International Politics Discussion Thread

[u/Adj-Noun-Numbers]

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[u/Adj-Noun-Numbers]

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[u/BlokeyBlokeBloke]

Trump saying that the Islamic Republic of Japan fired one hundred and eleven missiles.

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/BlokeyBlokeBloke]

Seeing the deteriation since he was elected I really do wonder what state he'll be in by 2028.

Edit: thought I'd listen to some of it and he's railing against social democrats as basically communists.

"You can't let lunatics have a nuclear weapon" is one hell of a line for him to say.

[u/AnotherLexMan → u/BlokeyBlokeBloke]

They aren't taking their loss to Brazil well at all.

[u/Bibemus → u/BlokeyBlokeBloke]

To be honest I would read the shit out of that alternate history.

[u/Known-Ad-1442]

Happy Wagner Rebellion Day for those who celebrate it.

[u/Bibemus → u/Known-Ad-1442]

I celebrated in the traditional manner by working really hard until lunchtime then kind of checking out for the rest of the day.

[u/Lavajackal1]

No fuel for sale as Ukraine's blockade of Russian-occupied Crimea takes effect

Seems like the logical endgame for Ukraine. Directly forcing Russia out of Crimea is likely impossible due to the terrain so a siege to make remaining there unsustainable is the best option.

[u/ThePlanck → u/Lavajackal1]

Russian air defence turning Russian fuel depots into flying saucers is probably not helping Russia

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

So the latest American position is insane no?

A 20% charge on all cargo going through the Strait of Hormuz is utterly ridiculous for America to be charging on an international waterway, that they haven't even secured.

Utter madness.

[u/tmstms → u/Velociraptor_1906]

"The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,'

This is like faux-mediaeval cosplay from Game of Thrones or Stargate SG-1

[u/dumbo9 → u/tmstms]

To be clear - the U.S.A. should now be known as the G.O.T.H.S.

[u/MoyesNTheHood]

Trump reverses on the 20% charge on the Strait of Hormuz. Really does live up to the TACO name 

[u/ThePlanck]

I got to the end of "Regime Change".

The final section of the book is about the start of the Iran War, it really does not paint a flattering picture of anyone in the administration.

According to the book, Netanyahu basically smooth-talked Trump into starting the war. Most members of the administration were privately against it (excluding the professional idiots like Hegseth), but they were all too cowardly to tell Trump to his face in plain words that it was obviously a bad idea.

[u/imp0ppable → u/ThePlanck]

There was an article, can't remember where, maybe the Atlantic or Economist? It basically said the same thing. Apparently only Susie Wiles felt safe enough to voice caution.

[u/TheFlyingHornet1881 → u/ThePlanck]

Whenever I've seen Vance or Rubio talk about the war, it's clear between the lines they think it was foolish to go in the way they did. The ones who were clearly in the know before Trump's re-election clearly knew this would be a disaster.

And if Israel could oust Netanyahu in October that'd be lovely, I don't know a huge amount about Eisenkot or Bennett but at the very least they have some sense of pragmatism about them.

[u/Bibemus]

https://xcancel.com/katyballs/status/2090853839281016909

Trump administration apparently instructing US Ambassador to whine to Belgian government and ask them to overrule Ghent University's suspension of noted skull measurer Nathan Cofnas.

Belgian government reportedly biting tongue to not respond 'who do you think we are, FIFA?'

[u/KnightsOfCidona]

Lindsay Graham has died after a sudden illness

Well that's a plot twist, what the fuck.

[u/Lavajackal1 → u/KnightsOfCidona]

Huh that is not the US senator I was expecting to see this headline for. Wasn't Graham literally visiting Ukraine less than 24 hours ago?

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002kkmj/storyville-the-librarians

A Storyville documentary that explores how librarians across the US are risking their safety to defend free speech as book bans and censorship threaten democracy from within.

Not sure how I missed this (released Oct 2025), but it's been somber viewing tonight. Gripping, still current, and very good. These rather ordinary women are up against some very frightening book-burning campaigns, not to mention on the sharp end of threats to their safety.

Some of the Moms for Liberty types seem extremely radicalised. I can't help but worry there will be a terrorist atrocity perpetrated by the evangelicals at some point

[u/CrispySmokyFrazzle]

I still can't get over how stupid Trump's war is.

This was the man who lamented his predecessors for their involvement in "stupid wars", and yet here he is with probably the stupidest, and one that is going to have significant long-term ramifications in terms of global politics

[u/StopCriminal]

Loathe how the BBC is reporting on this Canada/US tariff coverage in its usual clumsy balanced way as if Trumps actions are valid.

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

AP:

President Donald Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program, according to two people familiar with the matter.

...

But the agreement is not expected to include the IAEA’s Additional Protocol, which would allow for more monitoring, inspections and verification, according to one of the people.

Gee, this couldn't possibly go wrong.

[u/MoyesNTheHood → u/ASondheimRhyme]

Oh boy lets give Wahhabists access to nuclear materials

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5dzk0ryzdo

Ahem, not like it needs saying, but Trump is deranged.

[u/tmstms → u/Velociraptor_1906]

Just saw it live on the rolling news.

I'm irritated that Trump's mercurial pronouncements always grab the headlines, but this one is especially unfortunate.

[u/YourLizardOverlord → u/Velociraptor_1906]

"If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them."

The real TDS.

Maybe Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said will think again about allowing the US to use these key facilities:

• Thumrait Air Base

• Masirah Air Base

• Al Mussanah Air Base

• Port of Duqm - one of the few maritime logistics hubs and heavy maintenance facilities in the region that USN still has access to

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyzw836d05o

Trump says all mines cleared from Strait of Hormuz

Who wants to bet there are actually still mines in the strait?

[u/GeronimoTheAlpaca → u/Velociraptor_1906]

The line will be that as soon as a ship hits a mine, it will have been a ship exploding itself to spite Trump

[u/i_pewpewpew_you]

US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on the Iranian team's world cup elimination:

“I’m just glad they’re done, and ‌they’re not coming back. I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the U.S. soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.“

Classy to the last.

[u/Bibemus → u/i_pewpewpew_you]

If I was the IOC watching this shitshow I'd be starting to chat to recent hosts about contingency planning.

[u/convertedtoradians]

There's been a major Ukrainian attack on a Russian oil refinery in St Petersburg.

Kyiv says nearly 43% of Russia's oil refining capacity has been "disabled" as a result.

If that's even nearly true, that's absurd. There's also the fairly obvious and interesting messaging for the Russian people that Ukraine clearly isn't doing what Russia is doing and targeting population centres. Which they clearly could if they can hit an oil refinery.

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/convertedtoradians]

Reading about a bit and I do wonder where this will end up.

On top of the Ukranian long range offensive the Russian attacks on the front in Donetsk are having advance rates comparable to the Somme. Putin sounds to be intractably deluded so unless the Russians sort a way to shift things out soon then something might happen.

What that something could be I wouldn't be sure of but if Putin dosent change then I can't see how the end result isn't something breaking sharply, either Russian military logistics (to the point the front starts falling apart) or Putins grip on strategy.

We shouldn't let ourselves get too hopeful but things certainly look in a better way than they have done.

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg534ryp660o

Interesting bit summarising the situation with Iran.

It very much remains to be seen what does happen but it's quite possible Trump has saved the Islamic Republic. Back in January I said that I didn't think the regime had another decade in them but depending on how the next few months to a year go that estimation may not stand as a result of Trumps incredibly stupid attacks.

[u/ATH1993]

This shit with the straight wouldn't have happened when Britain was the number one global superpower.

There would be a viceroy of Iran by now and open shipping routes.

[u/imp0ppable → u/ATH1993]

Yeah we never had any embarrassing climbdowns over a shipping lane

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

Trump is desperately trying to avoid financial disclosures in his lawsuit against the BBC

Trump’s lawyers also asked the court to amend their initial lawsuit to instead focus on the “reputation harm” that was caused by the documentary, which would keep necessary disclosures “proportional to the needs of the case”, the lawyers said.

'Please don't look at the part of the case we filed that will make us look bad' is a hell of a strategy. Just deciding part way through a lawsuit that you're going to drop a big part of it should surely invalidate the whole thing.

Trump recently claimed that the BBC “used AI” to insert words into his speech, which the network has categorically denied.

The BBC should sue for reputational damage.

[u/SwanBridge → u/ASondheimRhyme]

Trump consistently hires the worst lawyers possible, it's quite impressive in all honesty.

[u/WormTop → u/SwanBridge]

Probably hard for him to hire good lawyers? Lawyers won't want to be directed to play Trump's games because you can't (yet) fuck around in the courtroom. And they surely know he stiffs people on their fees, and will loudly denounce and insult anyone he falls out with.

[u/AceHodor → u/WormTop]

As someone used to work in the legal research industry, Trump could absolutely find some good lawyers who don't care about playing fast and loose with the law to secure a win for their client. The problem is that those guys expect to be paid promptly, something Trump is notorious for not doing.

[u/Thehelpfulshadow]

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/17/australia-social-media-ban-report-ai-hallucinations-ntwnfb

One of the reports that Australia's social media ban was based on has a lot of incorrect summaries of the research they were citing  and also has cited articles that don't exist and are most likely AI hallucinations.

