This Weekend in Politics, Bulletin 451.

… NYT: “The Trump admin’s highly unusual deal to develop Venezuela’s vast oil resources would have the US govt collaborate with an influential and polarizing Venezuelan businessman. Under the deal, the US would work with Alejandro Betancourt López, whose family controls Venezuela’s second largest private oil producer, North American Blue Energy Partners.”

… “The federal govt is expected to back the development of a significant portion of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves through the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital, while Betancourt’s company would lead operations. Trump described the deal as giving the US ‘majority control’ over a large portion of the country’s reserves, though many of the details of the highly unorthodox arrangement remain unclear and were expected to change as the project gets going.”

… “Any meaningful new production from Venezuela will take years to materialize. As a result, the effort will have little immediate impact on global commodity prices, which in turn determine what US consumers pay at the pump.”

… It’s not “an oil deal with Venezuela.” It’s Trump kidnapping an autocrat, refusing to hold elections, then leaving the remainder of the regime in place but only if they allow him to pillage their natural resources, which they are doing to remain in power oppressing the people.

… This is what Trump said during the 2024 campaign: “We’re buying tar from Venezuela and we’re refining it in Houston. It’s the dirtiest, worst oil anywhere in the world. And we’re refining it - so you can imagine what’s going up in the air.”

… Ronald Reagan’s former budget director David Stockman posted: “Trumpy scores another own goal. The all-in economic cost of Venezuelan heavy crude is $70 per barrel compared to the 56 year constant dollar average price of global crude at $71/barrel, less 15% discount for low quality Venezuelan crude or $60 per barrel. That is to say, a $10/barrel loss on 65 billion barrels of crude under the Donald’s latest deal. The Art of the Deal strikes again!!!”

… Republican commentator and consultant Emmanuel Rincon, who is based in Miami and specializes in Latin American issues:

• “Trump could have called for elections, negotiated with legitimate leadership in Venezuela, and secured the country’s oil concessions with the legitimacy and backing of 90% of the Venezuelan population. Instead, he chose to negotiate a deal with Delcy Rodríguez behind the backs of the Venezuelan people—one that I believe will have an enormous negative impact on the US for decades to come.

• In doing so, he has handed the anti-imperialist Latin American left a powerful weapon that they will use to win elections for decades, turn populations against the US, and, in turn, once again push the majority of Venezuelans against the US.

• For decades, many people, myself included, argued that the US was a better strategic and economic partner for our countries than China, Russia, or Iran because it respected the rule of law, institutions, and democracy. Today, given what has just happened, it will be extremely difficult to make that case.

• After January 3, Trump was seen as a hero by the vast majority of Venezuelans and by a large portion of Latin Americans. That image has changed dramatically over the past few months, and the way this deal has been handled will only make the situation worse.

• It is deeply unfortunate, because Trump could have achieved an equally favorable outcome for the US while also having the backing of the Venezuelan people. He only needed to change the interlocutor. Now, I don’t see how this can be fixed, and I believe that, politically, this will greatly benefit communists and socialists—the true enemies of the US—across the region.”

… Trump posted this claim today: “One of the things I am going to do with the Venezuelan Oil is fill up the Strategic National Reserves which, because of Sleepy Joe Biden, has been virtually emptied. The ‘topping out’ process will begin very shortly, and is a Gift from Venezuela to the People of the US.”

… This will never happen. Trump will leave the SPR far lower than he found it. When Joe Biden left office there were 394 million barrels of oil in the SPR. Right now there are 289 million barrels of oil in the SPR.

… Oil and Gas expert Matt Randolph: “Venezuela no longer has the upgrading capacity to make their oil compatible for the SPR. So, yes you can put Venezuelan oil in but it MUST be upgraded. They can’t do that right now. For them to build a new upgrader you are conservatively looking at 10-12 Billion dollars and 5-7 years.”

… America’s Huckster with another con for the rubes.

… Axios: “America’s grocery squeeze has thus far been most painfully felt in a few expensive categories, like beef, coffee and chocolate. Now, the forces pushing up food prices are starting to pile up: expensive grain, soaring fertilizer and fuel, plus unpredictable weather and raging wars. The next grocery price shock could hit much harder - and much wider.”

