Support Indiana flooding relief efforts: https://www.cicf.org/resource/options-to-support-recent-indiana-natural-disasters/
SUMMARY:
On this episode of HoosLeft This Week, Sharon Wight and Reece Axel-Adams joined Scott starting with the secret Jeffries-Kushner meeting and AIPAC’s growing influence over House Democratic leadership, before turning to Trump’s economic pressure campaign against Iran, his personally profitable stock trades timed to the war, and an escalating trade war with Canada that produced the “Lake America” renaming stunt. The conversation moved through Trump’s Venezuela oil deal, mounting fears of a Russian test of NATO amid a Patriot missile shortage, and a string of Pentagon, before a heavy stretch on climate — the Himalayan glacial flood disaster and Indiana’s own long flood recovery, including new scrutiny of NIPSCO and Andy Zay’s $625,000 settlement. The back half covered Trump’s push to deregulate beef processing amid a compounding food-safety crisis, RFK Jr.’s handling of Pennsylvania’s measles deaths and his Samoa cover-up, the Meta child-safety settlement, opioid funds being spent on Flock cameras, and Trump’s escalating war on voting — from the USPS mail-ballot rule to federal monitors showing up at Wyoming polling places. The show closed on Indiana’s Secretary of State race and its ballot-book debate, a run of Tuesday primary results, and remembrances of Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Peter Cullen.
Guest info:
Sharon Wight: https://www.electsharonwight.com/
Reece Axel-Adams: https://reecespeace.substack.com/
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00:33 - Intro and guest welcomes (Sharon Wight, Reece Axel-Adams)
00:04:20 - The Jeffries-Kushner meeting and AIPAC’s influence in the House
00:15:56 - Iran sanctions: “Operation Economic Outcast” and the China problem
00:18:41 - Trump’s stock trades and profiting off the Iran war
00:21:12 - The US-Canada trade war and “Lake America”
00:26:10 - Trump’s Venezuela oil deal
00:31:43 - Russia, NATO tensions, and dwindling Patriot missile stocks
00:37:53 - Pentagon purges: Kid Rock, Stars and Stripes, and a fired West Point professor
00:45:37 - The Himalayan glacial flood disaster
00:52:54 - Indiana’s flood recovery and the long road ahead
01:02:06 - NIPSCO scrutiny and Andy Zay’s $625,000 settlement
01:11:20 - Food safety and Trump’s beef deregulation push
01:17:45 - RFK Jr., Pennsylvania’s measles deaths, and the Samoa lie
01:23:30 - The Meta child-safety settlement
01:28:13 - Flock cameras funded by opioid settlement money and Bill Gates on AI limits
01:32:43 - Trump’s war on voting: the USPS rule and the noncitizen-voting report
01:38:23 - Federal election monitors in Wyoming
01:41:20 - Indiana’s Secretary of State race: the ballot book debate
01:49:27 - Tuesday elections: Georgia, Oklahoma, and South Carolina
01:55:04 - In Memoriam: Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Peter Cullen
01:59:56 - Wrap-up, guest info, and announcements
NOTES:
It’s a Big Club
Jeffries and Kushner Meet Privately as Midterm Attacks Fly (NYT)
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries met privately with Jared Kushner in recent weeks in New York City to discuss potential common ground amid the midterm campaign.
Topics discussed included housing, immigration, and cost of living; Kushner suggested Jeffries meet with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Neither man commented publicly; Jeffries’s statement did not acknowledge the meeting but said Democrats would only deal with the administration if Republicans moved on affordability.
The meeting reflects Trump advisers’ awareness that Democrats could win the House majority, with Jeffries in line to become speaker.
Kushner is not formally part of the administration but remains involved in Iran, Gaza, and Ukraine diplomacy; he and Jeffries previously met last year.
Inside the backlash over the Jeffries-Kushner meeting (Axios)
Jeffries publicly defended the Kushner meeting, saying Kushner “asked for a meeting, and I took it, to discuss the affordability crisis”; he called Kushner a top oversight target given his Saudi dealings.
Progressive groups OurRevolution and Justice Democrats criticized the meeting, tying it to Jeffries’s recent comment that Medicare for All is “not legislation... that I support.”
Anonymous House Democrats and aides questioned why Jeffries met with someone holding no official administration role, and noted he hasn’t given caucus-wide explanation.
A senior House Democrat said Jeffries and Kushner “have a relationship” dating to criminal justice reform work during Trump’s first term.
Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder Adam Green said the meeting’s significance depends on outcomes, not optics: “it’s less who you meet with than what you do with the meeting.”
‘Political Malpractice’: Israel Hawk Moskowitz Picked for Key House Mideast Post (Common Dreams)
Rep. Gregory Meeks named Rep. Jared Moskowitz as ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Middle East subcommittee; Moskowitz vowed to “strengthen America’s relationships with Israel and our Gulf allies.”
Critics note Moskowitz voted for a 2023 GOP Israel aid package, opposes conditioning aid on international law compliance, and authored an amendment restricting State Department use of Gaza casualty figures.
Progressive groups (Demand Progress, Just Foreign Policy) called the pick “political malpractice,” citing polling showing roughly 3 in 4 Democratic voters now oppose US aid to Israel, up from 45% three years ago.
Watchdog group Track AIPAC reports Moskowitz has received $833,288 in career AIPAC-linked contributions; Jeffries has received $1,495,709 and Meeks $986,946.
Meeks also placed Debbie Wasserman Schultz (career AIPAC contributions: $1,542,327) on the Oversight and Intelligence Subcommittee and Wesley Bell ($18,126,578) on the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, while pro-Palestine progressive Mark Pocan, who rejects AIPAC funding, was assigned to the Africa Subcommittee.
Economic Warfare
Iran Sanctions
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveils new U.S. economic sanctions to isolate Iran (NPR)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled new sanctions on Iran, dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast,” targeting digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping.
