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Big oil companies continue to post banner profits as fighting in Iran drives prices higher Big oil companies continue to book massive profits as fighting in Iran disrupts energy markets and sends oil and gasoline prices sharply higher. Read More. ps:Makes you wonder about this war?????

US stocks hit records as profits keep piling up for Palantir and others, while oil prices ease NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market rallied to records on Tuesday as profits kept piling up for companies and as oil prices eased. https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-dollar-yen-trump-iran-war-fbbe6128d618509e33d45a493c2615b1?

🤖 1 for the road: AI flyer pushback Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios Some businesses are pledging not to use AI-generated flyers or ads after consumer pushback, Axios Salt Lake City's Erin Alberty reports. People say they can spot AI-made posters immediately, usually thanks to the busy or repetitive designs — and that they're a turnoff. 🚫 Zoom in: SLC's Aces High Saloon recently announced that it would no longer share AI flyers for events there. The venue posted: "Please hit up a local artist, or cut out magazines or we can help too — DIY or die baby." 💸 The other side: Some small businesses say they can't afford a graphic designer or other professional creator. Go deeper ...

📺 It's Kornacki time NBC News is launching a new franchise centered on Steve Kornacki's signature data-driven analysis, Kornacki tells Axios' Sara Fischer exclusively. 📊 "Data Dive With Steve Kornacki" will bring Kornacki's analysis to a weekly, subscriber-exclusive newsletter. It'll launch with a heavy focus on the 2026 midterms, offering readers a detailed breakdown of election numbers, trends and data points. Kornacki tells Axios: "I'm trying to give folks who are reading it a real sense of — when they start watching those results on primary night — where to be looking, what to be looking for and what the trends have been that might explain how this thing is going to shake out." Keep reading.

Moon in the crosshairs Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Stock: Getty Images The upper stage of a SpaceX rocket will unintentionally crash into the Moon early tomorrow morning, Alex Fitzpatrick reports. 🚀 The Falcon 9 rocket launched in 2025, carrying a pair of privately funded lunar rovers. It was then left in a high Earth orbit that occasionally crosses the Moon's path. Gravity and other forces eventually sealed its fate. The resulting crater could be about 90 feet across and about 16 feet deep, scientists estimate. 🛰️ The inevitable collision is a reminder that our celestial neighborhood is getting busier by the day, with nearly 30,000 active satellites and trackable bits of space junk now orbiting Earth. SpaceX's Starlink internet constellation accounts for more than half of all commercial satellites, per Orbital Radar. Advocates lament the ever-busier night sky, which complicates both recreational stargazing and scientific observations. The Moon and the Earth as seen by the Artemis II crew on April 6. Photo: NASA via Getty Images 🔭 Yes, but: Many astronomers are looking forward to this particular event as a chance to collect valuable data about Moon collisions. It's not every day you can predict when something will smack into our nearest celestial companion. What's next: SpaceX says it's working on better ways to handle spent rocket segments involving high-orbit launches. That's a key step if the Trump administration's lunar colony dreams are to be realized. Life on the Moon would be hard enough without worrying about rocket bits raining down from above. Go deeper.

Netanyahu says no Israeli withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel will not withdraw from its current lines in Gaza until Hamas has completely disarmed and pushed back on a recent deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-gaza-news-1215e52022856b9de9837237a0e188fa?

Divided federal appeals court says Trump administration was wrong to terminate climate funds WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday said the Trump administration improperly terminated billions of dollars in funds to boost clean energy projects, handing a win to a coalition of nonprofits picked to run the Biden-era effort. https://apnews.com/article/epa-grants-climate-united-trump-36ad8c6684939a1788dd49979e0f3ad9? Trump administration revokes visa of Brazil’s ambassador to US in spat with Lula WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States in retaliation for Brazil’s denial of visas last month for two American diplomats who sought to visit ahead of upcoming elections as well as what it said was Brazil’s stalling on approving President Donald Trump’s nominee to be ambassador in Brasilia. https://apnews.com/article/trump-brazil-lula-ambassador-diplomats-4d7f64110fff5dda2ffd374d5e52c682? FBI agents fired over Trump investigation get broad backing in lawsuit against administration An association of thousands of FBI agents and other groups are backing a lawsuit filed by three bureau employees who were fired last year for their roles in an investigation into President Donald Trump's efforts to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election. Read More.

