August 17, 2026

02b U.S. Politics – Progressive

Senate confirms 74 Trump nominees– www.politico.com

pgnewser August 12, 2026 0

Senate confirms 74 Trump nominees– www.politico.com
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EXCERPT:

Senate Republicans confirmed dozens of President Donald Trump’s nominees Friday, just before they leave for a five-week congressional recess.

Senators voted 51-47 to approve officials at the Departments of Defense, Energy, State and other agencies.

They included David Cummins to head the Transportation Security Administration, Cameron Hamilton to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hal Duncan to be OMB deputy director and Francis Brooke to be Treasury deputy secretary. Among the group were several ambassadors, including former Rep. David Brat to be ambassador to Australia.

Senate Republicans changed the chamber’s rules last year to be able to confirm lower-level nominees as a package instead of having to hold a vote on each.

After finishing the expedited procedure Friday, Senate Republicans estimate they will only have a small number of civilian nominees awaiting confirmation.

 

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

pgnewser August 12, 2026 0

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.

Wisconsin’s Dem establishment is scrambling to stop a democratic socialist Tuesday– www.politico.com

pgnewser August 10, 2026 0

Wisconsin’s Dem establishment is scrambling to stop a democratic socialist Tuesday– www.politico.com
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EXCERPT:

KENOSHA, Wisconsin — The progressive movement’s midterms march has arrived in Wisconsin, where a democratic socialist is forcing establishment Democrats to mount an all-out, last-ditch effort to stop her.

State Rep. Francesca Hong is the front-runner to become the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, fueled by a populist campaign tapping into voters’ cost of living concerns. David Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive backed by outgoing Gov. Tony Evers, has emerged as the top candidate trying to cut off Hong’s bid.

Ahead of Tuesday’s primary, electability was top of mind for voters and both candidates as they raced to prove they could build the widest, strongest coalition against presumptive Republican nominee Tom Tiffany.

Crowley and Evers have been barnstorming the swing state over the past week, warning a vote for Hong risks losing the governor’s mansion in November to Tiffany, a hard-right member of the House Freedom Caucus backed by President Donald Trump.

House Democrats Are Planning A Massive Investigation Into All Of Trump’s Corruption– www.politicususa.com

pgnewser August 10, 2026 0

House Democrats Are Planning A Massive Investigation Into All Of Trump’s Corruption– www.politicususa.com
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EXCERPT:

 

The Supreme Court granted Donald Trump criminal immunity for official acts as president, but that immunity does not extend to everyone involved in potentially corrupt acts with Trump.

Democrats have been laying the groundwork for months for these investigations by looking into companies that are getting government contracts and those who engage in business deals with the president.

PoliticusUSA’s news and opinion is not influenced by any special interest, corporation, or political party. Support us by becoming a subscriber.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee, said on MS NOW’s The Weekend:

So we’re going to continue to assert the rule of law at every turn with our allies in. We’ve been trying to gather as much information as possible about all of the scams, all of the corrupt rip-offs.

We’ll be able to pursue those investigations with the power of the subpoena.

Raskin said that House Democrats are not afraid to impeach Trump again, but will only be done if it helps them make progress for the country:

WaPo “Leakers” Called Treasonous by Trump after Claiming U.S. Low in Munitions

pgnewser August 7, 2026 0

After a Washington Post article claimed an “insider” revealed to them that U.S. long-range munitions were running low due to the Iran war, President Trump accused the organization of being treasonous.

President Trump wrote, “The U.S. has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types. Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history. The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought.”

Trump Blisters Treasonous ‘Washington ComPost,’ Reports He’s ‘Extremely Happy’ With Pete Hegseth – RedState– redstate.com
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EXCERPT:

When news broke that the U.S. is running low on munitions because of the Iran conflict, the media pounced.

President Trump responded Thursday morning, writing in a social media post that we have “massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types” and that “The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down.”

Meanwhile, as our Nick Arama wrote, the Washington Post got in on the act by breathlessly reporting Tuesday on a supposed angry confrontation between Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth at Camp David, wherein the president allegedly “boiled over” and berated his Secretary of War for being unprepared.

Trump denies U.S. running low on some munitions, says vast resupplies being produced– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser August 7, 2026 0

Trump denies U.S. running low on some munitions, says vast resupplies being produced– www.cbsnews.com
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EXCERPT:

President Trump is taking issue with recent reports of significant U.S. munitions shortages due to the war with Iran.

