Monday Afternoon Updates: NORTHCOM's Shock Drone Admission, Nuclear Talk, and Trump's Latest Threat – 8/17/26
Here's the news you need to know. So far.

Hi all, Ben here. I hope you all had a nice weekend. It’s Monday and there is A LOT happening.
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OK, top stories:
Iran threatens to go “fully offensive” in the Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy fails
Iran’s secret escalation plan includes a possible strike on undersea internet cables, a ground raid into Kuwait, and more, per WSJ
The IRGC flatly denies Trump’s claim of a backchannel, calling it his “delusions and nightmares”
Trump tells Fox he’ll “bomb the shit” out of Oman…We’ve heard these threats before
Congressional Republicans wave away concerns about depleted US stockpiles and dire conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln
NORTHCOM’s deputy commander warns the US can’t defend against a drone swarm on American soil
Marjorie Taylor Greene says nuclear weapons against Iran are being discussed by the Trump regime
Recent remarks from Israeli leadership
Secret Russian drone bases within striking distance of NATO
Legal news on the ballroom front and in the E. Jean Carroll case
And more…
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Here we go.