UFC Takes $30M Beating Over Trump’s Tacky Birthday Bash The Ultimate Fighting Championship has suffered a heavy blow. The UFC hemorrhaged money with Donald Trump’s big White House birthday bash. The promotion, led by his ally Dana White, lost a staggering $30 million in its bid to give the president what he wanted, as he turned 80 in June. The Freedom 250 event saw 4,300 people descend on the White House’s South Lawn, with tens of thousands more on the nearby Ellipse, to watch Justin Gaethje defeat Ilia Topuria at the top of the bill. TKO Group Holdings Inc. chief financial officer Andrew Schleimer told investors on Monday that, “Given the event’s profile, which as anticipated, resulted in an approximate $30m loss, our margins at UFC as well as on a consolidated basis were meaningfully impacted,” BBC reports. TKO said it had been anticipating the loss, but had gained brand exposure and media deals, and still saw revenue growth in the second quarter. Bloomberg reports that on a conference call, UFC said the expenditure would pay off in the long run, claiming the event itself had been a “roaring success.” They said that the impact in terms of reach and new deals was key, with 25 new marketing partnerships and earned media—publicity through organic, unpaid means—worth $1 billion. Paramount Skydance Corp, which Trump-loving Larry Ellison owns, said that the event had pulled in 34 million viewers. According to the BBC, the initial outgoings of the event for TKO had been expected to be $60 million, but that number was brought back down by sponsorships. UFC also strengthened its position last year, when it signed a deal with Paramount worth $7.7 billion to make it the new home of its coverage. The UFC footed the bill, with the exception of federal agents detailed to work on the event. The 250 event, so-called to mark the 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, sparked controversy and led to Democratic staff producing an interim report as part of a wider investigation, titled “From Vanity to Insanity: How the White House Cheated the American People Out of Their 250th Birthday,” the Guardian reports. The Daily Beast has made efforts to contact the UFC for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/ufc-takes-30m-beating-over-trumps-tacky-birthday-bash/?

Trump’s Staggering Missile Crisis Revealed The president’s war has the Pentagon running out of money, ideas, and now even the weapons he would need to defend the U.S. from attack. Donald Trump’s war with Iran is becoming even more disastrous by the day as his own officials warn the Pentagon has used up “virtually all” of its long-range missiles. The U.S. military has spent the overwhelming majority of those stockpiles carrying out strikes against the Islamist regime since the president, 80, launched that conflict on Feb. 28, according to sources familiar with Defense Department data, who spoke anonymously to Reuters on Tuesday. Those officials are now panicking that the depleted supply of “highly accurate long-range missiles” could affect “the military’s readiness for future conflicts,” leaving the U.S. vulnerable to attack by even more capable adversaries like Russia and China, the outlet writes.Trump, 80, is fast running out of time to save any semblance of face over the war he promised would last a “few weeks” and which has now entered its sixth month. He signed a memorandum of understanding for a temporary ceasefire in June. It lasted just 21 days before talks for a lasting peace fell through. Washington and Tehran have engaged in an escalating series of tit-for-tat strikes in the weeks since.The Pentagon has also let slip that it is running out of ideas for how to sustain the conflict until the president’s diplomats can get their act together. “We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran,” a top defense official pleaded in an email blast to military analysts last week. CNN, which first reported the message, said the “crowdsourcing-style” request shows how dire the situation has now become. The Defense Department has further signaled that it is running out of money amid the soaring costs imposed by Trump’s war. Officials told The Washington Post in July that the Pentagon has been forced to scale down training and maintenance to save cash as the Trump administration begs Congress for $67 billion to plug the hole blown in its budget by the president’s war. Trump, in a statement to Reuters, said the U.S. has “far more munitions than anyone in the world” and “far more than we need,” adding that “our defense companies are, at this moment, making more munitions than they have ever made before, in addition to expanding their plants and equipment at record levels.” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly added that “the United States Military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump’s strategic goals and beyond,” and claimed, “Democrats destroyed our military, but President Trump rebuilt it.” Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told Reuters that “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the president’s choosing.” He added that “we have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests.” The Daily Beast has contacted the Pentagon for further comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-war-with-iran-has-almost-entirely-depleted-us-missile-stockpiles/? ps:What a pathetic bunch of clowns! They seem to think that they're playing a video game where the weapons never run out!!

FDA Eases Restrictions On Compounded Peptides Despite Safety Warnings An advisory panel for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened on July 23–24 to discuss whether seven peptides should be added to a list of drugs that compounding pharmacies are allowed to manufacture. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/compounded-peptides-eased-restrictions-fda?

No I do not see the direction that you are going. If you know your geography, you would know that with good reason SDAs in one part of the word believe that the seventh day of the week is named Sunday. So, they say that the Biblical Sabbath occurs on Sunday in their part of the world. https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=297&q=ON+SOME+OF+THE+PACIFIC+ISLANDS+DO+SRBRMYJ+DAY+ADVENTISTS+CCELEBRATE+THE+sABBATH+ON+THE+DAY+NMED+sUNDAY&cvid=aba455ac6f254d548317cbd8f9c4ef23&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgYIABBFGDkyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQ6wcYQNIBCDM5OTRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&FORM=ANSPA1&adppc=EDGEBRV&PC=EDGEBRV

