Monday (8/3) News Roundup: Trump Reversal Shows Iran Has “Upper Hand”; ICE’s “Brutality”; Blanche on Track for Confirmation…

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise (economic, environmental, etc.) for Monday, August 3. Today’s biggest developments and headlines include the climate crisis (always at the top of these news highlights because it’s existential and should be a massive story every single day)…also the Iran War, far right distorts Ceuta; ICE brutality, “Javanka-baznia,” Blanche unfortunately on track to confirmation; Republican scumbag Max Miller; the GOP’s ridiculous “red scare”; etc. Also note that Virginia polling locations open at 6 am on Tuesday – under 23 hours from now).

INTERNATIONAL NEWS (Climate crisis,  Ukraine/Russia, Iran has upper hand on Trump; How China won the Iran war; European far right distorts Ceuta; “Javanka-bania”; etc.)

• Record low Danube levels push some countries in Eastern Europe to the brink of energy emergency (This is the climate crisis.)
• ‘Stop all outdoor activities’: South Korea records its highest ever temperature (Also the climate crisis.)
• Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv’s forces hit Wildberries again amid deadly trade of strikes with Russia (“Attacks on Russian retailer’s facilities in two regions trigger fires as at least 14 killed in cross-border exchanges; EU force boards Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker. What we know on day 1,622”)
• The Kremlin Is Bullying More Russians Into Fighting in Ukraine (“Measures increasingly include beatings and manipulation, fueling expectations of a second forced mobilization”)
• Loomer’s Ukraine reversal deepens split in Trump’s ‘America First’ movement
• The Future, Made in China (“Beijing is competing with the U.S. for tech supremacy. Who wins will have huge political implications.”)
• How China Won the Iran War (“Trump has shattered American power, and Beijing is picking up the pieces”)
• Iran says no talks are under way with United States after Trump calls off attacks (“Iran contradicted President Donald Trump who had ‌cited talks he said would take place on Monday as justification for calling off attacks.”)
• Oil prices fall more than 5% as Middle East tensions ebb on diplomatic efforts
• New Round of Trump Threats and Pullbacks Raises Uncertainty in Mideast (“Analysts and lawmakers are trying to divine whether Mr. Trump’s latest announcement means negotiations with Iran will truly get underway Monday or if the president is just working through unappealing options.”)
• Trump Says Iran Talks to Begin Monday After Scrapping Attack
• Trump says Iran talks set for Monday as Tehran and Oman discuss strait of Hormuz deal (“The US president did not provide details of where Monday meeting would take place or who would be involved”)
• For Iran, Trump’s Reversal on Escalation Shows Who Has the Upper Hand (“By expanding the arena of fighting in the region, experts say, Tehran sent a warning about the dangers of a widening war.”)
• How Iran is widening its pressure campaign to force US concessions
• Yen hits three-month high after Trump helps prop up currency (“US and Japanese governments confirm they carried out a rare joint intervention late last week”)
• Abandoned by the US: Palestinian Americans trapped in a surge of Israeli settler violence (“After visits by US ambassador Mike Huckabee to the nearby Israeli settlement of Shilo, Palestinian Americans in Turmus Ayya have witnessed a terrifying rise in attacks” APPALLING and UNACCEPTABLE!)
• Israel says it has serious concerns with Hamas disarmament deal (“It launched strikes that killed at least 17 people in Gaza.”)
• Aung San Suu Kyi appears healthy in first confirmed outside contact for 2.5 years (She should be the president of Myanmar, not the military junta.)
• Greetings From Javanka-bania (“The Trump clan finds a new place to ruin.”)
• British prime minister says Infantino is not the right man to lead FIFA
• Pressure on Gianni Infantino increases as Uefa members prepare to oppose re-election (“Nations to withdraw letters of support for Fifa president; Appetite to ensure Infantino quickly removed from post”)
• The Far Right Is Distorting Ceuta (“We’ve seen this before.”)
• Energy Dept. draws fire for slow pace of Venezuelan oil deals

NATIONAL NEWS (ICE brutality, Blanche unfortunately on track for confirmation, the GOP’s ridiculous “red scare,” Republican scumbag Max Miller, Adam O’Neal completely destroy the WaPo opinion section – now is outta there, his job being done apparently, etc.)

