It’s Thursday afternoon, and a lot has happened so let’s get into it.
Again: thanks so much to everyone for letting us know they’ve pre-ordered our book WTF America. It truly means the world to us.
Here are some of the top stories we’re tracking:
Trump’s focus of the day: renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America”
Trump’s Canada tariffs remain deeply unpopular
Trump voters in Iowa say they are done with him
Lifelong Texas Republicans say they’re likely to vote Democratic over massive benefits given to data centers
Mike Johnson says Trump’s presidency is effectively on the ballot in the midterms
Trump amplifies a warning about a Republican “midterm reckoning”
The White House says there are no negotiations with Iran, while The Atlantic reports that the Trump regime wants Iran out of the headlines before November
U.S. Patriot missile stocks in Europe are “beyond critical,” per AP
The USPS says new mail-in voting restrictions are now in effect as court challenges continue
The Trump regime deleted a video they posted after commenters pointed out they accidentally compared Trump to Hitler
WaPo reports on $900 million from canceled wind energy deal is facilitating a transaction benefiting a firm led by a major Trump donor
A former staffer for Georgia Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins posted Nazi and KKK imagery
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Now let’s dive in.
Trump Is Desperate to Change Subjects as Voters Turn On Him
Here’s what Trump is focused on today: renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America.”
A quick message to American voters: this is what this regime is doing when they aren’t insider trading, making everything more expensive, selling pardons, and taking bribes from cronies.
Voters are noticing.
CNN spoke with a young Trump-supporting Iowa voter who said that just two years out of high school, he is struggling financially and feels the American dream slipping away.
When asked what he’d say to Trump: “I would just look him in the face and just say, f*** you, that’s about it.”
Ouch.
Another Iowa voter who voted for Trump 3 times said he is “very disappointed” and that he is “over the Trump thing.” His message for Trump? “Stop the bulls**t.”
Texas Republicans, meanwhile, are furious about the treatment of massive data centers. CNN featured lifelong Republicans who said they’re considering voting Democratic for the first time after concluding Republican leaders ignored their concerns while providing major benefits for the data center industry. One lifelong Republican noted that the Democratic candidates were actually showing up to hear their concerns.
Republicans Know They Have a BIG Problem
Speaker Mike Johnson is now framing the midterm as a referendum on Trump. Interesting strategy. Johnson discussed Republicans midterm convention in Dallas, where Trump will tell voters that even if his name isn’t on the ballot, his administration and legacy are. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer went on Fox with the usual buzzwords, warning of “Marxism,” “socialism,” and “anarchy.” Michigan Republican Congressman John James went on right-wing MAGA influencer Benny Johnson’s how to discuss… circumcision? I’m trying to understand their closing argument here.
Trump seems to understand the danger, too. He amplified a post from MAGA influencer Matt Van Swol warning that congressional Republicans could face a “midterm reckoning” for failing to deliver Trump’s agenda. Ah yes, it’s always other people’s fault. Trump is already setting the stage to blame Congress for his own failures and for whatever happens in November. Nothing is ever his fault, after all.
Trump’s Canada Tariffs Continue To Backfire
Peter Navarro went on Steve Bannon’s show and referred to the Canadian people as “useful idiots” while mocking PM Carney and Ontario Premier Ford as “Laurel and Hardy.” Very normal. The issue for Trump and his goons is Americans don’t want this fight. Polling shows net support for Trump’s Canada tariffs at -33 overall, and -44 among indies.
The Iran War Continues to Drain America’s Defenses
The White House continues to say no negotiations are ongoing with Iran. At the same time, The Atlantic reports that the Trump regime is hoping they can keep the war out of the headlines heading into the midterms. That means we’ll continue to talk about it every single day. One adviser explained the political strategy: “We’re just trying to hang on until the midterms.”
Meanwhile, the AP is reporting the U.S. has used about 65% of the Patriot interceptors at issue, around 1,500 of 2,330. A defense official warned NATO could be left taking “punch after punch” in the mouth if Russia launched ballistic missiles while European defenses remain depleted. When Defense Sec. Hegseth was asked about U.S. munitions levels, he refused to provide the numbers, mocking reporters and saying America could have “110%” or “1%.”
We also have an update regarding the 19-year-old sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln who tried to jump overboard due to the dire conditions and mental stress. He is now facing disciplinary charges following his suicide attempt. His wife says he repeatedly sought mental health assistance and paternity leave prior to the incident.
Mail-In Voting Update
We need to keep following this one closely. The U.S. Postal Service now says its new mail-in voting restrictions are in effect while court challenges continue. According to the USPS, the rule became effective August 21. It was initially blocked by injunctions, but USPS says those injunctions no longer prevent implementation for the November 3 midterms or earlier federal elections. We will continue following the ongoing legal battle here.
The Education Department’s Propaganda Fail
Yesterday, the Trump Department of Education posted a 19-second video beginning with Gary Oldman portraying Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. Churchill says, “You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth!” In the post, the DOE compared Trump to the tiger. But commentators quickly pointed out: the “tiger” Churchill is referencing is Adolf Hitler. The Education Department compared Trump to Hitler. After a few hours, the department deleted the post.
Trump Donor Linked to Wind Energy Cancellations
A Washington Post investigation is now putting scrutiny on the Trump regime’s campaign against offshore wind. German energy company RWE is receiving $1.2B from a federal fund in exchange for surrendering offshore wind leases and committed to investments in what they’re calling “conventional energy” (oil, gas, etc). $900M of that money is being used to purchase a stake in Louisiana LNG from Stonepeak, a private equity firm co-founded and led by a billionaire who has contributed roughly $1M to Trump-related inaugural efforts.
And…There’s More
A former staffer for Georgia Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins was discovered to have shared an image depicting himself in Ku Klux Klan robes in addition to posting swastikas and other white nationalist and Nazi rhetoric online. Collins is facing off against Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
Ted Cruz retweeted a Dolly Parton clip from an account that subsequently changed its display name to “Ted Cruz’s Tiny Penis.” Cruz’s post was up for hours before he realized and deleted.
The White House tried to post an America vs. Canada visual featuring an eagle stomping on a Canadian goose. But the full video actually showed the goose winning the fight, and the eagle retreating.
Trump posted a “Mission Accomplished” Iran graphic that brought flashbacks to George W. Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” moment during Iraq.
And yes, the sealant on the Reflecting Pool is peeling again.
That’s Thursday. More to come later with Ron’s daily bulletin and more. Our book WTF America?! is available for preorder now. It’s about how we got here, and how we fight our way back. Thanks to all who preordered.
Shoutout to the Meidas Mighty!
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Renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America would change the acronym to remember that names of the Great Lakes from HOMES to SHAME. That fits!
I always tell my peeps, the more chaos and distractions that come your way, the more focused you need to be. Vote out every single person who made anyone with one dollar less in their pockets.