… “Your grocery store is fed by a vast global supply chain, and pressures are building all along it. The Iran and Russia-Ukraine wars have driven up diesel prices, making it more expensive to operate farm equipment for harvesting and to truck food from suppliers to stores. The war in Iran has also disrupted fertilizer supply and price, as a large share of the world’s fertilizer passes through the Strait of Hormuz.”

… “Corn and wheat prices are surging, this week hitting their highest level in 3 years. Bad weather has hit corn crop yields, and the Russia-Ukraine war has roiled wheat exports. Wheat’s a key ingredient in pantry staples and corn is a major animal feed, so as they go up, so can meat, dairy and eggs.”

… Price Increases, July 2025 to July 2026 (Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

1. Fuel oil — +39.1%
2. Other motor fuels — +30.7%
3. Airline fares — +25.5%
4. Regular gasoline — +25.3%
5. Midgrade gasoline — +23.0%
6. Premium gasoline — +21.5%
7. Computer software and accessories — +21.2%
8. Instant coffee — +15.8%
9. Jewelry — +15.2%
10. Uncooked beef roasts — +13.5%
11. Video/video-game subscriptions and rentals — +13.4%
12. Postage — +13.3%
13. Sewing machines, fabric and supplies — +12.9%
14. Tomatoes — +12.8%
15. Delivery services — +12.6%
16. Gardening and lawncare services — +12.3%
17. Apples — +11.1%
18. Watches — +10.6%
19. Dishes and flatware — +10.4%
20. Other video equipment — +10.0%
21. Home health care — +9.7%
22. Candy and chewing gum — +9.6%
23. Uncooked beef steaks — +9.6%
24. Roasted coffee — +9.4%
25. Video discs and other media — +9.2%
26. Ground beef — +9.0%
27. Turkey and other uncooked poultry — +8.4%
28. Recorded music and music subscriptions — +8.0%
29. Fresh fish and seafood — +7.8%
30. Frozen fish and seafood — +7.8%
31. Lettuce — +7.5%
32. Cigarettes — +7.3%
33. Motor vehicle maintenance/servicing — +7.3%
34. Intracity transportation — +7.0%
35. Apparel services other than dry cleaning — +6.6%
36. Vehicle parts/equipment other than tires — +6.6%
37. Nonelectric cookware/tableware — +6.4%
38. Frankfurters — +6.3%
39. Rice — +6.2%
40. Men’s underwear/nightwear/swimwear/accessories — +6.2%
41. Motor vehicle repair — +6.2%
42. Shelf-stable fish and seafood — +6.1%
43. Fresh whole milk — +6.0%
44. Newspapers and magazines — +6.0%
45. Outpatient hospital services — +5.8%
46. Other uncooked beef and veal — +5.6%
47. Sports vehicles including bicycles — +5.6%
48. Vehicle accessories other than tires — +5.5%
49. Salt, seasonings and spices — +5.4%
50. Girls’ apparel — +5.3%
51. Laundry and dry-cleaning services — +5.3%
52. Women’s suits and separates — +5.2%
53. Inpatient hospital services — +5.2%
54. Dental services — +5.1%
55. Pet services — +5.1%
56. Other fresh vegetables — +5.0%
57. Water and sewerage maintenance — +5.0%
58. Other fresh fruits — +4.8%
59. Fresh milk other than whole — +4.8%
60. Renters/household insurance — +4.8%
61. Indoor plants and flowers — +4.7%
62. Other condiments — +4.7%
63. Other tobacco products — +4.7%
64. Veterinarian services — +4.7%
65. Window coverings — +4.6%
66. Women’s footwear — +4.5%
67. Crackers and related bread products — +4.5%
68. Fresh cakes and cupcakes — +4.4%
69. Haircuts and other personal-care services — +4.4%
70. Motor oil, coolant and fluids — +4.3%
71. Utility piped gas — +4.3%
72. Electricity — +4.2%
73. Men’s pants and shorts — +4.2%
74. Nursing homes/adult day services — +4.2%
75. Breakfast cereal — +4.1%
76. Tax preparation/accounting fees — +4.1%
77. Canned fruit — +4.0%
78. Toys — +4.0%
79. White bread — +4.0%
80. Computers, peripherals and smart-home assistants — +3.9%
81. Garbage/trash collection — +3.9%
82. Citrus fruit — +3.8%
83. Musical instruments and accessories — +3.8%
84. Women’s underwear/nightwear/swimwear/accessories — +3.8%
85. Men’s shirts and sweaters — +3.6%
86. Motor vehicle body work — +3.6%
87. Distilled spirits away from home — +3.6%
88. Internet service — +3.5%
89. Parking fees and tolls — +3.5%
90. Vehicle registration/license fees — +3.5%
91. Tools, hardware and supplies — +3.5%
92. Potatoes — +3.4%
93. Elementary/high-school tuition and fees — +3.4%
94. Day care and preschool — +3.4%
95. Hair/dental/shaving personal-care products — +3.4%
96. Limited-service meals — +3.3%
97. Beer away from home — +3.2%
98. Canned vegetables — +3.2%
99. Household cleaning products — +3.2%
100. Nonfrozen juices and drinks — +3.2%
101. Rent of primary residence — +2.9%
102. Sports equipment — +2.9%
103. Men’s footwear — +2.8%
104. Soups — +2.8%
105. Beer at home — +2.8%
106. Cable/satellite/live-streaming TV — +2.8%
107. Food from vending machines/mobile vendors — +2.6%
108. Fresh sweet rolls, coffeecakes and doughnuts — +2.6%