• ICE detentions set Trump-era high in July, as immigration crackdown widens (They continue to not focus on “the worst of the worst,” but on many hard-working, law-abiding people just trying to make better lives for themselves in America…)
• Even Republicans in Congress can see how unpopular Trump’s immigration agenda is
• ‘Stark example of brutality’: Trump’s ICE used court orders in plan to force-feed at least 10 hunger strikers in detention (“Exclusive: court records reviewed by the Guardian show medical procedures included force-feeding, intravenous forced hydration and involuntary blood draws”)
• Kevin Warsh Is Facing More Than a Communication Problem (“The Fed chair’s biggest challenge is demonstrating his independence from Donald Trump.”)
• Fed’s Williams expects inflation to ease, says Fed will act if it doesn’t
• How a fringe idea about race took over the Supreme Court (“A brief history of ‘colorblindness,’ the idea that gutted the Voting Rights Act.”)
• Over 4 million people are no longer receiving food aid amid sweeping changes to SNAP
• Why Donald Trump Talks So Much About Foreign Election Interference (“The White House is distorting intelligence assessments instead of working to protect the midterm elections.”)
• Blanche Gives G.O.P. Senators Written Assurances on Trump’s I.R.S. Deal (“Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general has been held up over concerns about a planned $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies and the president’s immunity from tax scrutiny.” This guy absolutely should NOT be Attorney General for a whole host of reasons. But Republicans will fall in line, of course; it’s what they do. Ugh.)
• Todd Blanche on track for confirmation after Cornyn strikes Trump settlement deal
• Blanche Formally Rescinds ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund in Bid to Smooth Confirmation (“Holdout GOP Sen. John Cornyn says he reached a deal with Justice Department”)
• Blanche rescinds Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization’ fund, removing hurdle from attorney general nominee’s confirmation
• Senate finalizes funding patch that would block Trump’s grant overhaul (“Language is included to delay the president’s move to put political appointees in charge of grant approval.”)
• Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season
• Senate GOP rushes to pass budget bill and avoid shutdown ahead of midterms (“Leaders are also working to confirm 74 nominees and advance a $95 billion package for the Iran war and inflation-battered farmers before leaving town Friday.”)
• As he wrestles with the monumental and the absurd, Trump forgets what voters want
• Are Trump’s most blatant authoritarian moves backfiring? (“The president’s methods, from ‘flooding the zone’ with scandals to prioritizing loyalty over competence, could ultimately weaken rather than strengthen him”)
• Inside the Secretive Boards Deciding Trans Troops’ Fate (“The Pentagon is relying on closed-door hearings to kick out transgender service members. An Army Reserve lawyer is one of the few who have seen how they really work.”
• RFK Jr. targets Fauci and pushes medical misinformation in fiery CNN interview
• The GOP’s Big Red Scare Is Really Stupid (“No, the relatively small progressive surge in primaries isn’t a Bolshevik revolution.”)
• Pre-Trump GOP is coming for Vance (“Vance’s critics fall into three interlocking circles…Pro-Israel conservatives….Traditional Republicans who, broadly speaking, want to turn the clock back to the pre-Trump revolution in their party…The Murdoch empire. Rupert Murdoch clashed repeatedly with Trump — during the president’s first campaign, and again when he staged a comeback early in the 2024 cycle — before bending to him both times. The owner of the Journal and Fox News also lobbied Trump not to pick Vance for VP.”)
• The ‘Medicare for All’ Test for Michigan Democrats (“Haley Stevens wants to move legislation. Abdul El-Sayed wants to move the debate. But first, one of them has to keep the seat blue.”)
• High-Stakes Michigan Primary Tests Progressive Clout and the Democratic Direction (“The bitter Senate nomination race will show whether the party’s left wing can win in the heartland” The polling shows that El Sayed would have a more difficult task of winning the November election than Stevens…but Michigan Democratic voters don’t seem to care?)
• Carville rips Piker: ‘If he becomes a force in the Democratic Party, I’m out of here’ (Piker is unhinged for sure – and obviously no Democrat should have anything to do with him – but that’s no reason to abandon the Dmeocratic Party – the only force standing in the way of a dangerous, authoritarian Trump/MAGA Republican Party)
• Fiery Democrat’s Comeback Bid Tests Limits of Progressive Momentum (“Cori Bush tries to overcome millions in spending from pro-Israel groups to reclaim her old House seat”)
• Across the US, progressives are upending Democratic primary races. Will it happen in Missouri? (“On Tuesday, voters will choose between ex-congresswoman Cori Bush, or pro-Israel incumbent Wesley Bell”)
• Ohio Senator Calls Former Son-in-Law Accused of Abuse Unfit for Office
• Rep. Max Miller not dropping out after domestic abuse allegations
• The right-wing bubble seals in the GOP with Max Miller (“Live by the Fox hit, die by the Fox hit.”)
• This Sleazoid MAGA Congressman May Just Have Turned a Red Seat Blue (“Ohio’s Max Miller is fighting off (and denying) some sickening allegations. Meanwhile, his Democratic challenger seems like the real deal.”)
• MAGA Rep Accused of Wife Beating Streams Jaw-Dropping Attack on Her (This guy is pure evil.)
• Rep. Marcy Kaptur hospitalized after hit-and-run car crash (“A spokesperson said Kaptur, D-Ohio, is alert and being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.”)
• Mitch McConnell is never coming back to the Senate (“Despite the conspiracy theories, the likeliest reason to conceal McConnell’s condition is more pathetic than calculating: It’s hard for these powerful old men and their families to let go of power.”)
• California Democratic Party endorses billionaire tax (“The party’s executive board broke with several labor unions and Gavin Newsom on the measure.”)
• Fare thee well, Adam O’Neal (“At the command of Jeff Bezos, he wrecked the Washington Post opinion section but at least he’s out”)