In a post on his Truth Social platform early Thursday, Mr. Trump said, “The U.S. has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types. Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history. The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought!”

CBS News reported Tuesday that the U.S. has used nearly all of its global stockpile of long-range precision missiles during the war, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

The sources said the U.S. has used virtually all of its Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, and Precision Strike Missiles. Reuters was first to report that the U.S. had used “virtually all” of its long-range precision missiles during Operation Epic Fury.

CBS News previously reported that the U.S. has dwindling stockpiles of defensive interceptors and long-range missiles, which has become a pressure point within the administration, and that the U.S. cannot sustain the rate at which it expended precision munitions early in the war with Iran.

NYT: Moderate Dems Gear Up for ‘War’ with Democratic Socialists– www.breitbart.com

pgnewser August 7, 2026 0

NYT: Moderate Dems Gear Up for ‘War’ with Democratic Socialists– www.breitbart.com
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EXCERPT:

The leader of a moderate Democrat group said members are gearing up for a battle with democratic socialists who may try to capture the presidential nomination in 2028, the New York Times (NYT) reported Thursday.

Some Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), have been warning against the rising influence of socialists and communists in the Democrat Party, Breitbart News reported Wednesday.

Indeed, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed beat establishment Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in Tuesday’s primary in Michigan, where “the radical transformation of the Democratic Party is center stage,” Breitbart News said Wednesday:

El-Sayed, a public health official and former failed candidate for governor in 2018, delivered the most high-profile win to date for the movement increasingly calling the shots in Democrat politics. While he is not a formal member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the ascendant power center of left-wing American politics, elected officials identifying as democratic socialists, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), campaigned hard for him over several months leading up to the August primary.

How racist are GOP voters? This Michigan primary result says it all.– www.dailykos.com

pgnewser August 7, 2026 0

How racist are GOP voters? This Michigan primary result says it all.– www.dailykos.com
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EXCERPT:

If you want to understand just how racist Republican voters are, look no further than Tuesday night’s result in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District primary.

Both President Donald Trump and the National Republican Congressional Committee had endorsed veteran Amir Hassan to face off against Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet in this seat that Trump carried by 2 points in 2024.

“Amir Hassan is a Flint native, Navy veteran, and former federal law enforcement officer who fought for nation and will fight for Michigan in Congress. Hassan is set to secure victory in November and deliver real representation for hardworking Michiganders,” NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon wrote in a July 15 post that added Hassan to the committee’s “MAGA Majority” program for candidates national Republicans deem as top-tier recruits.

Cartoon by Pedro MOlinaPedro Molina/Tribune Content Agency

And Trump posted a lengthy endorsement of Hassan on July 28, writing in a Truth Social post: “From bravely fighting for our incredible U.S. Navy, to protecting his Community as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer, Amir has served our Nation with distinction, and will bring that same Fighting Spirit to the U.S. Congress.”

Thune Lets SAVE Act Die

pgnewser August 5, 2026 1

The SAVE Act, aka the SAVE America Act, will not be passed before the summer recess thanks to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). The last attempt failed to pass by a vote of 48-50.

It now appears increasingly likely that mass mailer elections will continue at least until 2026, giving Democrats a decided advantage. For the progressive state press, this defeat of Voter ID legislation was celebrated. They understand their party is the one that counts that mass mailer ballots.

Senate Republicans Ignore Trump And Let SAVE America Act Die– www.politicususa.com
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EXCERPT:

To understand how much power Trump has lost, it helps to take a look at the agendas of the White House and the Republican Senate majority. Last week, Donald Trump demanded that Senate Majority Leader Thune cancel the August recess and stay in session until his election rigging legislation, which has been misleadingly named the SAVE America Act, was passed.

The Senate responded by moving forward with an attempt to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded until December 11, trying to move forward on the late Lindsey Graham’s bill to sanction Russia, and a cryptocurrency reform bill.

Not only will the Senate leave when its work is done for a five-week recess, but it will also leave without passing Trump’s desperate gambit to rig the midterm election and keep himself relevant for the final two years of his term.

Republicans in the Senate keep telling Trump that the SAVE America Act is dead in the water, but the president keeps trying to push for it to be passed.

The legislation Senate Republicans are working on doesn’t address inflation and affordability, but it shows the majority has no interest in Trump’s pet legislation.