… Oversight ranking member Robert Garcia held a House Oversight shadow field hearing in Las Vegas, which focused on what Democrats termed ‘Trump’s Attack on Affordability.’ One of the witnesses was Liz Pancotti, VP of Policy, Advocacy, and Research of Groundwork Collaborative:

• Garcia: “In August of 2024, Trump promised to cut energy and electrical prices by 50% within 12 to 18 months. Did that happen? Pancotti: No. In fact, in his first year in office, electricity prices rose.”

• Garcia: “Have Trump’s policies on clean energy actually made life more affordable for Americans? A: No.”

• Garcia: “What about the cost of new homes? In Sept of ’24, Trump promised to cut the cost of homes in half. Did that happen? Pancotti: No. He promised that 2% mortgage rates would come back, and right now, a 30-year mortgage sits at about 6.5%.”

• Garcia: “So he’s claimed he cares about housing, but has the president actually done anything in his actions to make housing more affordable? A: No. Everything he has done has driven up the price of housing.”

… House GOP Whip Tom Emmer on Fox:

• Q - “Consumer confidence fell in August. Americans are worried about gas prices, what they’re seeing at the grocery story, healthcare prices. Emmer: What do you expect the public to feel when the left-wing media is telling American it’s not good out there? It is!”

• Q - “We surpassed $40 trillion in debt. In any way, shape, or form, is fiscal restraint going to be on the agenda for you and your colleagues? Emmer: Uh, it has been. That will be priority number one when we get through the midterms.”

… They just passed a budget that included a massive increase in the federal debt and are about to come back and pass a huge increase in military spending, a 3rd bailout for farmers, and many billions to cover the cost of the Iran War. These people NEVER reduce the deficit.

… Kobeissi Letter: “The US govt is now running a primary budget deficit of 3.59% of GDP, the largest among major advanced economies. The primary budget deficit EXCLUDES the $1.1+ trillion in interest payments on existing govt debt. The cost of servicing existing debt is the 2nd-largest US govt expenditure, even larger than defense spending.”

We make the entire Weekend Bulletin available to free subscribers who are also able to participate in the Comments section below. About the first third of the daily Bulletins during the week are available to everyone.

Tomorrow is also Ask the Editor where I choose 5 of your questions or subjects you just want me to talk more about. I always appreciate the amount of input we get from you every week with questions and suggested topics. It always makes it hard to choose just 5, but we want to keep the show at 30 minutes.

If you missed Friday’s Bulletin, you can find it here.

… Politico: “A lawsuit filed this month alleges that there’s a simple reason some stations in the Freedom Fuel Network - the chain of discount gas stations promoted by the WH - have been able to sell gas so cheaply: Some $4 million worth of the gas is stolen.”

… “Freedom Fuel stations located around Philadelphia and NJ burst into public view in the run-up to the July 4th holiday, when Trump posted praise for their discounted pump prices, writing ‘They are doing this because they love the USA.’ The WH later posted a video of drivers filling up at one of the stations and thanking Trump for the low prices - at the time, $3.47 a gallon in honor of the 47th president.”