The sanctions target brokers, companies, and shadow fleet vessels operating in the UAE, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Switzerland, and Europe that move Iranian oil revenue to the Revolutionary Guard.
Bessent said Trump is calling world leaders directly, asking them to cut ties with Iran before facing secondary sanctions; China buys almost 90% of Iran’s oil, though Bessent declined to name the country directly.
Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei vowed “seismic” retaliation and threatened to block oil tanker traffic through the Persian Gulf if neighboring states cooperate with the new sanctions.
Iran’s rial currency plunged past 2 million to the dollar in anticipation of the sanctions, with inflation near 90% per Iran’s own statistics agency.
Trump’s new economic squeeze on Iran has a big challenge: China (AP)
China buys over 80% of Iran’s oil exports and is Trump’s main obstacle to the new sanctions campaign, as Trump prepares to host Xi Jinping for a summit next month.
Bessent’s sanctions announcement avoided naming China directly; analysts say this was deliberate to avoid disrupting the planned Trump-Xi summit.
China’s foreign ministry said its Iran cooperation is “within the framework of international law” and opposed “illegal unilateral sanctions,” while pledging to “safeguard its own rights and interests.”
The Treasury sanctioned nearly 60 Iran-linked entities Monday, including some China/Hong Kong-based individuals and a China-owned oil tanker, but avoided major Chinese banks tied to the U.S. financial system.
Analysts say Trump is unlikely to take a hard line against China before the Xi summit, given his priority on maintaining the US-China trade truce and personal rapport with Xi.
Trump made over 1,000 stock trades recently and has profited off the Iran war (CNN)
Trump disclosed over 1,000 additional stock trades in June, including energy stocks (Exxon, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Valero, Occidental) tied to companies directly affected by the Iran war and rising oil prices.
He also traded defense contractor stocks — Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, RTX — between June 12-24, timed near ongoing Iran negotiations, with some sales occurring the day after purchases.
Trump bought SpaceX stock shortly after its IPO, and traded pharma (Eli Lilly, Merck) and AI stocks (Nvidia).
The White House maintains Trump’s portfolio is independently managed and he has no influence over it; a spokesperson didn’t immediately comment on this disclosure.
This adds to earlier 2025 disclosures showing billions in crypto holdings, royalties, and property investments — far exceeding the investment activity of prior presidents.
Trade War w/ Canada
From ‘Fortress North America’ to All-Out Trade War: How the U.S.-Canada Talks Collapsed (NYT)
Talks collapsed last Friday night after Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged Carney not to accept the deal; Carney pulled negotiators from Washington just after 10:30 p.m.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick took a hard line on auto and metals tariffs, refusing to lower tariffs on heavy trucks and pushing to limit reduced rates on aluminum, frustrating US trade office staff.
Canada backed away from reviving the Keystone XL pipeline and pushed to lower a previously agreed auto-tariff floor from 7% to zero in the deal’s final hours.
Sovereignty disputes were central: the US wanted Canada to mirror US tariffs on third countries and repeal a law protecting French-language content on streaming platforms; Canada refused both.
Trump announced 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, and steel starting January 1 and called Canadian officials “clowns”; Carney announced retaliatory tariffs the following day.
Canada Retaliates With Up to 50% Tariffs on Hundreds of U.S. Products (NYT)
Canada will impose tariffs of 50%, 25%, and 15% on about 700 US products starting September 8, including a doubling of steel/aluminum tariffs to 50%.
The targeted list includes aluminum foil, dishwashers, washing machines, stoves, fish, clothing, forestry products, and electronics; the new levies cover roughly $20 billion/year in US imports, matching the value of Canadian exports hit by US tariffs.
Canada will hold its retaliatory car tariff at 25%, resisting Trump’s threat to raise US auto tariffs to 50%, and will maintain tariff-free import limits for companies building cars in Canada.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said some targeted products were chosen to affect states that voted for Trump; Canada also announced interest-free loans and other support for affected industries, with repayments not due until after Trump leaves office.
Canada’s oil, natural gas, and potash — its largest exports to the US — remain untaxed by both sides; economists say taxing those exports would hit the US economy harder than Canada’s current import tariffs.
Trump signs executive order renaming Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ (Politico)
Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” directing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to update federal records.
The order claims the US holds most of the lake’s volume, with the deepest waters lying in US territory.
Carney said Canadians will “never stop calling the body of water Lake Ontario”; NY Gov. Kathy Hochul said “New York won’t be calling it that.”
The move follows the collapsed US-Canada trade talks and mirrors Trump’s earlier renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali.
Trump called Canadian officials “nasty people” and said in the Oval Office, “We have a gulf and a lake... now all we need is an ocean.”
Foreign Relations
America’s murky deal to secure a fifth of Venezuela’s oil (Economist)
Trump announced a deal giving the US “majority control” of a new company with rights to develop 17 Venezuelan oil fields holding over 65bn barrels — described as a partnership with private business, “at no cost to the American taxpayer.”
The deal’s private partner, holding 45%, is North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP), controlled by Alejandro Betancourt, a Venezuelan businessman who has faced international money-laundering investigations; the US reportedly pressured Swiss authorities to resolve a legal case allowing him to travel.
Contracts will be signed with the government of Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s unelected successor after Maduro was captured by US commandos in January and now faces US drug-trafficking charges; Rodríguez was not chosen by Venezuelan voters.
Critics, including former planning minister Ricardo Hausmann, call the arrangement unconstitutional, warning it could give both the Trump administration and the Rodríguez government incentive to block a democratic transition.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, discouraged by the Trump administration from returning to Venezuela, had not commented on the deal as of publication.
Why Did John Ratcliffe Go to Moscow? (Atlantic)
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced, brief trip to Moscow, via a C-17A transport plane tracked by open-source analysts; Trump called it “semi-routine,” but such visits are rare — the last was in 2021 when CIA Director Burns warned Moscow the US knew of its Ukraine invasion plans.