👋 Good morning! How'd your team do at the trade deadline? In today's edition: Olivia vs. Caitlin, MLB trade deadline recap, MLS elects new commissioner, horse racing's Triple Crown may be dead in the water, college fantasy football drafts are live, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...   🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES ⚽️ MLS names new commissioner: MLS owners have elected LAFC co-owner Larry Berg as the league's next commissioner. Berg will succeed Don Garber, who has held the position since 1999 and will remain in the role through the end of the season. ⚽️ Four more years: Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to a new contract to remain the USMNT's head coach through the 2030 World Cup. Despite the team's ugly exit last month, Poch's three World Cup wins are the most ever by a USMNT head coach. ⚾️ Harper's new position: The Phillies have one too many infielders following Monday's acquisition of Luis Arráez, so Bryce Harper will be moving from first base to his former position in right field for the remainder of the season. 🎾 Eala's historic victory: Alex Eala upset top-seeded Jessica Pegula in the DC Open final to become the first Filipino tennis player (man or woman) to win a singles title. On the men's side, Taylor Fritz defeated Rafael Jódar for his 11th career title. 🏀 Bosh's warning for Wemby: Chris Bosh said that he "almost dropped dead" from a blood clot in January, and urged Victor Wembanyama to stay on top of his condition, which forced him to miss nearly half of the 2024-25 season. "Take your medicine," Bosh said. "Make sure that doesn't happen again because it only takes one more time."   🏀 EMBRACE DEBATE IS OLIVIA MILES THE BEST ROOKIE EVER? Clark defends Miles during Sunday's game. (Abbie Parr/AP) Two years ago, we witnessed arguably the best rookie season in WNBA history. Is it already being eclipsed? Miles bests Clark: The first-place Lynx (25-6) defeated the Fever (19-11) on Sunday for their 10th straight win, as Olivia Miles (28-4-6) outdueled Caitlin Clark (19-1-10) in the first matchup between this year's No. 2 pick and the third-year superstar. Tale of the tape: For Miles, it was just the latest impressive performance in a season that is sure to earn her Rookie of the Year — as well as serious MVP consideration — and might even top Clark's 2024 campaign as perhaps the best ever by a first-year player. Miles: In 29 games, Minnesota's point guard is averaging 19.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks and 3 turnovers. Her shooting splits are 50.2% FG, 38% 3PT and 87.5% FT — in shouting distance of the third 50/40/90 season in league history. Clark: In 40 games as a rookie in 2024, Indiana's point guard averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks and 5.6 turnovers. Her shooting splits were 41.7% FG, 34.4% 3PT and 90.6% FT. You be the judge: Their scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks are a wash, with Clark the more effective distributor and Miles the more efficient shooter and better caretaker of the ball. Miles is also leading a first-place juggernaut, while Clark's Fever went 20-20 her rookie year. Big picture: No discussion of "best rookie season ever" is complete without mentioning the likes of Candace Parker (2008), Tamika Catchings (2002), A'ja Wilson (2018) and Breanna Stewart (2016), among others. And we can add reigning ROY Paige Bueckers to that list, making it three straight years with an all-time great rookie campaign. The last word: "She just sees the game," says Parker, who remains the only rookie to win MVP. "For her to play so well in a position that is so sought-after is special." Dawn Staley had a more visceral reaction to watching the rookie's sensational play on Sunday: "[Olivia Miles] got me in my house cursing on a Sunday. Lord have mercy!"   ⚾️ NEW FACES, NEW PLACES DEADLINE DAY: WHO WENT WHERE? (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) Another MLB trade deadline has come and gone, with more than 60 deals being completed. 5 biggest trades: Dodgers acquire SP Tarik Skubal from Tigers Red Sox acquire C Adley Rutschman from Orioles Rays acquire SP Freddy Peralta from Mets Cubs acquire SP Kevin Gausman from Blue Jays Cubs acquire SP Clay Holmes, OF Tyrone Taylor from Mets Further reading: 50 biggest trades Grading every team Winners and losers Team-by-team tracker: Who's in and who's out for all 30 rosters   🐎 END OF AN ERA? HORSE RACING'S TRIPLE CROWN MAY BE DEAD IN THE WATER (Heather Diehl/Getty Images) Over the last few years, the concept of winning the Triple Crown has been fading among horse racing's stakeholders. On Monday, Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association might have delivered its death blow. Dan Wolken, Yahoo Sports: In announcing a joint partnership for a six-race series beginning in 2027 with a $5 million bonus attached to the end of it, one entity was notably missing: The Preakness. The six races will cover the Kentucky Derby on May 2; the Belmont Stakes on June 5; back to Churchill for the Matt Winn stakes in early July; the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes at Saratoga in late July/August; and then a newly created race to finish the series at Churchill in September. As for the Preakness, the second jewel of the Triple Crown? Well, it still exists, but the traditional timing of the race — two weeks after the Kentucky Derby — has become incompatible with the way modern trainers manage their thoroughbreds. Golden Tempo and Sovereignty, the last two Derby winners, both skipped the Preakness, as did Rich Strike in 2022. Sources told Yahoo Sports that the Maryland Jockey Club was close to announcing a move that would have pushed the Preakness to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby. But Monday's announcement — which leaves the Belmont in its traditional placement five weeks after the Derby — suggests the coordination among Triple Crown stakeholders was only a two-way conversation with Maryland being frozen out. As one industry source told Yahoo Sports: "The bigger picture here is the wider future of the sport, and Maryland just ain't it. You could still run in the Preakness and win the series, but Maryland is on an island. They're by themselves. They run one big race a year. We can't let these traditional elements of the sport be anchors for its future, and you can argue we've let it go on for too long."   🏈 BACK TO SCHOOL COLLEGE FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFTS ARE LIVE! Great news: Drafts are now open for Yahoo College Fantasy Football! The traditional fantasy football you know and love, designed for the college game. Create or join a league now. How it works: Like NFL Fantasy Football, our new college version is a season-long game with head-to-head weekly matchups. Drafts, trades and waiver pickups work the same way, and the scoring system is similar. Player pool: Draftable players include those from all 68 teams in the Power 4 leagues (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC), plus Notre Dame. New position added: In addition to drafting individual players and a defense, there's also a roster spot for "Team Offense," rewarding team-level aggregate scoring. Expanded rosters: Whereas traditional fantasy football rosters have 15 spots, the college game has 18, reflecting a sport that has more stars than ever. Robert Griffin III is going back to school, thanks to Yahoo Fantasy Football. (Yahoo Sports) Play now: Drafts are live, and our experts have a strategy guide and player rankings to help get you ready to win your league when scoring starts in Week 1 on Sept. 3.   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: TUESDAY, AUG. 4 (Joseph Raines/Yahoo Sports) There's little else to watch today besides a full 15-game MLB slate, headlined by Tarik Skubal's Dodgers debut (8:05pm ET, TBS) at Wrigley Field in a battle of NL contenders. Elsewhere: The Yankees, whose injury-depleted lineup has been fortified by newly-acquired lefty slugger Luis García Jr., host the Cardinals (7:05pm); the surging Red Sox host the first-place White Sox (7:10pm); the Diamondbacks host the Padres in a clash of NL West foes and wild card contenders (9:40pm).   ⚾ BATTING CHAMP TRIVIA TIME (Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) Luis Arráez, acquired by the Phillies at the deadline, is one of just two players in MLB's modern era (since 1900) to win a batting title in both leagues. Question: Can you name the other? Hint: 2016 and 2020. Answer at the bottom.   📸 THROUGH THE LENS PHOTO FINISH Miguel Garcia dives from the 27.5-meter platform during the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series stop in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. (Romina Amato/Red Bull via Getty Images) Spot the cliff diver.   Trivia answer: DJ LeMahieu (Rockies in 2016, Yankees in 2020)