… “Neither the WH nor the network’s owners would explain exactly how the stations were able to sell fuel far cheaper than their competitors. The WH told reporters that Freedom Fuel was simply a private company lowering its margins for patriotic reasons and declined to disclose the people behind it - who turned out to be a former NJ mayor and NFL special teams coach for the Baltimore Ravens, a GOP donor.”

… 6 of the stations are linked to a NJ businessman named Shamikh Kazmi who, along with his brother Syed Kazmi, have been involved in several lawsuits. According to the lawsuit by Mansfield Oil Co. in federal court in PA, Syed Kazmi’s company KRSM acquired over 1 million gallons of fuel from a Sunoco terminal in Twin Oaks valued at around $4 million - and never paid for it. KRSM sold some of the fuel to stations within the Freedom Fuel Network.

… From the lawsuit: “KRSM was able to sell such fuel for such low prices and garner such publicity because it never paid Plaintiffs for such fuel.”

… IL Gov. JB Pritzker at a campaign rally for the midterms:

• “These days, it seems like all the pundits and the naysayers want to say, well, kind of an endless loop of debate about the future of the Democratic Party. Are we socialists? Are we moderates? Are we conservatives? They want to divide all of us. I don’t think we should draw these false and rigid divisions and paint a picture of a fractured party because it’s not true. We have a fight that we are in together.”

• “Yeah, there are some differences of opinion, but they’re not so big. And I got to tell you, if there’s a divide in the National Democratic Party, then it’s the one between Team Fight and Team Cave.”

• “Gas prices are high. Why? Because Trump took us to war. Meat and fruit and beer and cars cost more today than they ever have. Why? Because Trump insisted on imposing tariffs and going into trade wars. Farms are going under, and businesses tied to those farms are laying off workers because Trump started a trade war that had no greater purpose than a few cable news hits.”

• “I have to worry about whether people can eat lettuce or blueberries off a grocery shelf because Trump is doing away with food inspections. I have to track measles outbreaks because the president put a madman in charge of vaccine recommendations.

• I have to monitor the movements of ICE agents because he handed guns to people who couldn’t pass a background check to work in an animal shelter. I have to find money that we don’t have to fight problems that didn’t exist before Trump. It’s the reality of being a governor in America today. I’m not the only one.”

… Speaker Mike Johnson on Newsmax: “We are now quite literally locked into a contest to determine whether we’re gonna keep our republic, keep the country as it is, or break this down to the foundation and go down an entirely different road toward communism.”

… On June 26, I posted on social media that Trump was going to use the threat of “communism” as his midterms theme right after he made a post reacting to the NY primaries. I knew he would do it but I wasn’t sure if Mike Johnson and Republicans were actually going to adopt this stupidity. But they damn sure made it the central theme of their midterm strategy.

… ABC11 (KY): “KY Republicans in Congress expect Sen. Mitch McConnell to return to Capitol Hill some time in Sept for a consequential vote on a bill that could have sweeping impacts for farmers. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) - who’s the GOP nominee in the race to replace McConnell when he retires in Jan. 2027 - told WHAS11 that in a recent conversation with John Thune, he learned ‘they expect him to be back giving that critical vote in Sept.’”

… “The vote Barr is referencing is to pass a new farm bill that needs McConnell’s vote to break an 11-11 tie along party lines in the Senate Agriculture Committee in order to advance for a full vote on the Senate floor. And time is running out. The extension of McConnell’s previous farm bill is set to expire at the end of Sept.”

… Guardian: “The Trump admin has been deploying an obscure legal maneuver to try to obtain private info on journalists, non-profits and unions, raising alarm over a power the govt has asserted without judicial oversight. In one instance, the govt obtained 6 months of telephone records for Georgia Fort, a Minneapolis journalist. Fort was not notified of the request for her info, nor was she given a chance to contest the govt’s effort to obtain them, her lawyers said in court papers.”

… “In Feb of this year, federal prosecutors twice sought search warrants for account information for the YouTube channel of Fort and the journalist Don Lemon, both of whom have pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in connection to a protest at a Minneapolis church in Jan that they were covering. A judge twice rejected the request, writing that the govt had failed to establish probable cause of a crime.”

… “But officials hadn’t given up on getting the data. Less than a month later, DHS served Google with a different request for the YouTube info. This time, DHS utilized a different method that didn’t require approval from a judge, only a sign-off from a DHS official. It served Google an administrative summons citing an arcane provision of federal law – 19 USC 1509 – dealing with customs imports. The provision gives the DHS broad power to inspect records in order to determine whether duties and taxes are being correctly levied on imported items.”

