August 26, 2026

00 First Filter

US says it fired missiles to disable ship breaking Iran blockade– www.bbc.co.uk

pgnewser August 12, 2026 0

US says it fired missiles to disable ship breaking Iran blockade– www.bbc.co.uk
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EXCERPT:

The US military says one of its helicopters has fired missiles to disable “the steering gear” of a cargo ship attempting to violate the US blockade of Iranian ports.

In a statement, US Central Command (Centcom) says its MH-60 aircraft on Tuesday fired two hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova vessel, as it attempted to transit the Gulf of Oman.

Centcom said it acted after “the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces”. The vessel “is no longer transiting to Iran”, it added.

Iran has not commented. The US has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports, following failed attempts to end the war it and Israel started on 28 February.

Tehran retaliated by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states across the Gulf. It has also effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz – a key oil shipping waterway.

A fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas used to transit the strait before the war and prices have fluctuated wildly since then.

Mediators have so far failed to bring the sides to an agreement on reopening the strait – and, since the latest ceasefire collapsed in June, both the US and Iran have exchanged fire intermittently.

Opposition to local data centers rises sharply, survey finds– phys.org

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Opposition to local data centers rises sharply, survey finds– phys.org
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EXCERPT:
As protesters rally against data center construction in dozens of states and New York and Texas pause the issuance of permits for large data centers, a new nationally representative survey finds that Americans’ opposition to data centers in their communities has risen sharply since last spring.

Syria sentences ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia over killings, torture– www.channelnewsasia.com

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Syria sentences ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia over killings, torture– www.channelnewsasia.com
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EXCERPT:

DAMASCUS: A Syrian court sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death on Tuesday (Aug 11) after a trial in absentia, convicting him of crimes including killings, torture and arbitrary arrest during the country’s nearly 14-year war.

It was the first conviction against Assad, who was ousted in a rebel offensive in December 2024 that ended decades of his family’s iron-fisted rule over Syria, and the brutal war that killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians.

Assad fled the capital Damascus as rebel fighters approached nearly two years ago, and is currently in Moscow.

In a trial of former government officials on Tuesday, a judge handed down a death sentence to Assad over the crimes of “premeditated and intentional murder of more than one person and of children, torture, arbitrary arrest and crimes against humanity”.

Atef Najib, a security official under Assad, was also sentenced to death.

For Nigel Farage, success brings new pressures and a showdown with Count Binface– abcnews.com

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For Nigel Farage, success brings new pressures and a showdown with Count Binface– abcnews.com
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EXCERPT:

LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Nigel Farage depicts himself as an outsider taking on the establishment, but now the tables have turned.

The leader of anti-immigration party Reform UK is running in an election as the incumbent favorite, and his main opponent is a man dressed as a garbage can.

Farage, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, triggered Thursday’s special election in the English seaside town of Clacton by quitting his seat in the House of Commons last month. Facing awkward questions about his finances, Farage said he would let voters judge him in a “people versus the establishment” contest.

But the other main parties called it a stunt and refused to take part, leaving Farage running against an assortment of independents, jokers and single-issue candidates led by Count Binface, a comic space alien with a trash can on his head. In that field, it’s Farage who looks like the mainstream politician.

Simon Usherwood, professor of politics and international studies at the Open University, said Farage’s appeal is built on his image as a straight-talking individualist, “the kind of bloke you can have a pint with down the pub.”

“It’s that very charismatic aspect of Farage that is both his strength and his weakness,” Usherwood said. “He has fallen into a trap of thinking that he is somehow immune from the kind of scrutiny that would undo other politicians.”

The FCC approved “space mirrors” that experts say could blind stargazers and disrupt wildlife– www.techspot.com

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The FCC approved “space mirrors” that experts say could blind stargazers and disrupt wildlife– www.techspot.com
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EXCERPT:

WTF in Space: Reflect Orbital proposed a bold plan to launch a large number of “space mirrors” into Earth’s orbit and surprisingly enough, the FCC gave the idea the green light. Now, experts and researchers are warning that the project could have potentially dangerous effects on human health and the planet’s natural cycles.

In July, the FCC approved Reflect Orbital’s proposal to deploy satellites capable of reflecting sunlight from orbit. These “space mirrors” are designed to redirect sunlight toward specific areas of the planet’s surface, with potential benefits for power generation and other applications. Experts continue to debate the plan, while the California-based startup is betting on its technology’s “safeguards.”