Florida Sheriffs Association is ‘significantly concerned’ about Amendment 3 Two months after it was placed on the November ballot, the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) is weighing in on Amendment 3, the proposed property tax cut that, if enacted, could reduce local government funding by billions of dollars in the coming years. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/03/florida-sheriffs-association-is-significantly-concerned-about-amendment-3/?

MAGA-Curious CBS’ ‘60 Minutes’ Boss’ Leak Crackdown Backfires The flagship news show is leaking like a sieve. The executive producer of 60 Minutes begged his staff to stop leaking word of turmoil on his watch—only for them to go ahead and leak that message to another outlet anyway. TV news virgin Nick Bilton, 49, is the former New York Times tech columnist and filmmaker who had never worked in television at all before CBS’ MAGA-friendly new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, 42, handed him one of TV’s most prestigious jobs earlier this year. Weiss recruited Bilton after taking the helm at CBS last October after Trump ally David Ellison took control of the network’s parent company in a controversial merger. Ellison’s father, Larry Ellison, is a Republican megadonor. Critics say Weiss has since carried out a conservative overhaul of the network and steered coverage away from anything critical of the Trump administration. Her time in the top job so far has been a disaster. Staff, and in particular the team at 60 Minutes, roiled and bucked at her changes, with long-time host Anderson Cooper leaving the show. She responded by purging the program of veteran journalists like executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, senior producer Matthew Polevoy, and correspondent Cecilia Vega. Those firings all landed on a single day in May, since dubbed “Black Thursday” by staff. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi left after her contract lapsed unrenewed the same week. Bilton, hired just days later to replace Simon, then fired 60 Minutes mainstay Scott Pelley after Pelley told him in front of the team that Weiss had been “murdering” the program. Weiss and Bilton have since set out on a hiring blitz in a desperate scramble to fill the desks their firings have emptied. Critics have slammed many of those new recruits—among them right-wing opinion writer Ross Douthat and controversial U.K. broadcaster Sir Trevor Phillips—as grossly underqualified compared to the caliber of journalists the program has historically attracted. Bilton has reportedly been using job interviews as “therapy sessions” to discuss with prospective hires just how tough he’s finding his role. These and other shocking details of Weiss and Bilton’s stewardship at 60 Minutes have emerged because their staff cannot keep from talking about the turmoil with colleagues at other media organizations. Status has led much of the reporting on the chaos—and it was to Status that Bilton’s sprawling 734-word anti-leaking memo leaked on Tuesday. “In the memo, Bilton made clear he is frustrated by the unrelenting speculation regarding the show, along with the torrent of unauthorized information making its way into the press,” the outlet wrote. “While he didn’t mention this publication in particular, one imagines he isn’t especially thrilled when we end up informing his own staff about developments regarding their own program.” Status adds that Bilton has told his employees that “since I started there has been roughly a rumor a day,” and that those rumors “about me, about you, about what’s coming next—95 percent of them are fabrications and blatantly incorrect.” “I no longer have the time or the patience for them, and I’d rather we spend that energy on the stories,” he went on. “If you hear something and it matters to you, come ask me and I’ll tell you what I know. Otherwise I’d like this place to be talked about for what we put on television.” The Daily Beast has contacted CBS for comment on this story. https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-60-minutes-boss-nick-biltons-anti-leaking-memo-is-immediately-leaked-amid-staff-discontent-at-cbs/? ps:What did anyone expect?