… The DHS summons was issued under a statute that does give the agency broad power to demand records, but only in the limited circumstance of there being a need to investigate a customs issue, said Chris Duncan, a former lawyer at the DHS: “These laws have absolutely nothing to do with a domestic situation at a church, a social media post, even an immigration matter.”

… John Roth, who was an IG for DHS: “It’s outrageous conduct on so many levels. It’s hard to know where to begin. This is an improper use of the subpoena under any circumstances. This is not a customs case; it is not a customs violation. They are not investigating a customs violation.”

… NYT: “When leaders from the world’s most powerful countries gather next week for the G-20 finance meeting in NC, they will be joined by throngs of journalists from newsrooms around the globe. Missing from among them, though, will be several reporters from 3 of the largest newsrooms in the US.”

… “The Treasury has not granted credentials to individual reporters for NYT, WSJ and Bloomberg to cover the event, which will draw finance ministers and central bank governors from the world’s biggest economies. Alan Rappeport, an economic policy reporter who reports on Treasury for NYT, has been excluded from the meeting. He has attended nearly a dozen G7 and G20 meetings.”

… Nicole Taylor, spokeswoman for NYT: “This is not just another disturbing effort by the admin to undermine independent journalism, but a blatant attempt to evade public scrutiny. With the war in Iran, sanctions, the bond markets and inflation on the agenda for the G20 finance ministers, the stakes of this gathering are significant for the global economy and the American people.”

… WaPo: “Several US military leaders have advised Pete Hegseth that prolonging large-scale operations against Iran is unsustainable and risks weakening their ability to confront threats elsewhere, including the US homeland. The warnings - detailed for Hegseth by the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force and the 4-star commanders overseeing US operations throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America - appear in the Secretary of Defense Orders Book (SDOB).”

… “The SDOB, typically produced twice monthly, outlines the worldwide availability of US warships, aircraft, personnel and weapons systems. It reflects the president’s priorities for the force, which are carried out by the defense secretary, and includes insights from the military’s top generals and admirals that inform the directives the Pentagon issues.”

… “US Central Command, responsible for prosecuting the Iran war, has kept a force of more than 50,000 troops on alert for months in case the president orders additional attacks. The Aug. 14 orders book directs some troops deployed in the Middle East to remain there through Sept and some others into 2027. The prospect of extending those forces further compelled military leaders to voice their concern.”

… “Leaders of the European Command, the Pacific Command and the Southern Command, along with the Navy’s top admiral, responded with what is characterized in the SDOB as a ‘non-concur,’ meaning they disagree with the secretary’s order to extend their forces but will execute it nevertheless.”

… “The commands overseeing operations in Europe, Asia and Latin America have had their ships, aircraft and other equipment pulled away to support the Iran conflict. This has limited their ability to conduct missions and ensure proper training. The Navy, in particular, has had to stretch its capacity to keep up with wartime demands.”

… NBC: Pete Hegseth is privately discussed a potential run for president in 2028, potentially adding another central admin figure to the emerging battle to inherit the MAGA movement from Trump. Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, have both floated the prospect with close friends and associates over the past several months.”

… I predicted this on my podcast Uncovered a month ago when he started flying around the country doing campaign rallies, including IA and PA, which are crucial states on the presidential primary calendar. He denies he’s looking to run, but he is showing every sign that he wants to and is testing the waters.

… CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp to NBC: “Pete Hegseth should consider running for president. He’s an impressive guy and has a tremendous amount of energy.”

… Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) to Meidas reporter Scott Macfarlane, on Hegseth’s campaign tour:

• “I’ve got tremendous respect for the apolitical nature of the military, and he was giving a political speech. He’s trying to communicate his vision for what he wants the US military to be - the most lethal, capable fighting force this planet has ever seen.

• Our problem isn’t lethality. Our problem is, sometimes we put idiots in charge of things and they make big mistakes and will take this country to war for no good reason. And it’s always guys like, you know, Trump who avoided military service.

• Pete Hegseth, he’s, I think, a little bit harder to explain. I think the reason is, he should know better. I think he missed something when he served on active duty and didn’t really understand the fundamental nature of the US military.”