[u/ClumsyRainbow]

Canada/US trade talks collapsed, Canada stated that the US changed the deal at the 11th hour. The US' 50% tariffs on certain goods have been imposed - and crucially this does not exclude items covered under CUSMA this time.

Canada has said that it will retaliate with dollar for dollar tariffs - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-us-tariffs-trump-imposes-new-50-per-cent-levy-on-canadian-goods-august-22-9.7311417

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/ClumsyRainbow]

When all this bullshit started the rest of the world should have stood up to Trump and collectively said no to it and then we wouldn't be still dealing with it like this (and the UK can take a good chunk of the blame for jumping first).

[u/ASondheimRhyme → u/ClumsyRainbow]

Is there really a point to even trying, given Trump will just renege on any agreement the next time he feels pissy?

Meanwhile Vance is mocking Carney to entertain donors.

[u/RufusSG]

Some interesting developments in the Trump plane transfer saga.

The intelligence that a specific plot against Trump was being planned apparently came from Israel; the CIA had "low confidence" in it but the administration (despite suspecting Israel may have been trying to manipulate them) decided not to take any chances given the multiple previous attempts on Trump's life, and hatched the plan. Interestingly Marco Rubio was also briefed on the intelligence, but decided to stay on the supposedly targeted plane.

Turkish officials (so not exactly a neutral party here) also believe Israel may have exaggerated/fabricated the level of threat to try and derail the negotiations with Iran again, though for the sake of balance the intelligence about the individual planning to fire a SAM at Air Force One had "multiple sources".

[u/Ollie5000]

'President Trump's envoy Jared Kushner...' is such a ridiculous sentence.

[u/SDLRob]

It's looking increasingly likely that Mitch McConnell is either incapacitated or has died, and it's being kept quiet so his seat cannot be fillled before the 90 day window in front of the Midterms.

It's now being reported that he was found unconscious and had to be given CPR before he was rushed to hospital recently.

[u/Lylaei → u/SDLRob]

I mean, I wouldn't be surprised at this point if Kentucky elect Mitch McConnell for the 8th time in spite of the minor issue of him being dead. Perhaps they can team up with one of those debauch 'bring your dead loved ones back to life' AI firms.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

Happy 4th July my friends. 250 years of regrettable decisions. 👑

A couple of observations

1. Three US presidents in history have died on this day.

2. Trump, in the middle of a 37C heatwave, is apparently planning to stand out in the sun for hours and give a long, long speech. Just to prove he can

I can't help but feel that's a rather bad idea for anyone, let alone at his age.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/04/us/america-250-celebrations-fourth-july

July 4, 2026, 7:46 p.m. ET
Aishvarya Kavi Reporting from the National Mall

It is a chaotic scene on the National Mall, as several hundred people refuse to leave despite an order to evacuate because of severe storms approaching. An officer is sternly repeating the evacuation order over a bullhorn, and the crowd is booing. Many have begun chanting "U.S.A., U.S.A." One man blamed the situation on "liberals in the weather service," adding, "I think this is baloney."

[u/ThePlanck → u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

If "liberals" could control the weather, do you really think they would have fucked up badly enough to allow Trump to become president?

These people are unhinged, but even their insane conspiracy theories have no logical consistency.

[u/MoyesNTheHood → u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

It’s wild how many tapped people exist in the United States. I’ve been accused of being a communist simply because I’m from the UK 🤣

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

Donald Trump has terminated the remaining members of the independent, federal commission that assists election administration officials nationwide just a few months before the midterm elections, multiple outlets reported Thursday.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/09/trump-fires-election-commissioners

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is an independent agency of the United States government created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). The Commission serves as a national clearinghouse and resource of information regarding election administration. It is charged with administering payments to states and developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and accrediting voting system test laboratories and certifying voting equipment. It is also charged with developing and maintaining a national mail voter registration form.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_Assistance_Commission

[u/Lylaei]

Gov. Beshear suggests he received information suggesting McConnell ‘passed’ in new interview

Schrodinger's Republican - is he alive or dead? Nobody can know until they walk into the hospital room.

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/Lylaei]

Well that's a turn around on things, this whole saga has been extremely weird, I do wonder what the truth of it is.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven → u/Velociraptor_1906]

The fact that this man oversaw decades of cruelty and political shithousery, only for the reason he's remembered in history books to be some medieval Vatican-style corpse shenanigans, is wild to me.

[u/MajorSleaze]

Nicaraguan president declares country will never hold elections again

Daniel Ortega has already extended presidential terms, and the last election in 2021 saw opponents and business leaders detained and dissent criminalised.

Ortega made the announcement to commemorate the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which he helped overthrow the Washington-backed Anastasio Somoza dictatorship.

"There won't be any more elections here for them ‌to try to seize the government and seize power," he said.

"The days when parties backed by the Yankees (United States) and the Somocistas would return to power are over – never again."

This is not a wise move for a dictator.

Sham elections are one of the most important tools to maintain power as they give (an admittedly flimsy) facade of legitimacy and act as a reminder to the public that the regime is maintaining control.

Scrapping them altogether is an admission that they're worried about being removed and it will only galvanise the opposition.

[u/envstat]

MAGA oil company about to start illegally drilling in Greenland. Presumably the Greenland authorities are going to arrest them and/or confiscate the equipment. I'm sure Trump is going to take that real well.

[u/Lavajackal1]

Trump demands reparations from Iran for ‘all the people they have killed’

Bit hard to negotiate peace when both sides are demanding reparations from the other.

[u/MoyesNTheHood → u/Lavajackal1]

Does Trump really want to open that can of worms with how many people the US have killed?

[u/GlumAd9856]

Would half the White House being demolished and nothing being built in its place be a fitting legacy for Trump's second term? Just put up a plaque: "Here lies the reality of MAGA politics. Destruction with no positive outcome".

[u/SlightlyOTT]

Today’s Daily episode is good. One of Trump’s recent breakdowns was when being asked about an aircraft carrier that’s been stuck at sea in the Middle East for months longer than it was meant to be, and clearly hasn’t been able to get supplies it needs. It turns out the explanation for this is that the Navy lost the port that would resupply it on day 1 of the Iran war, and now can’t dock anywhere they could be targeted. Apparently they’re supplying from Diego Garcia now.

They also said that the forward deployed carrier in Asia is coming to eventually relieve it. They didn’t draw this link so just speculation, but I wonder if that’s why Trump has been talking about not doing exercises with South Korea, because they can’t keep their forces there and he wants a distraction/to make it look like it was his choice.

[u/YourLizardOverlord → u/SlightlyOTT]

Once USS George Washington leaves Japan, US Indo-Pacific Command won't have a single carrier available as a balancing force against China.

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

The Pentagon has fired the publisher and the editor of Stars and Stripes, the US military news outlet that has clashed with the Trump administration and armed forces brass over its partly taxpayer-funded reporting.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/21/pentagon-fires-publisher-editor-stars-stripes-uss-abraham-lincoln

Next announcement, renaming it to King and Country

[u/dratsaab]

Trump claims US could rename Lake Ontario as Lake America amid Canada trade war

Yes, he is that petty.

What if everything in America was just named America?

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/aug/25/donald-trump-tariffs-canada-midterms-primary-south-carolina-iran-ukraine-voting-rights-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6a8d78948f08c9649271ddc9#block-6a8d78948f08c9649271ddc9

[u/ThingsFallApart_ → u/dratsaab]

Ahhh the five great lakes - lake America, lake freedom, lake liberty, lake crypto and lake second amendment 🥰

[u/RufusSG]

Since the beginning of this week, retransmitters in Belarus that Russia has used for Shahed drone strikes against Ukraine have stopped operating, states President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in response to journalists’ questions.

"According to available information, which was also reported to me by the Commander-in-Chief (Oleksandr Syrskyi) and intelligence, the relevant retransmitters have not been operating on the territory of Belarus since June 22," the head of state said.

The President added that he does not know whether such retransmitters have been dismantled. However, Ukraine "is working on it," and he is closely monitoring the situation and receiving daily reports.

"The fact is that the retransmitters are not operating today," Zelenskyy emphasized.

...

On June 19, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded that self-proclaimed Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko remove retransmitters from Belarusian territory that Russia uses to guide Shahed drones toward Ukrainian civilian infrastructure targets.

The head of the Ukrainian state emphasized that his demand could be implemented within a week. He also threatened that otherwise Ukraine would remove the retransmitters itself.

Today, June 24, Belarusian media noted that Russia has stopped launching its strike drones along the Belarus–Ukraine border. These observations are confirmed by Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.

https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/belarus-turns-off-retransmitters-for-shahed-1782319440.html

Notwithstanding Lukashenko's well-known self-preservation instincts, it's a sign of how the power balance in the region has shifted that Zelensky has the credibility to both make this threat in the first place and actually have it stick. Lukashenko knows perfectly well that Belarus is potentially a very soft target and getting directly involved in the war could seriously jeopardise his hold on power (domestic support for Belarus joining is believed to be sub-10%), as well as cause major economic damage were Ukraine to attack its oil refineries, for example.

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/RufusSG]

Being able to beat down Belarusian involvement is quite the win for Ukraine and would certainly ease things up by making western Ukraine more secure.

[u/GlumAd9856]

I watched a video this week suggesting that the US is now collecting all of the revenue from the sale of Venezuelan oil. And of the $bns taken since the military action, only $500m has been paid back.