Trump Is Drowning in Failure as Crises Mount: Political Guru The president is having trouble cleaning up his own messes, according to political analyst David Rothkopf. President Donald Trump is struggling to stay afloat as a series of crises he helped create continues to pile up, political guru David Rothkopf argues. Appearing on the latest episode of The Daily Beast Podcast, Rothkopf explained how the 80-year-old president is floundering in his attempts to contain the consequences of his administration’s actions—whether it’s his reshaping of the federal government or his deepening war with Iran. “Over the course of the past 18 months, Donald Trump has dismantled the parts of the U.S. government that protect us from foreign election interference, that protect us from foreign spying,” the political analyst told host Joanna Coles. Rothkopf pointed to how staffing cuts at the FBI and other national intelligence agencies over the last year have left the U.S. more vulnerable to foreign meddling than ever before. Between January and August 2025, then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard slashed more than 500 intelligence jobs, including roles associated with the Foreign Malign Influence Center, which monitored efforts by foreign agents to manipulate the American public. “They shut down... the group that tracked Russian interference,” Rothkopf said before predicting that Russia and Iran are going to interfere in U.S. elections over the next three months. “Trump is going to use that to his advantage,” he added. “Buckle up, everybody,” Rothkopf warned. “The next 90 days are going to be a weird and wild ride.” When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Daily Beast in a frequently recycled statement: “David Rothkopf is a far-left loser who clearly suffers from a severe and debilitating disease known as Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his peanut-sized brain.” “Did you see the poll results he’s getting in the past few days?” Rothkopf asked. “Donald Trump has—on inflation, on his war, on his overall approval, on his approval with Independents—the worst poll ratings, not just of his career, but of any president of the modern era.” Trump’s approval rating has plunged to 32 percent amid backlash over his unpopular Iran war and the continued strain of rising costs on Americans. A CNN poll last week also found that a staggering 70 percent of respondents disapprove of how Trump is handling the economy and 73 percent believe the administration isn’t focusing on the most pressing issues. “Donald Trump is drowning in failure,” Rothkopf declared. “Nothing he says or does is working anymore. And so he’s got to try these wild schemes to distract from it, to get attention, to hope it disrupts something.” “When I look at these polls and when I look at thing after thing, whether it’s failures in the courts or failures in Iran or failures overseas or problems with the economy,” he concluded, “Donald Trump is drowning in failure, and we are going to pay the price as he tries to keep his head above water.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-is-drowning-in-failure-as-crises-mount-political-guru-david-rothkopf/?

