Lindsey Graham, a profile in courage

JUL 13, 2026.1/3

Senator Lindsey Graham died this weekend from a heart attack, two days after his 71st birthday. He left behind no wife, no children and not much of a fortune—at best $3 million after 33 years in Congress.

But he bequeathed to the American people a fair and impartial Supreme Courtthat had the boldness to take on the powers of the federal bureaucracy (West Virginia v. EPA) and return to the states powers previous courts and Congress had stolen (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization).

Jack Kennedy wrote Profiles in Courage, a collection of brief profiles of 8 past senators who stood up for what they believed was right.

For example, JFK cited Robert Taft for criticizing the Nuremberg Trials for trying Nazi war criminals under ex post facto laws. It cost Taft—Mr. Republican—his party’s presidential nomination in 1948. I don’t know if that was a good thing or not given that a Taft victory would have given him the nomination in 1952, blocking Eisenhower from ever becoming president.

But I do knowthat it was a good thing for the nation that the good people of South Carolina entrusted one of their two Senate seats in Lindsey Graham.

His parents ran the Sanitary Café in Central, South Carolina, a combination bar, restaurant, liquor store and pool room. At a very young age, he ran the pool room.

For years, they lived in a single room behind the café until they had enough money to buy a trailer, which sat out back.

Graham’s parents died when he was in college, leaving him a sister to care for.He adopted her and she lived with an aunt and uncle. He graduated from college and law school before joining the Air Force, where he served as a JAG officer.

60 Minutes did a story on his defense of an airman charged with using marijuana. This led to the Air Force correcting its drug testing.

After 6 years of active duty, Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard and retired as a colonel.

Graham rose through the ranks in the House and later the Senate,rising to chairman of the judiciary committee, which screens judicial nominations.

His sense of decency and his collegiality served the nation well at a crucial momentwhen a false accusation of sexual harassment threatened the Supreme Court for a second time.

In the summer of 2018, Justice Anthony Kennedy retired. Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh as his successor. The American Bar Association unanimously endorsed Kavanaugh as Well Qualified, its highest rating.Later, the ABA gave the same unanimous endorsement to Ketanji Brown-Jackson.???

Because without Kennedy, the court was divided evenly between conservatives and liberals,Democrats wanted to block the nomination, believing they could win back the Senateand block any Trump nominee for two years until they would cheat and elect Joe “Of All People” Biden. Obama already planned the 2020 steal.

https://donsurber.substack.com/p/lindsey-graham-a-profile-in-courage

>>24822503

2/3

Democrats decided to use their Acme Anita Hill Ray Gun once again, even though it failed to stop Clarence Thomas in 1991.

This time the liar was a psychology professor from California—Christine Blasey Ford—who claimed that Kavanaugh threw her on a bed drunk and groped her at a party somewhere in Bethesda, Maryland,sometime in the summer of 1982 when she was 15 and he was 17.

She had no witnesses. Three people she claimed were at the party did not recall the party.

Kavanaugh produced his calendar from 1982 which showed no such party.

Nevertheless, Republican senators were reluctant to endorse him.

Graham rose to the occasion and used his interview time to make Kavanaugh’s case.

GRAHAM: Are you aware that at 9:23 on the night of July the 9th, the day you were nominated to the Supreme Court by President Trump,Senator Schumer said 23-minutes after your nomination, “I will oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination with everything I have, I have (sic) a bipartisan—and I hope a bipartisan majority will do the same.The stakes are simply too high for anything less.” Well, if you weren’t aware of it, you are now.Did you meet with Senator Dianne Feinstein on August 20th?

KAVANAUGH: I did meet with Senator Feinstein.

GRAHAM:Did you know that her staff had already recommended a lawyer to Dr. Ford?

KAVANAUGH: I did not know that.

GRAHAM:Did you know that her and her staff had this—allegations for over 20 days?

KAVANAUGH: I did not know that at the time.

GRAHAM: If you wanted a FBI investigation, you could have come to us. What you want to do is destroy this guy’s life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020. You’ve said that, not me.

You’ve got nothing to apologize for.

When you see Sotomayor and Kagan, tell them that Lindsey said hello because I voted for them.I would never do to them what you’ve done to this guy. This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics. And if you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wouldn’t have done what you’ve done to this guy.

Are you a gang rapist?

KAVANAUGH: No.

GRAHAM: I cannot imagine what you and your family have gone through.

Boy, you all want power. God, I hope you never get it. I hope the American people can see through this sham. That you knew about it and you held it. You had no intention of protecting Dr. Ford; none. She’s as much of a victim as you are. God, I hate to say it because these have been my friends. But let me tell you, when it comes to this, you’re looking for a fair process? You came to the wrong town at the wrong time, my friend.

Do you consider this a job interview?

KAVANAUGH: If the advise and consent role is like a job interview.

GRAHAM: Do you consider that you’ve been through a job interview?

KAVANAUGH: I’ve been through a process of advice and consent under the Constitution, which…

GRAHAM: Would you say you’ve been through hell?