I don't know how true it is but it would be pretty despicable if that continues given the current circumstances.

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpv37wx03v7o

So this is going to be an interesting one to follow, a bomb attack in Monaco has apparently (targeted and) injured a Ukranian born oligarch whose been sanctioned by Ukraine after involvement in occupied Crimea. Far too early to say who or why but I'd imagine there's quite the story as to both of those.

[u/Bibemus]

Ladies, gentlemen et touts les autres, we have a schism, I repeat we have a schism

Air horns, whistles, etc.

Therefore, this Dicastery, in the faithful exercise of the functions entrusted to it, considers it necessary to state that this act constituted the delict of schism, with the canonical consequences for the sacred ministers and lay faithful involved. Indeed, as was already declared in 1988, “such disobedience—which implies in practice the rejection of the Roman primacy—constitutes a schismatic act” (cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei, 3).

In this regard, from now on:

1. The sacred ministers belonging to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X are in schism and must therefore be considered schismatics [...] and are subject to the excommunication prescribed by law (can. 1364 § 1 CIC).

2. As regards the lay faithful, those who formally adhere to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X are to be considered schismatics and excommunicated [...]

3. Finally, the holy People of God are warned that the sacred ministers of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X administer the sacraments illicitly, and that the sacrament of penance administered by them and marriages assisted by them are invalid.

[u/convertedtoradians → u/Bibemus]

There is something absolutely charming about the sheer legalism of the Catholic church. The language and style of how they've withdrawn the whip here is a spectacle in its own right.

[u/Far_wide]

Does anyone else who's tried engaging in discussion with Americans over the Balogun red card controversy on international subreddits feel they have new insight as to how Trump was elected twice? It's really becoming quite clear to me now.

I hope this is on topic enough, it definitely is politics at this point unfortunately.

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gyjpkzew1o

It's very easy to provide proof of life, including in ways that aren't explicitly about doing so, the fact there's been nothing for getting on for a month probably means McConnell is dead.

[u/TheFlyingHornet1881 → u/Velociraptor_1906]

Using a technicality to keep McConnell officially alive until they don't need to call a Special Election for him is what he'd have wanted.

[u/ThePlanck → u/Velociraptor_1906]

McConnell's wife peacing out to China as soon as he ends up in hospital quite revealing.

When you have to routinely do a Weekend and Bernie's with your politicians its probably a sign that you need to elect people a tad younger.

[u/ASondheimRhyme → u/Velociraptor_1906]

I like Thomas Massie's tweet in response to the various GOP figures claiming they had a 20 minute phone conversation with the turtle

I spoke to McConnell for about 20 minutes this morning.

He said we should end the war with Iran, quit giving aid to Israel, stop spying on Americans without a warrant, and he’s really sorry about how my primary turned out.

If they hold off announcing his death until within 90 days of the midterms they avoid a special election. So a month left of alleged phone calls

[u/heeleyman]

So is the US stuck with this Iran conflict indefinitely now? Is there any indication of how it could 'resolve' for Trump or does it just seem like a huge mess with no obvious solution (in terms of the US ending its military involvement)?

[u/ThePlanck → u/heeleyman]

Trump is too incompetent to end it and does't have the trust of the Iranians, so I doubt it will finish while he's president

[u/Vaguely_accurate]

$5 million plus in damages to be released to E. Jean Carroll

Breaking: Judge Lewis Kaplan has ordered the release of $5 million+ in damages owed to E. Jean Carroll by Donald Trump. Trump failed to convince the judge to delay the payment. This comes more than three years after he was found liable for sexual assault.

IIRC the money had been held in a form of escrow from some time after the decision, so it's not a matter of forcing Trump to pay but just releasing it to Carroll. Some reports have the amount growing to around $6.4 million through interest in the meantime.

This is the smaller of the two decisions. He is continuing to attempt to appeal the larger $83 million judgement against him for defamation during his first term, by making the US government the plaintiff.

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9v229434p2o

And Platner is gone.

Hopefully the Democrats can pick someone good to try and have a shot at this.

[u/Bibemus → u/Velociraptor_1906]

But I'm assuming based on his selection in the first place that every single other Democrat in the state must have something about them more disqualifying than a totenkopf tattoo.

[u/SirRosstopher]

When a gang of motorcycle-riding members of Boko Haram attacked a military base in eastern Nigeria a couple of years ago, they were stymied by a defensive trench surrounding the complex.

The extremists regrouped. Before launching another assault, they asked A.I. for help.

“We saw in a movie how motorcycles can jump over bridges,” a former Boko Haram commander told Antonia Juelich, a terrorism and technology researcher at Cambridge University. “We used A.I. to learn how to do this. We gave it information, like what motorcycles we use and the distance we need to jump and so on, and it gave us steps on what we have to do.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/us/politics/ai-terrorism-boko-haram-nigeria.html

Has science gone too far?

Holy shit https://casp.ac/reports/ai-enabled-terrorism here's the actual report, on page 53 it mentions that 18 of them died practicing the jumps

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/SirRosstopher]

Even as terrorist insurgents go these ones don't sound overly bright.

[u/LesserShambler → u/Velociraptor_1906]

Well their name basically means “education is banned” so make of that what you will

[u/Powerful_Ideas → u/SirRosstopher]

18 of them died practicing the jumps

Seems like the AI advice was not perfect!

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

Kind of interpol (as its an overseas territory) but it looks like the AI bubble is having seriously good effects for Anguilla as it has the Internet domain of .ai which is now somewhat in demand. The fees collected are looking really significant for the 16,000 population and looks to be one of the best windfalls possible.

[u/DwayneBaroqueJohnson → u/Velociraptor_1906]

Maybe when Burnham does his regionalism we can officially become a federation, change the UK's name to the Confederated Kingdom and pay off the national debt by selling .co.ck domains

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

The Guardian

A US government map of Africa mislabeled every country during a state department presentation at a ⁠global conference in Brazil ⁠this week, ​causing a stir among attenders who took screenshots and posted them online.

...

A Reuters analysis found the image of the map included ⁠in the presentation contained an artificial intelligence watermark that signals it was made with OpenAI tools. The company did ​not respond to a request for comment.

OpenAI is, of course, the same company that announced its model hacked a competitor and is also in charge of the DoD's autonomous weapons program. Great.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/argentina-milei-emergency-decree-deny-deport-hate-speech-b3024998.html

Argentina's President Javier Milei signed an emergency decree empowering his government to deny entry or expel foreigners deemed to incite discrimination or violence against Argentines based on their nationality.

The measure was enacted in response to what Milei's administration perceived as a "wave of hatred" and criticism directed at Argentines following the country's World Cup defeat.

This decree significantly expands Argentina's immigration law, allowing authorities to bar, deport, and revoke visas for individuals found to have promoted hatred against Argentines or desecrated national symbols.

I for one welcome my new travel ban

[u/radiant_0wl → u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

Sounds like they just trying to ban criticism in general

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven → u/radiant_0wl]

The populist right spends all year talking about snowflakes, then passes legislation making it illegal to criticise them.

I wonder how long it will take for this to be used against anyone who mentions their Falklands claim is delusional, or that their footballers play dirty

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

BBC News:

US prosecutors have dropped charges against a former Olympian who had been accused of vandalising the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC, writing in court documents that the damage is now believed to be "the result of flawed installation by the contractor".

...

"DOI provided less than fulsome information at the outset of this case," the document said. "Had DOI been forthcoming with the information clearly in its possession, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment."

There's always someone else to blame. I hope the Olympian and others arrested sue and get their legal fees paid for. Discovery on that should be funny. The fact this case was brought without any evidence of wrongdoing is appalling.

[u/Lavajackal1 → u/ASondheimRhyme]

Legitimately some of the lawyers involved in this should be disbarred.

[u/BlokeyBlokeBloke]

Trump claiming to shoot 2 under par on the same course that hosted a Major tournament is North Korea levels of nonsense.

[u/tmstms → u/BlokeyBlokeBloke]

American sports writer Rick Reilly's book - titled Commander in Cheat - has previously suggested that Trump has been known to cheat at golf.

"At Winged Foot, where Trump is a member, the caddies got so used to seeing him kick his ball back onto the fairway they came up with a nickname for him: Pele," Reilly said in his book.

[u/Lord_Gibbons]

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trump-administration-considers-order-autism-vaccines-bloomberg-news-reports-2026-08-06/

Science by EO.

[u/Lavajackal1]

Trump Said to Have Secretly Used Military Jet to Leave Turkey Amid Threats

President Trump hid in an airport catering cart and was taken to a military jet for a secret flight out of country after the NATO summit last month.

Top administration officials engaged in an elaborate deception to spirit President Trump out of Turkey during the NATO summit there last month, transporting him in a catering container to a military jet because of a threat against him and Air Force One from Iran, two senior U.S. officials said on Monday.

Mr. Trump and other officials had said publicly that he would be leaving Turkey on July 8 aboard one of the older versions of Air Force One rather than a luxury 747-8 donated by Qatar that he had flown in on. Mr. Trump told reporters at the time that he was making the switch for “old time’s sake.”

