative. This has long been a point of bipartisan nonpartisan consensus. Iran cannot get a nuclear weapon.
“The targeted yet overwhelming strikes executed this past weekend were precisely tailored to achieve that limited but vital mission,” he said.
SUPPORT FOR VOTER LANGUAGE ACCESS
Via Rebecca Jattan…
The Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley released the findings of the Berkeley IGS poll assessing support for increased language access for California voters on Monday.
The results show that a majority of California voters support enhanced language access when voting at the ballot box, for those who prefer ballots in a language other than English, referred to as limited-English respondents.
The survey was conducted online, with 6,474 registered California voters participating between June 2-6. The poll was available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
Overall, 70% of participants agreed that “eligible voters who are limited-English speaking should have translated voting materials available to them in their preferred language.”
Chinese-dominant and Korean-dominant voters showed high support for translated materials at 86% and 90%, respectively.
“When voters can read their ballot, they can cast it with confidence. Language access isn’t a luxury—it’s a basic condition of a fair election,” said Pedro Hernandez, legal and policy director for California Common Cause. “Californians of all kinds get that. Even native-born Californians support the right of their immigrant neighbors to an equal ballot.”
While there were some variations in support based on race or language group, ratings varied among those with different political affiliations. Democrats largely support increased translated voting material, with 82% supporting, while Republicans were almost evenly split with 44% in support and 42% in opposition. Of voters with no party preference, 72% approved.
Other key findings include that 68% of voters support “making it possible for all limited-English speaking communities that meet a minimum size threshold in a county to receive translated versions of all voting materials.”
Sixty-seven percent support providing translated ballots they can directly use to vote with for language communities that meet size thresholds at a neighborhood level, rather than a reference ballot in their language.
Of limited English speakers, 87% said they would be more likely to vote if they had a ballot in their preferred language and 86% said voting would be easier if they had a ballot in their preferred language.
“Providing translated ballots removes those barriers, creates voter autonomy, and provides encouragement to vote,” Deanna Kitamura, Managing Attorney for the Asian Law Caucus’s Voting Rights Program, said in the release. “The vast majority of voters who speak non-English languages say they would use bilingual ballots if given the chance. It’s a matter of access.”
The survey’s findings come as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the federal Voting Rights Act’s language protections.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We need allies, old and new, to stand beside us, especially as these attacks become more strategic, more vicious and more personal, because we know what happens when we choose silence, and as such, we won’t let history repeat itself.”
— Assemblymember Chris Ward, D-San Diego, chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, in support of an honorary resolution for LGBTQ+ rights
Best of The Bee:
- Is a California highway project ‘dumping half a billion dollars into the ocean’? via Ariane Lange
- What is a ‘Trump account’ and how can it help new parents and their babies? via David Lightman
- A drunk driver hit a Sacramento County teen. She and her mom navigate a new life via Tina Li
This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 4:00 AM with the headline "US bombing of Iran is about ‘future of civilization itself,’ Rep. Kevin Kiley says."