Russia has suffered heavy losses (nearly 500,000 deaths as of May, per UK’s GCHQ) while making little battlefield progress, and US intelligence reportedly fears Russia’s weakness could push Putin toward a limited attack on a NATO state to test the alliance’s resolve.
A series of low-level attacks — explosive-laden drones in Leipzig, explosions/fires at weapons sites in Estonia, Italy, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands — have hit countries supporting Ukraine; some are attributed to Moscow, which denies involvement.
Ratcliffe also stopped in Latvia; the Latvian PM called the trip a “very good signal,” suggesting the visit aimed to reassure European allies and possibly warn Moscow against escalation.
The author argues Washington has deterrence options, such as threatening to expand Ukraine’s Starlink access inside Russia, but says any warning to Putin needs to be unambiguous that attacking NATO territory would draw in the US.
Previously: U.S. Intel Finds Putin Could Test NATO’s Resolve With Limited Incursion (WSJ)
New US intelligence assessments say Putin could test NATO with a limited assault — ranging from cyberattacks to a small-scale land incursion — sometime between fall 2026 and 2029, reversing earlier assessments that he wouldn’t provoke NATO during the Ukraine war.
The shift comes as Russia takes heavy Ukraine war losses while making minimal battlefield gains; officials say a weakened, cornered Putin may become more dangerous, with recent probing incidents including Russian cruise missiles landing in Poland and drones in Romania.
Officials say Putin’s likely goal would be fracturing NATO by testing whether the US would actually respond, especially since Article 5 doesn’t clearly cover cyber or hybrid attacks (citing Estonia’s 2007 cyberattack as a precedent NATO didn’t escalate over).
The assessment coincides with US munition shortfalls from Ukraine transfers and the Iran war — CSIS estimates the US has expended 1,060-1,430 Patriot missiles in the Iran war alone, leaving roughly 870; Pentagon officials dispute claims of a meaningful shortage.
Gen. Dan Caine has warned the White House about declining air-defense interceptor stocks; analysts note the low inventory raises risk for future conflicts with both Russia and China, even if it wouldn’t fully prevent renewed operations against Iran.
Exclusive: US Patriot missile stocks in Europe are ‘beyond critical’ due to Iran war, officials say (AP)
US and NATO officials now call Patriot missile stocks in Europe “beyond critical” — worse than the WSJ report from earlier this month — with the US “definitely” lacking enough Patriots to stop a sustained Russian ballistic missile attack.
CSIS now estimates the Iran war has consumed 65% of US Patriot stock, roughly 1,500 of 2,330 interceptors — higher than the 1,060-1,430 figure cited in the August WSJ piece.
NATO spokesman Col. Martin O’Donnell disputed the “beyond critical” characterization, saying NATO can still “block punches” and has enough air defense for itself and Ukraine; Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell again called shortage claims “false.”
About 600 new Patriots should be produced this year, with a 2,000/year production goal by 2030; Europe’s first Patriot production facility opens in Germany this September, with deliveries starting early next year.
Experts say Russia’s own strain fighting Ukraine may currently limit its ability to also sustain an attack on NATO — with one analyst noting “the best air defense that we have is Russian constraints.”
“Department of War”
Before Hegseth fired him, top general was advised to drop Kid Rock probe (WaPo)
Gen. Chris LaNeve reportedly told then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George that Hegseth wanted the Army’s investigation into an unauthorized helicopter flyby of Kid Rock’s estate dropped; George was troubled by the encounter and confided in colleagues.
Hegseth fired George on April 2 without public explanation; the Kid Rock episode adds new context to speculation about his motives.
The March 28 flyby involved two Apache helicopters buzzing Kid Rock’s Tennessee home at low altitude; Hegseth later terminated the Army’s investigation and exonerated the pilots, telling them “Carry on, Patriots.”
LaNeve, now acting Army chief of staff, faces opposition from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in his bid for formal nomination to the role; Republicans need unanimous committee support to advance him.
Hegseth has fired or forced out over two dozen top military officers since January 2025, including multiple other Army generals who might otherwise have been considered for the chief of staff role.
Fired Stars and Stripes staffers sue Pentagon, Hegseth (USA Today)
Three former Stars and Stripes staffers — editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer, and reporter Lara Korte — sued the Pentagon and Hegseth, alleging First Amendment retaliation.
The lawsuit ties their firings to a CBS News interview where Slavin and Korte defended editorial independence, and to the paper’s story on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The complaint says Pentagon officials rescinded regulations protecting Stripes’ editorial independence in January and imposed new content restrictions in March, ending wire-story use and cartoon publication.
Lederer chose to retire rather than fire Slavin and Korte as directed; all three were then issued separation notices August 21, giving them five business days to respond.
Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Defenders Fund, Lawyers for Good Government, the Government Accountability Project, and Yale’s Media Freedom clinic; the Pentagon declined to comment.
West Point Professor Fired for Refusing to Lie About Climate Change (TNR)
Dr. Adam Kalkstein, a tenured West Point geography professor, sued after his contract wasn’t renewed for refusing an order to remove content on human-caused climate change from his coursework.
He says Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves, dean of West Point’s academic board, ordered the change last year and suggested Kalkstein resign when he refused; Kalkstein called the demand immoral and possibly illegal.
Kalkstein, a conservative Republican, argues the material is necessary for national security reasons, including understanding Arctic resource competition and melting sea ice.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges the order violated his First Amendment rights.
This fits a broader pattern under Hegseth’s Pentagon, which has moved to eliminate climate-change references, with Hegseth previously stating the department “does not do climate change crap.”
Climate
Floods caused by a glacial collapse kill at least 160 people on Nepal-China border, hundreds missing (AP)
A glacial collapse in the Himalayas triggered massive flash floods on the Nepal-China border, sweeping through communities with little warning.
