LOTS OF POSTS IGNORED BY BLOGGER.....

OR REMOVED ON THEIR WHIM!

ALL POSTS ARE AVAILABLE ON

MIDDLEBORO REVIEW AND SO ON

BLOGGER DOESN'T LIKE TRUTH OR FACTS!

BLOGGER DOESN'T LIKE FUND RAISERS AND DELETES

POSTS THAT INCLUDE FUNDRAISING THAT 'VIOLATES THEIR

UNDEFINED COMMUNITY STANDARDS SO ALL 'FUND RAISING'

IS DELETED - CONTRIBUTE AS YOU ARE INCLINED TO SUPPORT

IMPORTANT ISSUES! THESE ARE NOT SOLICITATIONS

Wednesday Updates: ‘Strait’ Up Panic – 9/2/26 Your free news update has arrived. Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network Sep 2 Trump spotted sleeping again during a White House event this afternoon It’s Wednesday, September 2. There’s been a lot going on today, so let’s get to the top stories. And thanks so much again to everyone for letting us know they’ve pre-ordered our book WTF America. It truly means the world to us. Today’s top stories: Trump again falsely posts the U.S. has the Strait of Hormuz “under control” and floats renaming it to the “Trump Strait” IRGC claims tanker strikes near the Strait and warns shipping companies of penalties Iran claims strikes hit U.S.-linked sites in Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait, and alleges American casualties Iranian embassies mock CENTCOM’s silence on their alleged casualty claims in Jordan Iranian official Ghalibaf accuses the U.S. of “satanic” conduct following strikes on children in Minab, Lamerd, and a wedding in Kouhestak China blocks G20 consensus language on Strait of Hormuz navigation Bessent blames Ukraine and Biden for gas prices and high cost of living Lutnick downplays Iran war deaths The U.S.S Abraham Lincoln limps into Thailand, visibly rusted Trump’s $100B Venezuela oil “steal” faces more scrutiny Tarrant County Republicans vote to close 92 of 316 polling locations ProPublica reports Trump aide Peter Navarro fast-tracked a $620M Pentagon loan tied to Don Jr. Bessent calls struggling Americans “malcontents” Trump $1 coins are on sale now… Trump is turning FEMA disaster aid in MAGA campaign ads Katie Phang moves to force a federal judge to review FBI notes mentioning Trump in the Epstein Files for possible release Now let’s dive in. Trump the Social Media Warrior Things continue to go very badly for Trump and the U.S. in Iran. But in Trump’s deranged social media fantasy land, the U.S. is crushing it. Trump again falsely claims this morning that the Strait of Hormuz is “under U.S.A. control” and suggested maybe we rename it the “Trump Strait” because like America itself, it would be “hotter” than ever before. Again, we do not control the Strait. What we’re seeing is what I’ll call “Strait panic” from the Trump regime. The IRGC says it’s mined and set fire to 2 tankers trying to use its unauthorized route, and warned shipping companies that more penalties are on the way if they continue to try to avoid the Iranian’s designation lane. Iran now claims it hit U.S.-linked sites in 4 countries overnight, including a maintenance center and equipment warehouses Erbil, Iraq, Camp Titan and Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, and a military pier along with weapons storage in Kuwait. Iran is claiming American personnel were killed at some of these sites and Iranian-linked social media accounts have spent the day trolling CENTCOM for “staying silence” about the alleged casualties in Jordan. We do not have confirmation of these claims, but unfortunately, CENTCOM has been hiding so much from the American people that it’s hard to know if we’ll ever get a straight answer. Iranian leader of parliament MB Ghalibaf released a statement accusing the U.S. of “satanic” conduct, listing children killed in Minab, a sports hall in Lamerd, and a wedding hit in Kouhestak. The wedding strike has now been geolocated by BBC’s Sarah Jalali. Separate footage shows the full scale of the destruction. This was a wedding with ordinary families, blown to pieces by the United States. Let’s call it what it is: another war crime. Over at the G20, China was the sole holdout blocking consensus language affirming free navigation through the