 

The SCREEN Act is a Christian Nationalist Nightmare– www.404media.co

pgnewser August 5, 2026 0

The SCREEN Act is a Christian Nationalist Nightmare– www.404media.co
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EXCERPT:

On Wednesday morning, Ted Cruz’s Senate Commerce Committee will convene on five bills aimed at age verification and “child safety.” The bills each have their own issues when it comes to privacy, data collection, parental rights, and free speech. But one bill, the partisan Republican SCREEN Act, is a Christian nationalist nightmare.

Utah Senator Mike Lee introduced the Shielding Children’s Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act in February 2025, alongside exclusively Republican cosponsors and supporters Senators John Curtis, Jim Banks, and Representative Mary Miller.

The SCREEN Act would require every website that includes even one piece of what the legislation describes as “harmful to minors” to verify visitors’ ages. It defines “harmful to minors” as content that “depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or lewd exhibition of the genitals;” is “obscene” or “child pornography;” or “appeals to the prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion.”

US has used ‘virtually all’ of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war: Sources– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser August 5, 2026 0

US has used ‘virtually all’ of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war: Sources– www.channelnewsasia.com
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EXCERPT:

According to the report, PrSM stockpiles were low to start with, since it is a relatively new munition, but the US military has ordered a large number of them for 2027.

The Army has said that ATACMS are being phased out and that production is shifting to the newer PrSM missiles.

Military leaders have for weeks warned the president that stockpiles of defensive weapons – including Patriot interceptors, which are effective against ballistic missiles – were dwindling, said two of the sources.

Last week, several media outlets reported Trump had decided not to launch another massive offensive inside Iran in part because his military advisers had warned about the US stockpile.

Capitol agenda: Senate stopgap sets up fall clash with House– www.politico.com

pgnewser August 5, 2026 0

Capitol agenda: Senate stopgap sets up fall clash with House– www.politico.com
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EXCERPT:

Senators on Monday will take up a bipartisan funding patch measure that sets them up for a clash with House lawmakers in September.

Senate appropriators released stopgap bill text Sunday that would fund federal agencies through Dec. 11 at current levels, with some exceptions. Leaders set an initial procedural vote tonight with hopes of passing the measure before the Senate breaks for recess.

But the bill includes several rebukes of President Donald Trump, and House lawmakers will need to decide when they return in the fall whether to take up the Senate’s version or try to muscle their own version forward.

Senators are also facing an immediate deadline crunch: Leaders will need bipartisan time agreements to fast-track legislation in order to accomplish their ambitious schedule this week, including for the funding patch. The chamber’s Republicans are preparing to potentially stay in session through the weekend, two people granted anonymity to disclose private scheduling told POLITICO.

Trump’s despair over Iran revealed in memo seeking ‘creative and unconventional’ ways to punish the enemy: report– www.independent.co.uk

pgnewser August 5, 2026 0

Trump’s despair over Iran revealed in memo seeking ‘creative and unconventional’ ways to punish the enemy: report– www.independent.co.uk
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EXCERPT:

Politico Finally Admits Voter Registration Runs On Honor System– thefederalist.com

pgnewser August 4, 2026 0

Politico Finally Admits Voter Registration Runs On Honor System– thefederalist.com
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EXCERPT:

Politico has spent months telling Americans that Republican concerns about noncitizens in our elections were exaggerated. Yet now that New Jersey admitted more than 6,000 noncitizens ended up on its voter rolls (about 400 of whom voted) — Politico has discovered the problem was apparently an “open secret” all along.

New Jersey Democrat Gov. Mikie Sherrill recently announced that a “software error” in the state’s motor vehicle system “led to the registration of roughly 6,600 people who indicated they were not U.S. citizens between June 2023 and June 2024.” The noncitizens allegedly answered “no” when asked whether they were citizens, but the system registered them anyway. Of those registered, nearly 400 illegally cast a ballot, the governor’s office said.

Now that the reality of noncitizens both registering to vote and voting is too difficult for the corporate media to ignore, they have to cover it. Politico’s Matt Friedman reports that the announcement “exposed an open secret about New Jersey’s so-called motor voter law that officials and political operatives have known for years: There’s little to stop noncitizens from registering to vote if they want to, or even by mistake.”

Iran furiously hits back at Donald Trump claim with ‘US aggression’ warning | World | News– www.express.co.uk

pgnewser August 4, 2026 0

Iran furiously hits back at Donald Trump claim with ‘US aggression’ warning | World | News– www.express.co.uk
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EXCERPT:

Iran has furiously hit back at earlier claims from Donald Trump that new talks are imminent over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign Minister, Esmaeil Baghaei said the regime was merely holding talks with Oman in order to establish a temporary safe route through the Strait of Hormuz.