The USGS initially registered a magnitude 4.4 earthquake but later determined it was actually a magnitude 5.2 glacial collapse, based on seismic and satellite data, with no earthquake having occurred.
At least 19 bridges and roughly 40 kilometers of road were destroyed; water on the Trishuli River rose as much as 9 meters in just 30 minutes.
The same region saw a similar glacial lake flood last year; researchers say Himalayan glaciers are melting faster, with ice loss rates doubling since 2000.
Number of missing in Nepal and Tibet rises to nearly 3,000 as operations continue (Guardian)
The death toll has risen to at least 682 (675 in Nepal, 7 in Tibet), with nearly 3,000 people now reported missing, including 517 foreigners and 933 hydropower workers.
Rescuers are using drilling equipment to reach over 100 people trapped in a Rasuwa hydropower tunnel; more than 350 have already been evacuated under “extremely risky” conditions.
Nepal says it no longer needs general search-and-rescue help but is requesting specialized foreign assistance with body identification, DNA testing, tunnel rescues, and bailey bridges to replace roughly two dozen destroyed bridges.
Officials are monitoring two barrier lakes upstream, warning flood risk will persist until both fully drain; a Chinese geohazards expert warned over 100 glacial lakes in the region could pose similar threats.
Nepal’s finance minister estimates $4-5 billion will be needed for rebuilding; the Red Cross says more than 90,000 people have been affected.
Indiana Weather Recovery
Trump approves major disaster declaration for 21 Indiana counties after deadly storms (ICC)
Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Indiana, granting individual assistance in 21 counties and public assistance in 11; more counties could be added as review continues.
The declaration follows Braun’s August 20 request covering 54 counties, citing 8 deaths, hundreds of evacuations, and power outages that peaked at over 363,000 customers.
Early estimates put residential property damage at $550 million to over $5 billion across at least 22,164 parcels, with Braun warning the total will likely rise as more counties are assessed.
Braun mobilized the Indiana National Guard and directed state agencies to help clear roads and debris so utility crews could reach damaged infrastructure.
Indiana launched a new texting tool (IN211HELP to 898-211) to connect storm-affected residents with disaster recovery resources by zip code.
Review continues for 30-plus Indiana counties in federal disaster aid request (ICC)
More than 30 counties remain under review for the disaster declaration, out of the 54 Braun originally requested; FEMA’s Fred Kaehler said “nothing has been denied,” but assessments are ongoing.
Over 13,000 FEMA aid applications have been submitted since Tuesday’s approval for the initial 21 counties.
Braun said FEMA aid will mainly help flood-damaged residents, since flood damage often isn’t covered by standard homeowner insurance, while wind damage typically is.
Indiana Homeland Security is setting up mobile and fixed disaster recovery sites strategically located where damage occurred.
AG Todd Rokita warned residents to watch for scammers posing as FEMA inspectors or contractors; residents have 60 days to apply for assistance at disasterassistance.gov.
Power restored for most NW Indiana residents after 2 weeks in dark (ABC7 Chicago)
NIPSCO restored power to 99% of northwest Indiana customers, some two weeks after the August 11 storms knocked out power to 375,000 Indiana customers.
NIPSCO called in outside utility crews, including workers from Jacksonville, Florida, to assist with restoration.
The utility continues facing scrutiny — a class-action lawsuit has been filed by customers, and Gov. Braun has called for a formal investigation, which NIPSCO says it will cooperate with fully.
Community organizations, including the City of Gary and Gary Community School Corporation, have been providing meals, school supplies, and household goods, and say support will continue after power is restored.
Residents described lasting hardship from the outage — spoiled food, financial strain, and displacement — even as power returns.
Utilities
Braun calls for investigation into NIPSCO as Northwest Indiana power outages near 2 weeks (WFYI)
Braun directed the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor to file a complaint and petition the IURC to examine whether NIPSCO adequately maintained vegetation and rights-of-way, and whether funding regulators approved for reliability improvements was spent as promised.
The request cites specific figures: NIPSCO customers paid over $81 million for vegetation management from 2023-2025, and the utility has been authorized roughly $2.3 billion in customer funds for infrastructure replacement since 2016.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton pushed for federal help alongside the state investigation, meeting with Sen. Jim Banks and speaking by phone with Trump to press for FEMA fund release; Banks and 10 other members of Indiana’s congressional delegation signed a letter requesting the same.
Rep. André Carson tied the outages to a separate grievance, noting on social media that customer electricity bills have risen for two years while NIPSCO “rakes in huge profits.”
Former IURC Commissioner Dave Ober explained the investigation’s path is still unclear — it depends on how the OUCC formally files its complaint, and whether it triggers a formal docketed proceeding with hearings or a more limited informal inquiry that can’t issue binding orders.
Advocates, lawmakers call for change after state’s $625K settlement with ex-IURC regulator (WRTV)
Indiana settled with fired IURC Chair Andy Zay for $625,000 after he sued, calling his August firing “unlawful”; neither side admitted wrongdoing.
The settlement breaks down as $485,000 for remaining salary/benefits through his term’s original 2030 expiration, plus $140,000 covering Zay’s legal fees.
Zay’s lawsuit had alleged the governor’s office pressured him over the AES rate case; his request for reinstatement was not granted as part of the deal.
Consumer advocate Kerwin Olson called the settlement unresolved and “a slap in the face to ratepayers,” especially amid the NIPSCO outages, saying it doesn’t clarify whether Zay acted improperly or whether Braun improperly interfered in utility regulation.
Democratic lawmakers Matt Pierce and Carey Hamilton called on Braun to push the legislature to reform utility law itself, arguing the IURC only enforces laws set by lawmakers and can’t independently dictate rate policy.