The “mirrors in space” concept is certainly worth discussing, as the nearly 2,000 public comments received by the FCC demonstrate. A new critical assessment comes from Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society. In a recent interview, Massey described the FCC’s approval as “extraordinary.”

Reflect Orbital is now planning to launch Eärendil-1, its first space-mirror prototype. Experts warn that amateur astronomers observing the satellite could risk serious eye damage. Looking directly at sunlight reflected from the device could be comparable to viewing the Sun without adequate eye protection, with Massey describing the potential exposure as a significant risk to human health.

Pope Leo’s Advisors: Is the Vatican Replacing Doctrine with Political Religion?– www.lifesitenews.com

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Pope Leo’s Advisors: Is the Vatican Replacing Doctrine with Political Religion?– www.lifesitenews.com
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EXCERPT:

Pope Leo XIV has appointed advisers to the Vatican’s religious life dicastery who have supported women’s ordination and LGBT advocacy. Frank Wright argues these appointments are not isolated controversies; they reflect a broader effort to substitute contemporary liberal political ideology for Catholic doctrine.

Drawing on philosopher Michael Polanyi’s concept of “moral inversion,” he explains that when Christianity and objective morality are removed from society, man’s religious impulses do not disappear, they become attached to political causes. LGBTQ ideology, open borders, and net zero environmentalism take on the characteristics of religious belief. Disagreement is treated not as political difference, but as a moral or even personal offense.

Fauci’s ‘pay-to-play scheme’ both ‘unlawful’ and ‘unethical,’ Rutgers expert says– www.thecollegefix.com

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Fauci’s ‘pay-to-play scheme’ both ‘unlawful’ and ‘unethical,’ Rutgers expert says– www.thecollegefix.com
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EXCERPT:

Fauci previously praised his own ‘personal ethics’ in explaining why he doesn’t practice Catholicism anymore

Dr. Anthony Fauci’s requests for federal grant recipients to nominate him for cash prizes is both “unlawful” and “unethical,” according to a Rutgers University expert.

New documents released by Senator Rand Paul detail Fauci’s “side hustle,” which include winning millions of dollars in cash prizes. Fauci would solicit his allies who also received federal funding from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases to nominate him for prizes.

Some of the solicitations occurred during the nationwide COVID lockdowns that were created at the prompting of Fauci.

He also instructed federal staffers to work for him to find prizes and manage the application process, including one that netted him $900,000.

Sen. Paul highlighted how Fauci asked Dr. Barton Haynes, director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, about a nomination for the Shaw Prize. Haynes responded to Fauci’s request writing “You bet!!! Let’s do it.”

The revelations drew criticism from Rutgers biologist Richard Ebright.

“Fauci used his position in the federal bureaucracy to operate an apparent unethical and unlawful pay-to-play scheme,” Ebright wrote in an email to The College Fix.

“Fauci had final approval authority for all NIAID extramural research grants. In particular, Fauci had final approval authority–including full authority to ignore or overrule priority scores from external peer reviewers–on the very large, tens of millions of dollars each, grants known as ‘center grants’ and ‘program project grants,’” Ebright explained.

BREAKING: Far-left ‘trans kids’ enthusiast Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota US Senate Democrat primary | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com

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BREAKING: Far-left ‘trans kids’ enthusiast Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota US Senate Democrat primary | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com
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EXCERPT:

Flanagan previously wore a “Protect Trans Kids” shirt featuring a tactical knife and praised Democrats for voting against the Laken Riley Act.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a progressive Democrat who previously wore a “Protect Trans Kids” shirt featuring a tactical knife and praised Democrats for voting against the Laken Riley Act, has won the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s open US Senate seat.

Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig on Tuesday, marking another victory for the far-left wing of the Democratic Party. She was backed by progressive Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as retiring Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith.

Flanagan, a supporter of transgender activism, previously faced criticism over a photograph showing her wearing a shirt bearing the words “Protect Trans Kids” alongside the image of a tactical knife. The image resurfaced amid scrutiny of transgender activist merchandise featuring slogans alongside guns, knives and other weapons. Other merchandise included phrases such as “Trans rights … or else” alongside images of firearms.

The primary exposed a sharp divide between Flanagan and Craig on immigration, particularly over Craig’s vote for the Laken Riley Act. Flanagan repeatedly hammered Craig over the vote during the campaign, while Craig later expressed regret for supporting the legislation. Flanagan previously praised Minnesota Democrats who opposed the Laken Riley Act while speaking at a stop on Sanders’ “Fight Oligarchy” tour in May.