Strait, reportedly because Beijing does not want to set a precedent that could also apply to Taiwan. The White House Spin Machine Is  Spinning Out of Control The Trump regime sent its economic team out to lie about the war today. Treasury Sec Bessent went on Fox and blamed the oil price shock entirely on Ukraine for striking Russian energy sites, then pivoted to blaming Biden for the high cost of living. Commerce Sec Lutnick went on CNBC and claimed there haven’t been American deaths in this war, calling it an “economic choke-out.” There have been at least 18 confirmed American deaths. Lutnick also whined that Canada has been “disrespectful” toward Trump and separately insisted that data centers do not use water at all (a lie), saying it’s all propaganda from U.S. adversaries. 40 billion gallons a year of water is projected to go to data centers by 2028. On the Hannity show, Bessent suggested the Iranian people should just rise up, called Americans struggling in the Trump economy “malcontents” who do not want to work, and bragged about giving Canadian PM Carney a “verbal beatdown.” A Rotting Navy and Oil Deal Steal One thing to know about Trump is that whatever he says, the opposite is true. When Trump says he’s “rebuilt the military,” that’s a good sign he’s destroyed the military. The U.S.S Abraham Lincoln pulled into Thailand finally after 286 days at sea, visibly rusted with worn paint. The Navy says the wear and tear is normal. Here’s a photo. You be the judge: In Venezuela, POLITICO reports that experts are already questioning whether Trump’s $100B so-called oil deal will survive, given that developing those reserves could take a decade and hundreds of billions of dollars the country’s infrastructure isn’t built for. Voter Suppression and Corruption Alert In Texas, Tarrant County Republicans voted 3-2 to close 92 of 316 polling locations just 63 days before the election, in a county Kamala Harris won by 26 points. More than 100 people showed up to protest, and they moved forward anyway. ProPublica also reports that Peter Navarro personally directed the Pentagon to fast-track a $620M loan to a 2-year-old startup connected to Don Jr., the only deal out of dozens initiated by a top WH aide. Yes, that’s the same Navarro who went to prison after January 6. Trump is also bragging about handing out FEMA aid to states that supported him, tying the aid to his campaign endorsements. He’s notably skipping Democratic-led states also seeking help. And in Tehran, this billboard of Trump is now up: People drive near a billboard depicting U.S. President Donald Trump on a building in Tehran, Iran, September 2, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA Also, the U.S. mint just announced that these Trump $1 coins are now in circulation… U.S. President Donald Trump‘s portrait on $1 coins, in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence, on the day the coin is released for sale, is seen in this illustration taken, September 2, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper/Illustration The Epstein Files Aren’t Going Away. We’re  Making Sure of That. Finally, our colleague Katie Phang continues to push the Epstein Files fight forward in court. In a fiery filing, she’s asking Judge Sullivan to personally review handwritten FBI notes tied to reports that reference Trump, arguing that AG Blanche is still defying a federal court order. She’s also challenging the DOJ’s attempt to pass off a months-old congressional letter as if it is the legally required redaction log, calling it “offensively insufficient.” She’ll be discussing this more on her podcast Sidebar with Katie Phang. That’s where things stand for now. We’ll keep you posted as more comes in throughout the day. Remember to listen to the MeidasTouch Podcast for more updates, and a quick reminder that Scott MacFarlane just launched his podcast, Scott MacFarlane Reports. Shoutout to the Meidas Mighty! Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Invite your friends and earn rewards If you enjoy Meidas+, share it with your friends and earn rewards when they subscribe.