What Trump Secretly Told MAGA’s Accused Wife-Beater Leaks The president gave Max Miller a blunt message on a private phone call. Details have leaked of a private phone conversation between President Donald Trump and the under-siege Republican Max Miller. Miller, a two-term congressman, has been accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno, another Ohio Republican. The allegations against the Trump-endorsed lawmaker, which also involve his young daughter, may cost him his congressional seat as he faces major backlash from constituents, even being labeled a “predator” by voters. Trump, 80, phoned Miller on Monday and expressed his doubts over his candidacy, three sources familiar with the call told Axios. The president told Miller—who worked as a presidential aide in the first Trump White House—that “things aren’t looking good,” and repeatedly said his re-election would be tough. “He said he had a poll with no detail, and I pushed back with our poll that has us winning by 9 with our message out there,” Miller told The Wall Street Journal, explaining that Trump had told him his prospects of winning weren’t good. “He kept on reiterating it’s going to be tough, and it’s going to be a really hard one for you,” Miller said. Ohio’s 7th District should be a reliably red seat, with Trump winning 55 percent of the vote in 2024. Miller won his last election with just over 51 percent of the vote. But Miller was neck-and-neck with his Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, even before the abuse allegations surfaced. On Sunday, the New York Times reported that Miller is just 1 percentage point ahead of Poindexter. During his phone call with Trump on Monday, Miller, who has denied the allegations of abuse involving his ex-wife and their child, told the president that he is staying in the race. He also claimed his own polling demonstrated he was in “solid shape.” The reports of the private conversation follow Trump refusing to weigh in on the serious allegations against a candidate he personally endorsed. They include claims that Miller pointed a gun at Emily’s head, threw her against the wall, poured hot water on her, and potentially fractured their 2-year-old daughter’s collarbone. On Sunday, Trump merely said, “So far, it’s accusations, I’ll be looking at it.” Trump added on Monday that Miller’s situation was “a very sad thing.” “I know Max, he’s a good person, I mean I always thought he was a very good person. And I’m going to let the families figure that out,” he said. “It’s accusations. And I’m going to let them figure that out.” As Miller and Emily Moreno’s bitter custody battle over their daughter has seen the allegations against Miller make national news, Bernie Moreno had remained largely silent. Sources close to Moreno told CNN that he wanted to speak out previously, but was asked not to by his daughter. When Miller accused Emily Moreno of having mental health issues and lying during their custody battle in a 20-minute livestream on Sunday, it provoked her father into responding. “I believe Max Miller needs to seek professional help to end the clear pattern of abuse he has left in his wake. I believe he should not be free to continue endangering others until he does,” the MAGA Republican said. “He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter,” Moreno wrote on X. “If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives.” The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and Miller’s rep for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/what-trump-secretly-told-magas-accused-wife-beater-max-miller-leaks/? ps:He should be telling him to stop his campaign, but than he'd be a hypocrite!!!!!

At colleges, the AI boom means everyone wants to dabble in computer science Hiring has cooled for entry-level software developers — work increasingly done by AI agents — and college enrollment in computer science programs has been declining. Yet colleges recognize that new graduates — regardless of their field — are facing questions about their AI skills from potential employers. Read more. Why this matters: Many professors are finding themselves busier than ever teaching students from a range of majors about artificial intelligence. Schools like VCU are standing up AI minors targeting students outside computer science. There’s a new AI graduation requirement at Purdue University. In freshman writing classes, Harvard University is teaching students how large language models work. “In the same way that everybody needs some degree of math, reading and writing, I think everybody needs a degree of AI literacy,” said Peter Stone, the chair of computer science at the University of Texas at Austin. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ A flex in corporate America, AI ‘tokenmaxxing’ fades as workplaces look to cut tech spending Chinese AI models gain ground as they make inroads in the US

Trump says Pirro ‘folded like an umbrella’ in bid to drop Reflecting Pool vandalism charges U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s move to dismiss charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalism was an embarrassing setback for the Justice Department. It marked a rare moment during President Donald Trump’s second term of an aide or political appointee openly defying him. Read more. Why this matters: Pirro, a former Fox News host and longtime ally, was handpicked by Trump as top federal prosecutor in the nation’s capital. Speaking at an unrelated Oval Office event, Trump ducked questions about whether he’d fire Pirro. But the president kept up his drumbeat of sharp criticism, saying he remained disappointed by her assessment that damage to the Reflecting Pool was the result of shoddy construction, not vandalism. Though she has not commented publicly since Trump’s initial social media post criticizing her, Pirro was spotted walking into the White House on Monday evening. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Trump’s comments about Pirro 25 states sue over Trump’s new tariffs As Blanche’s path to confirmation is cleared, Trump’s tax audit immunity remains in place Trump accounts were closed in 2021 due to concerns over possible money laundering, Capital One says Supreme Court won’t halt $656M judgment against the PLO and Palestinian Authority Ethics panel recommends House censure Rep. Chuck Edwards for conduct with two aides