New student visa rule stops endless college, expert says– www.thecollegefix.com

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New student visa rule stops endless college, expert says– www.thecollegefix.com
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EXCERPT:

Student visa fraud will be reduced under a new Trump policy limiting how long foreigners can attend college, an expert told The College Fix.

Set to go into effect on Sept. 15, the “duration of status” rule will now set a fixed, four-year limit on student visas or shorter, depending on the normal length of the program. Prior to this change, students could stay here as long as they were enrolled in school.

The program ensures temporary visas remain “just that: temporary, with a fixed end date,” according to Ira Mehlman.

The spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform praised the move in emailed comments to The Fix.

“The new policy makes it clear to everyone up front — the applicant, the university and the government — that the terms of entry are for a specific purpose, for a specific duration, and that when those have been fulfilled the student must depart the country,” he said.

The policy “will also end the practice of endlessly enrolling in classes beyond completion solely for the purpose of extending a student visa.”

Under this rule, the American government, and not “universities which often have a financial interest in having a foreign student remain,” will have the say in case-by-case visa extensions for students, Mehlman said.

Fauci’s Pardon Neutralized? Florida Issues Subpoena, Begins Investigation Into Self-Dealing, Which Fauci’s Pardon Does Not Cover– www.westernjournal.com

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Fauci’s Pardon Neutralized? Florida Issues Subpoena, Begins Investigation Into Self-Dealing, Which Fauci’s Pardon Does Not Cover– www.westernjournal.com
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EXCERPT:

Millions of Americans are lamenting that former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci has immunity — no pun intended — after countless instances of lying, deceiving, and building a medical oligarchy to rule the country under the guise of health.

Just before leaving office in January 2025, former President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon to Fauci “FOR ANY OFFENSES against the United States which he may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014, through the date of this pardon arising from or in any manner related to his service as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force or the White House COVID-19 Response Team, or as Chief Medical Advisor to the President.”

The pardon extends to federal offenses only.

When questioned about his activities as COVID czar on July 29 by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights.

Trump Judge Allows Last-Gasp Scheme To Save President From Brink Of Disaster– crooksandliars.com

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Trump Judge Allows Last-Gasp Scheme To Save President From Brink Of Disaster– crooksandliars.com
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EXCERPT:

A Trump-appointed federal judge green-lit a legal maneuver that could shield President Donald Trump’s financial records from disclosure.

U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman of the Southern District of Florida issued the ruling in Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC.

The ruling came one day before a court-ordered deadline that would have forced Trump’s trust to hand over tax returns, financial statements, and ownership records for roughly 400 business entities, according to court documents.

According to Forbes, the subpoena covered individual Trump properties, Trump Media & Technology Group, the Trump Organization, crypto company World Liberty Financial, intellectual property, and personal assets including jewelry and art.

Trump’s trust filed an emergency motion the day before the deadline, asking Altman to block enforcement of the order, according to court filings.

The deadline Trump’s team was racing to beat had been set by U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett, who issued a written order July 27 compelling the Trust to produce the records because Trump’s own lawsuit put his finances directly at issue.

“All of President Trump’s brand, properties, and businesses are impugned…and result in both economic and reputational damage, all of that is now at issue in the case,” Lett said at the July 27 discovery hearing, according to court transcripts.

Texas AG Ken Paxton INTERVENES to Save Unborn Surrogate Baby’s Life– wltreport.com

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Texas AG Ken Paxton INTERVENES to Save Unborn Surrogate Baby’s Life– wltreport.com
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EXCERPT:

As a life-or-death battle over a precious unborn child rages on, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton just stepped in to take direct action.

McKenna West, a single mother and nurse in Alaska, was chosen to be a surrogate mother for a couple in California, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed.

However, after learning that the baby boy will be born with a serious but treatable heart condition, the couple is trying to force West to abort him against her will.

The New York Post provided some additional background on the high-stakes case:

A surrogate mother is fighting tooth and nail to save the life of the baby she’s carrying amid relentless pressure from his biological parents, who pushed to abort him after he was diagnosed with a heart condition, a lawsuit claims.

McKenna West, an Alaskan nurse and single mom of two, signed on to become a surrogate with Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists in September 2025 to make ends meet.

When she underwent an anatomy scan in her 20th week of pregnancy in April 2026, “Baby Gabriel” was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) — a severe but treatable heart condition, per the lawsuit.

Baby Gabriel’s biological parents, referred to in court papers only as A.B. and C.D., demanded West abort the baby, in accordance with the “abortion on demand” clause of their surrogacy agreement, according to court docs.

Doctors in Alaska refused to perform the abortion — a two-day-long, highly intensive and risky late-term procedure, so the biological parents demanded West travel to Seattle, per court documents.