KAVANAUGH: I’ve been through hell and then some.

GRAHAM: This is not a job interview.

KAVANAUGH: Yes.

https://donsurber.substack.com/p/lindsey-graham-a-profile-in-courage

>>24822508

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GRAHAM: This is hell. This is going to destroy the ability of good people to come forward because of this crap. Your high school yearbook—you have interacted with professional women all your life, not one accusation. You’re supposed to be Bill Cosby when you’re a junior and senior in high school. And all of a sudden, you got over it. It’s been my understanding that if you drug women and rape them for two years in high school, you probably don’t stop.

Here’s my understanding, if you lived a good life people would recognize it, like the American Bar Association has, the gold standard. His integrity is absolutely unquestioned. He is the very circumspect in his personal conduct, harbors no biases or prejudices. He’s entirely ethical, is a really decent person. He is warm, friendly, unassuming. He’s the nicest person—the ABA.

The one thing I can tell you should be proud of Ashley, you should be proud of this—that you raised a daughter who had the good character to pray for Dr. Ford.

To my Republican colleagues, if you vote no, you’re legitimizing the most despicable thing I have seen in my time in politics. You want this seat? I hope you never get it.

I hope you’re on the Supreme Court, that’s exactly where you should be. And I hope that the American people will see through this charade. And I wish you well. And I intend to vote for you and I hope everybody who’s fair-minded will.

The vote for Kavanaugh was 50-48—the narrowest margin for a Supreme Court Justice. Clarence Thomas held the previous record, 52-48.

https://donsurber.substack.com/p/lindsey-graham-a-profile-in-courage

1/4

(1)Explosions hit southern Iran as Trump notifies Congress of renewed fighting

A map released by US Central Command highlights a broad stretch of Iran’s southern coastline along the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, hinting at the general range of ongoing US strikes.

Summary

• Explosions and reported missile impacts were heard across southern and southeastern Iran, including around Konarak, Chabahar, Dashtiari and Bandar Abbas, while reports concerning Qeshm and Larak remained disputed by Iranian state media.

• US President Donald Trump formally notified Congress that hostilities had resumed in Iran, saying American forces carried out “defensive strikes against targets within Iran” on July 7.

• Iran’s joint military command said it would not allow the United States to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz and warned of a forceful response to any disruption of commercial shipping.

• US President Donald Trump said Monday the United States would reinstate a blockade targeting Iranian ships and customers while keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to vessels from all other countries.

•The British government announced plans to outlaw Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under new state-threat powers on Monday, citing activity linked to threats to life and intimidation in the United Kingdom, Sky News reported.

(https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202607116587

(2)Ahmadinejad rejects Mossad recruitment report as ‘fabrication’

The office of former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejected reports alleging that Israel’s Mossad had recruited him for a regime-change plan and that he had later been placed under house arrest.

In a statement, the office said The New York Times’ “Hollywood-style claims” did not merit a denial and described the newspaper as “known for publishing fake news and fabricating lies.”

It also accused the newspaper of being willing to publish fabricated articles and reports in exchange for payment.

The statement said Ahmadinejad remained active and was continuing his daily work.

(3)Explosions heard in Bandar Abbas and on Kish Island

Iranian state-linked outlet YJC says explosions have been heard in Bandar Abbas and on Kish Island in southern Iran.

It reported two explosions on Kish, but gave no immediate details on their cause, targets or possible damage.

(4)US begins third consecutive night of strikes on Iran

US Central Command says it began a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran at 4:45 p.m. ET on Monday, acting at President Donald Trump’s direction.

CENTCOM said the attacks would continue to “impose a heavy cost” on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to target civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

(5)Iran says it targeted US vessel and military facilities in Kuwait

Iranian state television, citing the Iranian army, says Tehran has targeted a "hostile" US vessel with cruise missiles and launched drone attacks against US military facilities and equipment in Kuwait.

The claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate comment from the United States.

(6)Trump says US may give Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain ‘a shot relatively soon’

US President DonaldTrump said Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain was a possible target for “a nice big fat shot right in the front door”and that the United States would “probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon.”

Speaking on Monday to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump said the United States was monitoring the site closely and had seen no activity there.

Pickaxe Mountain is believed to house a deeply buried nuclear facility that may be difficult to destroy with conventional bunker-buster bombs.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202607116587

>>24822897

2/4NEWS

(7)Trump says US will hit Iran hard ‘tonight and tomorrow’

US President Donald Trump said the United States would hit Iran hard on Monday night and Tuesday, in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Asked about the memorandum of understanding with Iran, Trump called it a test that Tehran failed to honor.

“It was a test. We didn’t know,” Trump said. “Memorandums of understanding, when you’re dealing with sleazebags, don’t mean much.It was sort of a test, and they weren’t there. They didn’t honor the test.”