Utility investment analysts ding Indiana amid ‘political intervention,’ potential profit cuts (ICC)
Investment firms Wolfe Research and Jefferies warned clients about Indiana utilities, citing “political intervention” after Zay’s firing and discussion of lower regulator-set profit rates; Wolfe downgraded Indiana’s regulatory independence rating from “average” to “below average.”
Analysts noted investors are watching two ongoing IURC investigations into utility return-on-equity (ROE) rates and cost-recovery mechanisms as the state shifts to multi-year, performance-based ratemaking.
The Indiana Energy Association’s Danielle McGrath said lower investor confidence and credit downgrades directly raise borrowing costs, which “can show up on an electric bill at home.”
The Edison Electric Institute argued constrained profits could push capital elsewhere, making it costlier to maintain and strengthen the grid long-term.
Braun defended the scrutiny, saying utilities should earn “reasonable returns” only if they deliver on affordability and reliability, pointing to House Enrolled Act 1002’s new performance-based ratemaking system as a “landmark” reform.
Public Health
Food Safety
The surprising reason food recalls are getting worse (Vox)
The US has seen over 17,000 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases since May, compared to a previous single-year high of just a few hundred; other outbreaks this summer include listeria (one death), salmonella from eggs and jalapeños, E. coli in frozen blueberries, and a new multi-state salmonella/E. coli outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts.
Experts say climate change is a major driver, allowing pathogens like cyclospora to spread beyond their traditional tropical/subtropical range into US farms, including recent domestic cases in Florida.
Federal food safety capacity has been sharply cut: FDA lost 3,500 workers, over 11,000 jobs were cut across FDA/USDA-related agencies (a 22% reduction), and CDC’s food parasite tracking staff dropped from 11 scientists to three.
Several national foodborne illness monitoring programs, including one specifically for cyclospora, were shut down in 2025, and state/local health departments — reliant on federal funding — have also lost capacity and timely data access.
Experts warn the underlying conditions (globalized food supply, warming climate) will keep worsening, and rebuilding federal food safety capacity isn’t expected under the current administration.
USDA recalls 30,000 pounds of Argentine beef sold in Texas and Florida (CBS Austin)
The USDA recalled nearly 30,000 pounds of raw beef imported from Argentina, sold in Texas and Florida, classifying it a Class I health hazard (the highest risk category) — the recall notice cited missed import re-inspections but named no specific contaminant.
Food safety advocate Dr. Darin Detwiler questioned the “paperwork” framing given the high-risk classification, saying “someone made the decision” not to reinspect at the border.
The recall follows Trump’s announcement allowing up to 300,000 pounds of foreign beef into the market over 90 days at 25% below current prices — Detwiler noted the close timing between that announcement and the recall.
Texas Senate candidates responded along party lines: Democrat James Talarico called the import plan “a political stunt” hurting Texas ranchers, while Republican Ken Paxton’s campaign called the missed inspection “unacceptable” and demanded answers.
It’s unclear which retailers sold the affected beef; the distributor did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump looks to ease beef processing regulations (Politico)
Trump announced he’s authorizing legal changes to let farmers and ranchers process their own meat, aiming to loosen the grip of the “Big Four” meat processors.
The move follows his earlier proclamation allowing increased beef imports over the next three months to lower food prices, and a Glenn Beck interview where the rancher-commentator pushed him on slaughter regulations.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins previewed additional announcements coming next week, including “truth in labeling” changes and support for small processors.
Sweeping changes likely require congressional action — Rep. Thomas Massie noted the long-stalled bipartisan PRIME Act would need to pass for this to become binding law rather than just an executive order.
Mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef also requires Congress, since prior labeling rules were repealed in 2015; a Senate Agriculture Committee proposal to reinstate it has stalled.
Measles Outbreak
A newborn baby was one of Pa.’s two measles-related deaths, state says as RFK Jr. questions whether they were ‘fabricated’ (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Pennsylvania confirmed two measles-associated deaths in Lancaster County, the state’s first in 35 years — one victim was a newborn who died from a ruptured spleen, with measles infection acquired before birth found in postmortem lung tissue testing.
The outbreak, ongoing since April, has sickened over 400 people across 29 counties, with Lancaster County as the epicenter (~200 cases).
RFK Jr. accused Gov. Shapiro’s administration of potentially having “fabricated” the deaths and claimed the state wasn’t cooperating with the CDC; Pennsylvania health officials say they’ve been in regular contact with the CDC throughout.
Vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit said the patients “would not have died were it not for measles” and criticized the state for not releasing more details, saying vague information helps anti-vaccine advocates “misdirect” and dispute the deaths.
Shapiro and Kennedy traded public accusations on X, with Shapiro citing Kennedy’s history of promoting unproven remedies (like “chicken soup and vitamin A”) and blaming federal vaccine rhetoric for declining vaccination rates.
RFK Jr lied in Senate confirmation hearings, newly revealed documents indicate (Guardian)
A letter obtained by the Guardian/AP shows Kennedy told Samoa’s PM in January 2019 he wanted to study the MMR vaccine after two children died, using “vaccine” or “vaccination” eight times — contradicting his Senate testimony that the trip had “nothing to do with vaccines.”
Kennedy’s 2019 Samoa visit came months before a measles outbreak killed 83 people there; critics say his visit emboldened anti-vaccine activists during a period when vaccination rates had plummeted.
During confirmation hearings, Kennedy repeatedly denied any vaccine connection to Sens. Wyden and Markey, at one point saying he went “to introduce a medical informatics system” instead.
HHS called any suggestion Kennedy lied “false” and “outright defamatory,” noting he wasn’t under oath during the hearings; knowingly giving false testimony to Congress is technically a crime but rarely prosecuted.
Legal experts say Democrats could use these documents as grounds for hearings or an impeachment inquiry if they win Congress in November; the statute of limitations for lying to Congress is five years.