… Tucker Carlson said Trump should be removed from office: “The second any president actively considers the first use of nuclear weapons, that person should be removed from office immediately, because that’s got to be the red line, destroying all of humanity with a nuclear strike. Why isn’t there an attempt to remove him from office, like, immediately? Anyone who would even tolerate that kind of talk from any of his subordinates or employees is by definition unfit.”

… Earlier this month, Under Secretary of Defense for policy Elbridge Colby said at a conference that officials are looking to give the president and Hegseth “credible, rational nuclear options” to use in regional conflicts, such as the war in Iran.

… CNN: “Senate GOP leaders gave Trump a clear warning before the TX primary election in May as he weighed endorsing Ken Paxton over longtime incumbent John Cornyn: If Paxton won, Trump’s political operation would have to bankroll the expensive general election campaign to help make the controversial him more appealing to voters.”

… “But more than 3 months later, MAGA Inc.’s wallet has so far been closed. And Republicans are growing anxious - as the Democrat, James Talarico, has had the airwaves largely to himself for weeks, spending roughly 7 times more than the GOP since June. MAGA Inc.’s decision to wait to spend its vast resources has effectively given Democrats and Talarico a chance to dominate the TX airwaves since other big-spending GOP outside groups have also sat out for now.”

… Senior Republican source: “They keep saying they’ll spend, but they haven’t.”

… “The NRSC and the Senate Leadership Fund, both of which strongly backed Cornyn in the primary, have been looking for MAGA Inc. to take the lead in the general election. Since the June start of the general election season, TX voters have been seeing mostly Talarico spots across the airwaves, with Democrats outspending Republicans on advertising by about $31.5 million to $4.7 million in the race.”

… “Talarico’s campaign, fueled by its robust fundraising, accounts for the majority of the spending, about $31.3 million. With the airwaves virtually uncontested, his campaign has run ads thousands of times introducing the first-time statewide candidate to voters while emphasizing cost of living concerns.  On Sat, Talarico unveiled his first negative ad about Paxton, attacking him over the allegations of corruption.”

… “Paxton’s campaign, bruised and drained from the runoff, has spent just over $150,000 on advertising since June, a far cry from the staggering sums spent by his rival. Paxton has taken to conservative media to plea for help. ‘We’re a little behind on TV,’ Paxton told Newsmax earlier this month.”

… Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) said on Fox that Senate Republicans are not going to help Paxton with any money: “There’s no sense bubble wrapping it, we’ve got a race in Texas. Paxton is going to point out the deficiencies of Talarico, but you can’t win an election by saying the other guy’s worse than me. Money is an issue. We in the Senate don’t have the money budgeted for TX. We need help from the President.”

… I’m sure he’s working on it. In two weeks.

… Talarico at a campaign rally:

• “My faith is central in my public service, and if you go back and read the New Testament, even if you’re not a Christian, even if you’re not religious, go back and see what Jesus spends most of his time doing. It’s not preaching, it’s not teaching. It’s healing. It’s healing people.

• And that is what we are called to do, whether you’re religious or not, is ensure that our neighbors have the care that they need. And that is gonna be the end result of this plan and the other health care policies that we’re gonna fight for in Washington: saving the lives of our neighbors, bringing down these costs for all of us so that we can afford to get by in this economy, so we can afford to fulfill our God-given potential. That is the end goal. That is our North Star.”

… Politico: “4 days before the 2024 election, Trump declared in Dearborn, MI that ‘the Muslim population’ is ‘liking Trump.’ On Election Day, the state’s Arab Americans helped deliver Trump a victory. Now, they want nothing to do with him — and are souring on the GOP overall.”

… “Many Detroit-area Arab Americans, who swung hard to Trump over the war in Gaza and cost-of-living issues, are now saying they’re fed up with the ongoing war in Iran and slow peace process in Gaza. It’s a shift that could have direct consequences on the battle for Senate control, with Rep. Mike Rogers fighting to hold onto Trump’s 2024 gains against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim whose parents are Egyptian immigrants.”

… “Trump’s perceived broken promises - exacerbated by GOP attacks against El-Sayed that some see as Islamophobic and racist - are pushing these voters out of reach for Rogers. MI has the largest proportion of Arab Americans in the country, with nearly 400,000 living in the state. MI Republicans - who, just two years ago, dreamed of building sustainable support among the state’s Arab American population - now see community leaders shifting ranks.”