.@POTUS on the MOU with Iran: "It was a test. We didn't know. Look, memorandums of understanding when you're dealing with sleaze bags don't mean much… it was sort of a test, and they weren't there. They didn't honor the test." — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 13, 2026

(8)UK warns citizens against all travel to Iran

Britain on Monday reiterated its warning against all travel to Iran, saying British and British-Iranian dual nationals face a significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention.

The UK Foreign Office said British nationals already in Iran should carefully consider their presence and the risks of remaining there.

It added that the regional situation remained unpredictable despite the US-Iran memorandum of understanding and warned that attacks could resume at short notice.

(9)Araghchi says US should be held accountable over Hormuz disruption

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of illegal and provocative conduct in the Strait of Hormuz and said the international community should hold the United States accountable, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

In a phone call with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Araghchi said US actions had endangered regional peace and security and caused unprecedented disruption to commercial shipping.

(10)US missions in UAE cancel consular appointments amid regional security concerns

The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate General in Dubai canceled consular appointments from July 13 to 15 due to the regional security situation, the US Mission to the United Arab Emirates said in a statement on X Monday.

Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (July 13, 2026) ⁰⁰Location: United Arab Emirates ⁰⁰Event: Cancellation of Consular Appointments ⁰⁰The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and U.S. Consulate General in Dubai have canceled consular appointments from July…— US Mission to UAE (@USAinUAE) July 13, 2026

(11)Iran state broadcaster denies reports of explosions in Bandar Abbas, Larak

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB said on Telegram that no explosions had occurred in Bandar Abbas, Hengam, Larak, Qeshm, Jask or Sirik as of Monday, contradicting earlier reports by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency and the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency that blasts had been heard in Bandar Abbas and Larak.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202607116587

>>24822901

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(12)Sound of four missile impacts heard near Konarak - IRNA

The sound of four missile impacts was heard around Konarak in southeastern Iran, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported, adding that the explosions were also heard from Chabahar and Dashtiari.

(13)Authorities investigating blasts heard in southeastern Iran - Tasnim

Authorities are investigating six loud explosions heard in Chabahar and Konarak in southeastern Iran, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported.

Tasnim said the locations of the explosions remained unknown, adding that no further explosions were being heard.

The report added that several areas in Chabahar had been targeted by the US military in recent nights.

(14)Air defenses activated in Iran's Bandar Abbas - IRGC outlet

Air defense systems were activated in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran after two loud explosions were reported in the city, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency said.

(15)Several ‘violating’ vessels targeted in Strait of Hormuz - IRGC outlet

Several “violating” vessels were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported, citing local sources.

(16)Several blasts heard in southeastern Iran - IRNA

Several loud blasts were heard in Chabahar and Dashtiari in southeastern Iran, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

(17)Explosions heard in several cities south of Iran - IRGC outlet

Several explosions were heard across southern Iran on Monday, including in Bandar Abbas, Larak and Konarak, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported.

The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency also reported explosions in eastern Bandar Abbas, adding that their nature was unknown.

(18)Houthis say they targeted Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport with ballistic missiles

Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthis said they targeted Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles and warned airlines against flying through Saudi airspace.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202607116587

>>24822909

4/4

(19)Trump notifies Congress of renewed fighting in Iran

US President Donald Trump formally notified Congress that hostilities had resumed in Iran, saying American forces carried out “defensive strikes against targets within Iran” on July 7.

In a letter sent to congressional leaders on Friday and obtained by The New York Times on Monday, Trump said the strikes were conducted under his authority as commander in chief.

The notification is likely to intensify tensions between the White House and Congress over Trump’s authority to continue military operations in Iran without lawmakers’ approval.

Both chambers of Congress have voted to direct Trump to end the war or seek authorization to continue it, while the White House maintains that the president is acting within his constitutional powers.

(20)Iran lawmaker tells Trump to ‘guard Graham’s grave' instead of Hormuz

The spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee said US President Donald Trump should “guard Graham’s grave” after Trump said the United States would become the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz.

“We do not need foreign labor to protect the strait,” Ebrahim Rezaei said on X.

“If he is so insistent on working as a guard, he should go and guard Graham’s grave,” he added, referring to US Senator Lindsey Graham, who died Saturday.

(21)US military to enforce renewed blockade of Iranian ports, CENTCOM says

US Central Command said Monday its forces would resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports at 4 p.m. ET on July 14, acting at President Donald Trump’s direction.

“CENTCOM forces will enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.

CENTCOM said it would continue supporting vessels in regional waters that were not violating the blockade.

It advised mariners operating in the Gulf of Oman and near the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to monitor navigational warnings.

(22)Iran to remain Hormuz 'Guardian', Araghchi hits back at Trump

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that Iran would remain the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz, in response to US President Donald Trump saying earlier that the United States would assume that role and seek 20% reimbursement on cargo shipped through the waterway.

“POTUS is absolutely right.

Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service,” Araghchi said on X.

“Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER,” he added. “20% is of course too much. We will be fair.”

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202607116587