He stated that there were no plans either to receive a delegation or to send one. He also noted that an agreement with Oman, despite its location along the strategic waterway, would not by itself be sufficient to facilitate the waterway’s reopening. Earlier, Donald Trump asserted that talks with Iran were scheduled to take place that day and claimed that Washington and Tehran had reached an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that Iran has largely restricted since the outbreak of the conflict.

Speaking on board Air Force One on Sunday, he said Iran “knew the extent of the attack because they saw it forming”, adding: “We are talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon.”

Senate finalizes funding patch that would block Trump’s grant overhaul– www.politico.com

pgnewser August 4, 2026 0

Senate finalizes funding patch that would block Trump’s grant overhaul– www.politico.com
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EXCERPT:

Senate appropriators released text Sunday of a stopgap funding bill to avert a shutdown come Oct. 1 and punt broader government funding negotiations until after the midterms.

Under the bipartisan plan, federal agencies would be funded through Dec. 11 at current levels, with some exceptions. Senate leaders have set an initial procedural vote for Monday night and want to pass the bill by the end of the week — just before senators are scheduled to leave town for a five-week recess.

When lawmakers return to the Capitol in September, House Republican leaders must then decide whether to take up the Senate funding patch, which contains a significant rebuke of President Donald Trump — a temporary ban on finalizing the White House proposal to put political appointees in charge of approving grants.

“The ICE Agent Behind Me Grabbed the Back of My Shirt and Just Threw Me Like a Sack of Trash” – Mother Jones– www.motherjones.com

pgnewser August 3, 2026 0

“The ICE Agent Behind Me Grabbed the Back of My Shirt and Just Threw Me Like a Sack of Trash” – Mother Jones– www.motherjones.com
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EXCERPT:

Masked ICE agents stands guard outside the Delaney Hall detention during a protest against the transfer of detainees on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey.Andres Kudacki/AP

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.

A 68-year-old nurse who brought her mobile clinic to serve visitors at an ICE detention center, only to be thrown to the ground by ICE agents. A pair of cemetery workers who were maced and handcuffed at work after ICE agents broke through a gate to reach them. A family of six wrongly detained for a month. A trans man forced to labor without pay in ICE detention, and a legal observer beat with a baton at the scene of Alex Pretti’s killing.

These are some of the 54 people who filed tort claims against federal agents this week as part of a nationwide ACLU push for ICE accountability. 32 are US citizens, 22 are immigrants. And they’re all seeking monetary damages for harm sustained during Donald Trump’s ICE surge.

Under US law, it is near-impossible for a person to file a civil rights lawsuit against an individual federal agent, the way someone who’s been hurt by a local or state police officer could. But an increasing number of people harmed by ICE and DHS agents are filing tort claims: demanding monetary compensation from the federal government for what has been done to them.

Trump Has Broken The US Military So Badly That It Can’t Defend Israel– www.politicususa.com

pgnewser August 3, 2026 0

Trump Has Broken The US Military So Badly That It Can’t Defend Israel– www.politicususa.com
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EXCERPT:

 

The Trump administration has broken the US military to the point where it could expand the war in Iran, as Trump threatened to do, because the US is running out of munitions and equipment.

Only Donald Trump could try to expand a war and fail because he has wrecked the military to the point where it is having to cut back.

PoliticusUSA is 100% independent news and opinion. Support us by becoming a subscriber.

The Pentagon has never passed a full financial audit, and Trump was trying to shake Congress down for $1.15 trillion in additional military funding.

One of the reasons why Israel under Netanyahu has been able to carry out what many consider to be a genocide in Gaza and start a war with Iran is because the United States has protected Israel.

Netanyahu has made Israel historically unpopular in the United States. Many Americans want Israel under Netanyahu to fight its own wars and stand on its own.

New York Times reveals Trump administration subpoena over North Korea story | Freedom of the Press News– www.aljazeera.com

pgnewser August 3, 2026 0

New York Times reveals Trump administration subpoena over North Korea story | Freedom of the Press News– www.aljazeera.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

The US Justice Department faces criticism for its increasing use of subpoenas in attempts to compel journalists to reveal their sources.

The New York Times has revealed that another journalist is facing a subpoena from the administration of United States President Donald Trump, this time about reporting conducted into a secret military operation in North Korea.

On Saturday, the newspaper — one of the most prominent in the country — identified freelance reporter Matthew Cole as the target of the subpoena.