Top Items:
Steve Benen / MS NOW:
Trump approves disaster relief funds for 7 red states, after denying aid to blue states — Ahead of the midterm elections, the president isn't even being subtle about his scandalous politicization of disaster aid. — Donald Trump's politicization of federal disaster relief funds has become …
Discussion:
MeidasTouch and Trump's Truth
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Politico:
Republicans aren't exactly flocking to Trump's midterm convention — President Donald Trump has a vision for next week's GOP convention in Dallas: a televised spectacle putting Republican candidates in front of midterm voters and top party donors just two months before the Election Day — with Trump himself headlining the show.
Discussion:
Daily Kos, The Bulwark, New Republic, Alternet.org, The Independent and Mediaite
Politico:
Trump invites battleground Republicans to Rose Garden dinner — President Donald Trump has invited a group of GOP lawmakers including Republicans in competitive races to dine with him Wednesday night at the White House as many in the party press the president to unleash his massive war chest ahead …
Discussion:
NewsMax.com and Joe.My.God.
William Kristol / The Bulwark:
Mike Johnson, Wet Noodle — Donald Trump has spent two years openly favoring red states over blue ones while disbursing federal disaster relief funds, but it's still surreal to see him talk openly about it. In a Truth Social post last night, Trump had this to say:
Discussion:
Truthout
Perry Bacon / New Republic:
Good Riddance, Seth Moulton: You Got What You Deserved — The biggest reason that Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election is probably the post-Covid-19 inflation and anti-incumbent sentiment that resulted in parties in power across the world being defeated. It didn't help that she refused …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, NBC News, Erin In The Morning, LGBTQ Nation, Straight Arrow, New York Times, Newsweek, Semafor, Eschaton and Boston.com
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Joan Walsh / The Nation:
Old and On the Way: How Ed Markey Dispatched Seth Moulton in Massachusetts — Moulton, a centrist opportunist, sought to unseat his incumbent opponent by posturing as a young progressive. Voters didn't fall for it. — Pocket — Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, CBS News, Associated Press, The Intercept, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, The Hill, Washington Examiner, New York Times and The Forward
Reid J. Epstein / New York Times:
Six Takeaways From the Massachusetts Primaries
Six Takeaways From the Massachusetts Primaries
Discussion:
Washington Post, NBC News, The Hill, NPR, Reuters, IJR News, Mock Paper Scissors, Associated Press, The Boston Globe, Fox News, WTOP News, The Atlantic, New York Post, Blaze Media, Scripps News, Wall Street Journal, The Forward, MS NOW, Bloomberg, CBS News, UPI, ABC News, Politico and Semafor
Jen Fifield / ProPublica:
New Mail Voting Rules Moved Forward Despite USPS Officials' Concerns About Mass Disenfranchisement — In internal meetings, officials worried the rules they were drafting could delay or block ballots from reaching large swaths of eligible voters for the upcoming midterms.
Discussion:
NPR, Talking Points Memo, The Guardian, The Moderate Voice, NBC News, Rolling Stone, Wall Street Journal, ABC News, New York Magazine, NOTUS, Axios, CNN, MS NOW, Truthout and Washington Post
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Liz Dye / Public Notice:
Trump begs SCOTUS to let him unleash midterm chaos — PN is supported by paid subscribers. Become one ⬇️ — ✅ Subscribe to PN ✅ — The important thing to know here is that this is all John Roberts's fault. — We're on the precipice of complete chaos as Trump tries to seize control of the midterms.
Discussion:
CNN, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Democracy Docket and Vox
Madiba K. Dennie / Balls and Strikes:
How the Supreme Court Helps Trump Run Out the Clock
How the Supreme Court Helps Trump Run Out the Clock
Discussion:
Alternet.org and Democracy Docket
Zachary Basu / Axios:
Pentagon turmoil deepens as Hegseth consolidates control — The Pentagon has entered a period of profound institutional turmoil, as a crisis of leadership at home converges with a crisis of capacity abroad. … - Driscoll, a rising star whom Trump had tapped for sensitive diplomacy in Ukraine …
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ABC News:
Army secretary frequently warned White House about Hegseth before his departure: Sources
Discussion:
Financial Times, The Free Press, The Economist, Semafor, CBS News and IJR News
CNN:
Hegseth's culture war fixation disrupting Army progress, sources say
Hegseth's culture war fixation disrupting Army progress, sources say
Discussion:
Associated Press, New Republic, Forbes, Mediaite, Alternet.org, Politico, The Hill, Washington Examiner, Defense One and Reuters
Mychael Schnell / MS NOW:
‘Tired of all the churn’: Key Republicans are starting to turn on Hegseth over Pentagon departures
‘Tired of all the churn’: Key Republicans are starting to turn on Hegseth over Pentagon departures
Discussion:
Roll Call, The Hill and The Atlantic
Leah Litman / The Atlantic:
The Court's Ballroom Decision Is a Sign of Deeper Problems — The conservative justices have separation of powers exactly backwards. — In deciding to allow President Trump to proceed with constructing a new ballroom, which Congress has not authorized, at the White House, which Trump does not own …
Discussion:
Lawfare
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Adam Liptak / New York Times:
Trump's Speed on the White House Ballroom Threatens to Outpace the Courts — In his breakneck construction of a grand ballroom and in many other initiatives, critics say, the president has tried to outrun judicial review. — The courts cannot keep up with President Trump.