… Hassan Nehme, who was Vice Chair of the MI GOP and led their Arab Outreach program: “Once the admin got into the WH, everything we were told kind of flip-flopped. We lost all traction. Republicans are kind of dead in the water in the area right now.”

… VoteHub: “Michigan’s senate race has moved to Lean D for the first time since Abdul El-Sayed became the Democratic nominee. The move follows 5 straight polls in his favor and a steady move toward him on Kalshi. Our model currently forecasts a 2.4-pt El-Sayed win over Mike Rogers.”

… Guardian: “In a recent fundraising email, the Republican candidate for Michigan’s open US Senate seat, former congressman Mike Rogers, appeared to mislead supporters about his past by suggesting that he had played an active role in the killing of Osama bin Laden.”

… Rogers in the email: “When I served as a US army officer and an FBI special agent, I swore a sacred oath to defend the US against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I dedicated my life to keeping our families safe – working in the shadows, hunting down terrorists, and standing on the frontlines of our national security. I saw the dead body of Osama bin Laden with my own eyes, knowing that together, we had delivered justice for America.”

… Rogers, however, was not in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on 1 May 2011, when Bin Laden was shot and killed – nor was he in the WH Situation Room, where then president Barack Obama and senior admin officials at the time, including Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, followed the raid in real time.”

… “Instead, as Rogers told reporters the next day, and recounts in a campaign video, he was at home in DC – where, as the chair of the House intelligence committee at the time, he was informed about the raid in a phone call from Obama’s CIA director, Leon Panetta.”

… Trump made another insanely false claim about Canada with this post: “Canadian businesses are pouring into the US. We want to make our own cars, etc. That’s what’s going to happen. Canada has been ripping us off for years — NO LONGER!”

… Trump made a series of posts threatening media companies while watching the Sunday morning talk shows:

“THE FAKE POLLS USED BY OUR CROOKED MEDIA ARE OUT OF CONTROL, AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT IT. FCC TO THE RESCUE!”

… That post will be used by Disney in their lawsuit, which is entirely based off Trump and his FCC Chair trying to intimidate them by threatening to pull station licenses because he didn’t like their coverage.

“Kristen Welker, the Unpopular ‘Hostess’ of the once great Meet the Press, just stated that Donald Trump has ‘mixed results’ on his Endorsements of Candidates. How can anyone be allowed to say this, working for freely given Public Airwaves? Because of this purposeful inaccuracy, she will be reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment. Unfortunately, she is not the only one. The Radical Left News is going out of their way to harass, demean, and libel anything ‘TRUMP.’ The Press is a Disgrace to our Nation, and I hope that Chairman Brendan Carr, and the fine people of his Commission, will take this Threat to our Country very seriously.”

… Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) was asked on Meet the Press if he supports expanding the Supreme Court: “13 is a pretty good number. A baker’s dozen would be a good number to have on the Court.”

… Sen. Ted Cruz was also on Meet the Press:

• Q - “I hear you arguing the military objectives in Iran have been achieved. If that’s the case, why can’t the troops come home? Cruz: Well, but, the troops are not, um, um, active combat operations have largely ceased. There are occasional skirmishes.”

• Q - “Do you agree with Trump that it’s ‘mission accomplished’ in Iran? Cruz: Well listen, I think there are multiple missions.”

… NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani held an with families and park rangers during the NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers Family Camping program in Inwood Hill Park:

• “Many people might not realize that you can camp even in the heart of the city with NYC Parks and the Urban Park Rangers. Families who enter the lottery and are selected each year can participate, and the program is a great opportunity to unplug, connect with nature, and create family memories.”

• He roasted marshmallows with several kids at the event: Child - “It’s the mayor! Mamdani laughs. Child: What? You are the mayor. You could become the king. Mamdani: I’m happy as the mayor. Jalen Brunson is the king.”

… Brunson is a star player for the NY Knicks.

… Google Maps has changed Lake Ontario to Lake America on their app. Apple Maps has not changed.

… Iran expert Danny Citrinowicz:

• “For all the attention now being paid to tanker movements, maritime corridors, and America’s ability to partially restore the flow of energy through the region, the Strait of Hormuz was never the central strategic objective of the war. The fundamental issues that drove Washington toward confrontation with Tehran were much larger: Iran’s nuclear program and its long-term military buildup.