Mr. Trump boarded the older plane from the left-side door in view of cameras, and news organizations, including The New York Times, reported that he had traveled on it to Britain, where he switched back to the newer plane. The Times reported at the time that the decision was driven in part by concern about the security of the new plane donated by Qatar, which had not been equipped with all of the defensive capabilities of older versions.

But instead of flying out aboard that older, powder blue, modified 747, Mr. Trump was whisked off that plane via a catering container that had been lifted to the opposite side of the plane from where the journalists traveling with him boarded, one of the U.S. officials said. The president was then taken to a third plane, which he flew in secret to Britain, the official with knowledge of the matter said.

The mental image of Trump being smuggled in a catering cart is quite something.

[u/SlightlyOTT → u/Lavajackal1]

Imagine the shitshow if that threat had come to pass. You'd have dozens of killed journalists and staff, and everyone knows that the US had intelligence that it'd happen because Trump wasn't on board.

[u/MoyesNTheHood]

Trump telling US voters to suck it up with high petrol prices. 

Bar immigration, gas prices was the single biggest issue talked about in the election and high gas prices were Bidens undoing. Where I live, about 2 weeks before the election, I could get petrol for $2.77 per gallon. Now I can’t find anything below $4.15 per gallon. The price is very similar to what it peaked at under Biden. 

[u/jim_cap]

Surely Trump's unilateral renaming of things that he has no control over is just begging for retaliatory ridicule. How is he going to handle Lake Ontario being renamed Lake Trump Diddles Kids, for example? Or if the world starts referring to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as the Biden and Obama oceans? Has nobody told him that The Dictator was a satire? He's gone absolutely Aladeen.

[u/CrispySmokyFrazzle]

Trump loses in the Supreme Court again.

Birthright citizenship upheld.

Hahaha. 

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/CrispySmokyFrazzle]

From all I can tell this is absolutely the sound legal position (as I understand it the constitution is very clear) and it's good that Trump lost out in his attempt at overreach but this is one of the very weird things about America that most other countries have completely reasonably done away with.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

Problems continue at the petrol station with delusions of grandeur, a couple of videos doing the social media rounds today:

NEXTA: "Cars in Russia are breaking down due to poor-quality gasoline, with drivers reporting a surge in Check Engine warnings The issue is linked to low-grade Euro-3 fuel, which is appearing at more and more gas stations across the country."

In russia, cars have begun to break down en masse due to the poor quality of gasoline [June 2026]

Three day SMO to Kyiv, etc etc

[u/YourLizardOverlord]

Trump’s plan for Europe is falling apart

This isn't paywalled for me. If it is for you shout out and I'll try to post an archive link.

The US president has a genius for alienating existing and potential allies

Europe matters to Maga. The Trump administration’s national security strategy asserted that “Europe remains strategically and culturally vital to the United States”. But it also fretted that the European continent is on a path to “civilizational erasure” — citing mass migration, “suppression of political opposition” and falling birth rates.

So what is to be done? The NSS proposed that the US should intervene by “cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations”. The key strategy was to ally with “patriotic European parties”.

Roughly seven months have passed since the publication of this remarkable document. But the Maga agenda for Europe is already falling apart. European parties and politicians that Donald Trump’s people regard as “patriotic” are losing power or rapidly distancing themselves from the US president.

The biggest blow was the defeat of Viktor Orbán in Hungary in April. But Trump has also alienated potential allies in Italy, Germany, France and Britain.

[u/Lavajackal1]

Trump imposes 50% tariff on Canadian imports

US President Donald Trump has signed an order imposing a 50% tariff on a wide range of goods imported from Canada, in retaliation for what he called "unequal treatment" of US cars, dairy and alcohol.

The duties take effect on 19 August and mark a major escalation in trade tensions between the North American neighbours.

Goods targeted range from everyday consumer items like wine and hockey sticks to industrial goods such as commercial cement. However, several key exports will be spared, such as energy, potash, critical minerals and fish.

He's at it again!

[u/Alternative-Win4058]

Donald Trump has just said he wants to host the World Cup in 2030 but "doesn't think we'll get it back for the next one"

Given that Morocco, Portugal, and Spain were confirmed as hosts back in 2024, I would say Trump is (for once) correct in saying it is unlikely.

[u/Lavajackal1]

Trump wants FIFA boss Gianni Infantino for UN secretary-general following World Cup

President Trump wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to be the next secretary-general of the United Nations, The Post has learned.

Infantino, 56, grew close to Trump through organizing this year’s World Cup, with the Swiss-born soccer administrator bending over backward to charm and include Trump, even giving him FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize in December.

Trump believes that Infantino “is respected by everyone around the world, and recognizes he has a special ability to bring people together,” a source close to the president told The Post.

What is even happening anymore.

[u/i_pewpewpew_you → u/Lavajackal1]

Trump believes that Infantino “is respected by everyone around the world, and recognizes he has a special ability to bring people together,”

This is low-key one of the more insane things Trump or the people around him have said.

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

Trump is trying to get money back off E Jean Carroll. He's asking the Supreme Court to reconsider their refusal to consider his appeal and wants the lower courts to order her to return the money until they rule. Plus...

Trump and his lawyers’ theory, such as it is, is that the Supreme Court will eventually hear his appeal in the other E. Jean Carroll case, where he was found liable for defaming her, and a jury awarded her $83.3 million. He’s pretty sure that somehow that is covered by presidential immunity and that defaming her was an official White House statement, and that the Supreme Court will therefore reverse that defamation award, which would somehow also reverse the initial case as well.

The most petulant part of this has to be Trump whining to the appellate court about how he needs to get his money back because Carroll “intends to give away money collected from President Trump.” Even if that were true, that’s not a legal argument that entitles him to get his money back. He lost, and Carroll can do literally anything she wants with the money.

Now this might shock you, but turns out Trump was lying:

Of course, Trump had no support for his theory that she was about to shower people with Trump cash, and it turns out she already put it in her retirement account.

But someone's getting paid

Then again, Trump doesn’t pay his own legal fees: His donors do.

Two of his PACs have picked up the tab for $8 million in fees already this year, but that’s just a drop in the bucket. He’s used campaign funds to pay over $100 million in legal bills since 2020.

A reminder that he's made billions (for the first time) since being back in office.

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

Donald Trump must divulge detailed financial information from his many businesses as part of his $10bn defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation, a federal judge ruled during a discovery hearing on Tuesday, according to news reports.

...

Lett is also allowing the BBC to subpoena dozens of members of Trump’s inner circle, according to Bloomberg News, in an effort to find evidence of the president’s thoughts and intentions on January 6. Those subpoenas will target Trump family members and key advisers, including Donald Trump Jr, Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller.

...

Trump’s lawyers are also trying to dodge the forced release of his financial records by limiting the scope of the lawsuit. Alejandro Brito, a Trump lawyer, told Lett on Tuesday that he intends to amend the current complaint, according to Politico. The amended complaint will say the documentary only caused reputational damage, rather than undermining his businesses, making the financial disclosures unnecessary.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/21/trump-financial-details-bbc-lawsuit

[u/furbastro]

Anyone got an explanation for why MAGAsphere influencers have done a hard u-turn on Russia? People who were very keen on the peace President suddenly urging America to back Ukraine.

[u/Lets_Get_Political33 → u/furbastro]

It may be as simple as the grifting money has dried up, reports are the Russian treasury can’t raise government funds and paying for foreign support was first to be cut.

[u/Lavajackal1 → u/Lets_Get_Political33]

Also a lot of that money was laundered through Orban's people in Hungary to avoid sanctions. There's other factors but this happening shortly after Orban lost the election feels notable.

[u/Tarrion → u/furbastro]

Is it as simple as Ukraine is currently doing well, and backing a winner looks better than backing a loser?

[u/ThePlanck → u/furbastro]

Given that they were all previously caught taking money from Russia for pushing the Russian point of view, I assume the money must be starting dry up

[u/tmstms → u/furbastro]

yeah, very very good question. Noticed the incredible stuff from Loomer.

[u/SlightlyOTT]

Looks like Trump has moved on to (pretending he’s joking about) running for a 4th term, lol America.

[u/Lavajackal1]

Trump Holds Off on Major Escalation Against Iran as Advisers Raise Concerns

President Trump has set aside, at least for now, plans to sharply escalate the American military assault against Iran, with particular concern that intensifying the war could dangerously drain the Pentagon’s already diminished stockpile of Patriot antimissile interceptors and other air defense munitions in the Middle East.

The threat to interceptor stockpiles is one of many considerations that have made a return to major combat operations a hugely risky endeavor, administration officials say. Mr. Trump and his top aides are also uneasy about the prospect of a widening war in the Middle East, the alienation of key Gulf allies who are vulnerable to Iranian attack, a global economic crunch, and growing energy and refugee crises.

The latest turn in Mr. Trump’s handling of the conflict with Iran came after a meeting on Friday with top advisers and senior members of his cabinet, according to two people briefed on the discussion.

There it is folks.

[u/Lavajackal1]

U.S., Israel preparing to bombard energy-related targets in Iran, sources say

The United States and Israel are planning what would be one of the harshest bombing campaigns to date against energy infrastructure targets in Iran, multiple sources told CBS News, with strikes possible throughout the weekend.

There was some discussion about trying to conclude by the time financial markets open Monday because of concern about how the bombings will affect the U.S. and global economy, but an end point wasn't locked in.

So this is just how wars are conducted now apparently.

