memeorandum: How a Drone ‘Hellscape’ Might Stop a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan (New York Times)

1:25 PM ET, August 9, 2026

Top Items:

Russ Buettner / New York Times:

Trump Crypto Took $100 Million From a Businessman With Red Flags … Guren “Bobby” Zhou, top left, with Zach Witkoff, right, in a private suite at the World Cup final match on July 19 in East Rutherford, N.J.Vincent Alban for The New York Times — During the World Cup soccer final in New Jersey last month …

Andrew Pantazi / Axios:

Max Miller stays in as GOP replacement window closes — Rep. Max Miller appeared to let a crucial Saturday withdrawal cutoff pass in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, effectively closing Republicans' last practical window to replace the embattled incumbent on the November ballot.

Alexei Koseff / Washington Post:
Window closes for Ohio GOP to replace Rep. Max Miller on the ballot

Discussion: Fox News

Emily Davies / New York Times:
Max Miller, Republican Accused of Abuse, Won't Drop Out, Spokeswoman Says

Discussion: MS NOW, NBC News and Lawyers, Guns & Money

Juhi Doshi / ABC News:

Ocasio-Cortez says a ‘generational tidal wave’ of millennial voters is reshaping the electorate — From left, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Michigan Democratic candidate for Senate Abdul El-Sayed and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I- Vt., greet the crowd after El-Sayed spoke at The People V …

ABC News:

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez opens up about decision to freeze her eggs — She said the ‘current political environment’ contributed to her decision. — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., appears on ABC News' “This Week” on Aug. 9, 2026. — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. …

Discussion: New York Post, The Hill, The Daily Wire and The Post Millennial

Politico:

The Trump admin offered sick Medicaid patients a 1-year lifeline. These red states are rejecting it. — Democrats say the Trump administration's new Medicaid work requirements — especially the narrow definition of who can get an exemption for medical reasons — are way too harsh.

Bloomberg:

Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Disarmament Proposal Touted by Trump — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposal by US-backed mediators for disarming Hamas, hardening his position after earlier voicing misgivings at the suggestion that Israel reciprocate with phased pullouts from Gaza.

Discussion: BBC, Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Fox News, RedState, Reuters, Legal Insurrection, Israpundit, HuffPost, Al Jazeera and The Times of Israel

Aaron Boxerman / New York Times:

Netanyahu Rejects Trump's Plan to Disarm Hamas — President Trump's Board of Peace announced an agreement last month that aimed at Hamas giving up its weapons alongside an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. — The Israeli government has rejected a 15-point plan backed by the Trump administration aimed …

Discussion: CNN, UPI, Washington Times, France 24, Middle East Monitor, Toledo Blade and Al Jazeera

Alexander Ward / Wall Street Journal:

Trump Thought Opening the Strait of Hormuz Was Imminent. Iran Had Other Plans. — Tehran's new demands for major concessions come days after the White House had signaled a deal to clear commercial passage was within reach — WASHINGTON—For weeks, President Trump had been laying …

Discussion: The Times of Israel, France 24, 19FortyFive and Iran International

Tara Suter / The Hill:

Trump posts examples of alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism amid push for Pirro to revisit decision — President Trump on Saturday posted photos of alleged vandalism to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool amid a push for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro to revisit …

Discussion: Fox News

Beth Reinhard / New York Times:

Michigan Senate Candidate, a Former Trump Critic, Shifts Toward Election Skepticism — Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee, has suggested that further scrutiny of the 2020 election was warranted and that voting irregularities sank his first Senate bid two years ago.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Washington Post and The Detroit News

Michael Gold / New York Times:
Senate Bows to Reality, Leaving Trump's Voting Bill Undone

Discussion: Politico, Deseret News, One America News Network, Fox News, Reuters, Bloomberg and Democracy Docket

New York Times:

How a Drone ‘Hellscape’ Might Stop a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan — Inspired by Ukraine's battlefield gains, Taiwan is betting on drones to deter a potential Chinese invasion. — To repel any future Chinese invasion, Taiwan is building fleets of flying drones and unmanned attack boats.

Discussion: NewsMax.com

Mickey Djuric / Politico:

The Canadian Secessionists Who Love Trump … It's July 1, and they're hosting a family-friendly event that looks like a typical Canada Day celebration. Live music, a farmers' market, hamburgers on the grill. Except there isn't a Maple Leaf in sight. — Instead, people have wrapped themselves …

Tim Balk / New York Times:

Obama and El-Sayed Spoke to Discuss Unity After Ugly Michigan Primary — Dr. Abdul El-Sayed's call with the former president comes as he tries to win over wary Democrats in Michigan's high-stakes Senate race. — Dr. Abdul El-Sayed spoke by phone with former President Barack Obama on Friday …

Discussion: Associated Press, The Hill, NBC News, RedState and The Gateway Pundit

Jeremy Roebuck / Washington Post:

Blanche as AG faces pressure from Trump, skeptical courts, low staff morale — As Todd Blanche officially takes over at the helm, the challenges for the Justice Department have been stacking up. — Summary — With his bruising confirmation battle behind him, Todd Blanche will soon …

Glenn Thrush / New York Times:
In Confirming Blanche, Senators Endorse a Justice Dept. Under Trump's Sway

Discussion: News Talk 105.9, Mercury News, Breitbart, Associated Press, Fox News and TheGrio

Kerry Breen / CBS News:

Sen. Bernie Sanders calls on Democratic leaders to end “corrupt system” of super PAC donations — Add CBS News on Google — Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling on leaders of the Democratic party to end super PAC participation in primaries, saying in a letter shared exclusively with …