West, already bonded with the unborn child, was grief-stricken at the prospect.

She was appalled at the idea that doctors would inject Baby Gabriel with “a solution that will stop his heart and then he’ll be literally ripped apart and dismembered as he’s taken from [her] uterus,” when his condition is treatable, according to the suit.

“Every life matters. No woman should be forced to end the life of the baby she is carrying — including me… Baby Gabriel should receive a chance at life,” West told The Post in a statement.

Tom Tiffany secures GOP nomination for Wisconsin governor– www.washingtonexaminer.com

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Tom Tiffany secures GOP nomination for Wisconsin governor– www.washingtonexaminer.com
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EXCERPT:

Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) won the Republican nomination to be Wisconsin‘s next governor on Tuesday, besting long-shot candidate Andy Manske in the GOP primary to advance to the general election.

Tiffany secured the primary win with 96.4% of the vote, while Manske trailed with 3.5% of the vote, according to the Associated Press as of Tuesday evening. Tiffany, endorsed by President Donald Trump, awaits the Democratic primary winner as he looks to take back the governor’s mansion from Democrats for the first time since 2019.

Tiffany has held his northwest Wisconsin seat in the U.S. House since 2020, announcing his exit from the chamber to run for the statewide office in September 2025 to replace retiring Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI). Several GOP candidates had dropped their bids for the seat either after Tiffany entered the race or after Trump endorsed him, leaving Tiffany to take on Manske, a 27-year-old medical service technician.

The congressman has run his gubernatorial campaign touting his years of experience in public office from the local level to Capitol Hill, arguing he has “fought for Wisconsin at every level of government.” Tiffany has campaigned largely on issues like affordability, public safety, and education, vowing to freeze property taxes, ban sanctuary cities across the state, and invest in K-12 education.

JUST IN: Darline Graham Advances to GOP Senate Primary Runoff in South Carolina– wltreport.com

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JUST IN: Darline Graham Advances to GOP Senate Primary Runoff in South Carolina– wltreport.com
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EXCERPT:

Sen. Darline Graham, the sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, has just advanced to a runoff election in the special South Carolina Republican Senate primary.

Graham, who is endorsed by President Trump, received the highest percentage of votes out of a crowded field of candidates.

However, since no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, Graham and second-place contender Rep. Ralph Norman will face off in a runoff later this month.

Here are the full special election results:

Dem Socialist Pakistani Maryam Khan Wins Connecticut Senate Primary Over Incumbent– gellerreport.com

pgnewser August 12, 2026 0

Dem Socialist Pakistani Maryam Khan Wins Connecticut Senate Primary Over Incumbent– gellerreport.com
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EXCERPT:

Maryam Khan Wins Connecticut Senate Primary Over Incumbent

Scientists found a new way to stop malaria: Let the mosquito live, but kill the parasite inside it |– timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Scientists found a new way to stop malaria: Let the mosquito live, but kill the parasite inside it |– timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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EXCERPT:

A mosquito does not need to die for its role in malaria transmission to be interrupted. That idea sits at the centre of a 2025 study led by researchers associated with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who tested a different way of using bed nets: instead of relying entirely on insecticides to kill mosquitoes, the treated material can deliver antiparasitic compounds when mosquitoes come into contact with it. The compounds are designed to act after they enter the mosquito, where they interfere with the development of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for most human malaria. The approach is particularly relevant as conventional insecticides are losing effectiveness against resistant mosquito populations.

Why insecticide-treated bed nets are becoming less effective against malaria

Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets have been among the most important tools used against malaria. Their success has been closely tied to reducing contact between people and mosquitoes, while insecticides on the nets kill or incapacitate mosquitoes that land on the material. That system is becoming harder to maintain in areas where mosquito populations have developed resistance to commonly used insecticides. According to the study published in Nature, titled ‘In vivo screen of Plasmodium targets for mosquito-based malaria control’, the decline in malaria deaths has stalled in recent years, with insecticide resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes threatening the effectiveness of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets. In 2023, malaria was estimated to have caused 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths worldwide.The researchers were therefore looking at the same familiar point of contact, a mosquito landing on a treated surface, but asking a different question. What if the target was not the mosquito itself? Earlier work had already suggested that this could work. The team had shown that atovaquone, an antimalarial drug, could interfere with P. falciparum after mosquitoes encountered a treated surface.