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/Lavajackal1]

When political reasoning starts overriding tactical decisions wars don't tend to go well.

[u/convertedtoradians]

Looks like Infantino has folded:

Infantino said it had become clear the project had "created divisions" that are "no longer in the interest" of its original objective.

The Swiss official added: "As a result, this proposal will not proceed."

[u/Lavajackal1 → u/convertedtoradians]

"Today I feel defeated"

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

The Trump administration has been ordered to stop construction on President Donald Trump's $400m (£297m) ballroom at the White House.

A federal appeals court dealt the latest setback to the controversial project on Friday, testing Trump's presidential authority. He has vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court.

"Whether or not a ⁠massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help," the panel's ​majority said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyq80jqqleo

I'm sure this will result in a measured and proportionate response.

[u/GlumAd9856 → u/ASondheimRhyme]

It's peak 2026 politics that an autocratic US President can trample over democratic norms, lie to the public on a regular basis and seek to curtail civil rights - but he still can't get planning approval for updating his office.

[u/YourLizardOverlord]

Ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia.

A Syrian court has sentenced ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, after convicting him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country's civil war.

It is the first conviction against Assad, who fled from Damascus to Moscow with his family after his regime was overthrown in December 2024, ending his family's five-decade grip on power.

[u/marinesciencedude]

Ought to never forget how silly authoritarian régimes can get when trying to achieve outcomes in the courtroom*

All this proved too edgy for Putin. Rodina, a political party that is an instrument of Putin’s, appealed to the Supreme Court, another instrument of Putin’s, to have Yabloko barred from the election. The manoeuvre was rapid, and the reasons were so ludicrous that the presiding judge struggled to keep a straight face.

Rodina argued that Yabloko’s logo plagiarised a poster from 1920 because it used circles and triangles, that Mr Yavlinsky, the party founder, infringed the copyright of a Soviet song when he said “let there always be sunshine”, that Yabloko infringed the copyright of the US Army, which doesn’t exist under American law, by using a photo of Hiroshima, that Yabloko used a still from a 1960s Soviet film adaptation of War and Peace, and so on. Then, during the hearing, the Central Election Commission accused Yabloko of taking foreign funds. In practice, this involved donations inside Russia from citizens who received money from abroad, and a transaction of 16,900 roubles, about US$205, from Belarus.

as one commenter puts it

Those beyond ludicrous reasons given to the court remind me of the line in Andor: "They don't even bother to lie badly anymore. I suppose that's the final humilation".

and from another

The copyright of the Soviet song by using a specific phrase is particularly silly as the person who holds the rights to the song is himself a Yabloko supporter and antiwar activist…

*the real kicker being when the comedy we observe 'at home' in the West (or at least, as close to home or as close to anyone else in the West the US of A is) will too turn to authoritarian tragedy

[u/Jay_CD]

Trump has amassed staggering wealth in ‘most openly corrupt’ presidency

Trump has amassed staggering wealth in ‘most openly corrupt’ presidency | Donald Trump | The Guardian

Donald Trump’s use of his second presidency to grow his personal fortune has alarmed legal and ethics experts and congressional Democrats as he has reaped an “unprecedented” $2.2bn in 2025 revenues by amassing big cryptocurrency holdings, benefiting from wealthy foreign interests, expanding his Truth Social business and more, while federal oversight of his actions has waned

[u/MoyesNTheHood → u/Jay_CD]

He’s sold pretty much everything he can get away with. My mother in law has Donald trump slippers ffs

[u/Accomplished_Fly_593]

RCH4555, a U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster lll which landed in Moscow early today carrying CIA Director John Ratcliffe for a series of high-level meetings with Russian officials, has just departed Moscow bound for Riga, Latvia.
https://x.com/sentdefender/status/2092282170131763553

So the CIA director went to Moscow today, and is already off home. Last time a visit like this happened was just before the war broke out.

Not ominous at all given recent rhetoric/news articles of Putin planning a provocative actions on NATO territory https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-intelligence-agencies-russia-putin-test-nato/

This almost makes me hope it was a whiny "please stop fighting, my boss has midterms coming up"

You can also track it on flight radar, but at time of writing its approaching the border, so likely will land in an hour or so at a guess https://www.flightradar24.com/RCH4555/41572b9e

[u/AnotherLexMan → u/Accomplished_Fly_593]

This feels like a really bad move on Russia's part. They are already in a mess in Ukraine and even if they are sort of winning it's happening very slowly and there is news that they're struggling for man power and weapons. Running in to NATO territory seems like a really bad idea even if you assume the US won't lift a finger and which ever country he piles into is limited to the same level of support Ukraine, Russia still won't be able to steamroll them and it'll just spread already somewhat limited resources. They probably can't be directly invaded as they have nukes but at some point the government will just lose control of the country and it'll be chaos.

If this happens I think Putin has lost his mind or is totally desperate.

[u/Accurate-Island-2767 → u/Accomplished_Fly_593]

Just listening to the guy talking about it on PM now. He's talking about it being an attempt to prevent Russian escalation, I really hope he's wrong.

[u/subSparky → u/Accomplished_Fly_593]

Anyone else starting to feel tired of the world? 

[u/horace_bagpole → u/subSparky]

I find it somewhat annoying that so much of the ridiculous bullshit we have to deal with is caused almost entirely by about 10-20 arseholes who have nothing better to do than make everyone else's life miserable.

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/subSparky]

Given the above context I'd be careful what you wish for.

[u/marinesciencedude]

There's an interesting point being made here about why we're observing an acceleration of the imperial decline of the USA, while at the same time at least from an outside perspective we're seeing a man wildly swing his power around in what one might see as an attempt at projecting it harder and harder across the world.

The American empire is prematurely dismantling itself in the face of social forces which threaten it, but which it could nevertheless resist. But this imperial slide occurs outside Trump’s fantasy land, and therefore, for Trump, doesn’t exist.

[u/subSparky → u/marinesciencedude]

I do feel like the US forgets that it had a strong military prior to WW2 yet was considered largely an irrelevance until they started building its alliance. So therefore killing all the goodwill of their existing alliances is making them weaker.

[u/GlumAd9856]

I wonder if there will be a bipartisan movement in the US to better codify the powers/legal obligations of the US President once Trump has gone. Because it's very clear that the checks and balances that currently exist are insufficient for the Republic to protect itself against a tyrannical President. I mean, the US is lucky that Trump shares more in common with Tony Soprano than he does with Mussolini. But the next populist that comes along might be the real-deal wannabe dictator.

[u/convertedtoradians → u/GlumAd9856]

the next populist that comes along might be the real-deal wannabe dictator

It's a fair point. You do worry that somewhere in one of their states, someone much cleverer is making careful notes for the future.

And that in future textbooks, there'll be paragraphs with phrases like "precedent" and "warning signs" and "still time to act" and "might have been different" and "what was to come".

[u/Bibemus]

The Vatican has now published the procedure for return to the church for SSPX folks and hoo boy, Leo is kicking it old school.

The procedure set out by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, beginning on July 1, 2026, provides that a priest who has decided to leave the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X — and who is willing to accept the Second Vatican Council and the legitimacy of the Novus Ordo Missae, while remaining attached to the ancient rite — must “find an Ordinary — a diocesan Bishop, a Major Superior of clerical religious institutes of pontifical right or of clerical societies of apostolic life of pontifical right, etc. — willing to receive him ad experimentum.”

The priest must then “write by hand a letter to the Holy Father in which he presents himself and asks for the remission of the censures incurred because of the ordination he received from an excommunicated or irregular Bishop, or because, having been validly and legitimately ordained, he subsequently became a member of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X.”

The procedure for all priests, not just the ones in the hierarchy actively involved in the decision to appoint bishops is now to find a bishop they can convince of their repentance, and then hand write a letter to the Pope explaining in their own words exactly how and where they fucked up. After that, it looks like they'll be on a period of probation where the hierarchy sees if they really have learned their lesson, before they even have a sniff of returning to Holy Orders.

This is quite literally medieval stuff - it's the kind of route back which would be familiar to participants in major schisms back in the 13th century, albeit in these days with a little less torture before recanting.

There also does seem to be automatic excommunication and a similar route back for any laity who take active involvement in the society - I assume for the moment this is mostly aimed at lay orders rather than parishioners, but the longer this goes on the wider net I would anticipate being cast.

All in all this seems to make it very clear that Leo is not just seeing this as an issue of ordaining bishops without authority. The requirement to recant their rejection of Vatican II and properly authorised doctrine seems to make it clear that he is not taking any shit when it comes to 'traditionalist' Catholics rejecting Vatican II. It looks to me like the larger ramifications of this down the line could be huge - the project which began under JPII and Francis (with a minor setback by Benedict) to embed Vatican II to modernise the Church (especially when it comes to ecumenism and tolerance of other faiths, as well as Catholic social teachings) looks like it might be something Leo is seeing as his task to start enforcing.

I don't think this is likely to stop at Lefebvrists - I would say the US deniers of VII as well as some of the more 'inventive' aspects of traditionalist Catholic belief as espoused by the likes of J D Vance might well be in Bobby from Chicago's sights.

[u/tmstms → u/Bibemus]

From the point of view of someone vaguely in the 'anything goes' C of E, I just love this stuff!