• Neither problem has been resolved. More importantly, under the current trajectory, there is little reason to assume that either will be resolved anytime soon. That distinction matters because the apparent improvement around Hormuz can create a misleading impression of strategic progress. Restoring some freedom of navigation, weakening Iran’s ability to dominate the strait, and limiting Tehran’s capacity to disrupt global energy markets are meaningful achievements. But they are ultimately consequences of the war—not the reason the war was fought in the first place.

• The original strategic logic went considerably further. The confrontation was intended to address the Iranian threat at its source, with regime change viewed by some in Washington as the mechanism through which Iran’s nuclear ambitions and long-term military buildup could ultimately be eliminated. That has not happened.

• Iran remains under severe pressure, but the regime remains in power. The nuclear challenge has not disappeared, and neither has the broader question of how quickly Tehran can rebuild, adapt, and regenerate its military capabilities. This is why measuring success primarily through developments in Hormuz is potentially deceptive.

• The US may be improving its operational position while remaining far from achieving the strategic objectives that brought it into the confrontation in the first place. In that sense, Hormuz risks obscuring the bigger picture: Washington may have become better at managing one of the war’s consequences without actually solving the problems that caused the war.

• Has Iran’s nuclear trajectory fundamentally changed? Has its ability to rebuild its military power been permanently constrained? Has the underlying strategic threat been removed? For now, the answer to all 3 questions appears to be no. That leaves Washington with a potentially uncomfortable reality: it may be winning the struggle over the consequences of the war without yet winning the struggle over the reasons the war was fought.

• And that is why the current calm, however welcome, should not be mistaken for an end state.”

… Trump attempted to brag about his latest participation trophy with this post: “At the request of the PGA Tour, and its Great new Commissioner, Brian Rolapp, it is my Honor to accept being the Honorary Chairman of the upcoming Presidents Cup in Chicago. I look forward to being there, and greeting all of these fantastic athletes, on both teams!”

… The PGA has named every single US president who served in the last 4 decades an “honorary chairman” of the team: HW Bush, Clinton, W. Bush, Obama, Biden. They do this for every president.

… NBC: “MyPillow founder Mike Lindell has long denied Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election. Now, he’s refusing to accept his own election loss in the GOP primary for governor of MN. The MN Supreme Court on Saturday rejected Lindell’s bid for a full recount of his Aug. 11 loss to state House Speaker Lisa Demuth after she won the Republican primary by 45,000 votes.”

… “Chief Justice Natalie E. Hudson wrote in a 6-page ruling that the MN secretary of state’s office and its State Canvassing Board provided a recount plan that follows the law and are ‘not committing any wrongful act, omission, or error’ as Lindell claimed.”

… Lindell said he plans to appeal the ruling to the US Supreme Court. He said that his team is also requesting election data from all 87 counties through the Freedom of Information Act in order to pursue an independent investigation. Lindell: “I’m willing to pay even more money. I don’t care what it costs.”

… “Lindell previously pledged to pay an estimated $825,000 to cover a full hand recount and audit of the race but refused to pay the money on Monday, the state’s deadline, after finding out that the recount only included counting the ballots cast for either Lindell or Demuth.”

… He never paid the filing fee, then sued claiming he shouldn’t have to pay the filing fee, and lost. Because that’s what Lindell does - lose all the time, claim he was cheated, sues, then loses in court. Over and over and over again since 2021.

… CBS: “The FBI previously refused to hire job applicants if they admitted to hiring sex workers or stealing from an employer - or engaging in acts of bestiality. Today, those acts, which are mostly illegal across the country, are no longer automatic deal breakers for applicants to the nation’s top law enforcement agency.”

… “In June, the FBI quietly lowered some of the standards it uses when it conducts background checks on would-be federal agents and other personnel. The FBI did so to facilitate hiring in some cases, even if candidates acknowledged they engaged in sexually deviant activities or stole from an employer. The move comes as the FBI has lost scores of employees through firings, retirements and resignations since the start of the Trump admin.”

… “The FBI is willing to give candidates a pass on prostitution, as long as they have not hired sex workers 3 or more times. And the hiring of the sex workers must not have taken place within the last 10 years.”

… “The new standards also specifically address applicants who have engaged in past acts of bestiality or animal cruelty – saying they may still be considered for the bureau as long as the incidents took place before the age of 18.”