August 4, 2026 Your first month is free in The New York Times app. Download now → By Evan Gorelick Good morning. Let’s start today in Washington, with a fight over President Trump’s Justice Department. Todd Blanche Kenny Holston/The New York Times Sweet deal? After much confusion and acrimony, Todd Blanche now appears set to become the nation’s top law enforcement official. Two Republican senators who had been blocking Blanche’s confirmation for attorney general gave him their blessing yesterday, after Blanche promised — in writing — to scale back a lucrative deal the Justice Department had cut with Trump. The president’s effort to muscle Blanche, his former lawyer, through the Senate got messy this past week. There were public demands, counterdemands and counter-counterdemands. It’s easy to get so mired in the political minutiae that you forget a couple of things. First: Blanche already runs the Justice Department, and he’s allowed to keep running it indefinitely in an acting capacity, confirmation notwithstanding. So for Trump, this fight has always been more about rewarding Blanche — and exerting control over Congress — than about imbuing Blanche with any new authority. Second, and more important: Trump is still getting most of what he wants. The fine print The Justice Department deal that knocked Blanche’s nomination off course had two main components. It established a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, which Trump wanted to use to pay allies of his who claimed they had been unfairly prosecuted by previous administrations. And it granted Trump, his family and their businesses sweeping immunity from I.R.S. tax audits. In documents Blanche released on Sunday night, he said he would rescind the order establishing the fund and narrow the tax immunity to include only Trump, two of his sons and the Trump Organization. President Trump Pete Marovich for The New York Times That was enough to win over the two Republican holdouts, Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn. But Trump’s opponents are crying foul, saying Blanche’s memo is a political solution to a political problem rather than a legally binding document. For one, an order from an attorney general can be reversed by a future order from an attorney general. So in theory, Blanche could simply issue a new order reviving Trump’s fund. Or the Justice Department could skip the fund altogether and simply cut million-dollar settlement checks to Trump allies who claim to be victims. (It has already been doing that.) And there is no question that the I.R.S. immunity, even in its narrower form, remains immensely valuable to the president, writes Andrew Duehren, who covers tax policy. One dispute Trump had with the I.R.S. could have cost him more than $100 million, The Times reported. Other audits could have cost him even more. Andrew writes: Where the I.R.S. previously made a point of regularly auditing whoever occupies the Oval Office, Mr. Trump has leveraged his control of the federal government to instead escape the scrutiny that every other modern president, not to mention every other regular taxpayer, has been subject to. At the Oval Office yesterday, Trump told reporters that he hadn’t signed off on Blanche’s plan. “I didn’t look at it,” Trump said. “All I know is that Todd Blanche is great.” THE LATEST NEWS The Reflecting Pool The Reflecting Pool last month. Andrew Leyden for The New York Times Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, moved to dismiss charges against three more people accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool. Investigators concluded the main cause of damage was botched work by a contractor, not vandalism. Trump said Pirro had “choked” and “folded like an umbrella.” He later met with her at the White House. Primary Elections Michigan Democrats’ hard-fought, expensive Senate primary will culminate today. An insurgent progressive, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, is looking to defeat an establishment-backed moderate, Representative Haley Stevens. Also in Michigan: A progressive candidate in a battleground House race will try to capitalize on a potential misstep by moderate Democrats, who were unable to unite behind one candidate. AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has become one of the biggest spenders in American elections. Its ads rarely mention Israel. More on Politics Representative Max Miller, an Ohio Republican whose ex-wife has accused him of abusing her and their toddler daughter, said he would not end his re-election campaign. He denies the accusations. Senator Rand Paul and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have both written books critical of Dr. Anthony Fauci. His return to the spotlight might be boosting sales. Times Exclusive: Democrats released a draft autopsy in May of what went wrong for them in the 2024 presidential election. Its author says the party excluded a key chapter. Spokane Fires John Stember and Loren Elliot for The New York Times A man was arrested on suspicion of starting one of three fires that forced 65,000 people from their homes around Spokane, Wash. Some evacuees returned home to find entire streets reduced to rubble, trees blackened and toppled, and broken pipes spraying water. War in Iran Iran said it was talking with Oman, but not the United States, about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. A deal with Oman, on the other side of the strait, could cement Iran’s control over what was previously an open international waterway. The war is driving up costs for many Americans. Polls show it’s already unpopular and losing support. Around the World A drone struck a crowded beach in southern Russia, killing at least seven people, officials said. Why is the U.S. Treasury Department helping prop up Japan’s weak currency? Here’s a guide. One of the world’s smallest countries adopted a new name: Naoero. Immigration A Salvadoran immigrant held at a troubled ICE detention center in Newark, N.J., died over the weekend, officials said. A federal judge blocked a New York law banning immigration agents from wearing masks. The United States resumed deportation flights to Venezuela, which is struggling with the aftermath of two earthquakes. Other Big Stories Health officials in Michigan reported two deaths linked to cyclospora. Both people had “significant underlying health conditions,” they said. The Education Department is set to wipe out $11 billion in student loan debt held by tens of thousands of students who say they were defrauded by predatory for-profit schools. OPINIONS Critics of Paramount’s agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery are missing what it will do: invigorate Hollywood and safeguard independent journalism, David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, argues. Ignore the reaction to Texas’ requiring public-school students to read the Bible. Blue states could learn from the state’s mandatory reading list, James Traub writes. Deeply reported journalism needs your support. The Times relies on subscribers to help fund our mission. Become a subscriber today. MORNING READS Will Crooks for The New York Times We’ve made these links free for you. Honeybee medicine: Bees are vital for agriculture. They’re also increasingly under threat from parasites and pathogens. Enter the bee vet. Drug money: Prediction markets now let people bet on F.D.A. approvals of emerging medicines. Some patients say that crosses a disturbing line. Can’t buy me love: More than half of unmarried young adults say not having enough money is their biggest barrier to dating. Your pick: The most clicked link in The Morning yesterday was about surfing in Alaska. TODAY’S NUMBER Approaching Arlington National Cemetery. Kent Nishimura/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images 37 — That is the number of historic sites around Washington that Trump’s proposed triumphal arch would adversely affect, according to an assessment by National Park Service staff. SPORTS M.L.B.: A slew of moves took place just before the trade deadline. Notably the Red Sox added the Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, the Angels changed course and the Blue Jays shuffled their roster a year after reaching Game 7 of the World Series. Soccer: Mauricio Pochettino agreed to return as U.S. men’s national team coach. The deal runs through the 2030 World Cup. N.F.L.: There’s nothing more inspiring — and risky — than a prodigal son hired to fix his old team. Matt Ryan is trying to do that in Atlanta. RECIPE OF THE DAY Ghazalle Badiozamani for The New York Times Melissa Clark’s baked fish and chips are just begging for some horseradish tartar sauce. Put it in a cup off to the side for dipping (fries too), or throw it right on top if you’re feeling dangerous. Baking is miles easier than frying, and it’ll let you cook the fish and the potatoes at the same time. The secret to getting your fries extra crispy? Cut them thin, then spread them out in one layer on a preheated sheet pan. PIPING UP Practicing at a cemetery in Brooklyn. Jonah Markowitz for The New York Times It’s not easy being a bagpiper in one of America’s most densely populated cities. To hone their craft in peace, New York City’s pipers often duck into cemeteries, toxic canals and industrial zones. After all, the high-pitched wail of a great Highland bagpipe can hover around 100 decibels, comparable to the revving of a motorcycle. “People will say, ‘Can you lower it a bit?’” said Jerry Dixon, a Verizon technician and bagpipe player from Queens. “And I’m like, ‘It only has one volume: 11.’” More on culture Ariana Grande’s decision to step back from public life has reignited debate over celebrity and privacy. Late night hosts reacted to Trump’s latest Iran deal comments. Our art critic Deborah Solomon was one of 50 players to go up against a chess grandmaster for Marcel Duchamp’s 139th birthday celebration at MoMA. In the video below, she explores the question: Is chess an art? Click to watch. The New York Times THE MORNING RECOMMENDS Eat more tomatoes. They’re juicy, versatile and packed with nutritional benefits. Use a three-in-one shower product. This beauty writer says it’s OK! Rethink your personal style without losing yourself with these tips from Vanessa Friedman, our chief fashion critic. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was floridly. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. As a reminder, Sam Sifton is on vacation for the next two weeks. See you tomorrow. Correction: Yesterday’s newsletter mistakenly included Elissa Slotkin on a list of politicians who have endorsed Haley Stevens in Michigan. Slotkin has not endorsed either candidate in the Democratic primary. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren Deputy Editorial Director: Lauren Jackson