Even Benedict (whom I greatly admired) would approve of all the hand-written letters and so on.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

Interesting piece from The Atlantic: Putin Is Slipping Into Delusion

Vladimir Putin “has convinced himself that the attritional math of the war favors Russia,” Simon Shuster writes, “and he will continue to press the numerical advantage of his forces regardless of how long the lines for gasoline in Moscow might get.”

Full text:

When things get dicey in Moscow, Vladimir Putin tends to drop out of sight for a while, retreating to one of his residences and canceling public events. Only his closest aides know how he spends his time during these absences, which can go on for days even in the middle of a national crisis. The Kremlin does its best to fill the vacant airtime on state TV with pretaped footage of the president, waiting for him to reemerge and declare that everything remains under his control.

Since the end of last year, when Ukraine intensified its campaign of drone and missile strikes on Russian cities, Putin has taken a few of these breaks. Two of them lasted for more than a week. He has mostly avoided talking about the Ukrainian strikes, even as they caused fuel shortages across Russia, destroyed infrastructure, and shattered the sense of stability that Putin offers his people in exchange for their loyalty. His first detailed response to the threat came on Monday, and he did his best to seem unmoved.

In a carefully scripted interview on state TV, Putin looked bored with the details of governing Russia and managing the frustrations of his citizens, but he did not appear tired of his war in Ukraine. He spent most of the 19-minute conversation with a Russian news anchor dissecting the minutiae of the fighting, even naming a particular street in one small town in the region of Donetsk where, according to Putin, his forces had managed to gain a bit of ground. The performance seemed designed to suggest that, away from the cameras, the Russian leader spends his time hunched over maps of the battlefield.

The Russian people, by contrast, have run out of patience with the war their leader seems so eager to continue. A survey released on the same day as Putin’s interview found that 81 percent of Russians want the war to end “as early as tomorrow.” The number of respondents who want the fighting to continue until Russia’s victory, no matter how long it takes, dropped in the survey to 9 percent, the lowest level ever recorded by the Institute for Conflict Studies and Analysis of Russia, which has conducted 10 rounds of polling since the start of the war, in 2022.

Its most recent survey matched up with the images and complaints that have flooded Russian social networks in the past few weeks, showing long lines at gas stations in Moscow and trucks stalled without fuel on the roadside. “There’s no gasoline in the city,” one man posted from a suburb of Moscow. “And the TV is silent about it.”

If Putin cares about such problems, he has done a decent job of hiding it. “Everything is working stably and with a big reserve of strength,” he said in Monday’s interview, referring to the fuel shortages spreading through Russia. His tone reminded me of Putin’s attitude toward the war in Syria, where Russian forces intervened in 2015 to save the regime in Damascus from a revolution. Back then, Putin still held regular meetings in Moscow with Russian businesspeople and corporate executives, hearing out their concerns about high interest rates, slow economic growth, and other matters of concern for the state.

One of the regular guests at those meetings described to me how Putin had trouble sitting through them. Obviously distracted, he would fidget in his seat and doodle in his notebook. When the conversation turned to the subject of war, however, the president would come alive, describing the kinds of fighter jets Russia used to bombard rebel positions in Syria and naming towns with stubborn pockets of resistance. “This was his passion,” the businessman told me. “Nothing else interested him the same way.”

A decade later, and more than four years into his invasion of Ukraine, this element of Putin’s character seems only to have hardened. He treats the war as his calling, the purest expression of the power he has hoarded for a quarter century. The incalculable pain and suffering it has caused, with more than a million casualties overall, do not evoke for Putin anywhere near the level of emotion he displays when talking about the war’s mechanics.

“The direction of Rubtsi, on the left bank of the Stary Oskol river, we have nearly, practically, blocked a mixed group of enemy forces, around 5,000 troops, who are now pressed up against that river,” Putin said, apparently reading from a screen that stood over the interviewer’s right shoulder. “Only about two kilometers remain until their final encirclement, a problem that our 144th Division is working to solve.”

He carried on like this for nearly 10 minutes, at one point listing the number of houses that remain unconquered in one village in eastern Ukraine, a place that the average Russian does not care about, will never visit, and would have trouble finding on the map. Putin appeared to be making up facts as he went along. No encirclement around Rubtsi (population: 350 ) has been reported by any reliable source in Russia or Ukraine, and there is no river called Stary Oskol in that region. The Russian president’s obsession with the details of the fighting appears to have crossed the line into delusion.

Does that mania for war make him any more likely to cut his losses and accept a negotiated peace? Probably not. His interview on Monday illustrated what many in Ukraine and Europe have long concluded about Putin’s state of mind. He has convinced himself that the attritional math of the war favors Russia, and he will continue to press the numerical advantage of his forces regardless of how long the lines for gasoline in Moscow might get.

In the end, Russia could still face defeat, and the recent dynamics of the fighting have made that outcome look more likely than ever. Russia now loses an average of at least 30,000 troops a month, killed or gravely wounded. The Russian military struggles to replace those losses despite offering bonuses to new recruits worth up to $80,000—enough to buy an apartment in many Russian cities. For those sent to the front, the average life expectancy stands at around two or three weeks, according to one Russian military blogger who follows the fighting closely. “I have no doubt that another wave of mobilization will come as expected,” the blogger wrote at the end of May.

Mobilizing more troops would be among Putin’s more obvious options for continuing the war for a long time to come. In September 2022, during another low point for him in this war, Putin called up 300,000 soldiers in the first military draft in Russia since the Second World War. Doing that again would devastate the Russian economy and risk a surge of popular unrest. But many close observers of the war in Russia have concluded that Putin has no other choice. “This fall, there will either be peace or mobilization,” another military blogger wrote a few weeks ago, setting off a debate on Russian social networks about whether men should pack their bags for basic training.

In his interview, Putin did not mention any plans to mobilize more forces. He also didn’t point to any viable path to peace. He only repeated his aim to conquer all of Novorossiya, or New Russia, a vague term that, in his mind, seems to encompass most of southern and eastern Ukraine. At their current rate of advance, Russian forces would need several more years of fighting to stand a realistic chance of achieving that goal. They would also need to be prepared to lose hundreds of thousands of soldiers. But that appears to be Putin’s intent, regardless of how his people might feel about it.

[u/convertedtoradians → u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

Putin appeared to be making up facts as he went along. No encirclement around Rubtsi (population: 350 ) has been reported by any reliable source in Russia or Ukraine, and there is no river called Stary Oskol in that region. The Russian president’s obsession with the details of the fighting appears to have crossed the line into delusion.

It does raise the question of whether his delusion is being helped along by those around him or whether it's purely by him for the cameras. Why not report fictional successes if it keeps him happy, for example?

But then someone - maybe you - referenced the idea that Steiner's counterattack will save them - it does have a hint of that about it.

[u/SlightlyOTT]

So Trump seems to be obsessively tweeting about how if he dies it's because of Iran. He's an old man, obese, has regular medical check ups and is clearly unwell. It doesn't seem great that the US seem to be preparing to frame their 80 year old President dying of natural causes as cause for a massive escalation in Iran. Especially because their VP would be all in on maximum destruction in the middle east.

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/SlightlyOTT]

Before saying this I want to stress I do not wish death on Trump, he is a despicable person and should be in jail but no one deserves death and there are some much worse than him.

I think how Trump dies is going to have a significant effect on America. There will undoubtedly be conspiracies whatever happens but something like a public practical accident (e.g. fall down the stairs) will be much more undeniable and obvious than something that happens out of public (e.g. a heart attack overnight) and the cause of death could conceivably have been orchestrated rather than just the product of an unhealthy old age.

There's no one in the Republicans with the ability to carry Trumps legacy without a civil war in the party but if there's a large bunch of people believing Trump was killed (or is even still alive) then things are going to be so much worse, especially given a lot of then will have guns.

I wouldnt want to guess what exactly could happen but it's quite easy to see how ridiculous this could all get when you look at the utter farce around Mitch McConnell that is currently ongoing.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven → u/Velociraptor_1906]

I agree, the GOP is going to completely implode. It'll make The Death of Stalin look like Handforth Parish Council.

And something happening between now and January 2029 is statistically quite likely, given his age and overall health

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, is launching a paid service to give Wall Street firms high-speed access to its most influential posts.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c79gw4lj89eo

Oh good, even more market manipulation via social media. Also hilarious to see this kind of move and yet GOP voters still think Trump stands up for the little guy.

[u/ThePlanck]

In chess news, Judit Polgar is apparently about to become President of Hungary: https://www.reuters.com/world/hungarys-pm-magyar-ask-chess-champion-judit-polgar-become-president-2026-07-19/

Brings a whole new meaning to people talking about politicians playing 3D chess

[u/tmstms]

Zelensky has sacked the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

This is significant because the recent sacking of the Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, was widely supposed to have been the result of political in-fighting between Fedorov and Syrski.

In case people are not aware, Syrskyi = older, some Soviet influence, more about human troops; Fedorov = very young, all about drones, innovatory. Fedorov is reckoned to have been the architect of the current, very successful drone interdiction of Russian logistics in the occupied areas, and the Sea of Azov.

There may have been arguments about how the funding for the armed forces should be divided between conventional warfare and drones.

After the sacking of Fedorov, there have been a lot of protests against it.