Senator calls for criminal investigation of RFK Jr after Guardian report (Guardian)
Sen. Ron Wyden called for a criminal investigation into Kennedy, saying he’ll push Republicans to issue a DOJ criminal referral now and vowed Finance Committee accountability if Democrats retake the Senate.
Watchdog group American Oversight formally requested the DOJ open an investigation into whether Kennedy made false statements to Congress.
Sen. Ed Markey and Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks renewed calls for Kennedy’s resignation or removal, with Markey calling the Samoa denial “a pattern, not a slip.”
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, who personally traveled to Samoa during the 2019 outbreak response, also called for Kennedy’s immediate resignation.
Legal experts note lying to Congress is a crime regardless of oath status, but prosecution requires DOJ action, which is considered unlikely under the current administration; the statute of limitations runs five years, leaving the door open for a future administration.
Tech
Meta Settlement
Meta to pay up to $18bn to settle claims its platforms harm children (BBC)
Meta agreed to an $18bn settlement with 48 states, DC, and three territories over claims Instagram/Facebook harmed children — Meta’s largest child-safety payment to date, paid in installments over 10 years.
Meta denies wrongdoing; the underlying lawsuit was filed in 2023 by 29 states citing violations of child privacy laws. New Mexico wasn’t part of the settlement — a separate federal ruling there declared Meta a “public nuisance” and ordered nearly $1bn in fines.
Trial evidence included internal Meta documents up to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, including research stating “teens have an addict’s narrative about use,” and testimony that safety features like default “quiet mode” were deprioritized partly to shield the company from future lawsuits.
New default safety features include: night mode blocking notifications midnight-6am, a two-hour daily time limit (reducible to one hour if TikTok/Snap/YouTube adopt similar limits), hidden likes for teens, school-hours notification muting, usage-time prompts, non-algorithmic feed options, and removal of extreme makeup filters.
California AG Rob Bonta called it a “blueprint” for the industry and urged TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar changes, warning his office would focus more broadly on the industry if they don’t; Meta echoed the call for competitors to match its new standards.
Indiana could get up to $419M from ‘groundbreaking’ Meta settlement on social media addiction (FOX59)
Indiana could receive $246 million, potentially rising to $419.9 million, from the Meta settlement, according to AG Todd Rokita.
Rokita called it “a milestone victory for Hoosier families,” saying Meta prioritized engagement and profits over children’s mental health.
The settlement also resolves states’ claims against Meta tied to the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal from 2016.
Indiana has a separate, still-pending case against Roblox and Discord over alleged failures to protect children on those platforms.
Big Brother
Police Are Spending Opioid Settlement Funds on Flock Cameras (Mother Jones)
Mother Jones found at least 19 law enforcement agencies across 10 states spent over $920,000 in opioid settlement funds on Flock and similar AI license plate readers since 2024 — likely an undercount given inconsistent expenditure tracking.
Local officials often justified the spending by linking cameras to drug trafficking enforcement, as in Sunnyside, WA and Ohio County, WV, where commissioners approved Flock purchases with opioid funds despite gaps in local addiction treatment services.
The surveillance industry has actively marketed itself to police for this purpose — a Leonardo company blog post called opioid funds “a major new opportunity” for buying license plate readers, and 404 Media reported Leonardo’s cameras may soon track Bluetooth devices, not just vehicles.
Six agencies also used opioid funds for Peregrine Technologies, an AI surveillance-integration platform; Chicopee, MA — one of the hardest-hit opioid cities in its county — approved a five-year, $837,500 Peregrine contract using settlement money.
Public backlash has led to some reversals: Pensacola, FL stopped using opioid funds for Flock cameras after community pushback, while Monongalia County, WV residents have protested weekly, with one petition against the spending gathering over 1,500 signatures.
Bill Gates proposes limits on AI development amid growing concerns (CNN)
Bill Gates published a 6,000-word essay arguing AI needs significant limits, warning “AI will either be the greatest equalizer ever invented, or the worst source of injustice.”
He said risks include widespread unemployment, harm to children’s development, and AI models potentially “acting against our interests” as they grow more powerful.
Gates said he’d support a credible global plan to slow AI development but doesn’t think one is likely given economic and geopolitical pressures to move fast.
In a CNN interview, he said AI models have advanced faster than he expected and are now capable of cyberattack, bioterrorism, and psychosocial risks, calling the lack of safety review criteria “shocking.”
He proposed taxing AI/robots similar to payroll taxes on human workers and reserving some jobs for humans only, urging leaders to act before unemployment rises and public trust erodes.
Voting
Trump’s War on Voting
Corrupt SCOTUS Gifts Trump Again on USPS Vote-by-Mail Order. But It’s Not the Final Word (BradBlog)
SCOTUS’s conservative majority lifted a lower court injunction blocking Trump’s executive order requiring USPS to use state voter lists to screen absentee ballots — but the ruling was procedural, finding the injunction premature before USPS finalized its rule, not a ruling on the order’s legality.
Justices Sotomayor and Jackson dissented sharply, with Jackson writing the ruling “needlessly injects chaos into the upcoming midterm elections” since no court has held the order constitutional.
Under federal law, overseas/military ballots must go out 45 days before the election — meaning states have roughly three weeks to resolve the legal fight and comply, which critics call functionally impossible.
A separate Massachusetts court injunction against the same EO remains in place for now, and the administration itself has not defended the order’s constitutionality before the Court.
US Postal Service issues rules to tighten mail-in voting if court gives OK (Reuters)
USPS published its 95-page final rule despite the injunction blocking it, so it could take effect immediately if a court lifted the block; it wouldn’t act to implement it otherwise.
Under the rule, USPS would refuse to deliver ballots from states that don’t comply with new standards, including providing lists of voters who received mailed ballots and unique barcodes tied to outbound and return ballot envelopes.