VIRGINIA NEWS (Virginia primaries coming up tomorrow – Virginia Mercury whitewashes Republican extremists running, we need to protect Virginia’s Atlantic coast from offshore mining, R.I.P. to the great Janet Howell, etc.)

• 5 things to look for in Tuesday’s primary results
• Virginia votes Tuesday: Everything you need to know about the 2026 primary elections (“More than 30 candidates are competing in a statewide Republican U.S. Senate primary and congressional races across seven of Virginia’s 11 districts.” TOTAL whitewash of the Republican extremists running…just posts anodyne, vague, unhelpful information about them. FAIL.)
• The Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional District is Tuesday. Here’s who’s running. (“Hampton Roads voters will decide who among four candidates will be the Democratic party’s nominee to face off against Republican incumbent Jen Kiggans in the general election.”)
• Democrats eye battleground Virginia seat as key to flipping House
• Trump’s Plans for National Citizenship Database to Suppress Votes Halted by the Court (“Youngkin pulled Virginia into Federal ‘SAVE’ system expansion that threatens voter privacy, due process, and confidence in our elections.”)
• What Lies Beneath Virginia’s Atlantic (“Before We Decide What’s Worth Taking, We Should Consider Everything It Already Gives Us.”)
• Virginia lays groundwork to combine more solar with farming (“A new state law aims to spur agrivoltaics projects where crops or livestock thrive amid solar panels, as AI power demand booms and concerns about farmland loss rise.” Excellent!)
• More lobbyists in Virginia, making more money — and more law
• Former VA State Senator Janet Howell Dies at 82; Was “a true giant of the Senate of Virginia,” “the first woman to co-chair the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee” (Howell “paved the way for generations of women leaders while leaving an indelible mark on our Commonwealth’s budget, mental health system, and public schools”)
• Virginia state Sen. Janet Howell, first woman to co-chair Senate Finance Committee, dead at 82
• As $43 million for Southwest flood relief remains unspent, residents who can’t afford to fix their homes wait for help (“A year ago, the General Assembly appropriated $50 million for recovery following widespread floods that devastated Southwest Virginia in 2024 and 2025. Disbursement has been slow.”)
• Anti-Slapp law plays role in backing Va. teacher and parent targeted by false online accusations (“Teacher and parent awarded $1 million”)
• A couple of Northern Virginia localities are doing away with gas-powered leaf blowers (Good f’ing riddance – these things are loud, polluting, and bad for the environment in a myriad of other ways. Don’t use them.)
• Dulles Forever (“A plan to renovate one of America’s most hated airports will surely be popular—but the airport is actually fine the way it is.”)
• DC-area forecast: A sticky week with stubborn storm chances