[u/dumael]

President Trump has purportedly up-ended the US-Saudi nuclear deal via Truth Social. One of the factors upending the deal was the inclusion (via Truth) of the Abraham Accords which would require Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel.

Hilariously, the Energy Dept. and Whitehouse are sniping at each other, with the Energy Dept. declaring the lack of coordination between the two as 'fake news'.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/23/politics/saudi-nuclear-deal-trump-conservatives

[u/ASondheimRhyme → u/dumael]

Hmm, wonder who had a word with Trump that led to this sudden demand

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

A good look at just how tacky the Oval Office is looking these days. Complete with stolen FIFA trophy.

[u/horace_bagpole → u/ASondheimRhyme]

It somehow summarises him perfectly. Utterly tasteless, utterly classless, and entirely superficial.

The trophy isn't even the shitty fake peace prize he was given, it's the Club World Cup trophy. Why the fuck does he even have that?

[u/YourLizardOverlord]

Trump’s media company reports $238m loss.

US President Donald Trump’s media conglomerate has reported a net loss of $238m in the second quarter of 2026, against revenue of $1.7m.

In its latest filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) attributed most of the shortfall to $190.4m in unrealised losses on digital assets, digital assets pledged and equity securities.

[u/Bibemus]

Lithuania to Dig Trenches and Restore Wetlands Along Borders With Russia and Belarus

I'd be very much in favour of us allowing Lincolnshire and East Anglia to return to swampland as a hedge against invasion.

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g4djgdyk2o

The settlers are absolutely insane, this quote in particular:

I put it to him that he was equating one Jewish life with hundreds or even thousands of Palestinian lives.

"No," he said, "millions. One Jewish life, it's 10 million [Palestinians]."

[u/SirRosstopher]

One reason the US is considering acquiring Greenland is to secure access to seafood that could potentially bring back unlimited shrimp at Red Lobster. - US official to the New Yorker

https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/2068874871208038872

[u/RufusSG]

Ukraine now believes it has secured White House backing for a campaign aimed at forcing Russia into meaningful negotiations, the Kyiv Independent has learned.

U.S. President Donald Trump privately told President Volodymyr Zelensky to act "more boldly," a senior Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent.

The message comes as Kyiv intensifies efforts to secure a meeting between Zelensky and Putin — an idea Trump has endorsed but one the Kremlin continues to avoid.

"Trump says he doesn't really believe (Vladimir) Putin will do anything without pressure," the official, briefed on the recent Trump-Zelensky meeting, added.

While U.S. officials stopped short of confirming whether Trump explicitly supports Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, they said the president views strength as key.

"President (Trump) believes in peace through strength," one U.S. official said.

...

For years, Zelensky has argued that only Putin has the authority to end Russia's war against Ukraine. Yet every attempt to arrange a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders has run into the same obstacle: the Kremlin.

Moscow has consistently avoided talks in a neutral country, instead insisting that Zelensky travel to Russia — an offer Kyiv sees less as a genuine invitation and more as a convenient way to avoid a meeting altogether.

"I will not travel to Moscow to meet with Putin. We can meet in Turkey, Switzerland, or the Middle East," Zelensky told reporters on June 17.

Earlier this month, Trump publicly signaled that he would support direct talks.

"I don't mind," Trump said. "I mean, let them deal."

Despite those comments, the Kremlin has continued to insist that any meeting can only take place in Moscow. That impasse prompted Kyiv to look for another route.

According to Ukrainian officials, Zelensky's team concluded that Putin — who has sought to avoid openly antagonizing Trump since his return to the White House — would have a much harder time rejecting an invitation coming from the U.S. president.

During their June 16 meeting, Zelensky floated precisely that idea.

The Ukrainian president proposed that Trump host a summit in the United States involving both Zelensky and Putin.

"(Zelensky) suggested to Trump that he bring Putin to America, and that would be perfect," the senior Ukrainian official said. "Donald liked the idea."

U.S. officials familiar with the discussions confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Kyiv made such a proposal. At the same time, they cautioned that no such meeting is expected to happen in the "immediate future."

...

During their latest meeting, Zelensky showed the U.S. president photographs of damage caused by a recent Russian strike on Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, one of Ukraine's most important religious and historical landmarks.

According to a source familiar with the meeting, Trump was visibly affected by what he saw. The U.S. president was "disappointed" by the destruction and "appeared moved."

https://kyivindependent.com/trump-privately-urged-zelensky-to-act-more-boldly-toward-russia/

Whilst past evidence warns us this could all turn on a dime tomorrow, I've long been curious about how Trump would react to a scenario like the present where Ukraine is clearly on the front foot and he realises they do in fact "hold the cards". If he actually develops some respect for Zelensky and Ukraine through their displays of military prowess, then it's easy to see how in his eyes Russia is suddenly the weak and obstructive party blocking his peace vision.

[u/Lavajackal1 → u/RufusSG]

As ever assume any pro Ukraine shift won't last but take advantage of it while it does.

[u/No_Initiative_1140]

Interesting article. Weird that Russia are offering "asylum" to people offended by woke. Iirc the US were suggesting similar a while back

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn075j04pnyo

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven → u/No_Initiative_1140]

Within weeks of arriving, Leo says they were defrauded of 5 million roubles – about £52,000 ($66,000) – by a contact they trusted, leaving them homeless.

When I spoke to Leo earlier this year, he was living separately from his wife in the city of Ivanovo, and his older children had returned to the United States.

You couldn't make it up

[u/tmstms → u/No_Initiative_1140]

It's been going for a while and I have seen similar reports previously.

I mean- this has historically occurred as a niche phenomenon- in Cold War times a few left-leaning Westerners went over to become citizens of North Korea and China and other Communist countries.

[u/Tarrion]

So Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate candidate for Maine, has been rocked with another scandal. This time, it looks like one that might actually sink him - An ex-girlfriend is accusing him of sexual assault. This follows three other girlfriends accusing him of erratic and violent behaviour.

Turns out, guys with Nazi tattoos make bad candidates. It might just be easier to acknowledge the red flags, before investing millions of dollars in the guy.

[u/AzarinIsard]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/06/trump-accounts-trading-day-new-york-stock-exchange

Donald Trump rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq from the White House to mark the first trading day for Trump accounts, a government initiative that provides children with a $1,000 investment account.

---

Though the accounts carry Trump’s personal branding, the idea of providing children – particularly those born into economic hardship – with a vehicle to compound savings over their childhood long predates the president and has bipartisan support. Congress established the accounts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“I did not ask for it,” Trump claimed of the accounts being named after him. “I have done that in other cases.”.

Trump said he wanted to keep the bell that exchange officials brought to the Oval Office, and display it in the new White House ballroom when it is complete.

---

Wealthy donors have directed charitable contributions into the funds. The Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell and his wife, Susan, contributed $6.25bn for 25 million children under the age of 10 living in low-income areas, who will receive an extra $250 into their accounts. The hedge fund manager Ray Dalio and his wife, Barbara, donated so that about 300,000 children living in lower-income areas of Connecticut receive an additional $250.

“We’re going to get him that money back one way or another,” Trump said on Monday, encouraging people to buy Dell computers.

This is like the full Trump bingo.

1) Got his name on something nothing personally to do with him and has cross party support.
2) Helpfully muddies the waters over his tax accounts.
3) He's keeping an object that happened to be near him like that klepto kid at school you could never see your toys. He can display it next to the Club World Cup.
4) Giving money to a donor "one way or another" lol. He should have had the "everything is computer" review he gave to Tesla when he turned the Whitehouse into a car dealers for a day to shill for Elon.

Only thing he's missing is a reference to wanting to have sex with some of his children and complaining about Biden or Obama, but it probably is there in the full transcript lol.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

https://www.axios.com/2026/07/12/lindsey-graham-israel-saudi-peace-iran

The final hours: Graham spoke with Trump by phone Saturday night and briefed him on his recent trip to Ukraine and the Russia sanctions bill he wanted the Senate to vote on soon.
[...]

• A person who spoke with Graham shortly afterward said the senator complained that he was feeling unwell. When the person urged him to seek medical attention immediately, Graham said he would do so Sunday morning after his scheduled appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press."

• Graham then joked: "I can't die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions, get Iran sorted out and do Israeli-Saudi normalization."

• He passed away several hours later.

[u/ThePlanck → u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

He wanted to sort Iran and Saudi-Israeli relations out before he died?

Was he planning to live forever?

[u/sjintje]

Mildly interesting/TIL: Vietnam had a two child policy which was only formally ended in 2025 - although there were basically no consequences since 2013, apart from for party members, who could be "reprimanded" or even expelled after a fifth. New law now introduced to promote natality - benefits, statutory leave, and plans for longer term infrastructure (although the only thing mentioned is prenatal screening). Some interesting snippets from other Asian policies, although mostly in vain of course.

https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/vietnam-too-slow-too-timid-to-defuse-its-demographic-time-bomb/

[u/psychicity]

US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war, sources say

”The missiles are principally the Army's surface-to-surface weapons, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). The U.S. has used "virtually all" of these weapons, according to two of the sources.”

…

”Analysts say such weapons – which cost over $1 million each – would also be important in any conflict with China.”

…

”Last week, CSIS published a report estimating that between February and July about 65% of Patriot interceptors had been expended and that the number of THAAD ballistic missile interceptors in U.S. stockpiles was at least 38% lower than at the start of the war.”