Lisa Demuth Defeats Mike Lindell for Minnesota Governor Nomination– www.breitbart.com

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Lisa Demuth Defeats Mike Lindell for Minnesota Governor Nomination– www.breitbart.com
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EXCERPT:

Lisa Demuth defeated MyPillow founder Mike Lindell to clinch the Republican nomination for Minnesota governor on Tuesday night.

Demuth, the Minnesota state House Speaker, beat Mike Lindell with relative ease on Monday night, earning 43.6 percent of the vote versus Lindell’s 32.3 percent.

Lindell received President Donald Trump’s endorsement leading up to the race.

“Mike Lindell, the ‘Pillow Man,’ and one of America’s greatest and most hard working Patriots, is running to be GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA, replacing one of the worst and most incompetent governors in the history of the U.S.A.,” Trump said. “Early Primary Voting has begun and, if given the chance, Mike will be SPECTACULAR!!!”

Runoff Election Set For Lindsey Graham’s Former Senate Seat– trendingpoliticsnews.com

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Runoff Election Set For Lindsey Graham’s Former Senate Seat– trendingpoliticsnews.com
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EXCERPT:

Interim U.S. Senator Darline Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman have advanced to a runoff in South Carolina’s special Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat previously held by the late Senator Lindsey Graham.

Ahead of Tuesday’s primary, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, to serve the remainder of the term, which ends in January 2027. Under state law, a special primary was required to select the Republican nominee for the full six-year term beginning in 2027.

Ten candidates appeared on the Republican primary ballot. Unofficial results with nearly all votes counted showed Darline Graham receiving 109,582 votes, or 32.7 percent, while Norman secured second place with 24.6 percent of the vote.

Significant vote shares also went to additional candidates, as U.S. Rep. Russell Fry finished third with roughly 19.6 percent of the vote. Former Governor Mark Sanford trailed close behind with 14.9 percent, while businessman Mark Lynch, who previously mounted a primary challenge against the late Senator Graham, received a little under six percent. A handful of additional candidates received smaller shares of the vote.

Michele Tafoya Wins GOP Nomination for Senate Contest in Minnesota– gellerreport.com

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Michele Tafoya Wins GOP Nomination for Senate Contest in Minnesota– gellerreport.com
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EXCERPT:

The former NFL sideline reporter for ABC and ESPN and, more recently, conservative podcaster with Salem Media has secured the nomination for Republicans, looking to be the next Senator for the Land of 10,000 Lakes. She’ll be facing the liberal Democrat and sitting Senator Amy Blobuchar.

Tafoya: Thank you, Minnesota! I am honored to be the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. Tonight’s results show Minnesotans are ready for a new direction. Together, we will bring common sense back to Washington, fight fraud, hold those responsible accountable, and win in November. Let’s get to work! (Tafoya).

Tafoya dominated the GOP contest—with over 50 percent of the vote (Decision Desk)

New MA Law Allows Abortion Minutes Before Birth For Any Reason– thefederalist.com

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New MA Law Allows Abortion Minutes Before Birth For Any Reason– thefederalist.com
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EXCERPT:

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed an abortion bill into law on Aug. 10 that removed the state’s current 24-week ban and legalized abortions up to the point of birth for any reason with a doctor’s “professional judgment.”

When the law takes effect in 90 days, Massachusetts will join 10 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing abortion up to the point of birth.

A press release on the bill, H.B. 5595, stated that it “comes as reproductive rights continue to face unprecedented attacks across the country following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.” The release framed enabling women to kill 9-month-old unborn babies as heroically “strengthen[ing] protections for patients and providers, ” as “Trump and state legislatures continue to push abortion bans.”

Healey posted a picture with an “Abortion is Health Care” sign on her X account with the caption, “No matter what Donald Trump does, we will protect your reproductive freedom.”

A separate post stated that “as long as I’m Governor, abortion will remain safe, legal and accessible in Massachusetts,” changing the Bill Clinton-popularized adage that abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare.”

No more strikes on Iran? Trump says US going ‘low key’, stresses economic pressure over military op– timesofindia.indiatimes.com

pgnewser August 10, 2026 0

No more strikes on Iran? Trump says US going ‘low key’, stresses economic pressure over military op– timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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EXCERPT:

 

Trump claims that Iran is facing economic crisis as they have ‘no money’

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the US is taking a low-key approach towards Iran and is not currently looking to launch a new military offensive, even as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continue.“We are low keying it,” Trump told Axios in a brief phone call, adding that the US was only “semi-negotiating” with Iran while watching its worsening economic situation.“We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money,” Trump said.Trump said Iran was “in very bad shape” economically and that the US naval blockade has worsened the crisis.