Political news I want to share. 8-26-2026

Political news I want to share. 8-16-2026 part 1

‘We will always respect the role of the judiciary’: Says new AG who has led Justice Department which has not respected the rule of law at all http://www.politico.com/news/2026/08…

Timothy McBride (@mcbridetd.bsky.social) 2026-08-14T00:30:18.016Z

Lawyers for the former Olympian David Hearn filed a motion on Thursday seeking to bar federal prosecutors from reviving a felony charge that he vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying they needed to head off possible “prosecutorial harassment” prompted by President Trump.

The New York Times (@nytimes.com) 2026-08-14T13:40:03.883362Z

President Donald Trump's administration on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to continue construction of his $400 million White House ballroom after an appeals court ruled the project lacked the necessary approval from Congress.

Reuters Legal (@legal.reuters.com) 2026-08-14T13:40:22Z

President Trump is planning for gold-colored presidential seals on the outside of his White House ballroom, breaking with the restrained aesthetic of the executive mansion, according to new renderings.

The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) 2026-08-15T00:00:13.239338914Z

They shut down investigation of the federal agents but opened investigations of peaceful protesters

Robert L. Tsai (@robertltsai.bsky.social) 2026-08-13T17:20:57.166Z

A top Forest Service official (and billionaire Trump appointee) demanded help to fight a 7-acre fire on his Idaho property.The response amounted to “9 aircraft, including helicopters, air tankers and tactical planes.”It cost over $100,000 and diverted precious resources.🎁🔗 : wapo.st/4wZEqPD

Bill Grueskin (@bgrueskin.bsky.social) 2026-08-14T11:53:44.031Z

Mamdani's NYC pied-à-terre tax can continue rollout during court appeal

CNBC (@cnbc.com) 2026-08-13T21:43:02Z

Trump's new Navy Secretary is very concerned about an implacable foe:"Witchcraft," which has "really taken over" in places like California.www.businessinsider.com/hung-cao-gop…

Noah Shachtman (@noahshachtman.bsky.social) 2026-04-23T13:37:18.044Z

🚨EXCLUSIVE: Military families and service members are now describing horrific conditions across MULTIPLE ships: human waste flooding bathrooms, virtually no food, water or soap, months without port calls, exhausted crews, and no end in sight.This crisis is far bigger than just the Lincoln.

MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) 2026-08-14T14:00:55.484Z

Trump says that after Iran is defeated he’s going to declare the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-08-14T19:56:59.178Z

You know what’s really a great insult to those American heroes who died in WWII?

Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn.bsky.social) 2026-08-14T13:12:28.435Z

Part of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall was covered in soapy bubbles and red graffiti in an incident the U.S. Park Police was investigating.Red graffiti spelled out “Clean hands dirty $” beneath the arch.

The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) 2026-08-14T00:00:51.001067071Z

Developing: The World War II Memorial was found vandalized, and a fountain overflowed with bubbles.

NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington.com) 2026-08-13T20:04:42.779Z

Netanyahu brands UK the 'Islamic Republic of Britain' trib.al/3djAtL0

Daily Mail (@dailymail.co.uk) 2026-08-14T07:52:14.762441Z

🇬🇧 Netanyahu: Britain could be the first nuclear-armed “Islamic republic”Netanyahu on Britain:“You might call Britain the ‘Islamic Republic of Britain.’Someone said that the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain.”

Paul Eric (@pauleric70.bsky.social) 2026-08-14T00:11:04.367Z

A delayed court hearing didn't stop Tate loyalists from gathering in downtown Miami, where pushups and homemade signs took center stage.🔗 https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/photos-andrew-tate-supporters-bring-testosterone-and-cardboard-signs-to-miami-40576041/

Miami New Times (@miaminewtimes.com) 2026-08-13T20:44:16.909894771Z

Flock, the country’s most prominent seller of automated license-plate readers, said it will require stricter oversight after a Post investigation found dozens of officers had misused its cameras to spy on their exes and romantic interests.

The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) 2026-08-13T16:30:08.066274989Z

Political cartoons / memes / and news I want to share bonus. 7-25-2026

NEW: In a win for voters, a federal judge Monday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Republican National Committee (RNC) seeking to force New Jersey to release sensitive voter data. http://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/…

Marc Elias (@marcelias.bsky.social) 2026-07-21T15:46:07.470Z

Cornyn told Semafor that he would not support committee action on Kari Lake’s nomination to be ambassador to Jamaica or Doug Mastriano’s bid to become ambassador to Slovakia without confirmation that the administration will distribute money from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Semafor (@semafor.com) 2026-07-21T20:35:04.815Z

John Thune: “Yes, we would welcome him” if John Fetterman wanted to join the Republican conference.“I haven't talked to him recently,” Thune says, while adding that “many” Senate Rs would happily welcome him. “Ultimately that's a decision that's up to him.”

Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur.bsky.social) 2026-07-21T18:18:03.014Z

DOJ accuses UC San Diego medical school of bias in admissions

USpolitics 🇺🇸 (@uspol.skyfleet.blue) 2026-07-21T17:06:53.598Z

As a former C-Suite executive at a publicly traded company, providing this important information to the EEOC helped to fight discrimination. Trump lies. US civil rights agency moves to end demographic data collection after 60 yearsapnews.com/article/eeoc…

First Amendment Esq (@newday2026.bsky.social) 2026-07-21T21:42:31.007Z

Here’s a radical thought: maybe Trump should have sought congressional approval for the war with Iran before trying to stick Congress with the bill.www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec…

Max Boot (@maxboot.bsky.social) 2026-07-21T11:19:10.164Z

He believes the U.S. should become a Christian theocracy, married women shouldn’t have the right to vote and gay sex should be illegal.‘Hand Jobs, Oral Sex and Anal’: Pete Hegseth's Pastor Wants Gay Men Prosecuted for These Acts [WATCH]open.substack.com/pub/uncloset…

(@trishmaher.bsky.social) 2026-07-21T18:06:31.650Z

Senator Shaheen speaking for the entire nation in five words.

Anu (@nofirstorder.bsky.social) 2026-07-21T20:19:00.732Z

HEGSETH: We had US boats that surrendered to Iranian ships during the Biden administration–REED: Listen — we're talking about the war you started. Not a situation in which oil was flowing freely, we weren't losing personnel. So your fallback to Biden is just a very very obvious excuse

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-07-21T20:10:40.903Z

MURRAY: Why exactly are billions of dollars for the National Guard and this administration's illegal strikes in the Caribbean urgently needed for the Iran war?HEGSETH: Because of Biden

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-07-21T19:41:47.032Z

REED: These airstrikes have not yet deterred and defeated the Iranians. Do you think airstrikes alone will do that?CAINE: Air power has limits and we always have to be mindful of thoseREED: The next step would be escalation by ground combat

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-07-21T20:09:52.301Z

HEGSETH: President Trump deserves the kind of praise he should get for undertaking this effortREED: Excuse me. So he should be praised for starting a war without authority and creating a situation in which the world economy is suffering tremendously?

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-07-21T20:06:54.308Z

HEGSETH: I don't know what Lloyd Austin did for four yearsDURBIN: I'm sure he has questions about what you're doing now

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-07-21T19:52:43.260Z

HEGSETH: Iran is not charging tolls and they are shooting at ships right nowMURRAY: Trump said he wanted to charge a 20% tollHEGSETH: We have a blockade and it is effective

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-07-21T19:45:58.931Z

MURRAY: How it is possible if Iran's capabilities were 'functionally destroyed' 3 months ago for them to be bombing us now?HEGSETH: Iran is at the weakest point militarily it has ever been in

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-07-21T19:44:24.581Z

Pete Hegseth asks for $1.5 TRILLION for his unjust war.

Blue Georgia (@bluegeorgia.bsky.social) 2026-07-21T19:30:11.837Z

Reminder: Hegseth was pushed out of TWO veterans nonprofits amid financial mismanagement allegations, running groups into debt, overspending on parties/events, and treating funds like personal accounts.Now, he's bankrupted the Pentagon despite a record budget and is demanding another $1.5 trillion

MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) 2026-07-21T20:00:28.343Z

OSSOFF: You stated on the 14th day of this conflict that Iran's military was 'destroyed.' Was that an accurate statement — yes or no?HEGSETH: Iran's ability to challenge the US–OSSOFF: That's not what I asked. Yes or no?HEGSETH: What the milit—OSSOFF: Will you answer the question?

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-07-21T21:51:20.336Z

Dershowitz stands up congressional committee for a second time. abcnews.com/US/comer-cal…

Scott Horton (@robertscotthorton.bsky.social) 2026-07-22T03:31:14.136Z

Neither Trump nor Rubio plan to block the extradition of Andrew & Tristan Tate, despite the brothers’ numerous MAGAville tieswww.axios.com/2026/07/22/t…

Marc Caputo (@marcacaputo.bsky.social) 2026-07-22T11:31:12.035Z

RULE: Marketing supplement? HUGE RED FLAG. 🚩The Fake Influencers Selling Wellness on Your Feed http://www.nytimes.com/video/techno…"…found hundreds of A.I.-generated doctors, healers and wellness influencers on social media touting the health benefits of supplements to American consumers."