USPS says it won’t collect party affiliation or inspect ballot contents — only exterior envelope data (address, barcode) would be retained; officials say this is meant to verify ballots sent match what states report.
Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias accused USPS of having “caved to Trump,” while Postmaster General David Steiner defended the rule as ensuring ballot-tracking accuracy.
Many states and congressional Democrats argue USPS lacks authority to impose these rules and that it’s too close to the election to implement such changes.
Trump administration appeals latest ruling blocking his mail voting order from taking effect (AP)
The Trump administration is appealing Judge Indira Talwani’s new ruling that again blocked implementation of the mail voting executive order for two weeks; the case now goes to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Supreme Court had allowed the plan to proceed only on procedural grounds; USPS has since finalized its rule, and this new round of litigation challenges that finalized version.
Talwani found states lack the time and money to redesign ballots, update systems, and upload voter data to USPS before the midterms — the first mail ballots go out September 4.
The White House calls the order “commonsense” ballot security measures and calls the blocking ruling “unreasoned and unlawful”; League of Women Voters CEO Celina Stewart said plaintiffs remain confident and that voters’ rights haven’t currently changed.
A cited 2025 Brookings Institution report found mail voting fraud occurred in about 4 out of every 10 million ballots cast; Trump has long falsely blamed mail voting for his 2020 loss despite using it himself.
Last Week: Experts raise alarms over Census Bureau report Trump is touting on noncitizen voting (NPR)
The Census Bureau published an unauthored, seven-page report titled “Noncitizen Voting in the 2020 Election, A Beginning Analysis,” which Trump cited on social media as proof that “over 24,000 Noncitizens voted illegally” in 2020, based on matching over 128 million voter records against federal data.
The report was not produced by career civil servants — NPR sources say the team included individuals affiliated with the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank.
Election experts called the methodology unreliable: David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation & Research called it “laughable,” saying census data can’t be reliably matched to voter data, and noted the 24,000 figure (0.02% of votes examined) is too small to have changed the 2020 outcome.
State officials dispute specific numbers: Georgia’s GOP Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger requested underlying data after the report claimed 400 noncitizen voters in Georgia, when his own 2024 audit found fewer than a dozen; Nevada’s Democratic Secretary of State called the claims a source of “chaos and fear” without proof.
Former Census Bureau officials say the lack of a named author is highly unusual and raises red flags about rigor; the voter file’s actual data provider, Data-Clear, said its data didn’t include Social Security numbers, undermining accurate identity matching.
Gordon ‘Shocked’ At Federal Agents Monitoring Wyoming Election, Sends Concern To AG (Cowboy State Daily)
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) said he’s “shocked” by reports of “aggressive” DOJ election monitors at Cheyenne polling stations during the primary, and referred concerns to the state Attorney General for review.
Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee said the two federal monitors initially withheld their credentials, tried to interview voters and inspect vote tabulators — both barred under Wyoming law, which only recognizes party-designated poll watchers — and called the visit “a poorly managed exercise.”
The DOJ said the operation was coordinated with its Civil Rights Division to ensure “transparency, ballot security, and strict compliance with federal voting rights statutes,” and defended the monitors as fully aligned with their mission.
Notably, even Wyoming’s own Homeland Security director, Attorney General, and some county clerks said they hadn’t been informed in advance — though Secretary of State Chuck Gray (R) publicly defended the monitors, saying state law permits observation and that Lee’s office properly maintained order.
This mirrors a similar dispute from 2024, when Missouri and Texas sued to block Biden-era DOJ election monitors, alleging federal overreach — though a judge ultimately allowed those monitors to proceed.
Secretary of State’s Race
Ballard unveils prototype for state-issued, precinct-level voter guides (ICC)
Lincoln Party SOS candidate Greg Ballard unveiled a prototype for a state-mailed, precinct-level voter guide including sample ballots, candidate info, polling locations, and election date reminders — estimated to cost $2.5-3 million.
Ballard said the guide would be nonpartisan, with 150-word candidate blurbs barring attacks on opponents, plus a companion app; he’d aim to fund it within the office’s existing budget but welcomes additional appropriations.
Republican Max Engling’s campaign called the plan unfunded and unauthorized, arguing Ballard should partner with existing nonprofits instead of expanding state government.
Democrat Beau Bayh’s campaign said voter information matters but questioned spending millions on a mailed booklet many would discard, arguing the money could be better used elsewhere.
Libertarian Lauri Shillings noted the state’s existing IndianaVoters.IN.gov site already hosts much of this information and could simply be expanded instead.
Indiana secretary of state hopefuls clash over voting rules, office audit (ICC)
At the first Secretary of State debate at the annual Indy Chamber HobNob event, Engling was the lone holdout against an office audit and the only candidate backing the full federal SAVE America Act’s stricter voter ID requirements; Shillings called it disenfranchising, Ballard called it federal overreach.
Candidates split on the disputed Senate District 23 recount, where Copenhaver overtook Deery 6,332-6,329 after ballots were disqualified over a missing clerk stamp — Bayh and Ballard said voter intent should count absent fraud allegations; Engling defended the recount commission for following the law as written.
Ballard’s proposed $2.5 million voter guide again drew pushback from Engling and Bayh as too costly, with Ballard countering that major parties don’t want informed voters and suggesting parties fund their own primaries to offset the cost.
All four candidates agreed on requiring business filings to list actual owners rather than registered agents, and all committed to serving full four-year terms if elected.
Engling criticized Ballard’s new Lincoln Party for lacking a clear platform; Ballard needs 2% of the vote for the party to gain automatic future ballot access, a threshold Libertarian Shillings is also chasing for her own party.
Tuesday Elections
Georgia election results: Everton Blair wins 13th Congressional District runoff (FOX5 Atlanta)
Democrat Everton Blair won Georgia’s 13th Congressional District special election runoff over fellow Democrat Marcye Scott, taking over 52% of the vote.