 

Friday, August 29

Texas governor signs Republican gerrymander as legal challenges loom Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed Republicans’ gerrymander, which could add five GOP seats ahead of the midterm elections, into law. After signing the map, Abbott said, “Texas is now more red in the United States Congress.” The Texas redistricting battle now moves from the state capitol to the federal courthouse, where pro-voting advocates have already taken steps to try to block the map. Texas GOPer who blocked filibuster shares alarming approach to immigrants In a 2022 legislative hearing, the Texas Republican lawmaker who last week blocked Democrats’ effort to filibuster the state’s gerrymander suggested “shoot, shovel and shut up” as a way to deal with immigrants — a comment that could boost legal efforts to block the state’s map.

Trump and his allies are laying the groundwork to undermine future elections. We’re tracking every legal move — state by state, case by case. Power this critical work with a premium membership today.

JOIN PREMIUM TODAY

Still on Texas, appeals court upholds key sections of voter suppression law A federal appeals court upheld parts of a Texas voter suppression law, including a provision that restricts how people can assist voters in casting ballots. The court ruled that the pro-voting groups lacked standing to challenge some provisions. Court rejects DOJ bid to delay challenge to Trump’s anti-voting order A federal court rejected the Department of Justice’s bid to delay a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s anti-voting executive order. The ruling smooths the way for the challenge to move forward. Trump’s order aims to require documentary proof of citizenship as well as cracking down on mail voting.  Trump’s urban power grab raises fear of troops at the polls  Trump’s unprecedented weaponization of National Guard troops in recent months raises concerns that the administration might be laying the groundwork to deploy troops to the polls. And it may just start with Virginia’s fast-approaching gubernatorial election. AND NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS After nearly 60 years without elections, Newbern votes in first Black mayor Patrick Braxton won election this week after a long legal battle over his right to hold the office. Newbern, a small majority-Black town in Alabama, had not held an election for mayor since the VRA became law in 1965. Instead, Newbern selected its mayors by a “hand me down” system where the current mayor appoints the next mayor. All of them were white. In July 2020, Braxton ran unopposed for mayor but the white town leaders locked him out of office. The NAACP sued the town and last year they reached a settlement allowing Braxton to take office. The settlement also required the town to hold its first election since 1965. On Tuesday, Braxton won and will continue to serve as the town's first Black mayor. California Supreme Court denies another Republican attempt to block maps The California Supreme Court denied the second Republican attempt this week to stop the legislature’s plan to redraw congressional districts in response to Texas gerrymandering. This keeps the “Election Rigging Response Act” on the November ballot, giving voters a chance to uphold fair representation in the U.S. House. Federal court tosses Trump DOJ’s attack on Maryland judges A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s unprecedented lawsuit against every district judge in Maryland, which sought to overturn an order protecting immigrants from immediate deportation. In his ruling, Judge Thomas Cullen — a Trump appointee — blasted the administration for trying to “smear and impugn” the judiciary, rebuking its escalating attacks on judicial independence. Utah court restores voter-approved anti-gerrymandering law A Utah state judge struck down the GOP-drawn congressional map and reinstated Proposition 4, the independent redistricting reforms voters passed in 2018. The ruling permanently blocks the map that split Salt Lake County into four districts and orders lawmakers to redraw the map under Proposition 4’s fair-map rules. Federal court prevents Pennsylvania from tossing mail ballots over trivial errors The Third Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a ruling requiring Pennsylvania to count mail-in ballots that are timely cast but missing or bearing the wrong date. The decision rejects GOP efforts to use meaningless technicalities to throw out thousands of votes. Arizona court rejects GOP bid to throw out mail ballot signatures The Arizona Court of Appeals rejected a Republican lawsuit seeking to restrict how officials verify mail-in ballot signatures, finding the plaintiffs had no standing to sue. The dismissal preserves flexible rules that let counties compare ballots against multiple known signatures on file — protecting seniors, voters with disabilities and the nearly 90% of Arizonans who vote by mail from unjust rejections. Ninth Circuit upholds fair maps for Latino voters in Washington state The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling that struck down Washington’s gerrymandered state legislative map, keeping a fairer map in place. This decision ensures that Latino voters retain an equal voice in elections despite Republican attempts to roll back their fair representation. Federal court blocks all attempts to deport Kilmar Ábrego García A federal judge has temporarily barred the Trump administration from deporting Kilmar Ábrego García to Uganda — where he has no ties — or elsewhere. The ruling safeguards his right to due process by keeping him in the U.S. and delaying any removal until at least an October evidentiary hearing. Federal court blocks firing of Voice of America director A federal judge blocked the Trump administration — via advisor Kari Lake — from firing Michael Abramowitz, director of Voice of America, ruling that Lake lacked lawful authority. This decision preserves critical protections for an independent outlet and sets precedent against politically motivated interference in government agencies.

Trump’s funding freeze gets blocked by another judge

 

Monday, February 3 Lawsuits over birthright citizenship, DOJ actions and more are underway and Democracy Docket is closely following every update. Upgrade now for $120/year to stay ahead of the curve and get the most crucial updates with exclusive analysis sent straight to your inbox. Ken Martin wins election to lead national Democratic Party Ken Martin is the next chair of the Democratic National Committee. Read here to learn more about Martin’s track record in Minnesota, how he plans to support voting rights as chair and his vision for the Democratic Party. “The Democratic Party is the party of working people, and it’s time to roll up our sleeves and outcompete everywhere, in every election, and at every level of government — and I look forward to working with this next generation of leadership to build a Party to unite America,” Martin said. The DNC held the election for a new chair Saturday, and Martin won a majority of the 448 DNC members’ votes. These members include chairs and vice chairs from each state’s Democratic Party, elected delegates from all 50 states, Democratic officials and others. Fulton County DA plans to appeal dismissal in election subversion case Fulton County, Georgia prosecutors indicated they will appeal a state court’s dismissal of six counts against President Donald Trump and his close advisors, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows and John Eastman, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The Georgia Supreme Court could decide to weigh in on the case. Oral argument coming up tomorrow The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear a lawsuit over a provision of a Texas voter suppression law that caused over 20,000 ballots to be rejected in the state in 2022. A lower court struck down the provision, but Texas officials appealed the ruling. THE OPPOSITION Holding Trump Accountable The latest on lawsuits challenging Trump’s federal funding freeze A federal judge in Washington, D.C. blocked Trump’s federal funding freeze this evening, becoming the second judge to halt his administration’s actions. This follows an order Friday from a federal judge in Rhode Island stopping Trump’s freeze on programs and grants. Today, the U.S. Department of Justice argued this order doesn’t stop the administration’s efforts to halt spending, raising concerns over the separation of powers as litigation continues.