Timothy Caulfield (@caulfieldtim.bsky.social) 2026-07-21T14:07:23.245Z

Cue Terminator theme music"OpenAI effectively found an escape route to the internet – by locating a vulnerability that had not been discovered before.The agent then hacked Hugging Face, which is a database of AI models, to locate technology that would help it pass the hacking evaluation."

Russell England (@russellengland.bsky.social) 2026-07-22T09:40:34.311Z

Some MS Now clips about ICE

 

 

 

 

The video below shows another shooting where the ICE thug fired into a car striking a person when he shifted his weapon to his other hand.  The car was not moving and full of pepper spray.  The man was not trying to drive.  Yet ICE told a judge the man had weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over ICE thugs.  The judge dismissed the case because ICE refused to hand over the body cam footage that showed what the ICE thug did and that DHS was lying.  Again.  Hugs 

 

 

Protester permanently blinded after DHS agent fires nonlethal round at close range

These criminal gang thugs ICE are out of control and unless the police stand up for the public we are not a land of the free and we have no rights.   Only might makes rights if that is the case, only those with the guns have rights.    They hurt people and destroy property and suffer no consequences.  Can a modern nation, a civilized nation survive that?  This is shithole drug cartel warlord country.   Now ICE will rush into peaceful protestors legally standing where they are allowed, grab one and drag them on to federal property to detain and beat them.    Hugs

The video shows a group of protesters standing on the steps of the center, with several chanting and holding signs and one holding a megaphone. An officer then grabbed one of the young demonstrators—who appeared to be standing peacefully—by the arm, and dragged him up the steps.


https://www.rawstory.com/trump-dhs-2674880952/

Protester permanently blinded after DHS agent fires nonlethal round at close range
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain a man on a street during a federal immigration operation, in Indio, California, U.S. December 18, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel Cole TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A young protester in Santa Ana is permanently blind in one eye after being hit in the face at close range by a “nonlethal” round fired by a Department of Homeland Security agent last week amid nationwide protests against an immigration agent’s killing of US citizen Renee Good in Minneapolis.

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, the 21-year-old “underwent six hours of surgery and… doctors found shards of plastic, glass, and metal embedded in his eyes and around his face, including a metal piece lodged 7 mm from a carotid artery.”

His aunt, Jeri Rees, told the Times that doctors feared removing the shrapnel from her nephew’s face, concerned it could kill him, and that he had also suffered a skull fracture around his eyes and nose and had permanently lost vision in his left eye.

The shooting outside the Civic Center Plaza that took his sight on Friday evening was caught on film and has circulated widely on social media, and came hours after an earlier protest, organized by the organization Dare to Struggle, saw hundreds of demonstrators gather in downtown Santa Ana to oppose President Donald Trump’s flooding of US cities with immigration agents.

The video shows a group of protesters standing on the steps of the center, with several chanting and holding signs and one holding a megaphone. An officer then grabbed one of the young demonstrators—who appeared to be standing peacefully—by the arm, and dragged him up the steps.

As he attempted to wrest himself free from the agent’s grip, one of the protesters in the crowd threw an orange traffic cone in the direction of the struggle. This prompted at least one other officer to begin firing their weapons toward the crowd, striking one woman before striking Rees’ nephew in the face, causing him to drop to the ground.

The agent then grabbed him by the hood of his sweatshirt, dragging him across the ground. His face is visibly bloody and he appears to be struggling to breathe as he is dragged away by the neck.

According to the Times, another video shows Rees’ nephew lying bloodied on the ground inside the building while another agent fires pepper balls at another person who approached the building, attempting to film the incident.

While such projectiles are often described as “nonlethal,” Ed Obayashi, the Modoc County sheriff’s deputy and legal adviser to police agencies, told the paper that firing one just feet away from a person’s face “constitutes as deadly force as far as the law is concerned” because “these projectiles can cause serious injury [or] death.”

He added that officers are only supposed to deploy deadly force in situations where they believe their lives are in imminent danger or that they are at risk of grave bodily harm.

Rees said that her nephew told her agents pressed his face into the pool of blood and did not immediately call paramedics. She said her nephew also told her that “the other officers were mocking him, saying, ‘You’re going to lose your eye.’”

“This is an egregious abuse of power,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). “Americans have the right to protest without fear of retaliation or worse. Trump’s violence must stop now.”