Cyclosporiasis deaths Two people in Michigan have died in connection with the state's cyclosporiasis outbreak, health officials reported Monday, marking the first known deaths linked to the multistate outbreak of the diarrheal illness. Both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been worsened by the parasite, officials said. Cases of cyclosporiasis typically rise in the spring and summer, but this year's outbreak has been unusually severe, with multiple clusters emerging across the Midwest.

Blanche nomination vote The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to meet today for a potential vote on Todd Blanche, President Trump's pick for US attorney general. Blanche's confirmation is likely to advance after he formally rescinded Trump's "anti-weaponization fund" on Sunday. That move came after two key Republican senators threatened to withhold their support unless the program was ended. Sources told CNN the White House was deeply involved in the negotiations, though Trump denied seeing the details of the deal. Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general clears critical hurdle after deal with GOP holdouts WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche cleared a critical hurdle Tuesday in his bid to be confirmed to the post after swaying Republican holdouts on a Senate committee to advance his nomination for a floor vote. https://apnews.com/article/todd-blanche-attorney-general-senate-confirmation-39f2b08aaf72eb85c378272c039c8622?

Middle East President Trump on Monday warned it is Iran's "last chance" to reach a deal with the US to end the war after again calling off strikes and agreeing to continue talks. This comes after he claimed US-Iran talks would begin Monday and that a Strait of Hormuz agreement was in place, but Tehran denied any negotiations are underway. Trump also recently unveiled a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, though it appears far from finalized as Israeli strikes on Gaza have intensified and the death toll there continues to rise. Iran and Oman are working on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and other Mideast developments CAIRO (AP) — Iran and Oman are inching toward a deal to reopen the disputed Strait of Hormuz and potentially help bring an end to the war. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-mideast-gaza-israel-palestinians-ff5f13230ab92b5ae3022f45b2585444?