Gregory Svirnovskiy / Politico:
Almost 90 percent of Americans say there is widespread corruption in government — Nearly 90 percent of Americans believe corruption is rampant in government, according to a new Gallup poll released Wednesday, a record number that has risen dramatically over the last two years since President Donald Trump's return to the White House.
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Praveena Somasundaram / Washington Post:
Poll shows nearly 90% of Americans believe government corruption is widespread
Poll shows nearly 90% of Americans believe government corruption is widespread
Discussion:
The Independent
ABC News:
Trump $1 coins in circulation, US Mint says — The coins have entered circulation and can be purchased online. — The U.S. Mint announced today that $1 coins featuring President Donald Trump's likeness have entered circulation and are for sale starting, Sept. 2, 2026.
Discussion:
Joe.My.God. and Palm Beach Post
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Mira Bhakta / The Hill:
US Mint officially launches $1 coin featuring Trump
US Mint officially launches $1 coin featuring Trump
Discussion:
Washington Post, NewsNation, NOTUS, Associated Press, CBS News, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Mediaite and IJR News
Andrew Solender / Axios:
Rogue House Democrats face growing push for “consequences” — Two centrist House Democrats who voted to help Republicans get a procedural motion across the finish line are now facing down possible punishment from party leaders who say they were blindsided by the move.
Discussion:
HotAir, OUT OF STATE, The Hill, The Portland Press Herald, CBS News, NewsMax.com, Washington Examiner, Politico, The Gateway Pundit, NOTUS and Legal Insurrection
RELATED:
Andrew Solender / Axios:
House Democrats left reeling after shock defections
Discussion:
New York Post, Politico, The Hill, Washington Examiner, RedState, Mock Paper Scissors, The Gateway Pundit, CNN, NewsMax.com, IJR News, Roll Call and New Republic
Riley Rogerson / Politico:
Jeffries says Dems who saved GOP's agenda deserve ‘serious response’
Jeffries says Dems who saved GOP's agenda deserve ‘serious response’
Discussion:
Political Wire
Greg Sargent / New Republic:
What JD Vance's Eruption of Rage Over Usha and El-Sayed Really Reveals — JD Vance is pretending to be very, very angry at Abdul El-Sayed for drawing his wife, Usha Vance, into our political debates. “Abdul, keep my wife's name the hell out of your mouth,” Vance seethed while campaigning …
Discussion:
The Guardian, The Forward, twitchy.com, New York Magazine, Forbes, Mediaite and NewsMax.com
Jonathan Martin / Politico:
Can Susan Collins Survive the Craziest Race in the Country? … Yet nowhere has been as idyllic as Perry's Lobster Shack. — Set on a harbor, where — in local parlance — Midcoast meets Downeast, the view from Perry's over the water is of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner and The 19th
Avery Lotz / Axios:
Trump's Canada antagonism vexes Americans … - With the midterm elections creeping closer, polling suggests Americans aren't sold on the fight. … - Even among Republicans, more opposed (43%) than supported (33%) the order. — A vast majority of Democrats (84%) and independents and other parties (65%) opposed the name change.
Discussion:
CNN, NewsMax.com, FOX 32 Chicago, Mediaite, The Independent and Reuters
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Shane Harris / The Atlantic:
The Air Marshals Keeping Watch On Eric Swalwell — On August 8, former Representative Eric Swalwell boarded a United Airlines flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Washington, D.C. He didn't know it, but federal agents were watching him throughout the nine-hour trip.