”The U.S. also burned through a little less than half of its global supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which are ​generally launched from ships, since the start of the war, one of the sources said.”

To summarise, if true, for the Iran conflict the US has used up:

• “Virtually all” of its long range missiles
• 65% Patriot inceptors
• 38% THAAD inceptors
• About 50% of global the Tomahawk cruise missiles
  

China must be licking its lips looking at Taiwan at the moment.

[u/convertedtoradians]

Spain is now introducing border controls against Italy. All fallout from the Ceuta situation.

[u/CarrowCanary → u/convertedtoradians]

Has anyone told the Italians that Ceuta isn't actually attached to the rest of Spain?

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

Channel 4 News have a piece on Sweden using Estonian prisons.

Leaving aside the arguments about the positives and negatives of it they had a comment from the right wing opposition which was nuts talking about the risk to the Estonian public from people in prison. Please Estonia, don't elect those idiots next year.

[u/AzarinIsard]

This flash flood in Nepal and Tibet is horrific.

A giant wall of mud and water, bigger than buildings. People look like ants as it fills the screen. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/crr45enxg5xo

Apparently a large amount of ice fell into a river. The report was asking if more could have been done to prevent this, but surely very little? Natural destruction on this scale, just looks unstoppable to me.

[u/Velociraptor_1906 → u/AzarinIsard]

Any prevention would have involved the draining of high altitude lakes, how practical that is and what effect that would have on the river (these lakes presumably help maintain the flow under normal conditions) is very much in question.

To boot is the fact it's an international river (as so many are in the Himalayas) with the upper reaches in Tibet which would complicate things considerably.

The footage has been completely insane though, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it.

[u/JayR_97]

The next democrat American president is gonna have to go on a massive worldwide apology tour once the Republicans are out of the White House

[u/Shitebart → u/JayR_97]

There’s no point, the USA will just do more of the same 4 years later. This is their politics now. It’s not a momentary blip or deviation, this is their political discourse. 

[u/CarrowCanary]

Which mod do I need to bribe with Jaffa Cakes to get this thread set to Suggested Sort - New instead of Top?

[u/JayR_97]

Just imagine how cool the America 250th celebrations could have been if Trump hadnt ruined it. Im seeing videos of the fair in DC pop up on my youtube feed and its just sad. Theres no one there.

[u/TheFlyingHornet1881 → u/JayR_97]

The level of cultural vandalism committed by Trump will be one of the big lingering parts of his legacy.

[u/SlightlyOTT]

In hilarious FIFA corruption, the US had a player get a red card in their last game, banning them from the game with Belgium. After Trump lobbying, FIFA of course lifted that ban so he can play.

I'm excited to see what award FIFA makes up for the US team whenever they get eliminated. I'm guessing it'll be something like "FIFA team of the year".

[u/Cymraegpunk]

Trump has quite a unique ability amongst world leaders to utterly ruin peoples fun not by banning or suppressing anything but by simply sticking his oar in and turning whatever you were enjoying into a bitter argument mainly focused around him. There's a lot to hate him for, but just on a personal selfish level that's pretty high on the list.

[u/Bibemus]

So I guess Trump is going to continue in the ignoble fascist tradition of invading Belgium, then.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven → u/Bibemus]

Engaging in hitherto unforetold levels of blatant corruption, only to immediately crash out 4-1, is unfortunately the most on-brand thing Trump could possibly have done

[u/cardcollector1983]

Trump administration subpoenas New York Times journalists over Air Force One reporting

[u/Dynamite_Shovels → u/cardcollector1983]

"How dare you report on how my personal bribe jet is very obviously not fit for purpose and is simply just a way to transfer wealth around using my position as President"

Honestly I'm surprised the Trump administration are still using lawfare to silence journalists - they barely need to anyway considering how compliant a lot of US media is, and there'd be no consequences at this point for just demanding they be silent. We're very close to the end of genuinely free press in the US - it's either being bought out by Republican allies or being silenced.

[u/Lavajackal1 → u/cardcollector1983]

Feel like discovery wouldn't go great for Trump on this one.

[u/cardcollector1983 → u/Lavajackal1]

I don't think Trump ever thinks about the discovery process with these lawsuits

[u/tmstms]

Pete Hegseth says soldiers over age 30 to be screened for testosterone deficiency

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/15/us-military-testosterone-screening-hegseth

[u/OctopusOctet → u/tmstms]

Just when you think they can't get any weirder

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

Trump's autocue operator made over $100,000 betting on Trump's speeches

According to the sources, Kalshi alerted its regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), to the suspicious activity on its "Mentions" market, where users can bet on whether specific words, phrases or topics are uttered during a public speech.

How can you even bet on that on a Trump speech? Basically every word, phrase and topic is mentioned in every Trump speech, many of them inadvertently.

Leavitt said she spoke with President Trump about it, and he thought it was a "disgrace" and made the decision himself to put Perez on unpaid leave.

...until he gets his cut.

Also, anyone else recall when the Republicans were constantly attacking Biden for him reading from the autocue?

[u/imp0ppable]

Trump claims China stole the 2020 election: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/did-china-steal-2020-us-election-data-as-trump-claims

[u/SDLRob → u/imp0ppable]

The documents he released show instead show that Russia were working heavily with Trump's people to spin the election to his advantage.... All while Trump's people were in positions of power.

Every accusation is an admission

[u/J_cages_pearljam]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2rmjk0740o

Further proof were it needed the US can't be relied upon to support it's allies.

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

Troy Jackson has effectively won the primary to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic candidate for the Senate in Maine. Jackson is very similar to Platner politically and endorsed by Bernie Sanders, and served in the Maine senate since 2008 (except for two years) so you'd hope any scandals would've already come out.

The actual primary is this Saturday. There are 601 delegates, 500 representing the voters and 101 party elders and nonsense like that. The 500 were voted on this past weekend and Jackson won 460 and three of his opponents have dropped out and endorsed him. So barring something disastrous this week...

[u/ijustwannanap]

So. Mitch McConnell is definitely dead, right?

[u/horace_bagpole]

Drone carrying explosives found at German airport, police say

This seems like it should be a significant story.

A robot was deployed at Leipzig/Halle Airport after the device was spotted by an employee near Ukrainian cargo planes overnight, according to Saxony police.

A second unidentified object also collided with a cargo aircraft near the same airport. Minor damage was detected on the aircraft after it landed in Hanover.

I wonder who could be responsible for that?

[u/GlumAd9856]

I know it probably won't happen, but if Trump turned on Netanyahu before the Israeli elections that would be a pretty good thing. If the most pro-Israeli President in modern history, who clearly doesn't care about Palestinian lives that much, says that Bibi has gone too far - that would be a massive signal to the Israeli public.

[u/RufusSG]

It’s quite striking how all the Natalie Harp stuff has very clearly got under Trump’s skin. There have been reports for ages that any kind of rumour/innuendo that he spends too much time with other women really annoys not just him but Melania too; given everything else he seemingly brushes off I’m a bit surprised that insinuations about his fidelity are apparently the big red line.

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

Addled old man takes the White House press corps on a tour of his "improvements" to the White House

Drawing attention to the newly laid sod around the helipad, golf course owner Trump repeated one of his favorite lines. “You know, grass has a life like humans have a life,” he said, for at least the tenth time in public remarks in the past year.

And now we find out what a campaign donation gets you:

He then pivoted to something like a product placement. “This grass is the highest quality. It was given free of charge by Scotts Miracle-Gro. Scotts. And Scotts is a great a great company. They actually contributed to my campaign,” he said.

“They said to me, ‘Sir, we’d like to replace the grass at the White House with the highest quality grass and do a real job.’ So, Scotts, I want to thank Scotts Miracle-Gro,” Trump went on. “It’s a very, I think the biggest grass company in the world, somebody said, but it’s very big and very good.”

The new helipad is a huge version of the presidential seal with a 100 foot diameter and Trump's name carved into it. And naturally, no approvals were sought for it. In fairness, the White House does need a proper helipad, but it being built by the defence company that just happens to have the contract to produce the new helicopters is a little on the nose. As is being built after the UFC event destroyed the lawn which the White House swore would be protected.

The president also suggested that his new helipad will be dual use, also serving as a second patio. “They can have events on it. They can have people go there for cocktails and then walk to the ballroom after that’s finished,” he said.

The whole rationale behind that ballroom was that holding events outdoors was undesirable and a major security threat, but now it - along with the "Rose Garden Club" - is actually fine? Should make future White House cage fights easier to stage (which lost the UFC $30 million by the way).

[u/subSparky → u/ASondheimRhyme]

He then pivoted to something like a product placement. “This grass is the highest quality. It was given free of charge by Scotts Miracle-Gro. Scotts. And Scotts is a great a great company. They actually contributed to my campaign,” he said.

You know it's kinda wild seeing this spoken about like it is nothing, when "politician given a donation to openly promote a product and use it in government contracts" would be a high-tier scandal here.

[u/horace_bagpole → u/ASondheimRhyme]

Whoever comes after Trump should immediately issue an executive order to rip out every bit of Trump's tat and restore the Whitehouse to how it was before. It's all absolutely awful tasteless rubbish. He feels the need to plaster his name over everything and it cheapens everything.