Blair fills the seat left vacant by Rep. David Scott’s death in April, serving only through the remainder of his term (ending January 3, 2027).
Neither candidate is running for the next full term; voters will choose that seat’s next occupant separately in the November midterms.
Democratic socialists notch another win in the Oklahoma Senate primary runoff (NBC)
Nurse N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas, 31, won Oklahoma’s Democratic Senate primary runoff, defeating 70-year-old attorney Jim Priest despite being significantly outspent — Priest’s campaign spent $315,000 versus Thomas’s $57,000.
Thomas, a Chickasaw Nation member and self-described democratic socialist, backs Medicare for All, universal childcare and parental leave, and abolishing ICE, though she doesn’t support defunding the Defense Department and calls capitalism “inevitable” even while saying it’s “destroying our country.”
She’ll face heavily favored GOP Rep. Kevin Hern in the fall for the open seat vacated by Markwayne Mullin — Oklahoma is a solidly red state Trump won by 34 points in 2024, and Hern holds a massive financial edge ($2.6 million to Thomas’s $456 on hand as of early August).
Thomas centered her campaign on healthcare access, citing struggles in rural Oklahoma, and said voters are “clamoring for change” and “people-first” policies.
Her win adds to a string of 2026 democratic socialist primary victories nationally, including in Florida’s Senate race and a Michigan House battleground.
President Trump says Rep. Ralph Norman ‘ruined his career’ day after [South Carolina] primary loss (WCIV)
Sen. Darline Graham defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina’s GOP Senate primary runoff, carrying every Lowcountry county while Norman dominated the more conservative Upstate.
During his concession speech, Norman questioned why Trump pushed so hard for Graham to enter the race, prompting boos from his own supporters even as he praised Trump’s policies and said “it is what it is.”
Trump responded on Truth Social the next day, claiming Norman “ruined his career” by endorsing Nikki Haley instead of fully backing Trump’s return to power.
Trump had campaigned unusually hard for Graham, including stumping with her in Myrtle Beach and asking supporters to treat the runoff as if he himself were on the ballot; MAGA Inc. also spent $827,000 backing her on the final day.
Graham advances to face Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews in November; no Democrat has won a South Carolina Senate seat in decades, with Lindsey Graham’s 2020 win margin cited as the most recent benchmark (10 points).
What Darline Graham’s Ugly, Viral Outburst About Death Really Reveals (TNR)
In her victory speech, Darline Graham cited “government-run health care” as an evil Andrews supports, juxtaposing it with her account of her parents dying young (mother of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, father of a heart attack) while running their bar and unable to take sick days.
Author Greg Sargent argues Graham’s own story undercuts her point: expanded Medicaid and ACA subsidies have measurably improved cancer detection and mortality rates for exactly the working-poor population her parents represented — and South Carolina is one of 10 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid.
Andrews responded directly: “Darline unintentionally released her health care plan in that speech... Her plan is, work hard even when you’re sick, until you die.”
The piece also notes Lindsey Graham’s own memoir shows he benefited from government-subsidized in-state tuition around the same period their mother fell ill — a detail the article says complicates the family’s anti-government narrative.
The core argument: Graham’s worldview holds that people who can’t afford care under the current system “justly deserve whatever fate awaits them,” while Andrews argues expanding government health care is precisely what could spare others her family’s fate.
In Memoriam
Dolly Parton built a better world, with rhinestones and songs (AP)
Dolly Parton died Tuesday at 80 from cancer; the AP piece is a career retrospective touching on her music, business ventures, and philanthropy.
Career highlights: 10 Grammys, Grand Ole Opry debut at 13, joined “The Porter Wagoner Show” at 21, wrote hits including “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Coat of Many Colors.”
She opened Dollywood in 1986, now generating $1.8 billion annually for the local Tennessee economy; she also maintained a deliberately apolitical public image, declining the Presidential Medal of Freedom three times (twice from Trump, once from Biden) to avoid appearing partisan.
Major philanthropic efforts include the Dollywood Foundation (dropout prevention, wildfire relief funds), a bald eagle sanctuary, college scholarships, COVID-19 vaccine research funding, and her Imagination Library, which has distributed over 200 million books to children since 1995.
Texas Judge cites Dolly Parton in striking down Texas’ Drag Queen ban (USAToday)
U.S. District Judge David Hittner struck down Texas’s Senate Bill 12, ruling for a second time that the “drag ban” law is unconstitutional, violating the First Amendment.
Hittner found the law “unconstitutionally vague,” since its restriction on performances appealing to “prurient interest in sex” could allow content-based cherry-picking of what counts as erotic.
The judge notably cited Dolly Parton alongside Elvis Presley and Miley Cyrus as examples of performers historically criticized for perceived eroticism — comparing that criticism to what the law now risks criminalizing; the ruling came down the same day Parton died.
AG Ken Paxton, who is also running for Senate, said he’ll appeal, calling the ruling “profoundly flawed” and “an affront to Texas values”; the ACLU of Texas, representing the plaintiffs, celebrated the decision.
Hittner’s ruling bars Paxton from enforcing the law and closed with a pointed line for those offended by such performances: “just don’t go.”
Tim Curry, Famous for Roles in Rocky Horror Picture Show, It and Annie, Dies at 80 (People)
Actor Tim Curry died at 80 on August 25 at his Toluca Lake home, one day after Dolly Parton’s death.
Best known for Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pennywise in Stephen King’s It, Rooster Hannigan in Annie, and Wadsworth in Clue.
Earned three Tony nominations, two Olivier nominations, and a Daytime Emmy (1991, for Peter Pan and the Pirates); also released three music albums.
Suffered a major stroke in 2012, leaving him wheelchair-dependent; continued voice work and made public appearances, including Rocky Horror’s 50th anniversary events in 2025.
Published a memoir, Vagabond, in October 2025, covering his childhood, education, and career.
