It’s October 8. The midterms are fast approaching. Here are your updates for today—so far.
Today’s headlines:
Trump now says he won’t attack Iran before November 3, putting the war on the midterm calendar
CRS says 81 U.S. aircraft have been lost or damaged in the Iran War, with costs exceeding $45 billion
Houthis hit Riyadh’s main airport, a Saudi refinery is damaged, and about 15 tankers have been struck in 10 days
Brent Crude tops $105, the 10-year Treasury Yield hits 5.355%
Susie Wiles’ daughter is photographed in pro-Russia Republika Srpska soon after other Trump advisers were spotted there
Trump bought up to $25 million in Meta and up to $5 million in SpaceX debt
DOJ seeks an indictment of former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who testified against Trump during the January 6 hearings
Mike Johnson is in panic mode and is reportedly planning his next moves if Republicans lose
Trump smears Talarico and El-Sayed, while Obama throws his support behind Troy Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms
GOP Senate candidates are fundraising for…gas money
Now it’s time to dive beneath the headlines and make sense of it all.
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Trump Caves and Tells Tehran the Timeline
Trump posted earlier that he’s having “productive discussions” with Iran, that the blockade remains in place, that 22 million barrels moved through Hormuz “last night alone,” and that the U.S. will not attack Iran before the November 3 midterms. He is openly tying his war to the election calendar.
Just a few hours earlier, Brent Crude jumped above $105 on reports of Trump weighing a return to “major combat operations.” The 22 million barrel figure doesn’t hold up either. UKTMO data shows roughly 15 tankers struck between September 28 and October 8, most clustered around the Hormuz and Musandam Peninsula. There were also strikes on stationary tankers off Qatar and about 30 nautical miles east of Fajairah this week. It’s more like 8-10 million barrels are getting out, and that’s before we talk about the cost. Very large crude carriers cost about $1.5 million a day to run that route. Captains are charging $100,000 a day plus bonuses. And if oil were flowing at record levels, the U.S. wouldn’t be drawing down the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Can we pause for a moment to think about the message this sends? Trump just told Iran it has a free pass for nearly a month, with only one U.S. carrier, the USS George Washington, in the region.
And when you look at Iran, it’s clear they aren’t budging. Foreign Minister Araghchi told Tasnim that talks continue through mediators on Iran’s “Seven-Day Plan,” with a response expected in days. Iran’s nuclear chief said Tehran won’t give up enrichment or hand over its stockpile.
81 Aircraft, $45 Billion
A new Congressional Research Service report (CRS) lists 81 U.S. aircraft, including drones, reportedly lost or damaged since the Iran War began in February. The CBO puts equipment losses at $1.9 billion-$3.3 billion, and CNN says the war’s total cost is $45 billion or more, not counting damage.
Iranian FM Araghchi claimed on social media that the “real toll is far higher,” pointing to CENTCOM refusing to let a sitting senator inspect bases. The senator he is referring to appears to be Chris Murphy.
Saudi Arabia Under Fire
The Houthis claimed strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport, Najran Airport, and Khamis Mushait Air Base. The NYT reported multiple explosions in Riyadh Thursday, a day after Saudi officials said Houthi strikes on 2 airports killed 3 people.
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Republika Srpska…Again?
Katie Wiles, daughter of chief of staff Susie Wiles, was spotted in a photo holding a rifle beside Republika Srpska’s interior minister in August. Her firm claims it was a business trip for another client. The timing of this report is pretty interesting. If you remember, I told you this week about Trump strategists James Blair and Chris LaCivita spending last week campaigning in Republika Srpska for pro-Russia strongman Milorad Dodik’s party. Trump at first acted all indignant, threatening to fire them over any conflict. Then he said they don’t actually work for him. Whatever is happening here with Trump-connected officials and pro-Russian officials overseas is quite…odd.
Trump’s Trades
CNBC reports that Trump bought up to $25 million in Meta and up to $5 million in SpaceX debt in August, the latter just 2 days before he signed a policy expanding commercial space transportation. He made a whopping 517 trades that month.
More Banana Republican Stuff
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is reportedly presenting evidence to a grand jury seeking to indict former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson for “lying” to Congress when she delivered her testimony about January 6. Retribution against a key witness. Just another day in Trump’s America.
BTW: Trump says anyone still calling it “AI” is “the enemy.” Sign us up for the enemies list.
And maybe he should have checked his own website first…
The Midterms
CNN has Trump at just 36% approval in Ohio, 28 points underwater in a state he won by 11 in 2024. He’s underwater in Iowa too. MAGA Mike Johnson told Fox that if the GOP loses the House, he may just go home to Shreveport and start a lawn business. Behind the scenes, Republicans are panicked as well. GOP members told Fox they expect to lose 20-25 seats, with one saying flatly that Johnson is done and another warning that areas under R+6 are at risk.
Meanwhile, Trump’s attacks on James Talarico and Abdul El-Sayed have gotten increasingly more grotesque, while former President Obama officially endorsed Troy Jackson in Maine and Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia.
Oh, and some Senate Republicans, including Dan Sullivan, Susan Collins, and Mike Collins are now sending out emails asking supporters to donate money to help them cover their gas costs. After backing Trump’s war that spiked the price of gas. Shameless.
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading, liking, restacking, and staying in this fight.
My brothers and I wrote WTF America?! for days exactly like this one. It’s out October 20, so preorder the hardcover, audiobook, or e-book today. Let us know if you do in the comments!
Thanks and shoutout to the Meidas Mighty!
I just received my $90 bribe from tRump and then got a disgusting email from said grifter. I was a Meidas member initially but money is too tight now for me to continue (Social Security is my only income). However, I’d like to donate the $90 I received to Meidas so they can continue their work keeping us informed. How can I do that? I don’t know if it’s safe to give my email address in this post so not sure how to proceed.
So, Susie's daughter is now committing treason?great, go ahead & help the enemy kill children,& commit war crimes Katie Wiles. ,