Discussion:
Fox News, NewsNation, Townhall, twitchy.com, Daily Mail and New York Post
chevron.com:
Chevron expands position in Venezuela — Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) today announced agreements with Venezuela that establish updated terms for its joint ventures, supporting future investment, project development and production growth in the country. — The agreements set out provisions …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Bloomberg, NPR, RedState, Washington Examiner, The Hill, Quartz, CBS News, The Daily Caller and WTOP News
RELATED:
Lucia Kassai / Bloomberg:
How the US Is Taking Direct Control of Venezuelan Oil
How the US Is Taking Direct Control of Venezuelan Oil
Discussion:
Axios, New York Times, Meduza, Al Jazeera, American Greatness, Fortune, CBS News, Semafor, Townhall, Reuters and IJR News
New York Times:
Kennedy Center Begins Removing Outdoor ‘Blue’ Sculpture — The towering artwork, added to the campus in 2019, was targeted for elimination after President Trump's takeover of the center. — The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts began removing a major outdoor sculpture from the center's grounds on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Associated Press, NOTUS, The Hill, Forbes, The Independent, Joe.My.God., Washington Post and WTOP News
Paul Krugman:
The Hits Keep Coming — How much chaos can the economy take? — Here's the good news: The U.S. economy has proved remarkably resilient since the chaos monkeys, aka Donald Trump and company, took over the zoo. — There has been shock after shock: A trade war against everyone …
Discussion:
Alternet.org
Drew Berkemeyer / The Daily Wire:
Birth Tourism Mastermind Pleads The Fifth, Dismissed From Congressional Hearing … The doctor behind a Miami company that markets services to foreign nationals seeking to give birth in the United States was subpoenaed to testify before Congress Tuesday. He invoked the Fifth Amendment 11 times …
Discussion:
RedState, Newsweek, The Gateway Pundit, American Greatness, twitchy.com, Legal Insurrection, Louder With Crowder, Townhall and Breitbart
Nick Sloan / KMBC:
More than 68% of voters support recall of Independence Councilman John Perkins — Voters in Independence have successfully recalled a councilman after his vote to approve a multibillion-dollar data center. — District 1 Councilman John Perkins was recalled during a special election on Tuesday …
Discussion:
NBC News, New York Times, Talking Points Memo and FIRST DRAFT
Nick Turse / The Intercept:
The U.S. Has Killed 227 Civilians in Boat Strikes During “A Year of Murders” — Top military officers from a secretive command watched a speedboat cut through the waters of the Caribbean Sea, early last September. A plane above provided live video of the vessel and the 11 men on board.
Discussion:
MS NOW, The Hill and New Republic
J.D. Wolf / MeidasTouch:
New Epstein Files Discharge Petition Grows to 49 Signatures — 2nd Republican joins bipartisan effort to hold pedophiles accountable. — Add us on — Rep. Thomas Massie's bipartisan effort to force a House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II has gained 32 additional signatures since Monday …
Discussion:
ricochet.com, The Daily Caller and The Hill
City of New York:
Mayor Mamdani and Chancellor Samuels Put Students First with Nation's Broadest Generative AI Moratorium in Schools — Watch on YouTube — What you should know — Representing the most expansive student-facing AI policy in the country, the Mamdani administration prioritizes student safety and real, human instruction
Discussion:
New York Magazine, NewsMax.com, New York Daily News and Chalkbeat, more at Techmeme »
Oliver Darcy / Status:
Apple's Map Acquiescence … On Tuesday afternoon, Apple began rolling out a small, yet quite consequential, change to its Maps product: Under direct pressure from the White House, the Cupertino-based company opted to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” complying with an executive order Donald Trump signed last week.
Discussion:
NOTUS, The Hill, Associated Press, Reuters, Axios, UPI, One America News Network, FOX 32 Chicago, NewsMax.com, Washington Examiner, Bloomberg, Business Insider, MacRumors, 9to5Mac, Forbes and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Michael Kunzelman / Associated Press:
Judge lacked power to overturn ex-soldier Bowe Bergdahl's military conviction, appeals court rules — A federal judge had no authority to overturn former U.S. Army soldier Bowe Bergdahl's military conviction for deserting his post in Afghanistan before Taliban-allied forces abducted him and held …
Discussion:
Associated Press and RedState
Sam Levine / The Guardian:
US lawmakers demand investigation into Trump administration's secret surveillance of Americans — Exclusive: Two congressmembers respond to revelations of government snooping on journalists, non-profits and unions — Two congressional Democrats asked a government watchdog Tuesday …
Discussion:
Straight Arrow and emptywheel
